Latest news with #FederalHighCourt
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Court strike out video and written statement DSS obtain from Kanu under pressure
Justice James Omotosho of di Federal High Court Abuja don comot two video evidence and three written statements wey di Nigeria goment bin wan tender as evidence for di trial of Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu, di leader of Ipob, a secession group for Nigeria bin tell di court say im bin dey under duress wen e write di statements, and im lawyer bin no dey present. For di last hearing, Justice Omotosho bin order a trial within trial to establish weda or not to admit di evidences. Delivering im ruling for di proceeding on Thursday, Omotosho say di law provide say any accused pesin suppose get legal representation bifor e go make im statement. Omotosho first tok say di video show say di atmosphere bin dey cordial wen Kanu bin dey make di statement, and e no see any sign of coercion or force. "However, dis court no go close im eyes to di fact say di defendant bin complain regularly about di absence of im counsel," Omotosho tok. According to di trial judge, section 15 of di Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) provide say di statement of a suspect must to be obtained for di presence of im counsel, and wia di suspect no get counsel, an officer of di legal aid council of Nigeria or a member of di civil society suppose dey present. Omotosho say: "Even though di statement bin dey recorded on video, di fact say di lawyer of di defendant no dey present don make di statement inadmissible in evidence "Dis court dey empowered to also expunge di video recordings wey e bin don admit in evidence. As e don dey established say di statement no dey admissible, it holds to law say di video recordings also no dey admissible." "I hereby order as follows:
Business Insider
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Chinese illegal miners face deportation in Nigeria, to lose ₦134 million
A Nigerian court has ordered the deportation of four Chinese nationals over their involvement in illegal mining of precious minerals in Plateau State. A Nigerian court ordered the deportation of four Chinese nationals for illegal mining activities in Plateau State. The individuals were convicted for unlawful possession and purchase of mineral resources. The court mandated the forfeiture of all proceeds from the illegal activities, including funds and minerals. Chinese illegal miners Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, and Long Kechong have been ordered to be deported by the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, following their conviction for unlawfully mining solid minerals in the region. The convicted Chinese nationals were arrested by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for engaging in unlawful mining activities. According to the EFCC statement, the defendants were arrested on March 9, 2025 at JLM Mining company site following credible intelligence on activities of some Chinese suspected to be involved in illegal mining activities in Jos, Plateau State. Justice Agishi found them guilty of the illegal purchase and possession of mineral resources. Each was sentenced to five years imprisonment or a fine of ₦1 million. In addition, they were deported and permanently banned from re-entering Nigeria. The court also ordered the forfeiture of all proceeds from the illegal activity to the federal government, including ₦134.87 million recovered from Liang Quin Yong. Justice Agishi also ordered the forfeiture of all mineral resources recovered during the investigation, along with an administrative fine of ₦16.3 million. The fine was imposed for the defendants' failure to report a financial transaction within seven days, as required under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, to the EFCC's Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML). Plateau mineral deposits Plateau State is endowed with a rich variety of mineral resources that contribute significantly to Nigeria's mining sector. The most historically significant of these is tin, alongside columbite, an ore of niobium, has also been a major mineral extracted from the region, with the state hosting the world's largest known deposits. Smaller but economically important quantities of other minerals such as tantalite, wolfram (tungsten), kaolin, zircon, and uranium are also found across Plateau. In the eastern and central parts of the state, lead and iron ore have been identified, while coking coal deposits are located in the Lafia area. Additionally, gold and silver deposits have been discovered near the town of Shendam, further underscoring the state's vast mineral potential. Illegal mining in Plateau Over the years, Plateau State's rich mineral resources have been exploited by illegal miners, many of whom operate without licenses, disregarding laws, local communities, and the environment. Illegal mining has become a pressing concern, not only damaging the environment but also fueling insecurity and tensions in local communities. It has also attracted foreign actors, some of whom have been implicated in illicit operations.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Sole Administrator Ibas shun court order, appoint pipo to run all 23 Local councils for Rivers state
