Igboho won’t change Benin-based lawyers –Counsel – Newstrends
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Igboho won’t change Benin-based lawyers –Counsel

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Kayode Oyero and Olufemi Olaniyi

The Coordinator of Legal Affairs for the detained Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igboho),  Olasupo Ojo, has said  Igboho has no plan to change his Benin-based lawyers.

Igboho, had in a leaked audio, expressed anger with his team of about 10 lawyers in Benin Republic for failing to secure his release after about 50 days in detention.

In the leaked audio, Igboho had lambasted all his Benin Republic-based lawyers, led by Ibrahim Salami and also complained about his alleged maltreatment and abandonment in prison by Salami and the other lawyers despite receiving about N5m each.

Igboho had said he was not afraid of being extradited to Nigeria.

But Ojo, in a chat with The PUNCH on Tuesday, said, “He (Igboho) is not changing any of the lawyers in Benin Republic. We know the lawyers that are working, we know those are not working and we have adjusted according. For the sake of goodwill and everybody concerned, we are not removing any lawyer because each of those lawyers has their good sides and added advantages and we also need their goodwill. It is a foreign country.

“So, we have decided to continue working with all of them. We can manage them. They are all contributing. He may not know what the lawyers are contributing outside; he is only concerned about who he is seeing. All the lawyers cannot be coming to the prison all the time.”

 ‘Legal team head once sacked Cotonou-based lawyers’

However, speaking with The PUNCH, a member of Igboho’s legal team in Nigeria, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said the leaked audio was a regretted development, adding the head of the entire legal team, Yomi Aliyu (SAN), had once fired all the Benin-based lawyers for related matters the activist accused them of in the leaked audio.

Olajengbesi said, “There is no confusion in the Igboho legal team. Of course, it is a big legal team but it is well-structured. The Igboho case is not a small matter because we are dealing with two nations and the Federal Government of Nigeria is determined by all means to take down Igboho.

“Chief Sunday Igboho is not satisfied with the way in which the matter is handled in Benin Republic. Of course, he is aware of the progress made in Abuja, he is aware of the progress made in Ibadan, Abuja and Lagos.

“The head of the entire legal team of Chief Sunday Igboho is Chief Yomi Aliyu and there was a time he sanctioned the entire team of lawyers in Benin Republic. As a matter of fact, he sacked all of them. It took the understanding of senior lawyers involved in this matter who have always been giving guidance and advice like Chief Femi Falana (SAN), Ojo Olasupo and others to salvage the Benin-based lawyers.

“The legal team in Nigeria is intact, there is an understanding and the matter is going on well.”

The Cour De’appal De Cotonou had on July 26 granted Igboho access to medical care and ordered that he be remanded in a prison facility.

Speaking on the next date of court appearance, Ojo saidthough no date had been fixed for resumption of Igboho’s trial but the court in the West African country would resume later this September.

Court extends restraining order against Malami, DSS

Meanwhile, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on Tuesday extended the restraining order he granted against the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the Department of State Services against arresting Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho.

He extended the restraining order at the resumed hearing of the fundamental human right suit instituted by Igboho against the defendants on Tuesday.

Justice Akintola in his ruling extended the interim order to September 17.

The judge had on August 4 granted an interim injunction restraining the AGF, the  DSS and their agents against arresting,  intimidating harassing and freezing bank accounts of Igboho. The court extended the interim order on August 18.

Counsel for Igboho, Chief Yomi Aliyyu (SAN) also on August 26 filed a fresh application before the court for an extension of the interim order.

The AGF on August 30, which was the last adjourned date, also filed an application for the vacation of the restraining order.

 At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel for the AGF, Abdulahi Abubakar,  prayed the court to set aside the August 4 injunction restraining the AGF.

However,  Igboho through his counsel said he filed a counter-affidavit and a written address on  August 24,  and that he would adopt same and rely on the counter affidavit.

Alliyu argued that the application filed by the AGF was filed out of time because it was done outside the seven days stipulated by Order 4 Rule 6 of the Fundamental Human Rights Procedure Rule 2009.

Justice Akintola extended the restraining order and adjourned till September 17.

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‘Enough is enough’, Tinubu directs security chiefs to stop violent attacks

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‘Enough is enough’, Tinubu directs security chiefs to stop violent attacks

 

