MATTERS ARISING

President Buhari has suspended Justice Walter Onnoghen from the office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Upon his suspension, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed has been appointed as the Acting CJN pending the completion of Justice Onnoghen trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.  Below is the full speech of President Buhari on the suspension. “ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON THE SUSPENSION OF HONOURABLE JUSTICE WALTER NKANU SAMUEL ONNOGHEN AS CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA AND SWEARING IN OF ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE, 25TH JANUARY 2019 Fellow Nigerians, A short while ago, I was served with an Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal issued on Wednesday 23rd January 2019, directing the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen from office pending final determination of the cases against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and several other fora relating to his alleged breach of ...

President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. The end seem to have come for the embattled CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen as President Buhari weighs in the big stick  of suspension. Following the suspension, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed has been appointed as the acting CJN. Justice Tanko Mohammed who hails from Bauchi State is the most senior justice of the Supreme Court. The CJN, Justice Onnoghen has been on trial by the CCT following his asset declaration. The CCB had claimed Onnoghen failed to declare some of his assets on his assumption of office as the CJN. However, various bodies and institutions have petitioned the jurisdiction of the CCT to hear the matter. Onnoghen Suspension: Pres. Buhari Full Speech   President Buhari, has said he based his decision on the request of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, pending the completion of Onnoghen’s trial. More details later...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also turned down the withdrawal of Ezekwesili from the presidential race, saying it came in 60days after the deadline. The INEC, has said the withdrawal of the presidential flag bearer of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili from the February 16 polls is no longer possible as the time for it has long elapsed.   According to the INEC Chief, “ a person seeking to be removed as a candidate for electoral polls should notify the commission on/before 45days to the election. ” Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman , Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a statement, said November 17 was the last date for withdrawal, adding: “It is impossible for any presidential candidate to withdraw from the race now. According to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 General Election, the last day for withdrawal by candidates or replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties was Novembe...

Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Atiku Abubakar, has said Nigeria will regain the Africa’s top recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on his watch. In a press statement he personally signed on Wednesday, Atiku regretted that Nigeria has been overtaken by Ghana in the regional bloc of the continent. “It is with a very heavy heart that I received the news that the Republic of Ghana has overtaken our dear nation as West Africa’s largest recipient of foreign direct investment. “Therefore, I solemnly declare to Nigerians, that if I am elected President on February 16, 2019, I will be Nigeria’s Chief Marketing Officer, and will never speak ill of our economy, our polity and our youths. My utterances, both at home and abroad, will be used to lift Nigeria’s economy because Atiku means JOBS. “I believe in JOBS – Jobs, Opportunity, Being United and Security and it is time to get Nigeria Wo...

The immediate former governor of Ekiti state Ayodele Fayose has said Pres. Buhari never had the intention of honouring the agreement reached by the Tripartite Committee. He disclosed on Wednesday by Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, Fayose asked what other function the committee will perform since he already promised to send a bill to the National Assembly to effect the change from N18,000 to N30,000 three months ago. Fayose said; “It is on record that on November 6, 2018, while receiving the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage, President Buhari endorsed N30,000 as the new national minimum wage. He also promised to send a bill to the National Assembly to effect the change from N18,000 to N30,000. “This is more than three months and the President is now setting up another committee purportedly to recommend modalities for the implementation of the new minimum wage. So what did the first committee that recommended the N30,000 minimu...

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, inaugurated an advisory technical committee, headed by a popular economist, Bismark Rewane on the proposed N30,000 new minimum wage. While inaugurating the committee in Abuja, Pres. Buhari restated his commitment to paying the new minimum wage. He said the committee would recommend “modalities for the implementation of the new minimum wage in such a manner as to minimize its inflationary impact, as well as ensure that its introduction does not lead to job losses.” MINIMUM WAGE: Buhari Was Never Sincere - Fayose   Buhari added that “the work of this Technical Committee will be the basis of a Finance Bill which will be submitted to the National Assembly, alongside the Minimum Wage Bill.

Mr Joe Ajaero, The President of the United Labour Congress (ULC), has said that the Council Of State does not have the power to fix salaries or wage s. He made this statement on a live TV programme following the Council of State approval of N27,000 as the new minimum wage for the country. Mr Ajaero queried the powers of the CoS for such action, and maintained that the action was illegal. “What the Council of State has done is illegal. The Council of State doesn’t have powers to fix salaries and wages,” he said. He further said that the council can only advise and not to make pronouncement of a figure to Nigerians, just as the Tripartite Committee had already submitted N30,000 to President Muhammadu Buhari which he says is supposed to be transmitted to the National Assembly today. Minimum wage struggle, NLC moves to National Assembly Mr Ajaero also questioned the rationale between the different payments for the state and federal workers, and maintained that t...

