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Rivers: Mixed Reactions Trail Supreme Court’s rejection of Gov Fubara’s suit •Ruling not against Fubara- Rivers Govt explains •Pro-Wike Assembly members hail Apex Court ruling

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Gov Fubara vs Presiding apex court, Justice Musa Uwani-Aba-Aji
By Our Reporter
Supreme Court’s ruling on governor Siminalayi Fubara appeal trailed mixed reactions on Monday mandating him to represent the 2024 budget before the Martin Amaehwule-led Rivers State House of Assembly.
The apex court dismissed the suit in a ruling delivered by Justice Musa Uwani-Aba-Aji following Governor Fubara’s decision to withdrawal the appeal through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali SAN.
Fubara, had informed a 3-man panel of Justices of the Court that events had overtaken his suit, and the request for the withdrawal of the suit was not opposed by the Martin Amaehwule-led Rivers State House of Assembly, who were represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN.
The ruling of the Apex Court however sparked celebrations among supporters of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the embattled 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in Rivers State especially as the court awarded N4M fine against Governor Fubara to be paid to the Martin Amaehwule and the House of Assembly led by him.
They claimed that the coast had been finally cleared for the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to take over the House of Assembly fully.
Meanwhile, supporters of the Rivers State Governor have dismissed the celebrations claiming victory for the pro-Wike lawmakers as misleading.
Former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Asari Toru local government area, Rt. Hon. Orolosama Amachree and strong ally of Governor Fubara told Daily Champion that those celebrating the Apex Court ruling to represent defeat against the governor are doing so in ignorance, as they are totally out of line in their celebration.
Amachree who stated that there is no call for alarm said, the decision of Governor Fubara to withdraw his appeal against representation of the 2024 budget was the right thing to do as the matter has been overtaken by events.
In it’s reaction, the Rivers State Government through the Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara clarified that the Supreme Court decision on Monday, was about the Appeal Court Judgement that Fubara should re-present the 2024 budget before the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly, and not the case challenging the leadership of the State House of Assembly and the membership of the members who defected in December 2023 are still before the Supreme Court.
The Chief of Staff said since the 2024 budget has been spent, Fubara thought to withdraw his appeal against the judgement because it will be a mere academic exercise to dwell on the matter.
He said, “This appeal SC/CV/1071/ 2024: GOV of Rivers State v Rivers State House of Assembly & Ors that came up today at the Supreme Court has become purely academic.
“The case leading to this appeal was before James Omotosho as SUIT NO. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023. It was filed on the 29th day of November 2023.
“SUIT NO. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 pertains to the 2024 budget, which is no longer alive, the monies appropriated therein having been judiciously spent for the benefit of the good people of Rivers State.
“The 2024 budget became spent on the 31st December of the 2024 fiscal year. The appeal is of no useful purpose in this year 2025, which has its budget. The only reasonable thing left to do in the circumstances was to withdraw the appeal and have it dismissed.
“It would be most unwise to belabour the Honourable Court with academic appeals without any practical or utilitarian value.
“It is important to note that after Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 was filed on 29th November 2023, Martin Chike and his 26 friends defected from PDP to APC on the 11th Day of December 2023. Their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly became vacant.
“This appeal that was withdrawn today has nothing to do with the seats of Martin Chike Amaewhule and his 26 friends in the Rivers State House of Assembly. The members of the public should not be taken in by the misleading propaganda by Martin Chike Amaewhule and his 26 friends.”
Similarly, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Warisenibo Joseph Johnson said the appeal was of no useful purpose as the 2024 budget became spent on the 31st December of 2024 fiscal year, adding that the only reasonable thing left to do was to withdraw the appeal and have it dismissed.
The Commissioner said, “There was no Supreme court judgment against Gov. Fubara, ignore the outdated political propaganda by some desperate politicians.
“The Supreme Court is a very busy court. It will be most unwise to belabour the Honourable Court with academic appeals without any practical or utilitarian value.
“Supreme Court ruled on the Appeal over the 2024 budget voluntarily withdrawn by Gov. Fubara because 2024 budget cycle have ended and no need wasting time discussing a budget that have been fully spent and implemented.”
He maintained that Rt. Hon Victor Oko Jumbo remains still authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and nothing can change that.
Earlier, the Speaker of the embattled 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, had commended the five-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court for upholding justice and reaffirming the rule of law.
Amaewhule in the also expressed gratitude to the FCT Minister and other leaders of State who have supported the throughout this period throughout the period of the crisis.
“The Supreme Court has spoken, and the people of Rivers State are elated with this judgement,”
The embattled Speaker condemned the Governor’s refusal to provide the Assembly with its statutory entitlements for nearly a year, adding that the Governor thought they would be starved, stating that “today’s judgment has strengthened our resolve and hope in the judiciary.”
He accused Governor Fubara of consistently disregarding court orders, warning that all eyes are now on him to see whether he will disobey the Supreme Court’s verdict.
He stressed that the Governor has been spending taxpayers’ money for a year without appropriation, in clear defiance of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal Judgements. “Today’s judgment confirms that Governor Fubara has been in gross violation of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
Recalled that the Court of Appeal had, on Thursday, October 10, 2024, dismissed Fubara’s 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.

