The Nigerian government has clarified some misconceptions by the US, UK and the EU over Fridays suspension of the Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, one of which is that he has not been sacked, but suspended.

Another point is that he is not the man that will conduct the February and March elections. He is only a final arbiter, in case there were disputes in the election.

The Federal Government made the clarification Sunday night. It was the second statement by the government over the concerns expressed by the Western nations, the latest, in a joint statement.

Governments clarification, stating the genesis of the case, was given in a statement by Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant on the media to President Muhammadu Buhari.

CJN Onnoghens situation is one of his own making and, to a large degree, his own choosing, Shehu said.

Read the full statement here:

Presidency notes with interest the coordinated statements of the US, UK and EU linking the suspension of CJN Onnoghen to the conduct of the upcoming elections. We appreciate the concerns voiced by the three statements and accept that the authors of the statements believe they were acting in friendship toward Nigeria with regard to making the statements.

However, we also note that friends, when not properly informed or acting in haste, can indeed make serious mistakes even with the best of intentions. Such is the case here.

The statements by the three seem more driven by unfounded assumptions and to be honest, a certain condescension to this African democracy. This is unfortunate. But this gives us an opportunity to clarify some points in the hope that these three friends reach a deeper understanding of the situation.

The statements by the US, UK and EU speak of their respect for constitutional practice and fair elections. However, the positions they stake tend to contravene rather than strengthen these laudable objectives.

CJN Onnoghens situation is one of his own making and, to a large degree, his own choosing.

The CJN was brought before the CCT because of a serious breach of law regarding his assets declaration. This is not a mere technicality like innocently placing a document in a wrong file or mistakenly placing yesterdays date on a document.

All credible evidence indicates the CJN owned and operated several secret bank accounts. Unexplained large sums of money, exceeding several million dollars have passed through these accounts. Several thousand dollars are currently parked in the accounts. Multiple deposits of equal sums of money were deposited in some of those accounts during the same day. Such rapid and equal deposits are indicative of a person attempting to evade banking reporting laws and regulations.

Thus far, CJN Onnoghen has given no plausible explanation for the funds or for failing to report the subject accounts in his assets declaration despite having ample time and opportunity to explain the omission. Given the amount of money involved and the CJNs inability to explain the source of the funds, the most plausible explanation at this point is also the most unfortunate explanation. No one did this to CJN Onnoghen. He and he alone is to blame for this turn of events.

Given the amount of money involved and the CJNs inability to explain the source of the funds, the most plausible explanation at this point is also the most unfortunate explanation. No one did this to CJN Onnoghen. He and he alone is to blame for this turn of events.

Over the years and with great frequency, the authors of the three statements have advised and even chided Nigeria about official corruption. Now we are presented with the sad and unwanted situation where the CJN is discovered to have a vast, unexplained amount of money in his pocket.

Because of this he has been thoroughly discredited. It is untenable that a person in such compromised circumstances would be allowed to preside over the entire judicial system of a great nation. That would travesty the nation and what it stands for.

Had the situation been reversed and the US, UK or any EU member government found that its chief judicial official is the recipient of large sums of money of questionable origin and Nigeria suggested that you retain the person in that position, you would question Nigerias bona fides. You also would swiftly move to suspend the official pending final determination of the causes against him.

Not one of your nations would allow a person enmeshed in legal uncertainty to preside over your legal systems until the cloud has been cleared from him. That would incentivize corruption and assault the rule of law.

Not one of your nations would allow a person enmeshed in legal uncertainty to preside over your legal systems until the cloud has been cleared from him. That would incentivize corruption and assault the rule of law.

Thus, the CJN should have and could have helped the process in this regard by recusing himself from the bench until this matter is settled.

Instead, he indefinitely postponed an NJC meeting for no plausible reason except to avoid any consideration of this matter by the NJC.

Again, this calls into question his motives while undermining the normal operations of the judiciary. The CJN cannot be allowed to use his office to shield himself from the normal operation of the law as applied to any other jurist or any other Nigerian for that matter. Such a ruse is effectively an abuse of office. His position is one of utmost public trust; it is not a shield to protect him from the fair consequence of his own actions.

