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Supreme Court Dismisses Gov Fubara’s Suit against Pro-Wike 27 Rivers Lawmakers

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Gov.S Fubara of Rivers state
By Abdul Ganiyy Akanbi
The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara seeking to remove 27 members of the State House of Assembly on ground of their alleged defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Apex Court on Monday dismissed the suit in a ruling delivered by Justice Musa Uwani-Aba-Aji following the dramatic withdrawal of the appeal by Fubara through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali SAN.
Governor Fubara in the notice for withdrawal of the case simply informed a 3-man panel of Justices of the Court that events have overtaken his suit and that the lawmakers are their friends.
The request for the withdrawal of the contentious suit was not opposed by Rivers StatesHouse of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule who were represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN,
Olanipekun SAN however demanded for outright dismissal of the suit on the premise that parties have filed and exchanged their brief of arguments and thus, joined issues with each other.

Barr.Nyesome Wike

He argued that the proper order to be made in the circumstances is the dismissal of the case which the court agreed with.
Following no objections from parties, the Apex Court dismissed it and awarded N4M against Fubara to be paid to the House of Assembly and Amaewhule.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the dismissal of the suit, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria  Ken Njemanze said that the coast has been finally cleared for the 27 lawmakers to take over the House of Assembly fully.
The senior advocate explained that all steps taken by Fubara in the absence of the 27 lawmakers, including presentation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets to only 3 lawmakers among others, have become a nullity.
The Court of Appeal had on October 10, 2024 dismissed Fubara’s an appeal on the same matter.
Similarly, the Federal High Court in Abuja
presided over by Justice James Omotosho on January 22, 2024, nullified the passage of Rivers State’s N800 billion 2024 budget by four members of the House of Assembly.
The court had described the bill’s passage by the four lawmakers, led by Hon. Ehie Edison, as an aberration and illegality.
It consequently ordered Governor Fubara to re-present the budget to the Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly.
The suit filed by the 27 members of the Assembly loyal to former governor of the state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike filed the suit which got the blessings of the lower court.
Listed as defendants of the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 are the National Assembly, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Clerk to the National Assembly.
Others include Governor Fubara, Hon. Edison, the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, and the Inspector-General of Police(IGP).
Justice Omotosho had while ruling on an ex-parte motion by the 27 legislators issued an interim order restraining Fubara and his agents from obstructing the pro-Wike legislators from carrying out their constitutional duties.
He also restrained the governor from removing/redeploying the Clerk of the Assembly and withholding funds meant for the Assembly, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
But, while the order subsisted, Governor Fubara presented the budget that the four lawmakers loyal to him passed.
The governor had also prevented the pro-Wike legislators from sitting by demolishing a part of the Assembly complex and withholding funds for legislative functions.
Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho had held that the four lawmakers’ passage of the budget and other actions taken while the 30 November 2023 order subsisted amounted to a nullity.
He said the governor acted like a tyrant in the manner the Assembly complex was partially demolished and funds for legislative activities withheld.
The judge had issued an order restraining Fubara from frustrating the Assembly-led by Hon. Amaewhule from sitting or interfering in its activities.
He also described as unlawful, Governor Fubara’s redeployment of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk out of the Assembly, stating that the action amounted to an affront on separation of power.
The judge ordered the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk to resume office immediately and unhindered.
Apart from also asking Fubara to promptly release all monies standing to the credit of the Assembly, he also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately deploy his operatives to the Assembly complex.
The judge had also barred the National Assembly from taking over the Assembly or accepting or treating any request by Governor Fubara on any matter affecting the Legislature..

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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Law & Crime

How Kwara’s UBEC N5.78 Billion Funds Was Allegedly Diverted

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CJN of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat kekete -Ekun

 

By Our Reporter

The trial of the immediate past Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, over alleged misappropriation of N5.78 billion in public funds continued on Wednesday, March 11, 2024, before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the EFCC presented its second witness (PW 2), Dr. Musa Oladimeji Dasuki, a retired Permanent Secretary at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), who served between 2011 and 2020.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Dasuki testified that the Kwara State Government, under the leadership of the first defendant as governor and the second defendant as finance commissioner, requested UBEC funds for the years 2013 and 2014 to pay teachers’ salaries.

According to Dasuki: “The then Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, who is the second defendant in this case, initially made an oral request for the release of the 2013 UBEC Matching Grant to pay teachers’ salaries. However, we insisted that such a request must be made in writing. Subsequently, the commissioner sent a letter conveying His Excellency’s approval for the release of the funds. As a result, the money was deposited into the state government’s account domiciled with Skye Bank Plc.”

Dasuki further explained that SUBEB initially opposed the request because they knew it would affect ongoing projects. However, they eventually approved the release after receiving assurances from Banu that the funds would be repaid once the state received its allocation from Abuja.

“A letter was written to that effect from the office of the Commissioner for Finance, signed on his behalf, and the money was released immediately upon receiving the letter,” he added.

Despite the assurances, Dasuki stated that the money was never repaid.

“According to the 2013 action plan submitted to UBEC, the funds were intended for the construction of 40 standard classroom blocks with offices, 40 VIP toilets, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centers in primary and junior secondary schools across the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State. However, many of these projects could not be executed because the funds had been diverted,” he said.