Many kwesions don dey come out since di Sole Administrator of Rivers state begin dismantle goment institutions for di state. Since di suspension of govnor Sim Fubara by President Bola Tinubu, di oil rich state dey without commissioners wey dey run goment operations. But di Sole Administrator, Rtd Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas say im go run di goment wit Permanent Secretaries. Di only appointees wey e do for im sef na a Secretary to di State Government and im Chief of Staff. However, di latest be say oga Ibas don begin make more appointments. Bifor now, na Heads of Local goments dey run operations for di local councils but no go be di case again as di Sole Administrator don approve di appointments of administrators for di 23 Local goment areas of di state. For statement by di Secretary to di State goment Prof Ibibia Worika, dia appointment take immediate effect from Monday 7 April, 2025. Dis dey come despite an order from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt wey bar di Sole Administrator from appointing administrators to run di local council areas. Na on Tuesday Justice Adamu Turaki Muhammed issue di order for case weyone group dem dey call PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative file against di Sole Administrator for im official capacity. Di Sole Administrator also appoint Chairman and members of di Rivers State Electoral Commission. Dia work na to conduct election into di local goment councils. Sole Administrator get power to appoint LG administrators? Di Sole Administrator get power to make such appointments? Dat na di kwesion kontri pipo dey ask as some of dem dey challenge di legality of suspending an elected governor and State Assembly members and appointment a Sole administrator inside democracy. Di na as di Federal High Court for Port Harcourt schedule 21 May, 2025, to begin hearing on a suit wey Belema Briggs and odas file against President Bola Tinubu, di National Assembly, di Attorney General of di Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, di Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, and di Nigerian Navy. Di plaintiffs dey seek a judicial interpretation of di 1999 Constitution of di Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), specifically Sections 1, 4, 5, 11, 180, 188, and 305. Dem dey ask di court to determine weda, under diz provisions, President Tinubu get di constitutional authority to suspend an elected executive arm of goment in Rivers State, wey dey constitutionally guaranteed a four-year tenure. Di plaintiffs also dey challenge di declaration of a state of emergency by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025, wey result in di suspension of di Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of di Rivers State House of Assembly. Dem argue say such actions dey constitute a flagrant violation of di constitutional provisions wey dey listed above. For dia originating summons, di plaintiffs also dey ask di court interpretation of weda di National Assembly get power, under Sections 5, 11, and 305 of di Constitution, to ratify di President proclamation wey effectively suspend di executive arm of di state goment. Also, eleven PDP Governors also don approach di Supreme Court to challenge di suspension of di Governor of Rivers State.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- BBC News
Man wey spray and abuse naira for im wedding chop prison sentence
One Federal High Court for Kano don sentence one makeup artist to six months in prison sake of naira abuse. Justice S.M Shuaibu jail Abdullahi Musa Huseini afta im plead guilty to one-count charge bordering on abuse and mutilation of di naira. For one statement by di Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), court find Huseini guilty say im mutilate money wey im spray during im wedding. Di charge read: "Dat you, Abdullahi Musa Huseini, on di 6th day of December, 2024, at Ali Jita Event Centre, Kano, within di jurisdiction of di Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tamper wit di sum N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) in 1000 notes denomination wey di Central Bank of Nigeria issue by spraying in di said occasion and you thereby commit offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of di Central Bank Act, 2007" "Di convict bin chop arrest afta credible intelligence on im involvement in di deliberate mutilation of di Nigerian currency as e spray am for im own wedding celebration. "Investigations reveal say Huseini willfully deface and abuse di naira notes in defiance of warning and campaigns against di practice by di EFCC," di anti-graft agency tok. Wen dem arraign am, Huseini bin plead guilty to di charge, and dis prompt di prosecution counsel, Zarami Mohammed, to present di facts of di case and tender evidence bifor di court. Delivering judgment, Justice Shuaibu found am guilty as charged and sentence am to six months imprisonment witout option of fine.
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan: Senators get power to suspend a fellow senator?