Despite these errors and omissions by the CJN, let us make this very clear, he has not been removed from office. Nor has he been permanently replaced. Those who claim that he has been permanently removed, do so out of imprecision of thought or mischief.

Despite these errors and omissions by the CJN, let us make this very clear, he has not been removed from office. Nor has he been permanently replaced. Those who claim that he has been permanently removed, do so out of imprecision of thought or mischief

.

CJN Onnoghen has been suspended pending the final determination of the substantive issues in his matter. The suspension is only temporary. This is only as it should be. He cannot sit as both defendant and umpire in his own matter. No legal system allows for such self-interested adjudication; the US, UK and EU should not now ask us to embrace such an anomaly.

While the three friends seem to give much credence to those who question the constitutionality of the suspension, they seem to give less to those who believe what we did is constitutional and protective of the integrity of the judiciary. Only the three can answer why they have assumed this bias.

Last, the three make a curious direct linkage between the CJN suspension and the elections. However, in Nigerian law there is no such linkage. The CJN does not run the election. Nor is he the first arbiter of any electoral complaints. He and the Supreme Court will only get involved as the final arbiter at the end of the appellate process.

For the authors to link the CJN to the elections in this way is illogical unless they assume that election complaints will be filed and will go all the way to the Supreme Court. Here perhaps they know something about the intentions of certain political actors to which we are not privy.

For the authors to link the CJN to the elections in this way is illogical unless they assume that election complaints will be filed and will go all the way to the Supreme Court. Here perhaps they know something about the intentions of certain political actors to which we are not privy.

Yet, even with that, the US , UK and EU should want any such matters to be heard by a Supreme Court led by a CJN without an obvious and outstanding ethical and legal blemish on his ledger. To have such a person preside over any case, would call into question the impartiality of any decision rendered and undermine the rule of law.

This cannot be what these three friends of Nigeria intended. Thus, they should do a bit more research on this matter and refrain from being too hastily attracted by the arguments of those who have partisan agenda at odds with the governments positions on most matters and who thus hope to use this issue as a new arrow in their quiver of partisan contestations.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accredited 144 observer groups that will monitor the conduct of the forthcoming general elections in the country.

The figure, as published on the commissions official website, www.inecnigeria.org, comprised 116 domestic and 28 international observer groups.

The commission advised all the accredited observers to abide by its code of conduct for election observers.

INEC is pleased to announce the successful applicants to observe the 2019 general elections holding on 16th Feb. 2019 and 2nd March, 2019.

All accredited observers shall abide by the code of conduct for election observers, which is available for download on the INEC website (www.inecnigeria.org).

INEC reserves the right to cancel and withdraw the accreditation of any organisation if its members or agents breach the code of conduct,the commission said.

It, therefore, advised the accredited groups to obtain and complete form EC 14A (ii) from its Elections and Party Monitoring Department, at its Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja between 8am to 4pm (Monday to Friday) starting from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1.

The commission, however, warned that it would hand over to law enforcement agencies any group other than those accredited, found in any state for the elections.

Also, accredited field observers found in states other than where they are posted will equally besanctioned.

The accredited foreign observer groups are African Bar Association; African Parliament of The Civil Society; African Union; British High Commission; Democrat Union of Africa; ECOWAS; Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) Republic Of Cameroon; and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.

Other accredited foreign observers are Embassy of France; Embassy of Japan; Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Embassy of The Republic Of Korea; European Centre For Electoral Support; European Union; German International Agency; High Commission of Canada; and the International Foundation For Electoral System.

The International Human Rights CommissionI; International Peace Commission; International Republican Institute; the National Democratic Institute; the Network for Solidarity; and the Empowerment and Transformation for All were also accredited to cover the elections.

Other international obsevers accredited are Nigerians in Diaspora Organization; Pan African Women Projects; Pan African Youth Training and Enlightenment Centre; Queen Zara Foundation for Human Resources Development; The Commonwealth; and the United States Embassy

On the domestic scene, Action Aid Nigeria; Advocacy for Quality Leadership and Health Awareness Foundation; African Centre For Leadership, Strategy and Development; African Christian Care Trust Organization; Transition Monitoring Group; and YIAGA Africa Initiative are some of the observer groups accredited.

