Author: Chief Editor

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN on Wednesday night argued that the recent ban on open grazing by southern governors violates constitutional provisions on freedom of movement. Malami, made the submission while speaking on some current national issues on a television programme. The Minister who likened the southern governors decision to a ban on sale of motor spare parts in the north by northern governors, said such decisions cannot hold water because it breaches the fundamental human rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution as amended. The southern governors arising…

Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has slammed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Shehu Malami, over his comment on the resolution of the governors at their Asaba, Delta State meeting, where they banned open grazing of animals. Akeredolu, while reacting to Malami’s outburst on the governors’ resolution, in a statement he personally signed, said: “Our decision is irreversible and will be enforced.” Akeredolu said: “I have just read the press statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Shehu Malami…

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has pulled the trigger on the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman, culminating in her suspension and probe. To be sure, Ministry of Transportation supervises the NPA. Hadiza is passing through a baptism of fire, for the first time in her public service career. The only other time she came close to open public inquisition was when she was a Special Assistant to Malam Nasir el-Rufai as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007 and the Senate could not come to terms with the fact that Hadiza and…

Cross Rivers State Governor Ben Ayade has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Aayde announced his decision on Thursday morning in a meeting with six APC governors who visited him at the Government House. The governors who visited Ayade include Governors of Kebbi, Imo, Yobe, Plateau, Jigawa and Ekiti State. PDP spokesman Kola Ologbodiyan had said the All Progressives Congress is embarking on a wild goose chase by going after Ayade. He said the Cross River State Governor as a Committed party member was aware of measures put in place by the leadership…

Seven people under investigation over the November death of Argentine footballing legend Diego Maradona face charges of premeditated murder, AFP has learned from a judicial source. The accused — which include Maradona’s neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Diaz — face eight to 25 years in prison if found guilty. The indictment is based on findings by a board of experts into Maradona’s death from a heart attack last year, a source from the San Isidro Attorney General’s Office, which is leading the investigation, said Wednesday. That report concluded that the footballing icon received inadequate medical care…

State governors in Nigeria have agreed to grant autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary. This is in line with Executive Order 10 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari. They, however, gave two conditions to smoothen the implementation of the decisions. These are: Immediate termination of the ongoing strike by judicial workers and the disbandment of the Presidential Implementation Committee on the Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary. The governors said ending the strike would enable states to fine tune the legal framework to back the decisions. They accused the Autonomy Committee of “acting as a permanent committee basically misguiding and…

Human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), members of civil society groups and others have called on anti-graft agencies to beam their searchlight on professional bodies in the country if the fight against corruption must be successful. Falana and others are of the opinion that until members of professional bodies who are found to have aided crimes and criminality are sanctioned, corruption will continue to be on the rise. Falana, Chairman, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Olarenwaju Suraj, and Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), Mr Sadiq Radda, argued that professionals such as lawyers, accountants, bankers etc…

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel thanked the return of fans to Stamford Bridge for helping the side avenge their FA Cup final defeat to Leicester with a 2-1 win over the Foxes to move into third in the Premier League on Tuesday. The 8,000 crowd saw the Blues keep a place in next season’s Champions League in their own hands thanks to second-half goals from Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho. Victory away to Aston Villa on Sunday will guarantee Chelsea a top-four finish. “It was an outstanding performance but the job is not done,” said Tuchel. “The fans made a huge difference.…

The Senate on Wednesday suspended plenary for one week to enable its members to participate in the zonal public hearing across the country. The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who stated this at plenary said the exercise will hold in 12 centres across the country on 26 and 27th May 27. Lawan urged Nigerians to participate fully in the exercise as the National Assembly has no pre-conceived agenda but would be opened to suggestions from Nigerians on how to move the country forward Details later… [Punch]

Two offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ebonyi State have been set ablaze by unknown persons. “Last night, Tuesday 18th May 2021, two INEC offices in Ebonyi and Ezza North Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State were burnt down by unidentified persons,” INEC said in a tweet. “No casualties but extensive damages to the building and facilities.” The incident happened few hours before INEC’s meeting with heads of security agencies scheduled for Wednesday over the attacks on its offices. About 23 INEC offices have been set ablaze in the past few months in different states. The headquarters…