Di suspension of Nigeria Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by her fellow senators last week still dey cause plenty tok-tok for di kontri. Majority of di senators bin vote to suspend Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months afta di senate ethics committee find her guilty of "total violation of di Senate Standing Rules". On top di suspension, di senate also withdraw all her privileges including her security, stop all her salaries and allowances, and ban her make she no come near di national assembly complex. Akpoti-Uduaghan bin don carry di matter go court and di court bin order di senate ethics committee to hold on wit di panel wey dem bin call to investigate her, but di committee members still go ahead with di hearing as dem tok say di court order no dey binding on dem. So e dey legal for members of di senate to suspend dia fellow senator? And for how long? We break am down for dis tori by looking at how di Senate donn handle mata like dis in di past and also by analysing wetin dey di Senate rules. Senate vs Ovie Omo-Agege - 2018 For May 2018, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of di Federal High Court for Abuja bin nullify di six-month suspension wey di Senate bin sama on Ovie-OmoAgege wey bin dey represent Delta Central Senatorial District. Dem suspend Omo-Agege sake of e address press conference wia e accuse di senate say dem dey plan against President Muhammadu Buhari by amending di electoral act. Di senate committee on ethics bin dey investigate am bifor Omo-Agege carry di matter go court to stop di investigation. But di committee go ahead to recommend 181 days suspension for Omo-Agege. For im judgement, Justice Dimgba say di Senate get constitutional duty to discipline dia member, but "such disciplinary measures must to comply wit provisions of di law". E also tok say di senate no get power to suspend pesin for more dan 14 days wey be di maximum number of days wey prescribe by dia standing rule, . Justice Dimgba reverse di suspension and order di senate to pay Omo-Agege all im outstanding salaries and allowances. Senate vs Ali Ndume - 2017 Also, di case of Ali Ndume wey dey represent Borno South senatorial district for di Nigeria senate, na anoda case wia di court nullify di suspension of a senator and declare say e dey "illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional". Justice Babatunde Quadri of di Federal high Court give dis judgement for November 2017 afta di senate suspend Ndume for 90 legislative days (six months) sake of say e accuse di senate president of dat time - Bukola Saraki - say e use fake custom papers to import bulletproof cars for imsef. Oga Quadri also order for di senate to pay Ndume all im salaries and allowances. Bauchi State Assembly vs Rifkatu Dana - 2013/2017 For May 2013, one Bauchi State High Court bin cancel di suspension of Rifkatu Dana wey be member of di state house of assembly wey chop suspension. Dana wey be di only female member of di State Assembly dat time bin collect suspension bicos she criticise di assembly for approving di relocation of di headquarters of Tafawa Balewa Local Goment Area of di state. Di court tok say her suspension dey illegal, and dem order di state assembly to reinstate her and pay her outstanding salaries and allowances. However, di Bauchi State Assembly carry di matter go Appeal Court, and for 2017, di court of appeal also deliver judgement in favour of Rifkatu Dana. Di court of appeal judgement tok say di lawmaker no be employee of di house of assembly, and so di house no get power to suspend her or deny her entitlements. "No Rules or Standing Order of di Bauchi State House of Assembly fit derogate di rights and privileges conferred on an elected member of di House of Assembly. Di conduct of di appellants na tyranny of di majority against an elected minority of di Bauchi State House of Assembly," di judgement tok. Na Femi Falana - a senior advocate of Nigeria - bin carry dis matter go court on behalf of Rifkatu Dana dat time. Wetin di senate standing order tok? Rule eight of di code of ethics of di National Assembly make provision for sanctions wey fit dey applied on top lawmakers wey disobey di rule, and one of di sanctions na "suspension from di Chamber or from a Committee for a definite period". Also, section 67(4) of di senate standing order as amended provide say if a senator commit minor offence during plenary, di Senate President fit order di senator to leave di chamber for di duration of di legislative day. If di offence dey more serious, however, "di Senate President go put di question on motion being such suspension being for anytime stated in di motion not exceeding 14 legislative days". But section 67(8) tok say: "If any senator dey suspended under di provision of dis rule, di president of di Senate go direct am to withdraw. Im suspension go last until determined by di Senate". Wetin legal sabi pipo tok Femi Falana (Senior Advocate of Nigeria) tok say di suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan na "di height of legislative recklessness". "Di official impunity of suspending legislators at di whims and caprices of leaders of di federal and state legislative houses must not be allowed to continue in Nigeria," Falana tok for inside statement wey e release on Sunday. Kelechi Ndubisi, one legal expert wey follow BBC Pidgin tok say Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan get good grounds to challenge her suspension for court. "I hink she suppose challenge am for court bicos di suspension dey ultra vires to di pipo of Kogi Central wey elect her to represent dem," Barr Ndubisi tok. "Her post no be by appointment, na pipo elect her put for Senate just like di oda senators for dia. I no tink say one elected official fit prevent anoda elected pesin from carrying out di duty wey her pipo elect her to do. Who go dey represent di pipo of Kogi Central for dis six months?" she ask. Brief background Dis whole gbas gbos start afta Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan bin vex and para wen she find out say dem don change her sitting position for di senate chambers, and she no dey happy wit di new place wia dem assign to her. But di senators say changing of sitting positions na normal tin and di senate president get power to reassign seats from time to time, and e no dey inform pesin or ask pesin opinion bifor e go reassign di pesin position. Dem also say dat according to di senate standing rule, pesin must to be at di seat wey dem assign to am bifor di pesin go dey recognised to tok or contribute during plenary. Na dis rules dem allege say Akpoti-Uduaghan bin break. However, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan later accuse Akpabio of sexual harassment, saying na bicos she refuse di advances of di senate president na why im dey persecute her. Akpabio don deny di allegation.
