JUDGES CAN BE ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTION – PRESIDENTIAL CORRUPTION COMMITTEE

– Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) has defend the arrest of some supreme court and federal high court judges by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS)

– Sagay said the expanding epidemic of judicial corruption” had destroyed the veil of invincibility judges once possessed

Some of the judges whose homes were reportedly raided by the DSS

The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) has defend the arrest of some supreme court and federal high court judges by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

The DSS stormed the homes of judges in Abuja, Gombe, Port Harcourt and arrested them for alleged corruption. They include Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro of the Supreme Court as well as Adeniyi Ademola of Federal High Court, Abuja.

The residence of Nnamdi Dimgba  was also searched but was not arrested. The judges were released on Sunday by the DSS who granted them bail on self-recognisance.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Sagay said the “expanding epidemic of judicial corruption” had destroyed the veil of invincibility judges once possessed.

“The searches of the premises of judges by the DSS is a sad development in our legal history brought about by inevitable circumstances.

“Although no judge had ever been subjected to search of premises and arrest, from the colonial period until recently, this was not because there was any law protecting judges’ immunity against arrest and criminal prosecution. Rather, it was based on a convention arising from the need to respect the dignity and sanctity of the judiciary.

“In other words, the practice of respect for members of the judiciary was a convention, not a binding Rule of Law. Members of the judiciary do not enjoy immunity against searches and arrests under any law. Therefore, the sustenance of sanctity of the person, office and residence of a judge depended on the continued maintenance by the judge of decorum, dignity, honesty and integrity.

“The explosive and expanding epidemic of judicial corruption, which has taken an alarming character since the 2007 elections, has totally overturned the culture of respect for the judiciary and brought the revered institution into disrepute and ignominy.

“The epic and corrosive nature of the problem has made the system expressly laid down for dealing with judicial indiscipline, that is, the National Judicial Council (NJC) system, totally ineffective. The level of moral depravity and the enormous number of culprits engaged in aggressive or rampaging corruption was just too much for the orthodox system of discipline to deal with.

“The amount of raw cash recovered in the process of the DSS searches is mind-boggling. We, therefore, have a situation in which a deadly disease was threatening the very existence of democracy and the Rule of Law.

“The question must be: do we take drastic and unprecedented steps to sanitise the judiciary and save the institution from those who are prepared to drag it and our democracy down for filthy lucre? Or do we twiddle our fingers in despair and let the shameful erosion and retrogression of a once famous and revered institution to go on?

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“This is a country that once had one of the greatest judiciaries in the world. It now seems unbelievable that our judicial benches were once graced by legendary figures like J.I.C. Taylor, Louis Mbanefo, Joseph Adefarasin, Adetokunbo Ademola, Akinola Aguda, Anthony Aniagolu, Kayode Eso, Mohammed Bello, Chukwuweike Idigbe, Andrews Otutu Obaseki, Augustine Nnamani, Adolphos Karibi-Whyte and Chukwudifu Oputa. Between 1980 and 1990, we had an outstanding group of jurists in the Supreme Court, who created the golden age of the judiciary.

“What has happened between that dreamlike era and now is a rapid descent into the world of mammon, where cash dictates justice. With that degeneration of our judicial standards, our judicial ‘gods’ have descended from mount Olympus and joined the ranks of ordinary men and thus are suffering the fate of ordinary men.”

Nigeria at 56: Major events that marked Year 2016 so far

As Nigeria marked its 56th Independence Anniversary on Saturday, Daily Trust takes a look at some major events that shaped the nation's journey so far this year.

January: President Buhari's New Year speech

Nigeria's political year in 2016 started with a Presidential address on the 1st January where President Muhammadu Buhari in the spirit of his campaign promises, assured Nigerians of the commitment of his government to alleviate the problems confronting the nation on various fronts.READ MORE: Key milestones in President Muhammadu Buhari's first year in office

''The effective and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address many of the socio-economic issues that are of current concern to our people. One area in which Nigerians, especially those in the northeast, have already begun to experience major CHANGE is in the war on terror'' the President said.

February:  2016 budget delay and padding scandal

The two arms of the National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives declared that the 2016 budget was full of errors, saying the document could no longer be passed on February 25 as earlier promised.

This sparked off the budget crisis between the Legislature and Executive which eventually metamorphosed into budget padding scandal that subsisted till September that eventually led to the suspension of the erstwhile chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin.

