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FG raises concern over 400,000 stranded Nigerian refugees  across African countries

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
By George Mgbeleke
Alarmed at the  increasing number of  refugees stranded in countries such as  Cameroon, Niger and Chad  rising to 400,000 the Federal Government has expressed concluded and  planned to repatriate them.
Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), stated this at the Technical Working Group meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ahmed noted that 3000 refugees were returned last week through the efforts of the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, and the technical working group, saying that further repatriation plans are ongoing.
The NCFRMI boss said that the tripartite agreement had been reviewed and the necessary steps for continuation of the repatriation process were being considered.
He acknowledged the crucial role the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) played in the repatriation exercise, saying that discussions were ongoing to ensure the process continued smoothly.
Ahmed further said that the Technical Working Group was reviewing past actions and planning future steps, including seeking governments and international partners’ support.
He said that the goal was to ensure that the repatriation exercise became a permanent process in the coming weeks.
The federal commissioner, however, underscored the need for governments’ support and the involvement of key stakeholders, particularly international partners.
“We have not less than 400,000 refugees across these zones – Cameroon, Niger and Chad. 3000 refugees were returned last week Sunday through the efforts of the governor of Borno.
“We have reviewed the processes here, and then we also try to look at what and what is required of us to do before the continuation of this repatriation.
“UNHCR is key in this direction, because they are the third party in the repatriation exercise assigned through our agreements.
“We hope that in the next few weeks, this repatriation will commence and we will continue the exercise,” he said.
On her part, the UNHCR Deputy Representative, Bernadette Muteshi, expressed the UNHCR’s openness to discussing repatriation, deportation, and the welfare of internally displaced persons.
Muteshi noted that the aim of the Technical Working Group was to support the governments in ensuring the tripartite agreement was followed and adhered to.
“What will be different this time around is that we are leaning greatly on the governments’ responsible for leadership and ownership of the process.
“We are here to walk along with both governments to ensure that the contents of the tripartite agreement are followed and adhered to.
“But honestly, it’s really about both governments taking leadership and ownership for their nationals in this particular exercise,” she said.

Law & Crime

Valedictory Session:Ewhrudjakpo, Ayemieye, Others Pour Encomium On Late Justice Alagoa

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Bayelsa Deputy Gov.Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and others

 

By David Owei, Yenagoa.

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, along with the state Chief Judge, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), and other personalities have poured encomiums on the late Justice Stanley Shenko Alagoa, describing him as one of the best justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who spoke at a special valedictory session held at the court of the Chief Judge in Yenagoa at the weekend, said there were a lot of positive lessons to learn from the exemplary life of the late Justice of the Supreme Court.

He eulogized Justice Alagoa as an incorruptible judge, emphasizing that his judicial pronouncements and judgements would be quoted for as long as justice system remains in Nigeria, and called on his family to take solace in his worthy legacy.

His words: “There are two sets of people in the world – those who left their shoes dirty, and those who left theirs clean. The late Justice Alagoa is of the latter group.

“Alagoa was a man of integrity. He condemned corrupt politicians as a challenge to the Nigerian Justice System. It is not how long a man live, but how well.

“Justice Alagoa has taught everyone in Nigeria a lesson; His pronouncements and judgements will be quoted as long as the justice system remains. Let us immortalize him by promoting what he represented.”

In her remarks, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Matilda Abrakasa-Ayemieye, pointed out that the late Justice Alagoa was the first Bayelsan to climb to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and did so much in contributing towards the development of the country’s legal jurisprudence.

Justice Ayemieye, who described Alagoa as one of the finest jurists at the Supreme Court, explained that he was a man of integrity, whose notable contributions to the growth of the Nigerian justice delivery system would not be easily forgotten.

She, however, used the opportunity to remind the living that they came from God and shall return to Him in due time, stressing that everyone shall give account of him or herself at an appointed time.

On his part, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), said “it is evident from from his biography that Justice Alagoa was a diligent judge who rose through the ranks to the pinnacle of his illustrious career at the Supreme Court,” and deserved the honour of being given a befitting funeral.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Somina Johnbull, noted that the deceased who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1974, describing him as an exemplary ambassador of the state judiciary having been one of the three judges from Bayelsa that ascended to the Supreme Court.

Other dignitaries present at the session were retired Justice Francis Tabai; the Chief Judge of Rivers State represented by Justice A. Victor; the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, retired Justice Margaret Akpomiemie, the Head of Service, Mrs Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, amongst others.

In a related development, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the weekend, also led a delegation of political leaders and stakeholders of Bayelsa West to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late His Royal Majesty, King Joshua Igbagara, the paramount ruler of Ibeni -Oyiakiri Kingdom in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the Biogbolo residence of the departed first class traditional ruler, the Deputy Governor noted that the Sagbama Area, Bayelsa West, and by extension, the entire state and Nigeria had lost a great leader who positively impacted so many lives

He, however, pointed out that “for the fact that the late King Igbagara lived for about 90 years, his departure should be seen as a heroic incident that calls for celebration having exceeded the biblical age benchmark of 70 years.”

