BREAKING: CJN Onnogben shuns CCT

ABUJA – The Federal Government has employed the services of a former Commissioner of Justice in Kano State, Alhaji Aliyu Umar, to head the team to prosecute the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, over his alleged refusal to declare his assets.

Onnoghen
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen
Meanwhile, the CJN, on Monday, failed to appear before the tribunal to be docked to enable him to take his plea to the six-count criminal charge against him.

At exactly 10am when the charge marked CCT/ABJ/01/19, was called up, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, demanded to know why the CJN was not in court and if he was served with the charge.

The prosecution counsel, Umar, SAN, who led five other lawyers, told the court that the CJN was served through one of his personal assistants.

“When we went to his house, he directed his personal assistant to collect the charge on his behalf. His personal assistant endorsed it, so he has been served”, Umar told the tribunal.

Aside allegation that he failed to disclose his assets as prescribed by law, FG, in the charge that was filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, equally accused the CJN of operating foreign bank accounts.

The prosecuting agency alleged that contrary to relevant laws regulating conduct of public office holders, the CJN, maintained a domiciliary foreign currencies account that comprised of Dollars Account, Pound Sterling Account and Euro Account.

Chief Wole Olanipekun who led 46 other Senior Advocates of Nigeria and 43 other lawyers, told the tribunal that the CJN had filed a motion dated January 14, challenging jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him.

“We are not just challenging jurisdiction, we are even challenging the jurisdiction of this tribunal to even snif that charge”, Olanipekun submitted.

MINIMUM WAGE: We will continue to protect until our demands are met...Union leaders

Minimum Wage: We will continue to protest until our demands are met ― Union leaders

tribuneonlineng.com

Jan 8, 2019 5:00 PM

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart in Anambra State, have said they will continue to hit the streets to protest issues of workers welfare, particularly the N30,000 new minimum wage until their demands are met.

Speaking during the protest in Awka, the Anambra State capital, National Industrial Relation Officer of the union in-charge of National Assembly, Abuja, Hon. Uche Ekwe who represented the National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the problem with Nigeria was not the lack of resources but bad governance.

According to Ekwe, the organised labour will continue to protest until the workers’ demands are met.

He said the delayed tactics played by the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the 36 state governors are “man-made and not an act of God because God has so richly blessed this country called Nigeria. In all facets of human life, be it natural or human, we are resourcefully blessed.

“Some of the conditions made during the protest include; voting out any political party who is against the implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage, the federal and state governments should stop using the slogan of ‘no work, no pay’ to intimidate its members coupled with their poor working conditions, workers should be steadfast in their request to ensure that their demands are met, among others.”

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to urgently do the needful by transmitting the bill to the National Assembly for quick passage.

The Secretary to the State Government of Anambra (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu who received the protest letter on behalf of the State Governor, Willie Obiano, said the state government will surely do the needful so that the bill is implemented by the Federal Government.

Chukwulobelu who also described the governor as the worker-friendly added that Obiano has remained the only governor in Nigeria who pays workers salaries, pensions and their gratuities as and when due.

In their separate speeches, the State NLC chairman, Comrade Jerry Nnubia; his TUC counterpart, Comrade Ifeanyi Ikechukwu; ASUU Chairman Unizik branch, Engr. Steve Ofuaro and the NUT Chairman, Comrade Ofudile Okechukwu urged their members to work together and not to allow the few to swallow what belongs to all of us. We will continue to challenge and be on the streets.

They called on the government at all levels to do everything possible to ensure Nigeria workers are given their legitimate rights and sense of belonging.

The protest which kicked-off from the popular Aroma junction ended at the State Government House while the protesters carried placards with the inscription, “Pay Us N30,000 Now or Never” among others.

ELECTIONS: APC CAMPAIGN RECEIVE HUGE ENDORSEMENT IN OGUN STATE

The 2019 political aspirations of Mr. Dapo Abiodun, the APC governorship candidate in Ogun State, and that of Predident Muhammadu Buhari recorded major boost on Saturday in Ogun State when the students of Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu-Ijebu, residents and Hausa community of Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun on Saturday declared their support for the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari and all other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the declaration was made while receiving the APC’s state governorship candidate, Mr Dapo Abiodun, who was on a campaign trip to the council area on Saturday.

With wild jubilations, the crowd vigorously endorsed the candidacy of Abiodun as governor and the re-election of President Muhammad Buhari in the coming elections.

Olamilekan Quzim, TASCE Student Union President, said that Abiodun deserved to be supported in order to be victorious at the polls.

Quzim added that the governorship candidate was a notable leader who had injected positively into the welfare of Ogun state students.

“Abiodun has made us believe he his contesting on the platform of APC not to come and embezzle money but to restore our lost glory, to wipe the people’s tears and put smiles on our faces,” he said.

Similarly, Alhaji Garuba Dankashi, Chairman, Hausa Political Movement in Ijebu, said that all Hausa were ready to give total support for Abiodun.

He also added that the community had also concluded plans to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in the coming presidential elections.

“My people have no choice than to vote for Buhari and all APC candidates in the polls.”

Responding, Abiodun promised to deliver dividends of democracy to all and sundry promising that he would operate an open door administration where everyone’s input would be acknowledged.

The governorship candidate urged the people to vote for him and also cast their vote to re-elect president Buhari.

He promised to clear the 40 months salary arrears owed TASCE staff if elected, adding that he would ensure that students were adequately represented in his government