Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

Minna High Court Number four has transferred the case of the embattled Chairman of Chanchaga local government Council and his councilors to Suleja High Court.

This development Emanated from a Petition filed to the Chief Judge of Niger State Justice Halima Ibrahim asking the Judge to restrain himself from Presiding over the case.

The embattled Chairman, Aminu Ladan has approached the court through his lawyer Barrister Anthony Orifumishe praying the court to restrain the councilors from suspending him from office.

Justice Mohammed Mohammed had on Friday, the 1st of August,2025 granted an interim order restraining the suspension and impeachment on the council Chairman.

Similarly, Justice Mohammed,granted an order of interim injunction restraining the ten defendants Particularly Yahuza Saidu and Mohammed Mohammed from acting on or taking further actions on the Notice of suspension issued to the plaintiff on 28th, July,2025 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

The plaintiff had also prayed the court to grant an order of interim injunction restraining the councilors and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger State,the defendants from initiating and or commencing the process for the removal or impeachment of the plaintiff from office of Chanchanga Local government and from removing the plaintiff from office by whatever means Pending the hearing and the determination of motion on Notice for interlocutory injuction.

However,at the resumed hearing Wednesday, Justice Mohammed, Mohammed, announced to the both counsels,that he has restrained himself from the matter as a result of a petition filed against him before the Chief Judge.

” I want to formally inform you that I’m restraining myself from the matter. There was a Petition filed to the Honourable Chief Judge that I should transfer the case to Suleja” he told the counsels.

Speaking in an interview with our reporter,the defence counsel to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger State Jacobs Johnson Usman SAN stated that the Judge had restrained himself from the matter.

He said “the Judge announced that they was a Petition against him forwarded to the Honourable Chief Judge that the defendants said they don’t have confidence in his court.
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” That he presided over the case that brought the plaintiff to office as the Chairman of Chanchanga Local government. It is on that ground the Judge restrained himself from the case.

” The case is now transferred to the vacation Judge in Suleja. The case is now to be heard in Suleja High court” he told our Correspondent

By David Owei,Bayelsa

A transparency group, the Coalition for Ethical Standard Accountability and Good Governance(ESAGG) has tackled the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Ministry of Interior over alleged lack of due consultations of relevant stakeholders before the commencement of the e-Visa and e- CERPAC Regime.

According to the group, despite the commendable fact that these digital platforms aim to enhance transparency, speed up processing, and simplify immigration for expatriates entering Nigeria, all society approach should have been adopted with all stakeholders engagement, buy-in of foreign entities,the investment drivers of the nations economy and the International Communities carried along in the new policies.

The National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Ebuka Nwachukwu. , in a statement made available to newsmen via electronic mail, noted that while acknowledging the strides taking by both the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Ministry of Interior,it is pertinent to echo this fact that migration to digital platform is done hand in hand with the analogue facility being issued side by side for a reasonable period and not a rush period.

According to the Statement, “The e-Visa and e- CERPAC Regime: Need for Detail Awareness Campaign and All Stakeholders Engagement;The Nigeria Immigration Service under the watch of the Ministry of Interior must understand that migration from an existing service or product to another in this digital age goes beyond a jingle on a television or advert placement on select Newspapers.”

“it is an all society approach,all stakeholders engagement and buy-in of foreign entities,the investment drivers of the nations economy,the International Communities,vital organs of government that has direct dealings with Immigration related matters and most importantly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

“While acknowledging the strides taking by both the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Ministry of Interior,it is pertinent to echo this fact that migration to digital platform is done hand in hand with the analogue facility being issued side by side for a reasonable period and not a rush period.”

“The Amnesty period is too short for companies and organizations to start losing Millions expended for an existing facility and to start purchasing new facilities,in a nation trying to attract investors and to compete with other nations within the same region and continent, whose Immigration Policies is attracting huge number of investors and businesses to their country,countries like Ghana, Rwanda, Algeria, Morocco,South Africa,Tanzania,Benin Republic,Kenya to mention but a few,where every investment opportunity from Hospitality,Tourism,Ports activities,Sports,AI and Digital Technology, Mining are used to attract investors with flexible secured Visas and Residence Card that is also digital in nature”

“The Ministry of Interior must be mindful of the fact that she can not be the driver and passenger at the same time,the Ministry must allow the Nigeria Immigration Service to operate as the enforcement agency and service provider for which it’s operative were trained and do the needful to do a comprehensive Awareness Campaign and engage with all stakeholders,else there will be a system collapse and a backlash to Nigerian investors and Citizens in reciprocity by other countries as a response to the current rush in the name of digitization of a system.

” There is need for the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service to engage thoroughly with all stakeholders not select group and to do an exhaustive Awareness Campaign to carry along beneficiaries of the services and the organisations paying the fees charged.”

“As concern citizens,the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service must realize that the system E-Visa and e- CERPAC was issued abinitio on a platform,and on agreed terms,conditions to avoid system breakdown and failure”

“There must be smooth transition,not a quick fix arrangement as obtained,a lot was committed to the production system brought in by the organisations issuing the former facility,there must be a winding process that will be healthy to both the Nigeria Immigration Service and their service providers in all the service windows,be it Passport where the Nigeria Immigration Service is opting for a centralized production,the new e- Visa and e- CERPAC,”

“These are technical services driven by technology and expertise,there is need for smooth technology transfer and let us not forget the Build,Operate and Transfer policy, the new services will be effective with proper handing over and transfer.”

“Above all, there is need for the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service to allow a lawful transition,and detail brief by all parties concern which will be sanctioned by all and for the good of the nation.”

The group however called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies for the extension of the amnesty period to give room for thorough Awareness Campaign, Stakeholders Meeting and buy-in of the end users through public hearing and public engagements.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

Justice Mohammed Mohammed of the Minna High Court number four, has granted an interim injunction restraining the Niger State government and its agencies from taking any unpleasant actions against a Minna based private broadcasting station, the Baddegi 90.1 FM station.
Justice Mohammed on Tuesday,the 5th,of August 2025 granted the interim injunction in favour of the applicants, Baddegi, FM station, Baddegi Broadcasting Services Ltd and its Managing Director, Mohammed Shuaibu Baddegi,
This follows a motion ex-parte filed before the court.
The application backed with with various sections and provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,(as amended) and the relevant Provisions of the National Broadcasting Commission Act,among others.
The Court further restrained the respondents, which includes the Executive governor of Niger State,the Attorney General of Niger State, and the Niger State Urban Development Board, from carrying actions that could be detrimental to the Broadcasting license or business premises located at the NTA premises,Uphill in Minna.
Delivering the ruling Justice Mohammed Mohammed underscores the importance of the status quo ante pending the determination of the substantive motion.
Specifically,the interim injunction prohibits actions which include the revocation, withdrawal,seizure or an forceful entry and demolition at the broadcasting house.
Barrister Philip Emmanuel while expressing his delight with the court’s ruling highlighting its significance for the Protection of the applicants Constitutional rights and interest.
The case has been scheduled to 14th of August for further hearing,into the full hearing of the matter.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, had at the large All Progressive Congress (APC) Caucus meeting described the Private Radio’s House activities as Inciting the Public against his administration.
As a result he ordered the Commissioner of Police CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman,and the state Commissioner for Homeland security Bello Mohammed for the demolition of the Radio and the seizure of the Radio’s operational license by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
The Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris who was in the Meeting in a press Statement appealed to the governor to Channel his grievances to the NBC for redress