While assuring the Igbagara family of government’s support in the burial of the one-time Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, enjoined them and the entire Ibeni-Oyiakiri clan to draw strength from the good life their father and king had lived.

Responding on behalf of the family, the first son of the deceased, Prince Austin Igbagara, expressed gratitude to the Deputy Governor and the political leaders and stakeholders for condoling with them in their trying moment.

Prince Igbagara, who disclosed that the monarch died in Lagos after a brief illness, promised the Bayelsa West delegation that the family would officially inform them when a date is fixed for the funeral of their departed father.

The delegation had Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties (Bayelsa West), Mr. Michael Magbisa, and his tourism counterpart, Mr John Ala: the Chairman of Sagbama Local Government, Mrs. Alice Tangi-Allen; and chieftains of the PDP, Hon. Fyneman Wilson, Dr. O.O. Osusu; Engineer Numupre Wills; Chief Victor Okubonanabo, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Chief Lambert Ototo, among others.

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Law & Crime

Niger CJ frees 45 awaiting trial inmates of Suleja’s Prison custody 

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By Uthman Baba-Al-Naseer, Minna

A total of Forty Five inmates on awaiting trial and Convicts have breath the air of freedom during the visit of the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice ♎ Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik statewide working visit to Correctional Centres

The Chief Judge commenced the four days working visit on the 6th,March 2025 in Suleja Federal Medium Correctional centre where five convicts were pardoned for being remorseful while serving their jail terms.

Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik,in continuation of the visit to bring relief to the correctional facilities across the state, was at the Minna old Medium Correctional centre between Monday, 10th,and Tuesday,11th,2025 and a total of twelve Convicts were discharged.

Also, the Chief Judge ordered for the summary trial of fourteen others to be given lighter convictions from the date of their arrest and detention in the correctional Custody.

At the Minna new Medium Correctional centre in Tunga, a total of twenty five other inmates standing trial were discharged by the Chief Judge while twelve inmates standing trial on various Offences had their cases reviewed.

Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik concluded the working visit to Children remand home at Angwan Daji where she released five under aged children two among them were kidnapped.

Equally,the Chief judge granted bail to two siblings Anas Umar,and Mubarak Umar who were arrested at Gauraka in Tafa Local government area of Niger State.

They were alleged to have been in possession of aluminum believed to have been stolen and sold to scrap dealers (Yan gwongwon).

The Chief Judge directed the Ministry of women affairs to take the adoption of the two siblings with the aim of keeping them in their custody for proper upbringings.

Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, while expressing her disgust on the increasing rates of crime among juveniles,in the state, she called on parents and guardians to leave up to their responsibility of inculcating proper upbringings to their children.

She noted that the involvement of Anas into crime was initiated by his brother stating that their parents have deviated from their parental responsibilities.

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Law & Crime

Rivers Crisis: State Assembly in another troubled water  ……. Wants DSS to Probe CJ over alleged age forgery 

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By Our Reporter
Barely 24 hours in the fight against the state governor,  Siminalayi Fubara,  Rivers State House of Assembly has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi for alleged age falsification.
The call for investigation of the State Chief Judge was made following a motion by the leader of the Assembly, Hon. Major Jack during plenary on Thursday.
Recall that the Deputy Speaker of Rivers  Assembly, Dumle Maol, had raised an allegation of age falsification against the Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi a couple of days ago.
He said, “These documents before me simply say that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, falsified his age in service. Mr Speaker, that is a very serious allegation, and I do hope that this House takes legislative notice.”
The House debated on the topic and resolved to write a letter to the Director of the DSS to do its investigation and revert to the House on their findings.
In his remark, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, called for an investigation into the alleged age falsification against the state chief judge, Justice Chibuzor Amadi.
Amaehwule also accused the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara of barring all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies not to appear before the House or assist the lawmakers in the conduct of investigations.
He said, “The documents are only suggesting a case of age falsification by the honourable Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi. What it means is that there has to be an investigation to that effect.
“Though the House is empowered to conduct investigation by the provisions of Section 128 of the Constitution, the Governor of the State has barred all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies not to appear before the House or assist the House in the conduct of investigation.
“So, the House is calling on the Department of State Service to institute an investigation on the alleged age falsification by the Chief Judge with a view to ascertaining the veracity or otherwise of the allegation, which will be forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC).”
After a voice vote, the House eventually agreed to write the DSS to investigate the age falsification allegation against the Chief Judge.
Meanwhile, the Speaker had asked all Committees to endeavour to submit their reports to the House before the House proceeds on recess, particularly, the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions.
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