FRSC reaffirms its power to arrest traffic offenders

Following online reports that a Lagos High Court has nullified its right to fine traffic offenders and impound vehicles involved in traffic offences, the Federal Road Safety Commission has reaffirmed its statutory powers to carry out those functions.

The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Abuja on Monday that the organization is aware of the online reports and the concerns they have raised.

He however said that the said media reports are the handiwork of mischief makers.

``The truth is that there is no recent judgment of the Federal High Court Lagos on the Tope Alabi case as is being circulated.

``What happened was that one Barrister Tope Alabi challenged the powers of the FRSC to arrest him and impound his vehicle and make him pay fines for offences alleged.

``The Federal High Court presided over by Justice Tsoho held that FRSC had no such powers. This was in Sept. 2014.

``However, in a case on all fours with the Tope Alabi case earlier in March, same year, 2014, same Justice Tsoho in the case of Bren Williams & Anor v FRSC, held that FRSC had statutory powers to issue notice of offence, arrest, and detain vehicles suspected to have been used to commit traffic offences.

``This decision was challenged on appeal and the Court of Appeal held, inter alia, in Oct. 2014 that FRSC had statutory powers conferred by its enabling laws made pursuant to the Nigerian Constitution to regulate the use of number plates, design and set deadlines for change over to new ones.

``The Sept. 2014 judgment of Justice Tsoho, which has also been challenged on appeal is the one currently being circulated on the social media by mischief makers.

``Note that in another case by the same Tope Alabi before same Justice Tsoho , the Federal High Court, taking a cue from the Court of Appeal’s decision in Emmanuel Ofoegbu's case, held in FRSC's favour in June 2015.

``For the avoidance of doubt, there are reported Court of Appeal decisions to the effect that FRSC has powers to arrest, issue notice of offence to suspected violators, and impound vehicles used to commit traffic offences.

``And electing to pay the prescribed fines instead of challenging the notice of offence in court does not amount to usurpation of court powers.

``It is the voluntary decision of whoever decides to pay fines instead of challenging the notice of offence in court.’’

NAN

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Don't drag Senate into Saraki's trial - CCT

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar on Monday turned down the request of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki's counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN for the tribunal to skip sitting on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when the Senate holds its sittings.

Umar ruled that Saraki's trial would hold everyday from 10 am to 6pm.

In opposing Saraki's lawyer's request earlier on, the lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs had warned against dragging the Senate into the trial.

“The Senate is not on trial. The person that is on trial is the defendant. The Senate should sit. It’s a disgrace to our nation to be saying that,” he said.

Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar in his ruling agreed with the prosecution.

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not on trial. The Senate should sit. The only thing is the personality of the defendant who happens to be the Senate President. The Senate should continue to sit.”

Umar adjourned proceedings till Tuesday for cross-examination of the first  prosecution witness., Mr. Michael Wetkas.

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Saraki's supporters protest at tribunal (Photo)

Supporters of embattled Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki were in Abuja in their numbers on Monday to protest his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Saraki's trial was stalled on Monday as trial judge Danladi Umar stood down the case for an hour because of the absence of the lead prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs SAN who was said to be handling another case at the Court of Appeal.

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Ozo masquerade group performing at Abujacitynews publisher's mom's burial (video)

[local:/storage/sdcard0/DCIM/Camera/VID_20160408_183658.3gp] [VID_20160408_183658.3gp] is good,have a look at it!

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USA to return $480m Abacha loot

Plans are underway for the United States of America to return about $480m looted by the late maximum ruler, Gen Sani Abacha to Nigeria.

The money is alleged to have been stolen by Abacha during his time as Head of State.

The modalities for returning the loot are however yet to be fully determined.

The Nation reports that the planned repatriation is the result of a recent meeting between the Department of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

“This is the largest loot ever traced to a former Nigerian public officer in the US.

“The DOJ, the AGF and the EFCC have concluded all the talks; we are in the process of repatriation of the $480million.

“Although there are interventions from private lawyers, the DOJ prefers a government-to-government deal.

“ I can tell you that the funds will soon be repatriated. If there is anything left, it has to do with the conditions which the US will attach to the utilisation of the funds.

“The US is likely to advise on specific areas to spend the funds on and the project monitoring mechanisms. It does not want the cash re-looted.

“The Federal government and the U.S. on January 14, 2003 signed the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the two nations. So, no corrupt public officers from Nigeria can hide in the US.

“At the session with AGF and the EFCC boss, they told the Nigerian team that the DOJ now has a Kleptocracy Unit which is closing tabs on Political Office Holders and other public officers in this country and many other nations.”

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Farmers sue Fulani herdsmen for N100 billion in Benue State

Farmers in Tyoshin community in Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State have filled an exparte motion before a Makurdi High Court claiming N100b from six Fulani herdsmen as damages for the destruction of their farms.

Justice Morris Ikpambese while granting the motion filed by the counsel to the plaintiffs ordered that the writ of summons be served on the respondents by substituted means.

He ordered that the writ of summons  be served in the office of the chairman, Civilian Joint Task Force on the Tiv-Fulani affairs in Benue and Nasarawa states in the premises of the office of the deputy governor.

Justice Ikpambese also ordered that the summons be served by pasting same on the notice board of the High Court of Justice, Makurdi

He said that he was satisfied with the submission of the plaintiff’s’ counsel that all attempts to effect direct service on the respondents failed as shown by the exhibit before the court.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Shuwem Minguduguen had in the statement of claim, alleged that six Fulani herdsmen simply identified as, Alhaji Doka, Alhaji Danka, Alhaji Shagari, Alhaji Dogo, Alhaji Ilo and Alhaji Ibrahim destroyed their crops and farmland.

They therefore demanded that the trespassers should pay them N100b as damages.

They also prayed for an order of the court  restraining the herdsmen from further trespassing on their land.

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Gunmen Abduct NNPC staff in Kaduna

Yusuf Abdulkadir, a staff of the Abuja office of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC was on Saturday kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Kaduna.

Sources said that the kidnappers trailed the victim to his home at Rigachiku in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State where they abducted him around ten o'clock on Saturday night.

A family source said that they
”trailed him to the house yesterday (Saturday), dragged him out of his car at gun point and whisked him away.

”He works at NNPC Towers, Abuja, but on weekends, drives to Kaduna, where his family members reside,” he said.

Only three weeks ago, a serving Army Colonel, Samaila Inusa was abducted and murdered by unknown gunmen in Kaduna.

The abduction of Abdulkadir is coming amid a renewed clampdown on criminality by the Kaduna State Police Command which has led to the arrest of about 458 crime suspects in the last two weeks alone.

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