News

Court grants Emefiele bail, orders FG to release him

Published

6 months ago

November 8, 2023

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A high court of the federal capital territory, in Maitama, Abuja has granted bail to Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Delivering a ruling on the bail application filed by the former CBN governor, Olukayode Adeniyi, the presiding judge, ordered the federal government to release Emefiele to his lawyers.

The court also ordered the lawyers to ensure that Emefiele is produced for arraignment whenever he is needed and that his international passport should be deposited before the court.

Earlier at the court session, Oyin Koleoso, counsel representing the federal government and the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), opposed the bail application.

Koleoso told the court that the applicant is scheduled to be arraigned on November 15, in respect of a pending charge filed by the AGF office.

He prayed the court to “decline the application for bail to avoid a situation where the scheduled arrangement may be interfered with”.

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“It will pose further problems for the prosecution to get the applicant for his arraignment,” Koleoso said.

“By the time he is arraigned next week, he can now make a proper application for bail which will be considered on its merit.

“In view of the processes filed, we urge the court to decline the application for bail.”

In another submission, Farouk Abdullah, EFCC counsel, also asked the court to refuse the application.

“On behalf of the third and fourth respondents, I state that the applicant only came into the custody of the 4th respondent on October 26 and he has been in the custody of the respondents pursuant to a detention order made by the court.

“These facts are contained in the notice of preliminary objection filed in this court, therefore, the fourth respondent is not acting arbitrarily but within the confines of legality.

“The court that made the order gave a return date of November 10, 2023.

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“Respectfully, we pray your lordship to decline bail and reiterate your learned brother’s directive that the applicant be brought to court on November 15 as two conflicting directives may be difficult.”

JUST IN: Tinubu, Shettima to pay toll at airport gates

Published

9 hours ago

May 14, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima will now pay the required toll whenever they use the gates at airports.

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation, announced this to journalists after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting chaired by Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

Keyamo said he presented two memos which were approved by the council.

Details later…

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News

Tinubu suspends 0.5% cybersecurity levy

Published

10 hours ago

May 14, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has suspended the 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy after criticism and protest trailed the announcement.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, announced the suspension.

Idris said Tinubu directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the implementation and review the modalities for its implementation.

Details later…

READ Why Emefiele was fired as CBN gov- Tinubu

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Minister to sue Niger speaker over plans to ‘marry off’ 100 girls, says it’s ‘totally unacceptable’

Published

16 hours ago

May 14, 2024

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Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, has petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP) and sought a court injunction to halt the marriage of 100 girls in Niger state.

Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, speaker of the Niger state house of assembly, announced last week that he would sponsor the wedding of 100 girls, some of whom were orphaned by insurgency, as part of his Maringa constituency project.

He said he had procured materials for the event scheduled for May 24, and promised to pay dowries for the bridegrooms.

Following the outcry that trailed the announcement, the speaker explained that he was only financing the wedding — not forcing the girls into marriage.

However, Kennedy-Ohanenye said the plan is unacceptable, and that the future of the girls should be a priority.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the minister said a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issue will be carried out.

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She said the ministry will take responsibility for the girls’ education and vocational training.

“I want to let the honorable speaker of house in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by Federal Minister Of Women Affairs and by the government,” Kennedy-Ohanenye said.

“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual.

“These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.

“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of police.

“And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them.

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“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially.

“The women affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.

“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make up her mind who and when to get married.

“If for any reason the speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned, there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”

The minister added that based on the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the state, hence the rights of every child will be protected from harm and violence.