Law & Crime

Niger State AG, Commissioner for Justice seeks collaboration with Police to end thuggery, Youth restiveness 

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AG,Commissioner for Justice in Niger State Barrister Nasiru Mua'zu,(left) CP Abudullahi Adamu Elleman(Right)

 

By Uthman Baba-Al-Naseer, Minna

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger State Barrister Nasiru Mua’zu, has requested for a collaboration with the Niger State Police Command to bring an end to the activities of thuggery and youth restiveness in Minna the Niger State Capital.

He assured the Niger State, Command of his Ministry supports in ensuring that the increasing Proportion of youths restiveness and other security Challenges in the state are brought to an end.

The Attorney General who stated this while on a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police in Niger State, CP Abudullahi Adamu Elleman in his office Monday, noted that the office of the Attorney General is worried with the activities of ” these miscreants that have been making Minna the state capital inhabitable in recent times”

According to the Commissioner for Justice, members of the public also need to support relevant security agencies in the state with the needed information on the activities of these miscreants ” so that they can be taken away from the streets in the general interest of the citizens”

Adding, “As you all known police and other security forces as well as the courts cannot perform any magic neither they are magicians.

” Without Any vital information from the Public on the identity of these miscreants and their hideouts you cannot expect any magic from the security agencies. So all stakeholders must collaborate with the relevant security agencies to flush out these youths from our midsts” he asserted

Speaking further, Nasiru Mua’zu described as disturbing the undue interference of some prominent individuals and parents on the prosecution of their children involvement in criminality warning that full wrath of the law will be visited on such parents.

The Attorney General assured that the Judiciary will continue to leave up its constitutional mandate in ensuring the full Prosecution of the miscreants and appropriate punishment are mated on them if found guilty noting that unnecessary interference as the factor responsible for the effective Prosecution of the miscreants

Receiving the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Police CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, applauded the Commissioner for Justice for the visit and assure that the Command under his leadership will synergize with the office of the Attorney General in ensuring the speedy dispensation of Criminal Justice in the state.

He noted that the Police, as a critical stakeholders in the Criminal administration of Justice would continue to partner with the Ministry of Justice in making the state unsafe for Criminal minded elements in the state

CP Adamu Elleman requested the support of the office of the Attorney General for training and retraining of investigating Police Officers (IPO) this according to the Commissioner of Police will improve the capacity of the Police investigators for effective performance.

He told the Attorney General that legal department of the Command will be given the needed empowerment for effective Prosecution of cases and the legal department will be monitored to perform.