Others are African Initiative for Sustainable and Positive Development; African Youth Leadership Roundtable Initiative; Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society; Alliance for Credible Election; Asabe Shehu Yaradua Foundation; Centre for Citizens With Disabilities; Centre for Strategic Conflict Management; and the Centre for Transparency Advocacy

Still on the domestic list are Children and Youth Awareness Development Foundation; Christian Association of Nigeria; Christian Council Of Nigeria; Church Of Nigeria Anglican Communion; Citizens Rights And Leadership Awareness Initiative; and the Citizens Rights For Peace And Good Leadership Initiative.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre; Cleen Foundation; Conscience Women of Africa Initiative; Jamaatu Izalatau Badiah Wa Ikamatu Sunnatu; Justice Development And Peace; Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria; and the National Orientation Agency also got the approval to cover the elections.

The others are the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Policy And Legal Advocacy Centre); Nigerian Bar Association; Northern Patriotic Front; Northern Youth And Elders Awareness Forum; Police Service Commission; Shehu Musa Yaradua Foundation; and The Albino Foundation.

Source: NAN

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has called on Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi to reverse the current internal drift of doctors and other healthcare workers in the state.

The association made the appeal in a statement issued to newsmen in Lokoja on Monday by the state NMA Chairman, Dr Kabiru Zubair.

This followed the exit of 88 medical doctors from the state public service.

The association however felicitated with the governor on the celebration of his third year anniversary in office and for making healthcare one of his five thematic areas.

According to Zubair, Under this administration, a total of 88 doctors have left the Kogi Civil Service; previously, 79 doctors left plus another nine who had succeeded in securing new employment recently.

Doctors and other healthcare workers remained the drivers of healthcare delivery anywhere in the world.

Steps such as the payment of outstanding salary arrears of doctors and other healthcare workers, implementation of the corrected CONMESS, promotion and annual step increment, among others, are needed to reverse this unfortunate trend.

As you commence your fourth year in office, the NMA as the custodian of the health of the people is ready and willing to partner with state government to improve the health sector in Kogi.

Zubair said that the association equally felicitated with the Deputy Governor, the SSG, the Chief of Staff,

Commissioner for Health, Special Adviser on Health Matters and the entire cabinet members for sustaining the progress made thus far.

NAN recalls that Bello was sworn-in as the fourth civilian governor of Kogi by the satte Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, on Jan. 27, 2016.

Zubair, however, commended the state government and Bello for some positive steps the government had taken in repositioning the health sector in the state.

Source: NAN

The death toll from Brazils collapsed tailings dam climbed to 58, with 305 people still missing in southeast Brazils Minas Gerais state, said local authorities on Monday.

Local authorities said that of the 58 victims, 19 have been identified.

According to the state fire department, the missing people include residents of the destroyed area and workers from Brazilian mining company Vale.

Search and rescue work started on Sunday, however, one and a half hours later, an alarm was activated as there was a risk that another dam of the Corrego do Feijao mine complex, this time a water dam, could rupture as well.

Rescue efforts were immediately suspended and thousands of residents were ordered to move to safe places, as they risked being in the path of destruction.

Rescue work, however, resumed at 3 p.m. (1700 GMT), after the dam was being drained, and evacuation was called off after the dam was no longer at risk of bursting.

The chances of finding more survivors of Fridays tailing dam disaster are really slim, Eduardo Angelo, chief of the fire department said on Sunday.

However, we are working with the possibility of finding people alive, he added.

Angelo, during a meeting with residents of the nearby community of Corrego do Feijao, which was flooded by the toxic sludge, said time was running out.

There is the possibility of finding people alive, yes.

However, what has been written about these kinds of events shows that after 48 hours of efforts, the chances of finding survivors are really slim.

Rescue workers are facing certain logistical challenges reaching survivors.

We arent able to reach them, because as we advance through the mud, we find bodies. Each body we find, we do the work and return.

Yesterday we located a bus, but as we were getting to it, we found a body, and then another, and another. Today we will reach the bus. We have to excavate it, Angelo said.

An Israeli team of about 130 soldiers with sniff dogs and 16 tons of equipment including sonar devices arrived at the scene by Sunday.

