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Gunmen kill father, kidnap daughter in Abuja
Armed men have killed a father, while they abducted a 12-year-old girl in Chukuku in the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
The armed men were said to have stormed the community in their large number and shot sporadically while the operation lasted.
A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity said the incident had caused apprehension in the community.
The source said the armed men were yet to reach out to the family for a ransom on the abducted girl.
He said, “The gunmen came in their large number and attacked the residence of this man in Chukuku, along Old Chukuku road.
One person (an adult) was killed and his 12-year-old daughter was taken away.
“The armed men came in the early hours of Tuesday and operated for hours and shot sporadically to the air throughout their operation.
“So far, no form of communication has been made to or from the kidnappers. The incident has created fear in residents of the area.”
When contacted, the FCT police command spokesperson, DSP Josephine Adeh, promised to find out.
She had yet to do so at the time of filing this report.
Calls put to her line afterwards were not answered.
Punch
metro
SERAP sues Tinubu over ‘unlawful suspension of Fubara, Rivers lawmakers’
SERAP sues Tinubu over ‘unlawful suspension of Fubara, Rivers lawmakers’
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over “the unlawful suspension of democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State while exercising his constitutional powers to proclaim a State of Emergency in the state.”
The suit is brought by Yirabari Israel Nulog; Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal; and Gracious Eyoh–Sifumbukho, who are members of SERAP Volunteers’ Lawyers Network (SVLN) in Rivers state. The plaintiffs are registered voters and voted in the 2023 general elections.
Joined in the suit as Defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd).
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/558/2025 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the plaintiffs are seeking: “an order setting aside the suspension of the democratically elected officials in Rivers State by President Tinubu while proclaiming a state of emergency in the state.”
The plaintiffs are seeking: “an order setting aside the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.”
The plaintiffs are also seeking: “a declaration that by virtue of section 1(2) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.”
In the suit, the plaintiffs are arguing that: “The rule of law would be a mere figure of speech if the people’s right to participation can be arbitrarily suspended or violated.”
The suit filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by their lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN read in part: “Democracy is an inherent element of the rule of law. Nigeria’s democracy ought to have as its foundation respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
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“The suspension is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s obligations under article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and articles 2, 3 and 4 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.”
“The combined provisions of sections 1(2), 14(1)(c), 176(1) (2) and 305(1) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution create a delicate balance of rights and responsibilities, balancing the exercise of the President’s power against the people’s right to participation in their own government, and the notion of respect for the rule of law.”
“Together, these Constitutional provisions presume that Presidential Powers under section 305 are to be exercised fairly and the duty of fairness requires that the people’s right to participation and democracy should be upheld even in the context of a declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.”
“The combined effect of the provisions of sections 1(2), 14(1)(c), 176(1) (2) and 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution is that the suspension of democratically elected officials in Rivers state is unlawful and unconstitutional.”
“Democracy works best when everyone participates. The right to participation is the bedrock of any democratic society.”
“The suspension of the democratically elected officials in Rivers state has seriously undermined the ability of the Plaintiffs to participate more effectively in their own government, and the credibility and integrity of the country’s electoral process, as well as the notion of the rule of law.”
“The rule of law ought to be protected to ensure that persons and institutions operate within the defined ambit of constitutional and statutory limitations.”
“Where agencies of government are allowed to operate at large and at their whims and caprices in the guise of performing their statutory or constitutional duties, the end result will be anarchy and authoritarianism, leading to the loss of constitutionally guaranteed freedom and liberty.”
“Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution is neither absolute nor superior to other provisions of the Constitution. Rather, it is expressly made subject to other constitutional provisions.”
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“The phrase ‘Subject to’ as a legislative device is used in a Constitutional provision or statutory enactment to make the provision of the section inferior, dependent on, or limited and restricted in application to the Section to which they are made subject to.”
The plaintiffs are also seeking the following reliefs:
1. A DECLARATION that there is no provision in the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) that empowers the 1st Defendant to suspend the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State while exercising his powers to proclaim a State of Emergency in the State under section 305 of the Constitution.
2. A DECLARATION that by virtue of section 1(2) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
3. A DECLARATION that by a purposeful construction and interpretation of the combined provisions of sections 1(2) 180, 176(1)(2), and 305 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as (amended), the 1st Defendant cannot lawfully suspend the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State while exercising his powers to proclaim a State of Emergency in Rivers State.
