See how EFCC secured court order for Metuh's detention

Some 30 hours after Olisa Metuh's arrest, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC approached the Chief Magistrate's Court in Wuse Zone 2 for an order to detain him.

See what EFCC counsel, Mr. C.O. Ugwu, told the Magistrate ;

“Your Worship, we have a remand proceeding brought by way of ex parte motion pursuant to Section 293 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

“The application is supported by Form 8, which is the stipulated form for an application of this nature. It is of 16-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Junaid Saidu, a detective officer with EFCC.

“We place reliance on the entirety of the deposition in the said affidavit, especially paragraphs 4-15. In a nutshell, we have brought this application because the investigation involved in this case is a bit complex and there are also persons reasonably suspected to be involved in the fraud who are yet at large.

“We need the suspect in the custody so as to aid us in our investigation. So, we have come with this application to respectfully apply for an order of this Honourable Court authorising us to keep him in custody.

“By the provision of Section 296(1) of the ACJ Act, Your Worship is enjoined to grant an application of this nature for a period of 14 days.

“May I conclude my submission by referring this Honourable Court to the case of Lufadeju v. Jonhnson(2007) 8NWLR Pt 1037 at Page 535.

“This is a case where the Supreme Court held that it is constitutional to detain a suspect so as to aid investigation and to ensure that the right of the suspect is protected.

“This is because we have approached the court to justify his detention by operation of law. So, there is no way we can detain him unnecessarily since the court is in the picture.”

And here is Chief Magistrate Okeagu Azubuike's ruling after considering the learned counsel's submission.

“This court has read carefully the affidavit in the Form 8 to support this application as well as the legal authorities submitted thereto.

“This court has therefore found merit in this application and hereby allows the applicant to detain the respondent(Olisa Metuh) in their custody from the 6th of January to 13th of January, 2016, pending the investigation.

“The Respondent(Olisa Metuh) should be given access to his lawyer, relatives and medical doctors and should be arraigned before a court of law on or before 13th of January.”

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27 Years Old Wanderer Jailed In Abuja

A 27 year-old man identified as Vincent Sunday was on Thursday sentenced to three weeks imprisonment for wandering and constituting public nuisance in Abuja.

However, the presiding judge of Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Alhaji Abubakar Sadique gave the convict an option of N3000 fine with a warning to steer clear of crime.

Vincent Sunday of no fixed address was convicted for wandering around the streets of Abuja for no satisfactory reason.

The prosecutor, Zeerah Douglass had earlier told the court that the convict was arrested by a police patrol team along Ademola Adetokunbo street, Wuse 2, Abuja, and taken to Kado Police Station on Jan. 1.

The suspect was convicted under Section 198 of the Penal Code.

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Adeshina did not collect N50m in cash from Jonathan: NGE President

Garba Deen  Mohammed, President of Nigerian Guild of Editors has denied claims that his predecessor, Mr Femi Adeshina collected N50m in cash from former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to Mohammed the money was Jonathan’s donation to the N850m fundraising dinner on April 10, 2014 for the proposed Editors' Plaza.

Mohammed said in a statement he issued on Wednesday that ;
“On 10 April, 2014, the NGE held a fundraising dinner at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, to raise N850million for the purpose of building a befitting secretariat in Abuja which shall be called The Editors Plaza. It was a public event, attended by several dignitaries among them federal cabinet ministers, state governors and captains of industry or their representatives.

“Former President Goodluck Jonathan was invited to the event at which he was represented by the former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Labaran Maku.

“At the event, Maku, among other donors, publicly pledged N50 million as the federal government’s contribution towards the building project. Indeed the announcement of this donation has been on the website of the NGE since April 12, 2014; and is still there for those who may wish to verify.

“For the avoidance of doubt, neither Mr. Femi Adesina, who was the President of the guild at the time, nor any other official of the guild collected cash from the government.”

The statement also said that soon after the fundraising dinner, the Federal Government redeemed the pledge by a direct transfer into the Zenith Bank account of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

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SuperSport, AIT, 2 others to broadcast Glo-CAF Awards live.

The 2015 Glo-CAF Awards holding today at the International Conference Center, Abuja will be broadcast live on
African Independent Television (AIT), Supersports, Canal 2 and Sport 5.

According to Globacom, the sponsors of the event, the live
broadcast will enable people across the world to watch  Africa honour its illustrious sons and daughters who  distinguished themselves in football as players or administrators in 2015.

“We recognise that not everyone would be able to attend the show. The live broadcast will, therefore, enable those who are not at the venue to watch the show from the comfort of their homes or offices. We want Africans and other football lovers to be able to share this glorious moment with us. The event will start at 6 p.m., while the live telecast will commence on the mentioned stations from 9.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. Central Africa time,” the company said.

Entertainers billed to perform at the event are already in Abuja. They include  Malian sensation, Salif Keita, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African male choral group, Awilo Longomba, Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr,  D’banj, Korede Bello, Di’ja, Bez, Omawumi, Ego and King Sunny Ade.

The acting President of FIFA and President of Confederation of African Football, Alhaji Isa Hayatou is also in town.

The major highlight of the event will be the crowning of the African Footballer of the Year.

The three contenders for the coveted crown are Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borrussia Dortmund, four-time African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City, and Andrew Ayew of Ghana and Swansea City FC.

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Why El-Rufai Sacked Council Chairmen In Kaduna

Governor Nasir El-Rufai yesterday dissolved the management committees of the 23 local government areas in Kaduna State.

The dissolution was announced through a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Samuel Aruwan.

According to the statement, the management committees were dissolved because they had served out their six months tenure.

“Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State, has therefore approved the dissolution of the interim management committees. The Governor also extended his profound appreciation to all the IMC members for their selfless and dedicated service to their local governments in particular, and Kaduna State in general.

“The Government has also directed each IMC to handover to the most senior director in their respective local governments, who will oversee the office of Chairman pending action by the honourable members of the House of Assembly,” it said.

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Why El-Rufai Sacked Council Chairmen In Kaduna

Governor Nasir El-Rufai yesterday dissolved the management committees of the 23 local government areas in Kaduna State.

The dissolution was announced through a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Samuel Aruwan.

According to the statement, the management committees were dissolved because they had served out their six months tenure.

“Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State, has therefore approved the dissolution of the interim management committees. The Governor also extended his profound appreciation to all the IMC members for their selfless and dedicated service to their local governments in particular, and Kaduna State in general.

“The Government has also directed each IMC to handover to the most senior director in their respective local governments, who will oversee the office of Chairman pending action by the honourable members of the House of Assembly,” it said.

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February 1 is takeoff date for new electricity tariffs

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC on Wednesday told newsmen in Abuja that February 1 remains the date for the take off of the new electricity tariffs.

He also said that distribution companies have been directed to connect new customers only after they have been provided with prepaid meters.

“We wish to state that at no time did the commission change the date for the take off of the new tariff,” it said.

The acting Head of the NERC Dr. Anthony Akah, confirmed the removal of fixed charge under the new tariff regime, saying that the action “was in response to electricity consumers’ complaints and a measure to ensure electricity distribution companies improve on service delivery as their income is dependent on the quantity of electricity used by their customers.”

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