March: Fuel Crisis and 'Strategic Reserve & Magic Wand'

The month of March was characterised by acute shortage of fuel across the country with long queues of motorists being the common sight at major filling stations where the product was relatively available.

At the wake of this, the then Minister of​ State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, said oil produced in Nigeria's refineries would not be sold but kept in a "strategic reserve".

Kachikwu was later quoted as saying he had no "magic wand" to​ make fuel available overnight. The statement stirred up the polity across the nation.

"One of the training​s ​I did not receive is that of a magician, but I am working very hard to ensure some of these issues go away​," said Mr. Kachikwu.​

Ese Oruru and Yunusa ‘Yellow’

This March also featured the story of a teenage girl named Ese Oruru who was allegedly kidnap from Bayelsa state and taken to Kano by Yunusa Dahiru (a.k.a. Yunusa Yellow) who was said to have converted her to Islam, forced her into marriage and got her pregnant.

The issue became a national one when it was reported that her mother was denied access to her. 

Yunusa 'Yellow' later faced trial and was granted bail.

April: 2016 budget passed

In the month of April, the two chambers of Nigeria's National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives after a long break passed the 2016 budget following the adoption of the conference report of their respective appropriations committees. It was finally sent to the Presidency.

May: Hike in fuel price from N98 to N145

After several meetings and heated debates between the federal government and union leaders of the NLC, TUC, NUPENG and PENGASSAN, the federal government capped fuel price at N145 per litre in mid-May despitethreats from the union leaders to resist the hike.

The announcement was made by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The increment, according to the then Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu would lead to improved supply and competition which would in turn boost the nation's foreign earnings.

The release of first Chibok girl

The escape of Amina Ali, one of the Chibok girls abducted by the Boko Haram for over two years heightened hope that the remaining girls are still alive. 

According to the Nigerian Army's reports,Amina was found in a building at Bale villagebreastfeeding her daughter after a fierce fight between some Boko Haram insurgents and the youth vigilantes, known as Civilian JTF.

Amina, who underwent medical treatment, was later handed over to the Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima by the Nigerian Army.

Amina, her parents and husband Mohammed Hayado, were received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.

June: Alleged coup against President Muhammadu Buhari

The nation was thrown into pandemonium as the news of coup against President Muhammadu Buhari-led administrationspread across the nation like a wide fire. 

The news, which was described as a weighty allegation against the Nigerian military broke out in the wake of compulsory retirement of about 38 senior Army officers and the on-going probe over misappropriation of public funds in the military.

The Nigerian Army in a swift response countered the allegation and defused its attendant effects on the nation's tranquillity.

September: Hon. Jibrin's suspension and Edo election

In September, the House of Representatives concluded the probe of the budget padding scandal which led to the suspension of Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin for one year (after whistle-blowing on budget padding in which he fingered the House’s Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

Edo governorship election was also conducted after it was shifted from the earlier date.

The poll saw the emergence of APC's Godwin Obaseki defeating PDP's Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

10 THINGS REAL WOMAN WON'T TOLERATE.

The secret of happy relationship with a man is simple – you have to establish some borders. What does it mean? Imagine people who respect each other in relationship, what are their eyes, with what intonation do they talk, what are they wearing, how they behave? I know what you’re thinking about, two polite people, you can notice no negative in their behavior.

So, everything that is out of border – you should not accept. 

It’s very important to establish those boundaries at the beginning of relationship with a man. A person try to make a good impression, he will do a lot to get your attention. Later things change, people won’t do things so others would like them. Why is it important? Note: if a man let himself to be late for a date for 30 minutes, later it will be okay for him to be late for 3 hours. If he’s swearing in front of you, and you pay no attention, he will never stop doing this in front of you.

A woman who respects herself won’t tolerate this! Besides, following things will be warnings for her:

– 50:50 relationship. He’s controlling everything to make sure you do (and pay) your part.

– Asks you to pay the bill on a first date, or whatever-number date. This may be very old-fashioned,but those are different things when you suggest to go in halfs and when he says he’ll be paying for himself and you – for yourself.

– Late without even warning you. And he can not explain why he’s late.

– Do not show up at all. So he did not call, even though he promised. He doesn’t respect you.

– Constantly delays your dates or cancel them. Extra wheels the car has, you deserve to be the only one!

– Lies. He lies about where he spends his time, about his future plans.

– His jokes are humiliating. Only a stupid and weak men humiliate women.

– Asks money from you.

– Flirting with other women.

ARE NIGERIANS EXPERIENCING THE CHANGE THEY VOTED FOR?