4. A DECLARATION that the suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State by the 1st Defendant on 18th March 2025 while proclaiming a state of emergency in the State is unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.
5. A DECLARATION that the appointment by the 1st Defendant of the 3rd Defendant as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State consequent upon the suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State by the 1st Defendant on 18th March 2025 derogates from the provision of section 1(2) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and therefore is unlawful unconstitutional, null, and void.
6. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT setting aside the suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State by the 1st Defendant on 18th March 2025 while proclaiming a state of emergency in the State.
7. AN ORDER setting aside the appointment of the 3rd Defendant by the 1st Defendant as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
8. AN ORDER of injunction restraining the 3rd Defendant from acting or continuing to act as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State in pursuance of his appointment as such by the 1st Defendant on 18th March 2025.
9. AN ORDER of injunction restraining the Defendants, including their agents, representatives or such other persons acting on their behalf from treating or continuing to treat the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers as having been suspended.
10. AND FOR SUCH FURTHER ORDER(S) that the Honorable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance of this suit.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
SERAP sues Tinubu over ‘unlawful suspension of Fubara, Rivers lawmakers’
metro
Wike’s aide reveals PDP leaders responsible for HQ land revocation
Wike’s aide reveals PDP leaders responsible for HQ land revocation
Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has alleged that some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are responsible for the revocation of the party’s headquarters by the FCT Administration.
In a statement released on Saturday, March 22, Olayinka said PDP leaders like Bode George failed to pay the ground rent on the land title for 28 years.
He said, “People’s Democratic Party (PDP) elders like Chief Bode George, should be blamed for the party’s failure to pay Ground Rent for 28 years, which is the reason for the revocation of the PDP’s national secretariat in Abuja, and not the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.”
Olayinka in the statement said it is unfortunate that leaders like George who were in the PDP’s National Working Committee but failed to conclude the purchase of the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the PDP had the audacity to appear on television to blame Wike.
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Further stating the Wadata Plaza – currently being used by PDP as its national secretariat – is not owned by the party, Olayinka said the building belongs to Senator Samaila Kurfi, who bought the property from Wadata Enterprise Nigeria Limited.
He added that in 2005, the PDP had made an attempt to purchase the property at a N26.9. million offer but the money was never paid.
He said the party wrote to the then minister of FCT, Nasir El-Rufai, also a member of the PDP for a waiver but he (El-Rufai) insisted that the payment must made.
“And if the owner of the building did not pay ordinary N2.8 million as 28 years Ground Rent, who is to blame?” Olayinka queried.
On the proposed site for the PDP’s national secretariat which is located in Central Area, Olayinka said the party also failed to pay N7.6 million – an accumulation of 20 years ground rent – despite raising over N21 billion for the construction of the building in 2014.
He added, “If Chief Bode George had sought necessary information and refrained himself from acting out of hatred for Wike, it would have been known to him that also affected by the revocation were government owned institutions.”
Wike’s aide reveals PDP leaders responsible for HQ land revocation
metro
Six students die of meningitis in Kebbi varsity
Six students die of meningitis in Kebbi varsity
A major outbreak of meningitis has led to the deaths of six students at Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero (KSUSTA), according to a statement released on Saturday by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mustapha Ango.
On behalf of the university’s management, Ango expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, noting that Vice-Chancellor B.G. Danshehu was profoundly saddened by the tragic event.
He stated that the university swiftly implemented several measures to contain the outbreak.
“Upon detecting the initial signs of the outbreak, KSUSTA took immediate and decisive action to mitigate the spread of the disease.
“A specialised committee, led by the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Balarabe Adamu Isah, was formed to conduct a thorough investigation.
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“We promptly reported the outbreak to the Kebbi State Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Higher Education. A stakeholders’ meeting was convened, bringing together key health sector experts, including representatives from the World Health Organisation, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, Médecins Sans Frontières, and other medical professionals.
“Despite the best efforts of the university and health authorities, six students have succumbed to the disease.
“We deeply regret these losses, and our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families,” the statement read.
Ango further advised students seeking information to reach out to the university’s Public Relations Office for updates.
“We appreciate the continued support and cooperation of our university community and stakeholders as we work tirelessly to overcome this crisis,” he added.
Six students die of meningitis in Kebbi varsity
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