Tag Archives: Prosecuted

Judges under probe will be prosecuted, AGF tells NJC.

Posted on by
1

Outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, said on Monday that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, had informed the National Judicial Council that he was set to prosecute some judges who were being investigated for alleged corruption.

The CJN, who leaves office on attaining the retirement age of 70 on Thursday, said the communication received from the AGF informed the decision of the NJC to ask the affected judges not to perform judicial functions until the cases against them were concluded.

He spoke at the Supreme Court, Abuja during the swearing in ceremony of Justices Amina Augie and Ejembi Eko to the apex court bench.

He said the decision reached at the NJC meeting held between November 2 and 3, asking the affected judges not to sit again, was to preserve the independence of the judiciary and the confidence of the public in the system.

“…Justice is rooted in confidence and where confidence in our judges is undermined and independence eroded, it is the nation that ultimately suffers most while true democracy is fatally undermined.

“Certainly, the decision of the National Judicial Council at its last meeting reflects our desire to preserve this independence.

“Hence, we proclaimed to the world that any judicial officer that is standing trial will cease to perform judicial functions.

“The council took this stand following communications it received from the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice that he was embarking on the prosecution of the affected judicial officers for the offences disclosed against them from the evidence on the ground.”

The CJN, however, said that despite that, the judiciary remained resolute to upholding its independence and adjudicate with fairness and justice.

He said, “We must not forget that we operate a constitutional democracy which clearly prescribes the powers accorded to each organ of the state.

“I therefore wish to state without fear of contradiction that the third arm of government will remain resolute in its commitment and resolve to uphold its independence and to adjudicate with utmost fairness and justice prescribed in our constitution and the law.”

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the recommendations of the new Justices of the apex court by the NJC promptly and also the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as well as the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, for prompt confirmation of the candidates.

The CJN, who reminded the new Justices of the Supreme Court that they were joining the apex “at a time when there are a lot of challenges,” however expressed confidence that having “scaled constitutional and institutional requirements, you are no doubt ready to face these challenges head on.”

The CJN, who earlier administered the oaths of office and allegiance to the new Justices of the apex court, urged them “to be faithful to those oaths as they are testament of your fidelity to God, the law and the good people of Nigeria.”

The CJN added, “They are also public pronouncements of your honest commitment to the Almighty to continue to dispense justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

“Now more than ever, it is important to be firm, honest and steadfast in the discharge of your duties, while striving to emulate the greats of this court by enthroning the rule of law and respect for our courts.”

NLC Wants Ghost Workers’ Perpetrators Prosecuted

Posted on by
37

The Akwa Ibom chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the prosecution of all perpetrators of ghost workers syndrome in the nation’s public service.

Chairman of the council in the state, Mr Etim Ukpong, made the call in Uyo on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ukpong decried that over the years, different tiers of government had complained of ghost workers but that no perpetrator of the act had been identified or punished.

He said that he would like to see the payroll officers and their supervisors prosecuted in the court and jailed if found culpable, to serve as deterrent to others.

Ukpong decried a situation where the government could not pay workers and pensioners promptly and regularly, because of bloated wage bill occasioned by ghost workers syndrome.

He expressed the hope that with the use of bank verification number and biometric capturing, the problem of ghost workers would be eliminated in Nigeria.

On non-payment of pensioners in the state, Ukpong regretted that primary school teachers, who retired in June, 2015, only got one month’s pension a year after.

Read More:

http://leadership.ng/news/547928/nlc-wants-ghost-workers-perpetrators-prosecuted

I’m Being Prosecuted For Old Grievances- Dasuki

Posted on by
1

Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has told a federal high court in Abuja that he is being punished by some persons at the highest level of power in the country for perceived grievances they had held against him while in active military service many years ago.

Dasuki, who did not name any particular person, said the punishment being meted out to him was unfortunate having being borne out of mere vendetta.

In an emotionally laden submission, while reacting to the government’s request for his secret trial, Dasuki, who spoke through his counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), told the court that he had rested his case in God for the ultimate judgment.

“It is crystal clear that the defendant (Dasuki) is being punished by the powers that be for the perceived offences committed long before… we leave them to the Almighty God for his ultimate judgment,” he said.

Dasuki had been arraigned before three different high courts for various allegations and was granted bail but was rearrested in December last year by the federal government and has since been held incommunicado.

At the resumed trial yesterday, the federal government approached the court seeking a secret trial for Dasuki who is facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms, money laundering and breach of trust.

In the fresh motion argued by the prosecuting counsel, Chief Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), government prayed the court to allow witnesses give evidence behind the screen to be provided by the court.

He held that the request hinged on the fact that Dasuki, as a former top security chief, has large loyalists across the country who might jeopardise the trial if done in the open.

He further submitted that Dasuki had in the recent past held the highest security office in the country and has loyalists in security circles whose loyalty has been transferred to personality and whose actions might be inimical to prosecution witnesses some of whom are still in the service.

Credit: Thisday

Saraki Reveals Why He Is Facing Prosecution

Posted on by
Reply

In a statement released by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Tuesday evening, Mr. Saraki said he was singled out for prosecution because of his position as the Senate President – an apparent reference to the controversy over his election as leader of the Senate.

In the statement, Mr. Saraki said he previously refused to appear before the tribunal because he was exploring the “opportunity to defend (his) fundamental human rights in other courts”.

“As I stated while taking the plea in the case, I reiterate my belief that the only reason while I am going through this trial is because I am Senate President. If I were to be just a Senator, I doubt if anybody will be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over twelve years ago,” he said.

The statement repeated a claim he made at the tribunal earlier Tuesday that trial did not follow due process.

“This belief stems from the fact that Section 3 (d) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act provides that if there is a breach or non-compliance with any section of the law, the person involved should be given the opportunity to either admit or deny and that in the case of a written admission, no reference to the tribunal shall be necessary,” he said.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Coroner Accuses Synagogue Of Criminal Negligence, Says They Should Prosecuted

Posted on by
229

A coroner on Wednesday said a megachurch run by popular Nigerian preacher TB Joshua should be prosecuted after a building collapse killed 116 people, most of them South Africans.

“The church must be investigated and prosecuted for not obtaining the relevant approval before embarking on the construction of the building,” Oyetade Komolafe said in his ruling on last year’s tragedy.

“The church was culpable because of criminal negligence resulting in the death of the victims.”

The coroner’s inquest was called to determine the circumstances of the collapse of the guesthouse for foreign followers of Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) on September 12 last year.

Komolafe also dismissed Joshua’s claims in his ruling, which recorded that the victims likely died from multiple injuries, including fractured skulls, caused by the collapse.

“The collapse was as a result of structural failures,” he said, calling for the prosecution of the two engineers used by the church.

Credit: vanguardngr