Ganduje reveals who to hold responsible for violent nationwide protests in Kano
Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has dismissed as unfounded and laughable the allegations that protesters looted and absconded with ‘sensitive documents’ related to his corruption trial.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Ganduje on Thursday asserted that credible intelligence indicates that the recent protests, which turned violent, were directly funded by the administration of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Contrary to the Kano government’s allegations that the APC was behind the violent protests, Ganduje claimed that it was actually the Kano State government that orchestrated and financed the unrest in a bid to damage the reputation of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Ganduje expressed grave concern over the actions of a sitting governor inciting violence and chaos within his state, endangering the lives and properties of innocent citizens.
He condemned what he described as reckless and irresponsible behavior aimed at destabilizing Kano, undermining regional peace and security, and tarnishing the President’s image.
The APC Chairman has called for an immediate and thorough investigation by federal security agencies into the Kano State Government’s role in the incident.
He emphasised the need to hold those responsible accountable to prevent similar occurrences in other states.
He noted: “It is laughable that governance has been reduced to a huge joke in Kano state that the state government will condescend low to suggesting that demonstrators broke into a court and carefully selected documents relating to the trial of the APC National Chairman, handpicked them and take them away in this digital age, no discerning mind will buy into this pedestrian propaganda.
“What happened to the documents with the government lawyers? The state government is bereft of ideas on how to run the affairs of the state and has always resorted to churning out myriads of corruption allegations against the former governor of the state Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his family who served the state diligently.
“This claim is nothing more than a desperate attempt by Governor Yusuf’s administration to divert attention from their culpability in the violence that erupted in the state.
“The insinuation that such critical documents could be carted away during a protest is not only far-fetched but also a clear indication of the state’s growing incompetence in handling both security and legal matters.”
The Alex court also restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from further releasing budgetary allocations to the Rivers Government until a valid Appropriation Act is passed by a lawfully constituted house of assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the embattled assembly Speaker, Amaewhule, and 26 others were alleged to have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their seats declared vacant by Okey Jumbo-led house of assembly.
But in its decision, the Supreme Court ordered that all members of the Rivers House of Assembly are to resume normal legislative businesses without any hindrance to any members.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, in the lead judgment, agreed with the arguments made by lawyer to the Amaewhule-led members of the assembly, Mr Ogwu Onoja, SAN.
Justice Agim condemned the conduct of Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, who he said, chose to destroy the government of the state and resort to acting unlawfully by pulling down the house of assembly due to his fear that there were moves to impeach him.
“It must be stated loud and clear that the crisis in Rivers State is as a result of non-adherence to the rule of law as well as the fragrant disregard of court orders,” he said.
The judge faulted the Court of Appeal for holding that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024.
The suit sought to restrain the CBN and AGF from releasing funds to Rivers owing to its failure to obtain a valid Appropriation Act in compliance with the Jan. 22, 2024 judgment by Justice James Omotosho in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023.
He also faulted the consequential order made by the Appeal Court in the Dec. 13, 2024 judgment, voiding the Oct. 30, 2024 judgment by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024.
“The view of the Court of Appeal that suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024 is over the consolidated revenue fund of River State is wrong as it is not supported by the reliefs claimed for in the originating summons.
“This wrong view influenced it to hold that the subject matter of this suit is not within the scope of the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
“It is glaring that the objective of suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024 is to stop the release of funds to the 1st and 2nd respondents herein – the Government of Rivers and Simi Fubara – so as to compel them to comply with the judgment in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 by causing the passage of the appropriation law by the Rivers State House of Assembly properly constituted as prescribed by the Constitution.
“Suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024 is not a fresh action with the subject matter independent of the subject matter of suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023. It is sequel to the judgment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023,” the judge said.
Justice Agim proceeded to set aside the Dec. 13, 2024 judgment of the Court of Appeal, in which the appellate court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine on cases relating to funds belonging to Rivers State.
He restored the Oct. 30, 2024 judgment by Justice Abdulmalik and all the consequential orders made thereto.
The judge said: “In the light of the foregoing, I hold that the decision of the Court of Appeal that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain and determine suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024i s wrong.
“The trial court validly exercised it’s jurisdiction to hear and determine suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024.
“So appeal number: SC/CV/1174/2024 is resolved in favour of the appellants. On the whole, this appeal succeeds as it has merit. It is accordingly allowed.
“The order the Court of Appeal made on the 13th of December 2024 in appeal number: CA/ABJ/CV/1287/2024, striking out suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024 for lack of jurisdiction is hereby set aside,” he said.
Justice Agim faulted the decision of the Rivers governor purporting to deploy the doctrine of necessity and the provisions of Sections 102 and 109 of the Constitution to justify his decision to relate with only four members of a 32-member Rivers House of Assembly.
He held that, having created an environment that made it impossible for the state assembly to lawfully function, Fubara could not rely on Sections 102 and 109.
The court held that the doctrine of necessity to give validity to the proceedings of the house of assembly constituted by less than 1/3 of the members and the action of his actions, which included presenting the state’s appropriate bill before a four-member assembly.