We will go to the National Assembly to lobby for the N30, 000 as the minimum wage for all workers.  Mr Bobboi Kaigama, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), made the announcement in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.  “If President Muhammadu Buhari takes the N27, 000 suggested by the National Council of State to the lawmakers, organised labour will provide necessary documents and agreements reached by the tripartite committee to lobby for N30, 000,’’ Kaigama said. Kaigama told journalists that the decision of the council of state would not be allowed to stand because it would set a wrong precedent for the future. “After statutory bodies have done their jobs, council of state will now sit to review it. N30, 000 minimum wage is a product of negotiation, not legislation, not advice and not a decree,’’ he stated. Similarly, the President of the United Labour Congress, Mr Joe Ajaero, described the decision by the council of state on the ...

Mr Tony Nwoye, Head of the Youth Mobilisation Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has boasted of a resounding victory for the APC come February 16, election. Nwoye, disclosed yesterday at a press conference in Abuja that the Nigerians youths would give President Muhammadu Buhari 20 million votes in next month’s presidential election. He said Nigerian youths were solidly behind President Buhari, as they appreciate their development and empowerment under President Muhammadu Buhari and therefore believes that “the polity is ready for Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 if and only if the prestigious good leadership team is ready to take its youth development programme to the ‘Next Level’ of higher youth inclusion in leadership and the economy.” Nwoye said his team have been able to extract “strong commitments from Mr. President on his readiness to take his youth development programmes to the ‘Next Level’ of higher youth inclusion in leadership and the...

President Buhari has ordered the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Chris Ngige to resolve all issues with the Academic Staff Union of Universities tod ay. The Minister disclosed this through a statement read by the Assistant Director, Press at the ministry, Rhoda Illiya, directing the minister to ensure the strike is called off at the meeting on Monday. The statement reads “Mr President has directed me to pass the night here until all issues that have kept our children away from school are resolved and the strike called off. The president has also directed me to impress upon you, the imperative of little sacrifice from all sides, knowing fully well that the revenue of the Federation has dwindled from what it was before the present administration assumed office, Ngige said. He further said the President was concerned by the prevailing crisis in the university system, hence his steady commitment to a holistic approach to tackling the rot through adequate funding, notwithsta...

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has made another revelation on Monday in Abuja when paid a visit by the European Union Chief Observer, Mrs Maria Arena. The Chairman said, attention of the commission have been drawn to new antics of the political parties to use food vendors as collection points for cash-for-votes.  “Following recent consultations with stakeholders across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, the attention of the Commission was drawn to a new plan by some political actors to use food vendors around polling units with large voter populations as collection points for cash-for-votes as well as other forms of material inducement to voters on election day.  We are aware of this trick. It will not work”, Yakubu said. According to him, the Smart Card Readers will be deployed on election day for voter verification, confirmation and authentication. “We have enhanced them and improved their funct...

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday January 21, has granted Interim Injunction on the case between the CJN and FG. Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the order of interim injunction to restrain the FG from removing the CJN from office pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by Action Peoples Party. The court also adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to the 29th of January with an order to parties to maintain the status quo ante.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria is gravely concerned over the interruption of aid delivery to thousands of Nigerian following deadly attack in Borno State. "The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, has expressed grave concern over the interruption of aid delivery to tens of thousands of internally displaced people in Rann, a town in eastern Borno State about 10 kilometers from the border with Cameroon, following a deadly attack by a non-state armed group. The interruption in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Rann is the direct result of an attack that started at dusk on 14 January 2019 on the military base and continued into the next day. At the time of the attack, an estimated 76,000 internally displaced people were living in Rann. A medical clinic, warehouses with humanitarian supplies and accommodation for aid workers were looted and/or destroyed in the attack, and the market and shelters in the camp were burned...

The FG, on Thursday were absent at the hearing of the suit seeking to abort the scheduled arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT over asset declaration. The petition cited as the Defendants, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minster of Justice, Abubakar Salami, SAN, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, Inspector General of Police, the National Judicial Council and the Senate President. At resumption of the hearing, none of the defendants nor their representatives were in court except that of the NJC represented by Dr. Garba Tetengi, SAN. Meanwhile, the plaintiff had the told the court, except the Senate president all other defendants were duly served of the motion. He then applied for a short date to enable service to the Senate President. In her ruling, Justice Maha ordered fresh service of the court summons on all the defendant, directing that date of service be included in ...

The PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar is in the US. Alh. Abubakar arrived Washington DC on Thursday in company with the Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki. Atiku disclosed this on his twitter handle showing a picture of him and Saraki in handshake. It has been widely spread that he could not travel to the US due to alleged corruption case against him. Atiku who disclosed this via his official tweeter handle, was seen in a picture taking a handshake with Saraki Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/breaking-atiku-storms-us/ Washington DC with the Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki. Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/breaking-atiku-storms-us/ Washington DC with the Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki. Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/breaking-atiku-storms-us/ Washington DC with the Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki. Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/breaking-atiku-storms-us/ Washington DC ...

From a President, a 2nd term hopeful addressing a governorship candidate. "I am handing over this flag to our presidential candidate".... The video which has since gone viral from the Channelstv social platform has added to the generating concerns Nigerians are battling with, haven watched the below performance of the president in a televised interview ' The Candidates ', were the VP Osinbajo had to be interjected by the interviewer to allow the president speak for himself. The president is still expected to participate in the forthcoming presidential debate, and lovers of the president are hoping that would enable the president some damage control and hopefully reassures that age is not taking its hard toil on the president.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the names and party affiliation of all the candidates that will be contesting in the 2019 general election for the Presidential and National Assembly tickets. According to the INEC, 73 persons will be vying for the presidential ticket. For full list of all the candidates, click the links below:  Presidential Senate House of Rep.

Hon. Olamiposi Omodara is the new Deputy Speaker Ekiti State House of Assembly. Following Thursday proceedings in Ekiti State House of Assembly, which saw the removal of Hon. Segun Adewumi as the Deputy Speaker of the House over allegations of gross misconduct. Hon. Olamiposi Omodara has now been elected Deputy Speaker of the House  by the state lawmakers. It is recalled Adewumi was first impeached in May 2018 by two-thirds majority members and passed by the House as required by law, allegedly over the same offence and actions said to be capable of bringing the House to disrepute. He was thereafter replaced with Mr Adesina Animasaun (Ekiti West II) whose tenure lasted for  five months and was impeached along with the former Speaker of the House, a development which led to Adewumi’s return into office in October 2018.

Sen. Dino Melaye and his unending drama, from jumping out of a moving vehicle to collapsing after self imposed house arrest. The senator who came out from hiding today to the custody of Nigerian Police after 8days of house arrest collapsed just as the police were about to take him into custody. He has long been taken hospital for proper examination and possible treatment. However still under the custody of the police.  The police had earlier alleged that the senator had a possible homicide case to answer.  The police further said, the senator had long been served an invitation letter inviting to the force office to answer question on the allege shooting of a police officer, but he has consistently refused the order, hence the approach to apprehend him by any means possible under the law. The matter will be taking to court as soon as the police concludes its investigations. More update as the story unfolds...

The political parties in Nigeria are mere congregates of people without no unified political party ideology. Things are only seen from point of interest. Policies and ideas are only good when they could curry political gain out of it.Hence, no difference between the political parties, especially the two main front runners. 'Tradermoni' and other social gestures of the APC Government led initiative is hugely been criticized especially by the main opposition party, the PDP. The PDP has alleged 'tradermoni' as means for vote buying. They have questioned the sincerity of the programme as it does not make economic sense to 'give fish' but to teach how to 'catch fish'.   However, yesterday the Delta State Government announced of its  plan to share N10, 000 each to 26, 400 traders as an investment empowerment into their trades. The State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr Emu Kingsley, disclosed this in an interview with the News Ag...

Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has said Melaye Abuja home police siege has been so far well conducted in accordance with the law. He stated, in fact the police has been so lenient to the senator, having not exercised the option of breaking into the premises by the power of the warrant of arrest. In his view, the police are giving the senator the best of treatment by even begging him to surrender, and he should as matter of necessity. However, the PDP is still kicking at the police move. The siege at the senator's Abuja home has entered day 7 as the police has maintain that the senator is hiding in one of the rooms.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The human rights lawyer, also gave his thought on fight against corruption. He lamented the attitude of State governors towards the fight against corruption in Nigeria. He said, no state in Nigeria was fighting corruption, noting that on...