When Nigerians voted the current administration into office in 2015, expectations were high as many thought Buhari’s government would be a bed of roses, but now looks as if Nigerians are sitting on the throne of despair as the situation now looks hopeless for a common man on the street.

The massive rejection and defeat PDP suffered in the 2015 general election was connected with expectation and hope the masses repose on Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in which the opposite happened.

Nigerians then spoke through their votes and APC got the mantle of power in which the masses are of the opinion that the marriage of the involved parties that gave birth to APC would definitely alleviate the suffering of the people and also curb the menace of insecurity.

The expectation was huge that they believed that President Buhari who was not green in the affair of this nation would be a great alternative.

With so much experience and his stern approach to zero tolerance for corruption would put the nation in a vantage position economically.

President Buhari

But public opinion started forming when the presidency delayed the list of his cabinet and this singular notion wakes the opposition party that the masses believed that the defeated party has been buried politically.

The list of the executives was sent to the red chamber for formalities. It was with a rude shock seeing the same set of people that are allegedly to be corrupt made the list and this again sharpen the axe of the opposition as it was indeed a re circling leadership in which all these may pose a threat to APC in 2019.

Boko Haram incessant killing

It was a known fact that what led to the defeat of PDP in 2015 was largely the kid glove the ruling party employed in tackling the menace of boko haram. T

he half of the North East in Nigeria have been taken by these terrorists. The hope was pretty well on ÀPC led administration that the activities of these terrorists would be checked knowing fully that the President was a General in the Army and the Chibok girls would be rescued with immediate alacrity but the reverse was the case and it now looks that these terrorists would never be conquered despite the military tact the President possessed.

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Vandalisation of pipe lines by Avengers

Nigerians worried in a hurry, seeing another threat to the national unity coming out with temerity not minding the military might. They vandalised pipe lines and kidnapped the officials, the militants would even without fear face the gallant soldiers.

The masses were put in another thinking mood and thousands of Nigerians are now asking rhetorically if this is the “change” they were promised and all these further strengthened the opposition to criticize the APC led government.

Fulani/Herdsmen killings

A nation without a conscience must definitely have a leadership who throw caution to the wind. The killings by these heard men were so glaring that many part of this nation experienced the unrest of these Fulani herdmens’ killings and kidnap. The killings and damages were almost becoming a normal activities and the presidency was very slow to attack this issue and this indeed suggested that GMB was clanished in nature. The opposition gained momentum greatly as they use the media to gain cheap score card, even though the truth is sacred.

Niger Delta Avengers government.

ÀPC internal crisis

Charity begins at home and how would the party steer the affairs of the nation well if the working mercenary of the party is not stable. The decision of the party to elect the principal officers at red chamber and the green chamber respectively was high jacked by the power that be in the party, this insorbudination to the party dictates, weakened the faith the masses reposed on APC. The obvious division in the self acclaimed party that promised changed made the people of this great nation to be in doubt.

Federal character application to political appointments?

The concept of Federal character that stands as a radar to guide the presidency in order for equilibrium to be reached, when selecting the ministers viz DGs, chief of staff among others was not perfectly handled. The selection was grossly bias and sectional and the party faithfuls that worked earnestly for the entroment of the party did not make the list. This approach made the party mechanism to be weak, hence, good governance would not be experienced and the masses are counting errors.

Budget padding

He who want justice must come with clean hands, PDP was allegedly to have gained legendary in corruption and was defeated in 2015 election as the masses trusted the integrity of GMB and voted him in. The budget was technically delayed, the revelation that shocked the masses was the gross malpractice that greeted the budget which was christianed padding,

So many slaps on the rule of law

The only succour that makes democracy strong is the rule of law in which the court is where everybody seeks justice. It could be recalled that court has ruled that Dansuki should be released on bail, but the presidency frowns at the rulings, the public opinions formed. Could this be tyranny? Again, the leader of Shiite sect was unjustly detained without trial and Nigeria has gone back to medieval terrain in which this social injustice may spell doom for APC come 2019.

READ ALSO: INTERVIEW: Nwabuoku speaks on the development of female football

Economic hardship

The current economic situation in Nigeria is stern. The minister of finance said Nigeria is in recession and If care is not taken there would be massive onslaught as the price of basic commodities is rising daily. Things are not moving forward again and even the private companies are downsizing. The banks and insurance companies are slashing the salaries of their workers and Nigerians would continue to ask “if this is the change they promised”?