Justice Agim said that Fubara had started preventing the house from conducting its businesses before the issue of defection occured.
He held that having prevented the 27 members from conducting their legislative businesses by pulling down the assembly complex, Fubara’s claimed that the 27 members were no longer members of the state assembly, on grounds that they had defected, was incorrect.
“The claim that the 27 members are no longer members is a perpetuation of his attempt to prevent them from participating in the House business. The 27 members are still valid members of the House of Assembly,” justice Agim said.
He added that Fubara’s fear of impeachment was not a justification for his attack on the house of assembly.
“What he has done is to destroy the government because of his fear that he wants to be impeached,” he said, while expressing concern that this practice was becoming a culture among politicians.
Justice Agim, therefore, awarded a cost of N5 million against Fubara and the government of Rivers, to be paid to the Rivers House of Assembly and Amaewhule.
Other members of the panel; Justices Uwani Abba-Aji (who presided), Ibrahim Saulawa, Chioma Nwosu-Iheme and Jamilu Tukur agreed with the lead judgment.
Also in another judgement delivered on Friday by the same panel, the Supreme Court voided the last local government election conducted in Rivers on Oct. 5, 2024.
All members of the panel unanimously held that the election was conducted in violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act 2024.
Justice Jamilu Tukur, in the lead judgment, agreed with the appellant, the APC that conditions precedent were not complied with before the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) held the election.
Justice Tukur held that there was no evidence the voters’ registration continued until 90 days before the election and that the requisite notices were issued as required by law.(NAN)
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BREAKING; Supreme Court orders CBN, AGF to freeze financial allocations to Rivers govt
BREAKING; Supreme Court orders CBN, AGF to freeze financial allocations to Rivers govt
In a ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court of Nigeria instructed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to halt any further financial allocations to the Rivers State Government, effective immediately.
The court’s decision came after it found that the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, had engaged in a series of illegal and unconstitutional actions. The order will remain in place until the Governor halts these activities, particularly those that have undermined the integrity of the state’s legislative processes.
The Apex Court emphasized that no further funds should be allocated to the state government until a legitimate Appropriation Law is passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule.
This legislation is considered essential for restoring proper governance and financial oversight.
Delivering the unanimous judgment, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim criticized Governor Fubara for his actions, which included the unlawful demolition of the state’s House of Assembly to prevent elected lawmakers from performing their constitutional duties.
The Court stated that this act of aggression, along with other unlawful measures, was a direct affront to the rule of law.
In addition, the five-member panel of Justices, led by Justice Musa Uwani Aba-Aji, ordered the immediate reinstatement of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who had been sidelined by Fubara’s administration. The Court further directed that the Clerk and Deputy Clerk, who were unjustly removed, must be allowed to resume their duties along with other assembly staff.
The Justices lambasted Fubara for operating with just four of the 32 assembly members, citing baseless fears that his impeachment was imminent. They described this situation as a constitutional distortion, enabled by his misuse of immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Supreme Court’s ruling also upheld previous decisions by the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal, both of which declared Fubara’s actions unlawful.
Notably, the Federal High Court had ruled that the Governor’s handling of monthly financial allocations, as well as the presentation of the 2024 budget to a truncated House of Assembly, was a direct violation of constitutional principles.
As part of the ruling, Governor Fubara has been fined N10 million, to be paid to the 27 lawmakers who challenged his conduct.
The Court held that Fubara’s failure to follow constitutional processes, including enacting a valid budget, amounted to a severe breach of public trust and governance norms.
News
EFCC arraigns former Governor, Son, others in alleged N47 billion fraud
EFCC arraigns former Governor, Son, others in alleged N47 billion fraud
A High Court sitting in Abia has granted former two-term Gov. Theodore Orji, his son, and three others bail in the sum of N50 million over an alleged N47 billion fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, arraigned the former governor, and his son,
Chinedum, a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, and Dr Philip Nto, a former Commissioner for Finance.
The others are a government contractor, Obioma King, and a former Director of Finance in the state, Romanus Madu.
The defendants are facing a 16-count charge related to the alleged misappropriation of N47 billion.
EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired to steal and converted about N47 billion meant for various state programmes as contained in the charge sheet No: HU/69C/2024.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants missapriopated N22. 5 billion, allocated as security vote from 2011 to 2015.
The prosecution told the court that the defendants allegedly stole N13 billion from a loan facility granted by Diamond Bank, as well as illegal conversion of N12 billion from the Paris Club refund.
The defendants are also being accused of committing unlawful act and abuse of office to the tune of the sum of N10. 5 billion, being the proceeds of the loan facility granted by First Bank Plc for the benefits of Abia Government.
The defendants also allegedly stole and converted the sum of N2 billion being the proceeds of the Central Bank of Nigeria Funds for Small and Medium Enterprises allocated to the state.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Lilian Abai granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50 million and adjourned the case until June 18 and June 19, for prosecution to open its case.(NAN)