He further testified that many contractors protested due to non-payment for completed projects.

During cross-examination by Jimoh Mumini, SAN, counsel to the first defendant, Dasuki confirmed that neither the former governor nor the finance commissioner was a member of SUBEB. He also clarified that the loans were obtained on behalf of the state government, not in the defendants’ personal capacities.

Further hearing has been adjourned until Thursday, March 13, 2025.

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Law & Crime

FCT Police Neutralizes Infamous Kidnapper Dogo Saleh *Recover AK-47, other weapons

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By

IGP Kayode Egbetokun

 

In it bid to rid the Abuja of criminal al sorts crimes and criminals, the FCT Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its relentless fight against criminal elements terrorizing the Federal Capital Territory and neighboring states. In a well-coordinated intelligence-led operation, FCT Police operatives neutralized a notorious bandit, Salisu Mohammed, alias “Dogo Saleh,” following an intense counter-kidnapping operation aimed at dismantling a syndicate responsible for violent crimes along the Kaduna-Lokoja-Enugu highway and within the FCT.

This was disclosed in a statement issued to newsmen by the Command Spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh on Wednesday in Abuja.

On March 3, 2025, acting on credible intelligence regarding the movement of bandits into the FCT, the Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led operatives to block their access routes. After meticulous tracking, the operatives successfully intercepted and arrested Salisu Mohammed at Gidan Abe Forest while he was en route to Bwari Area Council, FCT.

Salisu Mohammed, a 21-year-old Fulani man from Baban Saural village, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was identified as a notorious hitman for bandit leaders operating in Rijana Forest, Kaduna State. He had terrorized communities along major highways, kidnapping unsuspecting victims and extorting huge ransoms.

During the operation, he attempted to evade capture, abandoning his possessions, which included:
– An AK-49 rifle with two magazines
– 60 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition
– N3,000,000 cash proceeds from previous kidnappings

Further investigations revealed his direct involvement in several high-profile kidnappings and killings, including:

1. Kyauta Village, Chikun LGA (two years ago) – Two individuals, including a security officer, kidnapped. Ransom collected: Millions of Naira The officer was later killed.
2. Kike Village (one year ago) – A security officer’s wife kidnapped. Ransom collected: millions of naira.
3. Bagada Village (five months ago) – Three individuals kidnapped. Ransom collected: millions of naira.
4. Village near Kaduna Refinery (one year ago) – Two men kidnapped. Ransom collected: millions of naira.
5. Karuga Village, Chikun LGA (one year ago) – One person kidnapped. Ransom collected: millions of naira.
6. Bagado Village, Chikun LGA (eleven months ago) – Ransom collected: millions of naira.
7. Dan-Bushiya Village (two years ago) – Ransom collected: millions of naira.
8. Kidnapping of a woman and her two children at Police Quarters in Baban Saural, Chikun LGA – The officer and her children remain in captivity.
9. Attack on security outpost at Kujama Market, Kaduna (January 5, 2025) – Two security personnel killed, firearms stolen.

Salisu Mohammed and his gang were actively involved in kidnapping motorists along the Lokoja-Enugu highway. Led by his gang leader, Kanaboro, alongside Saleh and Abubakar, they recently kidnapped a tribal youth leader and others, collecting ransom before their release.

Leadership:
– Boka – Overall commander (now deceased)
– Sharmi (surname unknown) – Deputy
– Dogo Isa – Assistant (now deceased)
– Gudan – Assistant
Each of them operated a sub-camp in the forest.

Connection with Terrorists:

The gang is loyal to Dogo Gide and collaborates with the Ansaru terrorist group for arms and ammunition supply.

On March 4, 2025, at approximately 11:14 PM, leveraging intelligence provided by the arrested suspect, operatives launched a high-risk follow-up operation to dismantle his gang. The suspect led the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to Kwasau Forest, Kagarko LGA, Kaduna State, where his gang, led by one Abdu Musa, alias “Kanabaro,” had established a major hideout.

Upon arrival, the Police team was ambushed by armed bandits attempting to free the suspect. The operatives swiftly engaged the criminals in a fierce gun battle, displaying superior tactical expertise and resilience. The bandits were ultimately overpowered and forced to flee into the forest with severe gunshot wounds. The suspect sustained fatal gunshot wounds inflicted by his own gang during the crossfire. He was rushed to Kubwa General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

The Police recovered:

– An AK-47 rifle with a scratched-out breech number
– One magazine with two rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition

The bandits’ hideout was successfully dislodged.

One officer, Inspector of the FCT Anti-Kidnapping Unit, sustained minor injuries and has since been treated and discharged. No other casualties were recorded.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Olatunji Disu, has commended the officers involved in the operation for their bravery, professionalism, and tactical efficiency. He assured residents that operations are ongoing to track and apprehend the fleeing gang members and dismantle all criminal networks operating within the region.

He further reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging citizens to remain vigilant and support law enforcement efforts by providing timely and actionable intelligence.

The FCT Police Command urges members of the public to report any suspicious activities, individuals with gunshot wounds, or movements of criminal elements to the nearest police station. Citizens can also reach out through the following emergency lines:

– 08032003913
– 08028940883
– 07057337653
– Complaint Response Unit: 08107314192

 

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