APC Governors in south west

The engine room of APC resides in the south west of Nigeria and a cursory look at the performance of these governors, one do not need a Jupiter to fore tell that APC may be on her way to oblivion if the status quo remains. They engaged in elephant projects and also subscribed to half monthly payment. The civil servants have turned to “okada riders” and all these approach would end the terrain of APC as Nigerians are angry.

To the foregoing, so many issues if not given urgent attention would rock the boat of APC as people no longer believe in this government again. It could be recalled that the President said no government officials would be allowed to seek medical attention abroad, but he the President was the first that broke the oath. In equal vein, the minister of communication and culture said there would be cultural day, daily, how many has been witnessed?. It is crystally cleared that APC at the central is not well prepared to create the change they promised. Should we talked about increase in fuel price or the promise of equating naira to dollar? The president promised Nigerians that he would published the names of the looters, but he never did.

Corollary to the above, the media that is supposed to be the watch dog are selected, news slanting is the order of the day as freedom of the press is no longer obtainable in this dispensation.

2019 would soon come and Nigerians again will fight with the weapon of votes and one would be wondering if an urgent and sincere panacea approach is not employed, APC may become history.

NEWS ROOM

Diezanigate: EFCC declares Benedict Peters wanted over N23bn fraud Budget padding: Omisore reacts to Jibrin’s claim of being Dogara’s godfather Scarcity of ‘ponmo’ looms as Lagos shuts processing section Bear with us, we inherited a bad economy – Osinbajo begs Nigerians Budget padding: Jibrin is a coward; he won’t go unpunished – Chief Whip, Ado-Doguwa Budget padding: Jibrin refuses to back down, exposes Dogara at NHRC, foreign embassies Femi Aderemi: TSA – Why we mustn’t throw the baby away with the bath water Convention: PDP screens 57 aspirants Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Tuesday morning Boko Haram: Troops kill 16 terrorists in Borno You are no longer a military man – Oba of Lagos tells Buhari NDLEA officials kill headmaster in Nasarawa We have given you enough time, implement pending pacts – ASUU tells Buhari Fayemi raises alarm over fake Facebook accounts Zamalek dump Enyimba out of CAF Champions League You can’t get rich playing for Nigeria – Okocha Rio 2016 Olympics: Usain Bolt desperate to break 200m world record Jerome Boateng ready to be Germany’s first black captain Etebo still doubtful for Dream Team VI’s clash against Germany Police rescues victims of hijacked bus in Rivers state Nigeria’s D’Tigers crash out of Rio Olympics El Rufai joined PDP to destroy Nigeria for 16 years – Shehu Sani Controversy trails Oloyede’s appointment as JAMB Registrar Troops arrest corper, undergraduates, others for destroying national assets in Borno [PHOTOS] Jailbreaks: Prisons board dismisses 23 officers, suspend 11 others Mimiko’s Commissioner, Special Assistant resign, defect to APC Randy teacher rapes seven primary school pupils in Kastina Naira crashed to N393 against 1 dollar Nnamdi Kanu should lead negotiation with FG – Ohanaeze Immigration re-screens 2,000 dismissed “illegal recruits” FG begins sack of irregular personnel employed under Jonathan administration Anti-terrorism group calls for extradition, prosecution of journalists sympathetic to Boko Haram insurgents IPAC wades into PDP crisis‎, to set up peace committee EFCC arrests fake lawyer over N7m scam I’m crazy, will never or can’t be like my mother to please anyone – Bishop Oyedepo’s daughter, Joyce BREAKING: Justice Abang stops PDP National Convention slated for Wednesday APC mocks Ekiti PDP spokesman over alleged assassination claim Rio 2016 Olympics: Jonathan salutes Dream Team VI I’m not sponsoring Ombatse violence in Nasarawa – Labaran Maku Fulani herdsmen kill six in Christian-dominated area in Kaduna Terrorism: U.S brings in FBI, technical assistance to support Nigeria We are still under the national body of CAN – Northern Chapter I had no problem with Education Minister – Ex-JAMB Registar, Ojerinde Federal government to address economic hardship by changing fiscal policy Enugu court arraigns 2 men for forging NYSC, IMT certificates Ameh Comrade Godwin: Insecurity in Benue – Ortom, the time to act is now! Give us same respect as judges, lawmakers – Traditional rulers tell governments Daniel Amokachi loses father Muslim must be next Ondo Governor – NSCIA State House Director of Information, Abuah passes on

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