They are expected to join in the search and rescue work with Brazilian workers later.

Source: NAN

Nabilu Balarabe

The Birniwa Local Government Council in Jigawa on Monday says it has sponsored and conducted the wedding of 10 selected female orphans in the area.

The Information Officer of the council, Alhaji Abdullahi Yakubu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birniwa, that the 10 women were drawn from 10 wards of the council.

He said the council also assisted each of them with N30,000 to each of them, adding thatN20,000 would serve as dowry while N10,000 was a grant for each of the new brides to start up small scale business.

This support provided by the Council Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Jaji-Dole, is in line with the state governments Social Intervention Programme.

The state government, on its part, had already donated furniture, which include chairs, beds and mattresses.

The idea is not only to sponsor the weddings, but to empower the women with grants to start small scale businesses to support their families, Yakubu said.

Source: NAN

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) hasconcluded plans topartner the Federal Ministry of Health to bring the outbreak of Lassa Fever under control.

The NARDs National President, Dr Olusegun Olaopa and the Secretary General, Dr Anthony Ude, said on Monday that the recent resurgence in the number of reported cases of Lassa fever was worrisome.

Lassa fever is a viral illness causedby the Lassa fever virus. It is predominantly a disease transmitted directly to humans through contact with infectedmultimammate rat, its urine and faeces.

It is also transmitted indirectly through contact with household items, foodswhich are contaminated with rodents saliva, blood, graces, urine and person to person contact.

The disease is endemic in West Africa and occurs in outbreaks periodically in certain parts of Nigeria.

When promptly recognised and diagnosed, it is treatable and Nigeria has active dedicated treatments centres, spread across the country.

Lassa fever infection shares similar symptoms with so many common illnesses like malaria and Enteric fever, which include fever, body pains, headache, convulsion, difficulty with breathing, diarrhoea etc.

The hallmarkis bleeding, which can be conjunctiva infection, vomiting blood, urinating blood, coughing blood and bleeding from puncture sites.

Many positive individuals do not bleed, thusthe need for evaluation in an appropriate health facility is sacrosanct.

From Jan. 1 to Jan.13, 2019, a total of 172 suspected cases have been reported out of which 35 of the cases were confirmed by the Nigerian Centre of Disease Control.

The Association and its affiliates and partners are supporting the Ministry of Health in all aspects of the response, including epidemiological investigation, surveillance, logistics, case management, communications and community engagement.

While we remain dedicated toward mitigating morbidity and mortality, we urge the general public to visit reputable healthcare facilities to seek medical care and resist the urge of self-prescription.

We also enjoin members of the public to focus on prevention by practising good personal hygiene and proper environmental sanitation, the association said in a statement.

According to the association, effective measures include storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers.

The NARD also recommended the disposal of garbage far from the home, maintaining clean households and other measures to discourage rodents from entering homes.

Hand washing should be practiced frequently; we also advise the public to avoid bush burning.

We call for adequate provision of required safety materials and supplies to all health care facilities.

NARD remains committed to supporting the efforts of government and public health trust teams to prevent and respond to public health threats, the doctors said.

Source: NAN

The meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) would now Tuesday just as the Code of Conduct Tribunal has adjourned trial of suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghe.

The spokesman of NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, is reported to have confirmed the schedule of the meeting for Tuesday in Abuja.

Reports had it that the meeting was scheduled to hold at 10 am on Monday to deliberate on the allegations against Onnoghen as well as his suspension.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Monday has adjourned the trial Onnoghen, indefinitely.

The Tribunal adjourned the proceedings at the resumed sitting on Monday in Abuja, pending the determination of the application filed at the Court of Appeal.

Details later..

Source: NAN

By Sandra Umeh

A Lagos-based constitutional lawyer, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, has asked a Federal High Court Abuja, to decide whether due process was observed in the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The lawyer, suing through Registered Trustees of Malcom Omirhobo Foundation, urged the court to declare the said suspension of Onnoghen as unlawful and unconstitutional.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/109/2019, the plaintiff joined as defendant: The Attorney General of the Federation, the Senate, National Judicial Council (NJC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Mohammed Tanko and Onnoghen.

