Presidency forwards Onnoghen's name to Senate for confirmation as CJN

The Presidency has finally forwarded the name of Hon Justice W.S Onnoghen to the Senate as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Read his profile below.
Hon. Justice W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen CFR

Hon. Justice W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen was born on the 22nd December, 1950 at Okurike Town, Biase L.G.A. of Cross Rivers State.
He attended the Presbyterian Primary School, Okurike Town between 1959 and 1965.
He later proceeded to Accra, Ghana to attend Odorgorno Secondary School, Adabraka, Accra, Ghana between 1967 and 1972 for his West African Examination Council (WAEC) Exams.
He was at Accra Academy, Accra Ghana between 1972 and 1974 for his WAEC (A-Levels) before proceeding to the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana between 1974 and 1977 to obtain his Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B (Hons)) and graduated with 2nd Class Upper Division.
He attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos between 1977 and 1978 for his B.L certificate.
Her previous professional appointments/positions held include:
Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Ikeja, Lagos, Ogun State (1978 - 1979)
Partner in the Law Firm of Effiom Ekong & Company, Calabar (1979 – 1988)
Principal Partner/Head of Chamber of Walter Onneghen & Associates, Calabar (1988 -1989)
High Court Judge, Cross Rivers State Judiciary (1989 - 1998)
Chairman, Cross Rivers State Armed Robbery and Fire Arms Tribunal (1990 - 1993)
Chairman, Judicial Enquiry into the Crisis between Student of the University of Calabar and Obufa Esuk Orok Community, Calabar (1996)
Chairman, Failed Bank Tribunal, Ibadan Zone (1998)
Judge, High Court of Rivers State (1992 - 2004)
Justice of the Court of Appeal (1998 – 2005)
A Fellow, Chaterred Institute of Arbitrators, Hon. Justice W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen has attended several conferences and seminars around the world. He is a member of the Body of Bencher and Life Bencher.
Hon. Justice W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) since 2005.

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Wife drags husband to court for molesting own daughter

Abdulraheem Nasiru was on Tuesday arraigned before the judge at Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly molesting his 12 years old daughter.

The 36 years old driver who lives at Daki Biu area of Jabi, Abuja was slammed with a one-count charge of molesting a minor.

The prosecutor, Florence Auhioboh, told the court that the matter was reported by one Charity Ishaya, wife of the accused person and of the same address, at Life Camp Police Station, Abuja on January 31, 2017.

The prosecutor said that the complainant alleged that sometime in December 2016, her husband inserted his finger into the vagina of their 12-year-old daughter, contrary to
Section 275 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge on the grounds that he could not possibly molest his biological daughter.

Upon application by his counsel, Charity Nwosu, the judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

He  adjourned the matter till March 3, 2017 for continuation of hearing.

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Convert mosques to schools, Sanusi tells northern governors.

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi II has advised northern governors to convert some of the mosques in the region to primary schools in order to boost the acquisition of western education by their people.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of 2,500 Post Graduate Diploma and NCE teachers on day three of the Kano Basic Education week on Tuesday, Sanusi said that the measure would save cost and boost education in the north.

“If you look at our educational needs viz a viz the infrastructure deficit, it has become imperative to convert existing mosques to primary schools, and aside cost reduction in this era of recession, it would accelerate education development in the region,” he said.

He added that since the mosques were not always in use, converting them to schools would help to bring education closer to the door steps of the people.

“It is not all the time that we pray and these utilities remain idle for the better part of the day. It will be highly rewarding if we convert them to learning institutions as obtains in other climes.

“When you convert these mosques to institutions of learning in your domain, you simply bring education to the door steps of citizens at less cost."

However, elder statesman, Dr Junaid Mohammed has dismissed Sanusi's suggestion, describing it as mischievous and unworthy.

“Ordinarily, I won’t dignify the statement credited to the Emir with any response because the Emir talks from both sides of his mouth. Though, I agree that there are too many mosques all around and more functional schools need to be built, I don’t think converting a mosque or church to school is what will solve the problem.

“I believe the issue of millions of beggars on streets in the North is what should have formed the basis of discussion and not the issue of converting mosques to schools," he said.

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Fayose paid me N75m, Ozekhome issues statement on frozen account

Constitutional lawyer Mr Mike Ozekhome has kicked against the freezing of his account with Guarantee Trust Bank, GTB at instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The anti-graft agency had obtained the order of a Lagos High Court to freeze the account on the grounds that the 75 million naira found in it was suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

In a statement he issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Ozekhome said that the money was paid into his account by Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose for legal services.

“It is with rude shock and personal sense of consternation that my attention has just been drawn to online publications with numerous calls from Nigerians, that my account containing N75 million domiciled with GTBank has been temporarily frozen, allegedly based on an ex-parte order obtained by the EFCC from the Honourable Justice Abdulazeez Anka of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

“It is alleged that the said sum of N75 million is ‘’suspected’’ to be the proceeds of crime or that it is from money laundering. This is an invidious lie from the pit of hell.

“For the records, the N75 million was paid into my account by my client, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, as part payment of Professional Fees for the numerous cases my chambers is currently handling for him (in his personal capacity) and his aides across Nigeria. The money is neither ‘’suspected proceeds of crime’’ nor of money laundering.

“On the 13th day of December, 2016, I defeated the EFCC in a judgment delivered by the Honourable Justice Taiwo O Taiwo, sitting at the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti.

“Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, the same lawyer who was said to have obtained the ex-parte order blocking my account from Honourable Justice Abdulazeez Anka, is the very counsel for the EFCC in the case I won for Governor Fayose before the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti.

“After the accounts were defrozen by the judgment of the court, I urged Governor Fayose to make part payment of N100 million for the numerous cases I am handling for him and his aides across Nigeria, but which he did not have funds to pay for.

“He then transferred, with the cooperation of Zenith Bank Plc, which was actually the 2nd Defendant in the suit, the sum of N75 million as part payment of my Professional Fees.

“I have since utilized the funds for the payment of salaries, school fees of my children schooling in Nigeria and abroad, with spirally inflation, and for my Mike Ozekhome Foundation (MOF) activities.

“On the 19th of January, 2017, Honourable Justice Taiwo O Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, took argument on a motion for injunction pending appeal restraining Governor Fayose from withdrawing the remaining balance in his said accounts. This same motion was argued by the same Rotimi Oyedepo.

“The court on the 31st of January, 2017, dismissed EFCC’s motion. He has now appealed to the Court of Appeal, Ado Ekiti, with a similar motion.

“The present action of EFCC is clearly calculated to overreach Governor Fayose in the appeal and also to embarrass and intimidate me from defending Governor Fayose.

“This will never happen. I will continue to defend beleaguered and oppressed Nigerians from the antics and high handedness of publicly funded government institutions that breach their fundamental rights.

“It is sickening and inconceivable that money legitimately and legally paid by a client to his Solicitor from an unencumbered account wholly and totally defrozen and unblocked by the judgment of a competent court of law can be termed “suspected proceeds of crime or money laundering’’.

“I am a practising lawyer, not a government employee, contractor or a business man. I have NEVER laundered and will NEVER launder any money in my life.

“It is so shameful and disgusting when we make ourselves a laughing stock before international circles through brazen unconstitutional acts by publicly funded government institutions, just to silence all critical voices of reason and plurality of ideas.

“I shall take immediate legal steps to defreeze the account, in the event that the EFCC does not immediately voluntarily vacate the said order."

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Osinbajo speaks with Buhari, says president is alive and well

Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is alive and well.

Osinbajo said this on Monday while addressing State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Oyegun, his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Sen. Babafemi and the Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Matters, Hon. Abike Dabiri at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Osinbajo disclosed that he had a lengthy telephone conversation with President Buhari on Monday afternoon, adding that the country's number one citizen was alive and well.

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Our MUMU don reach last bus stop, Charley Boy tells Tuface Idibia

Veteran musician and civil rights activist Charley Boy, also known as Area Father has expressed his disappointment with Tuface Idibia's decision to opt out of the "Enough is Enough" peaceful protest billed to kick off across the country on Monday, February 6, 2017.

In a statement he issued on Monday, Charley Boy said that Nigerians must begin to resist political insensitivity and mindless looting of their common wealth.

Read the full text of his statement below.

The TuFace Cancelled Protest. The Struggle to overcome Political Insanity, Audacious impunity and Mindless looting in Nigeria took a Negative hit last night not just because Tuface Idibia called off the 6th of February, 2017 Protest; because most of the demons we are Fighting against hijack the Peoples Protest and Anger at the Establishment.
We must not Trivialize the Struggle because it is the Emancipation of the Nigerian Mind. President Muhammadu Buhari is not the Problem of the Nigerian State and this is not excusing his Failures. The Nigeria Political Elite are Vampires Feeding off the Blood of a Willing and Docile Populace. They Loot Because we Hail; The Celebration of Ibori in Delta State Yesterday and Across the Country Typifies the Insanity of our Stupidity and eternal Problem of the Nigerian Struggling Populace.
Now we retreat to regroup and replan and we will lock hands to synchronise our objectives. For me, it is #ALUTAETERNAL, because If we no plan well things no go work well. No be everybody get that kin heart to stand tall when jungle mature. The real tsunami it’s coming, and no doubt I will be on the front line. I will take the First Bullet; let my body be the first to drop; Let my Blood be the first to wash our LANDS.
Will the Nigeria youth back a Full Blooded Peaceful Political Mass Revolution at the Federal, State and Local Government Level? I doubt. But, I no go give up on my children, The Coalition of the Frustrated, Angry and Hungry, as well as this country that I love. We must sustain the pressure and cannot turn back as the Revolution Continues. We must begin to resist political insensitivity and mindless looting of our common wealth.
I, AreaFada will fight so fear will no longer cripple my people. Our MUMU don reach last bus-stop. And before we go start to chop sand sand, we go enter street and purge our lands of political dictatorship, oppression, poverty and corruption.
We must not walk/work alone or we will fail miserably. The Nigerian politician is our eternal enemy; The Nigerian people are the willing victim and it is time to channel our anger peacefully towards making governance work work for us not against us.

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Buhari sick but not terminally ill - FG

Following the announcement of President Buhari's decision to indefinitely extend his two weeks vacation on Sunday, the Presidency has finally admitted that the nation's number one citizen is sick.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina, the Presidency said that Buhari decided to shelve his planned return on Sunday on the advice of his doctors to complete and receive the results of tests recommended for him.

Furthermore, an unnamed government official told The Punch correspondents on Sunday that the president was truly sick although not terminally ill.

“ The President is sick . But it will not be correct to say he is terminally ill. The President is only under the weather ; he is not terminally ill, ” The Punch reports.

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