Budget Padding: Abdulmumin Seeks Court Protection From Arrest

In a dramatic twist to the row over the 2016 budget padding allegations causing disharmony in the House of Representatives, the hunter now appears to be the hunted, going by emerging development.

The erstwhile Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, Jibrin Abdulmumin, who made the budget-padding allegation, has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order to restrain the Nigerian Police from arresting him.

The respondents in the suit are the Nigeria Police, the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police (FCT), Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Hon. Yusuf Lasun, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Hon. Leo Ogor and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
The lawmaker, in his tweets and statements had given the impression that he was enjoying the cooperation of the police, over the allegations against Dogara and others.

But Abdulmumin, in the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja with No: FHC/ABJ/CS/595, said there was a police siege on his home and that up till the time of filing the suit on August 9, 2016, the siege was still in force.

The affidavit deposed on his behalf by his legislative aide, Mr. Bashir Bello said this was “in a bid to arrest him unlawfully and achieve their pre-determined aim of tampering with his fundamental human rights.”

Abdulmumin, in the suit, accused the police of plotting to “nab him and also put him out of circulation and so as to lay their hands on the said documents and destroy the evidence therein, and avoid a leakage of their roles in the budget issue.”
The embattled lawmaker, in a separate suit, also sued Dogara, the Clerk of the House and others, to restrain the lower chamber from suspending him.

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Buhari Assures EU Of Commitment To Human Rights Protection

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday told the European Union that his administration was doing its utmost best to protect the fundamental human rights of persons in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations against Boko Haram insurgents.

The President gave the assurance on Wednesday while addressing a special session of the parliament in Strasbourg, France.

President Buhari said that his government shared the European Union’s commitment to peace and security, respect for human rights, democracy and good governance as well as equality and tolerance as ways of developing prosperous and strong societies.

On our part, we have updated our Rules Of Engagement in fighting terrorism and pay very close attention during operations to the treatment of captured terrorists, civilians caught up in the conflict and in general, safeguarding property.

“Our aim is to use minimum force necessary in our fight against terrorists,” the President told members of the parliament and the European Union commission.”

Credit: ChannelsTv

Media Rights Group Petitions Buhari To Seek Protection

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a nonprofit organisation, has urged the new administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari to uphold the rights of the media.

“As Nigeria aspires to strengthen its democracy, your government must show that it can tackle Nigeria’s challenges, including the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency and the use of terror tactics, but can do so without compromising democratic principles, whose core elements include press freedom and freedom of expression,” CPJ petitioned Buhari.

The organisation added, “The success of the democratic government you now lead will depend largely on the guarantee that journalists are free to inform the society about their commonwealth.”

CPJ congratulated Buhari following his inauguration but insisted on the protection of the media. “As Nigeria prepares to enter a new chapter in its history, we urge you and your administration to take steps to ensure that journalists are able to work freely and openly in the country without fear of reprisal of any form,” stated CPJ.

The media rights group pointed out that Buhari, in his inaugural speech on May 29, identified insecurity and pervasive corruption in Nigeria to be among your immediate concerns.

“You also recognized the country’s ‘vibrant’ press and appealed to the media to exercise ‘its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism.’ It is our belief that a patriotic press is also a critical press,” said CPJ.

“To achieve your objective in tackling the challenges Nigeria faces, it is vital that your government prioritize press freedom so that journalists may ask questions and expose corruption at all levels of society without fear of harassment or intimidation. Nigerians and the world must be left without any suspicion or uncertainty about the transparency of your government.”

CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.

Credit: CAJ News

NUJ Tasks Buhari On Protection Of Journalists

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration to ensure adequate protection of journalists and other media workers in the discharge of their duties.

The National President of the union, Malam Mohammed Garba, made the call in Kaduna on Monday as part of the activities marking the World Press Freedom Day 2015.

According to him, good governance can not be achieved when the press do not have undeterred access to the process of governance.

Garba said it was important for government to allow the journalists to carry out their watchdog role in the society “if any positive impact is to be made in the fight against corruption”.

The theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day is “Let Journalism Thrive! Towards Better Reporting Gender Equality and Media Safety in Digital Age.”

Garba said that this year’s theme examines issues such as free and independent journalism, and quality reporting in the context of digital age.

“This subject covers how media concentration impact on media’s role in self-regulation issues, the challenges to investigative journalism, hate speech and media information literacy,” he said.

The NUJ president charged journalists to be responsible in their professional conduct, taking into cognisance to their social responsibility as watchdog role in the society. He also tasked journalists to always remind leaders about the importance of good governance.

In his remarks, Governor Muktar Yero of Kaduna State said Journalists should be inspired to bring about the respect that the profession deserved. Yero was represented by the Commissioner for Information in the state, Ben Bako.

Credit: NAN