Plaintiff asked the court to decide whether the 1999 Constitution being the Supreme Law of Nigeria, and regulating the there arms of government had been suspended.

He also wanted the court to decide whether in interpreting Sections 153(1) (i) (2), 158 , 231(1)(4), 292(1) (a)(i) and part I (I) of the third schedule of the 1999 constitution, the suspension and removal of the CJN was in compliance with due process of the law.

He sought for the courts decision on whether the appointment of an acting CJN to replace Onnoghen was in compliance with due process of law, and whether it was proper, lawful, legal, constitutional and democratic.

The plaintiff, therefore, wanted the court to declare that the 1999 Constitution was the Supreme Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that the defendants have no powers under the constitution to suspend the CJN.

He also asked for a declaration that the CJN can only be removed from office, on an address supported by two-third majority of the Senate, adding that the removal from office of Onnoghen, is without due process of law.

The plaintiff therefore, sought for an order revoking or setting aside the appointment and swearing in of the acting CJN.

Besides, he wanted an order, compelling the defendants to comply with the principle of Separation of Powers, Judicial independence and the Rule of law.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the new suit.

Source: NAN

Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg is planning to unify the underlying messaging infrastructure of its WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger services and incorporate end-to-end encryption to these apps, the New York Times reported on Friday.

The three services will, however, continue as stand alone apps, the report said, citing four people involved in the effort.

The company is still in the early stages of the work and plans to complete it by the end of this year or in early 2020, the report said.

Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

After the changes, a Facebook user, for instance, will be able send an encrypted message to someone who has only a WhatsApp account, according to the report.

End-to-end encryption protects messages from being viewed by anyone except the participants in the conversation.

The full story is now out: Brian Ballard, a friend of the US President, touted to be the most powerful lobbyist in America, arranged the short Washington trip of Abubakar Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

In documents published online by Atikus PDP hired Ballards lobbying firm for $1.1m a year, and already has paid the firm $540,000 by the terms of the agreement.

The contract was signed between Ballard and Osita Chidoka, a former aviation minister on 21 September, 2018, weeks before Atiku emerged in October as PDP Presidential candidate, in a primary election widely reported to have been influenced by the free spending of dollars to woo delegates.

Part of the assignment of Ballard Partners include advising, counselling, and assisting the foreign principal in communication with U.S. government officials, U.S. business entities, and non-governmental audiences.

It was not clear whether it was PDP that paid the $540,000 already committed or whether it was Atiku.

What was clear was that Ballard may have come in handy in clearing all the obstacles on Atikus path to travel to the United States.

As a Politically Exposed Person, Atiku
was one of the foreign officials barred by the US government from coming to America, following allegations of money laundering.

Popular Information corroborated earlier reports that a 2010 bipartisan report by the U.S. Senate, KEEPING FOREIGN CORRUPTION OUT OF THE UNITED STATES: FOUR CASE HISTORIES. detailed corruption allegations against Atiku.

However, he has never been charged.

According to the report, Abubakar, through his wife, Jennifer Douglas Abubakar, funnelled $40 million in suspect funds to the United States, including millions in bribe payments.

German corporation, Siemens, also admitted in court of bribing Atiku through his fourth wife, Jennifer.

Despite denials by Jennifer, the Senate Committee confirmed the transfer of over $1.7 million from Siemens AG to Ms. Douglas account at Citibank.

Atiku was also mentioned in the $500,000 bribery involving former congressman William Jefferson, who bagged a 13 year jail term, after collecting $100,000 from a US firm that wanted to do business with Nigeria. $90,000 was found in Jeffersons freezer by the FBI, but after a raid of Atikus mansion in Maryland, no money was found.

Ballard was believed to have used his Trump connection to help Atiku wangle his way to Washington, after about 13 years since he last travelled there. On arrival, Atiku and his entourage also stayed at Trump International Hotel in the US capital.

Ballard, who is 56 years old, is said to be the most powerful lobbyist in America in the Trump era, according to .

Among his clients are governments of Qatar, Turkey, Maldives, the Dominican Republic and Mali and US corporate giants Amazon, Sprint and Uber.

Read the :

Source: NAN