News
Behave yourself, Court Warns Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer for Unprofessional Conduct
The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra has continued with Justice James Omotosho sounding a note of warning against Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the defence team and others that are in the habit of posting live stream and Court documents on the social media.
This comes on a day that the defense team continued with the cross examination of the government’s second witness, code named BBB in the ongoing terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The day’s proceedings began with lead counsel for the defence, Kanu Agabi, informing the Court of a letter by the lead counsel for the prosecution, Adegboyega Awomolo dated 14 May about illegal live streaming of court proceedings.
He recommended that phones be banned from the courtroom. He laments the action of Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the defense team who posts misleading information on social media. He says the case is too serious for anyone to trivialise in the manner that it’s being done.
In his intervention, Justice James Omotosho said he granted an accelerated hearing of the case in the interest of all parties, particularly for Nnamdi Kanu who has been in custody for too long.
The judge charged all parties in the case to act professionally to ensure progress. He further warned Aloy Ejimakor to stop such conduct that may warrant the disbarring of a lawyer.
Justice Omotosho therefore charged all parties in the case to avoid acts that amount to misconduct and watch what they post on social media.
The actual case continued with the cross examination of Mr BBB (a personnel of the DSS) by Paul Erokoro who conducted proceedings on behalf of the defence.
On whether the DSS can be influenced by politicians or ministers, the witness stated that the Agency is under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). He also clarified that the Attorney General does not teleguide the operations of the DSS.
Asked on the mode of intelligence gathering by the DSS, the witness noted that the sources are many, including human, social media, among others.
BBB further says owing to their mode of training, DSS operatives have the capacity to get information where necessary.
Probed further, the witness said he was told by Nnamdi Kanu that he was ‘kidnapped’ from Kenya and returned to Nigeria in 2021. On allegations that the DSS carried out the act, Mr BBB stated that the agency lacks the powers to effect arrest beyond Nigeria’s borders.
The witness therefore restated that Kanu, via his Radio Biafra broadcasts, incited violence, including during the ENDSARS protests in 2020. The witness adds that the defendant expressed readiness to make Biafra possible, by all means, including war.
Mr BBB stressed that the inciting comments made by the IPOB leader led to the burning of a police station in Ebonyi State, a Lagos State High Court, and the cargo shed of the Murtala Mohammed Airport.
The witness said the casualties from the inciting comments made by Kanu include an army couple killed and beheaded in Orlu by persons believed to be members of the ESN the military wing of IPOB. Another was a retired judge, Stephen Nnaji.
At some point during cross examination, Paul Erokoro, sought adjournment, informing the Court that there is a video clip that the defense seeks to tender. He asked for some time to make that possible.
Meanwhile, the Court admitted as evidence, certified true copies of judgments of three fundamental rights enforcement lawsuits instituted by Nnamdi Kanu.
These are those of the Abia State High Court of 19 January 2022, Federal High Court, Umuahia division delivered on 26 October, 2022 and another by the High Court of Enugu State, delivered on 26th October 2023.
Justice James Omotosho subsequently adjourned the case till Thursday 22 May for the conclusion of the cross examination of the second prosecution witness.
News
Senate confirms Oyedele as minister
During the screening, Oyedele proffered solutions to getting out of the various economic issues in the country.
The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance.
His confirmation comes after two hours of screening as lawmakers grilled him on various aspects of the economy.
Oyedele’s screening followed a motion moved by Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate leader, after he called for the suspension of the Senate rule to allow strangers to come into the chamber.
During the screening, Oyedele proffered solutions to getting out of the various economic issues in the country.
Oyedele was escorted to the chamber by Bashir Lado, the Special Adviser to the President on the National Assembly ( Senate), alongside others.
His screening followed President Bola Tinubu’s letter to the Senate on Tuesday, requesting his confirmation as a minister.
Tinubu had, on March 3, nominated Oyedele, who currently serves as chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, as Minister of State for Finance.
News
Tinubu appoints Lamido Yuguda as CBN’s Deputy Governor
Lamido Yuguda’s last public post was as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a position he held from 2020 to 2024.
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Lamido Abubakar Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
The appointment is in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
The President charges Yuguda to discharge his responsibilities with renewed dedication, professionalism, and commitment to Nigeria’s economic stability and growth.
Lamido Yuguda’s last public post was as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a position he held from 2020 to 2024.
He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated in 1983 with a B.Sc. in Accountancy.
In 1991, he obtained a master’s degree in Money, Banking and Finance from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a CFA charterholder.
He began his career in 1984 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a Senior Supervisor in the Foreign Operations Department.
He also worked as an economist in the Africa Department of the International Monetary Fund from 1997 to 2001, when he returned to the CBN.
He retired from the CBN in 2016, after he had served as Director of the Reserve Management Department for six years.
News
JUST IN: IGP Disu Assigns Portfolios to New DIGs
DIG Zachariah Fera Achinyan has been deployed to Legal Services, DIG Zango Ibrahim Baba to Research and Planning, and DIG Isyaku Mohammed to Training and Development departments.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu has assigned the new Deputy Inspectors -General of Police (DIGs) their duties responsibilities.
Sources said that the DIGs were assigned departments based on their areas of competence.
DIG Zachariah Fera Achinyan has been deployed to Legal Services,
DIG Zango Ibrahim Baba to Research and Planning, and DIG Isyaku Mohammed to Training and Development departments.
Similarly, DIG Margaret Agebe Ochalla has been posted to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID);
DIG Mohammed Abdul Sulaiman to Finance and Accounts; DIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie will oversee the Force Intelligence Department (FID); DIG Fayoade Adegoke will head Information and Communication Technology, while DIG Umar Shehu Nadada has been posted to Operations departments.
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