President Bola Tinubu has ordered security operatives to end forthwith the violent attacks in some parts of the country, especially in Plateau, Borno, and Benue states.
He gave the directive during a meeting with security chiefs at the State House on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA); Mohammed Mohammed, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA); Emmanuel Undianeye, chief of defence intelligence; Oluwatosin Ajayi, director-general (DG) of the Department of State Services (DSS); and Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff (CoS) to the President.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Ribadu said Tinubu declared that “enough is enough” on the resurgence of violence in some parts of the country.
The NSA said the president directed security chiefs to work with the political authorities in states and at the grassroots level to find a lasting solution to the insecurity.
He said the security chiefs had acted on Tinubu’s previous instructions by meeting with political leaders in the affected communities and states.
The NSA said the meeting offered the security chiefs the opportunity to fully brief the president about the current security situation of the country.
“This time, we were able to sit with him for hours and give a proper briefing. We also took new instructions from him,” he said.
“Insecurity is not only a government problem.
“It also involves the subnational units — the communities, local governments, and especially the governors. The president directed that we work more closely with them.
“Some of these problems are community-related. While not entirely so, that element plays a significant role.
“Mr. President is working hard to ensure that Nigeria enjoys peace and stability. We are not relenting. We will not stop until we get the results he demands.”
On the resurgence of violent attacks in Borno, Ribadu said the terrorists were planting explosives during the period of relative peace in the state.
“This enemy does not give up easily. When there’s peace for a long time, they try to shock the public with an isolated incident,” he said.
The NSA said the security situation in the country is not yet at 100 percent, while noting that there is “significant improvement”.
Since the beginning of the month, many have been killed in some communities in Plateau State.
Benue State has also recorded violent attacks as over 50 people were killed in Ukum and Logo LGAs on April 18.

 

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Minister queries Julius Berger’s exclusion from furnishing of Abuja Conference Centre

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Minister queries Julius Berger’s exclusion from furnishing of Abuja Conference Centre

 

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has questioned the exclusion of Julius Berger from furnishing the Abuja Conference Centre, despite the company being awarded the full rehabilitation contract in April 2024.

Wike made his position clear during an inspection visit to the project site on Wednesday in Abuja, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Last month, the minister announced that the N39 billion renovation was 70–80 percent complete.

He expressed confidence it would be ready for use by May, and among the projects to mark Tinubu’s second year in office.

While commending Julius Berger for the quality of work done so far, Wike said he was shocked to learn that the furnishing aspect of the project was handed over to a different company without his approval.

According to the minister, the original agreement was for Julius Berger to handle the complete rehabilitation of the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC). He stated that he had personally approved the contract and the budget involved, and any deviation from that plan required official clearance.

“The work was going as expected, the only problem we identified this afternoon has to do with the furniture that will be in the conference hall.

“I was surprised to hear that there is a different contractor for that, which is unacceptable to us. The job was given to Julius Berger entirely. I cannot have different qualities,” Wike stated.

The FCT minister subsequently summoned the leadership of Julius Berger, Abuja Investment Company Ltd (AICL), and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to clarify who authorised the deviation from the original contract and on what basis.

He said assigning different contractors to furnish separate sections of the same facility could compromise the overall quality and consistency of the project.

The Abuja International Conference Centre, built by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc in 1990 and completed in time for the 1991 OAU Heads of Government meeting, has long served as a venue for government functions, international summits, exhibitions, and corporate events.

Over the years, the facility deteriorated. In April 2024, President Tinubu ordered urgent renovations after calling its condition an “eyesore” during the ECOWAS Parliament inauguration. The FCT Administration suspended activities on April 8, allowing Julius Berger to begin extensive rehabilitation

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Kaduna governor revokes land approved sold by El-Rufai

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Kaduna governor revokes land approved sold by El-Rufai

Kaduna State Government has revoked institutional houses and plots of land sold in the state by the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Governor Uba Sani on Tuesday ordered the revocation of the properties within Alhuda-huda College, Zaria; Queen Amina College, Kaduna and Government Commercial College, Zaria.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr. AbdulKadir Mu’azu Meyere, who announced the revocation in a statement, said the decision was taken for overriding public interest and for the common good.

He said efforts were being made to ensure all payments made to the government coffers in respect of the sold houses are refunded.

He said, “In line with its commitment to human capital development and to ensure conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning in schools, the Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, had revoked all previous sales of institutional houses and land allocations within Alhuda-huda College, Zaria, Queen Amina College, Kaduna and Government Commercial College, Zaria for overriding public interest and for the common good.

“The revocation was approved last year and the revocation order has been conveyed to all allottees, while steps are being taken to refund amounts paid in respect of the sold houses as directed by His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State.

“As one of the key pillars of His Excellency’s Human Capital Development, Uba Sani noted that effective learning can best take place in a conducive atmosphere without distractions and sundry interferences.

“The governor has always argued that education is not just a leveler but also a ladder for upward mobility which can transform lives and improve livelihoods.

“To secure the future of our children, the Governor has been expanding access to education in the last two years, by bridging the infrastructural deficit at both primary and secondary schools across Kaduna State.

“In fact, one of the first decisions that His Excellency took upon assuming office was the slashing of the school fees of Kaduna State-own tertiary institutions on August 21, 2023.

“Apart from tertiary institutions, the Senator Uba Sani administration has also improved access by building new primary and secondary schools as well as blocks of classrooms since he became Governor of Kaduna State.

“Indeed, the Sani-led administration has built over 2,336 new classrooms, renovated more than 707 others and provided 3,704 and 30,742 furniture, for teachers and pupils.

“Similarly, Kaduna State Government, has sunk 51 boreholes, provided 918 cubicle toilets for both pupils’ and teachers’ use in all the Local Governments to make learning more conducive.”

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