Tinubu back in Nigeria after France trip

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after a brief work stay in France.

President Tinubu arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja around 2:25am on Friday.

He is expected to swear the new Chief Justice Nigeria (CJN) later today at the Council Chambers of the State House, following the statutory retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola from the office.

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The National Judicial Council (NJC), on August 15, after its 106th meeting, recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to Tinubu to replace the outgoing CJN, Ariwoola.

A statement on Thursday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, informed Tinubu will be swearing a new CJN in on Friday.

Tinubu back in Nigeria after France trip

HURIWA labels Justice Ariwoola as worst CJN ever

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has said the tenure of the retiring Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, left a lot to be desired.

The association said Ariwoola tenure as CJN was a perfect example of how a nation’s judiciary shouldn’t be run.

Within Nigeria had reported that Ariwoola has retired as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, having reached the age of retirement.

Speaking on Ariwoola’s retirement, HURIWA stated that there was nothing to celebrate about his tenure as CJN.

According to the association, his time as the nation’s number one judicial officer was dogged scandals and controversies that bordered on corruption and nepotism.

HURIWA stated that Ariwoola’s tenure was characterised by brazen disregard for the principles of fairness and justice as the defining hallmarks of his leadership and left the judiciary in turmoil, significantly weakening its authority and eroding its credibility.

“One of the most troubling aspects of his time in office was the introduction of nepotistic practices in the appointment of judges,” HURIWA said in a statement signed by Emmanuel Onwubiko, its National Coordinator.

The association highlighted the appointment of Justice Ariwoola’s brother, Adebayo Lateef Ariwoola, as the head of the audit department at the National Judicial Council (NJC), a role that directly answers to the Chief Justice, who is also the Chairman of the NJC.

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This situation, the group argued, presents a clear conflict of interest and raises serious questions about the integrity of the NJC’s financial operations.

Beyond this, the association condemned Justice Ariwoola’s involvement in securing a judicial appointment for his son, Olukayode Ariwoola Jr., as a Judge of the Federal High Court.

“This move, which was met with widespread public outcry, exemplifies the deeply entrenched culture of nepotism that has taken root under Justice Ariwoola’s leadership,” it added.

“Justice Ariwoola’s actions have set a dangerous precedent, encouraging similar behavior among other judicial leaders.

“For instance, the Chief Judge of Abuja, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, following in Justice Ariwoola’s footsteps, appointed his daughter, Maryam Baba-Yusuf on the bench as a judge of the Abuja High Court and allegedly included the daughters of influential politicians, former governors, and ministers among the newly appointed judges.

“The implications of these actions are dire for the Nigerian judiciary. A federal court judge recently remarked that in Nigeria, it is nearly impossible to become a Federal High Court judge without connections to powerful individuals.

“This underscored the extent to which corruption has polluted the judicial appointment process,” HURIWA further alleged

HURIWA labels Justice Ariwoola as worst CJN ever

N16tn needed to complete inherited road projects – Works minister

The Minister of Works, David Umahi has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs over N16 trillion to complete a total of 18,932.50 kilometres of ongoing road projects, with a total of 2,064 contracts it inherited nationwide.

Umahi revealed this at a press conference on the achievements of the ministry under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the total value of all the ongoing projects as at May 2023 was N14.42 trillion.

He said that the amount certified was N4.73 trillion; however, N3.12 trillion was paid, and the amount owed contractors for certified works was N1.61 trillion.

“The funding gap to complete all the inherited projects is about N13 trillion as at May 2023 and will be more than N16 trillion when all projects are reviewed, in line with current market realities.

“This is due to the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira.

“It is a very sound economic decision by this administration, considering the fact that some of the projects have lingered for between five and eight years.

“Consequently, the projects are being reviewed to match current market realities; this position excludes all the new projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda and the four legacy projects,’’ Umahi said.

According to him, the old traditional method of funding highway projects was through the annual budgetary provision.

He said, however, that over the years, budget provisions have seemed inadequate to address the challenges of highway development.

Umahi stated that to meet up funding for road projects, the ministry embraced alternative funding mechanisms like the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) and Sovereign SUKUK issued by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

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The minister said that other funding included the Road Tax Credit Scheme (NNPCL, NLNG, Dangote, BUA, MIN, Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd., and GZI Industries) and the use of multilateral loans.

Others are the Public Private Partnership (PPP)/Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI) and the newly established Renewed Hope Infrastructure Funding model.

He said that 82 projects were approved under the SUKUK fund, with a total sum of N100 billion invested in road construction and rehabilitation in 2017.