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Law & Crime

Minna Court remands six persons in Correctional Custody for alleged kidnapping 

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Judicial logo
By Uthman Baba-Al-Naseer, Minna
The Minna Chief Magistrate court Number one has ordered for the remand of six persons among them a married woman in correctional custody for alleged kidnapping.
Hajiya Ummulkhatum Mohammed the Presiding Chief Magistrate who gave the ordered for their remand held that her court lack the Jurisdiction to try kidnapping case,” even with their plea of guilty to the offence.
The Operatives of the Anti kidnapping squad of the Niger State Police Command arrested and charged them to the Chief Magistrate court on four count charges bothering on Conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
According to the  Police First Information Report (FIR), marked MN/ CM/ CR/11/2025 the four count charges were punishable under section 3 (1),2 (2) of the kidnapping and cattle rustling law of Niger State 2016 and section 27 of the firearms  Act Cap 28 law of Niger state  2004.
The defendants include, Aisha Sani, Abuh Mohammed,Daudu Mohammed,Mamman Sani Shehu Arzika Laura and Jibrin Ahmadu all of Kwanar Sangir, Tunga Magajiya,Udu and Duggi village in Rijau local government area.
The Police Prosecutor Inspector Bello Mohammed Beji told the court that on the 10th, of March,2025, ” one Mallam Sarkin Noma Gata of Marrando village in Rijau local government area of Niger State reported  on the 5th,March 2025. He was  sleeping with his family with his  compound when unknown gunmen numbering six invaded his house, firing sporadically into the air and beat him until he became unconscious.
“But he managed to escape to the nearby house and his daughter Mai-Kyau Mallam, a 22 year old,was  also kidnapped to an unknown destination,”he told the court.
During Police investigation ,the Prosecutor further told the court that they all freely confessed to have conspired among themselves to have committed the crime.
” And also confessed that they demanded the ransom of Nine Million Naira. But they bargained to Five Million Naira”
They were rescued  by some group of hunters when they were to deliver the ransom in the  Ari Gida Bush in Rijau one of the victim Mai-Kyau was rescued.
When the charges were read to them by the Presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Ummulkhatum Mohammed,four them pleaded guilty of the offence while two others pleaded not guilty.
At this point the Presiding Chief Magistrate held that her court lack Jurisdiction to convict and sentence them ” is only High Court that has the Jurisdiction to convict and pass verdict on them”
She then told the prosecutor to hasten up and file the appropriate charges against them in the High court and she then ordered for their remand in Correctional Custody
Hajiya Ummulkhatum Mohammed adjougned the case to 6th of May, 2025 for further mention.
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Law & Crime

Falana, others raise the alarm over threat to Fawehinmi’s house in Lagos 

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Right Activist,Gani Fawehinmi
By Our Correspondent
Alarmed at the threat facing the family of of the late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi,Human rights advocates including Femi Falana; Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade; Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Edetaen Ojo and others have lamented the imminent danger facing the family of the late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi.
Speaking to journalists on behalf of the team, Falana said, Gani’s family members are being threatened by a developer that erected a four-storey hotel right by the fence protecting the front part of Chief’s house within Ikeja GRA.
Falana said, “An individual or group of individuals, either acting in utter contempt of the rules and regulations guiding property development in Lagos State or acting in connivance with unscrupulous government officials, have decided to erect a four-storey hotel right by the fence protecting the front part of Fawehinmi’s house in Ikeja GRA.
“So brazen were the dare-devil builders or developers that they ignored family warnings and chose to build their structure almost on top of Fawehinmi’s fence. It is possible that they believe they are above the law. Or perhaps, they bear some grudge against him and his family and therefore do not see anything wrong in their brazen act of recklessness and injustice.
“But, whoever they think they are and whatever their motive, our stance is that this injustice should not, cannot and must not be allowed to stand.”
Falana noted that besides the fence protecting Fawehinmi’s house facing imminent collapse, a 1000-litre capacity water tank installed right on top of the 4-storey structure has thrice collapsed and fallen into Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s compound.
“We are fortunate that no one has so far been hurt or killed as a result of these incidents. But these repeated incidents themselves show without doubt how dangerously close this structure is to Fawehinmi’s house.
“We do not want to wait until any such catastrophe occurs before taking action. We have, therefore, chosen to speak out now before deadlier incidents occur,” he added.
The group demanded that the building should be pulled down, alleging that the construction violates Lagos State urban development and building regulations, particularly with regards to the mandatory setback requirement of at least three-meter space in-between buildings.
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