Two senior staff of the National Assembly were in the early hours of Friday brutalized by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, for allegedly not properly identifying themselves at the second gate of the Complex.

The staff, Chris Odoh, a Deputy Director, and John Nnadi, of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), ran into trouble with the DSS operatives who have been drafted to man the entire National Assembly Complex, at about 11:45 am, when they were asked to identify themselves at the gate.

The DSS officers claimed that the staff could not properly identify themselves but “just flashed their identity card at the gate”.

The operatives, thereafter, forcefully blocked the staff when they attempted to proceed to their offices at the White House, a section of the National Assembly Complex.

In the ensuing altercation, the National Assembly staff were assaulted by the security operatives, while other workers watched helplessly.

Efforts made by passersby to resolve the situation angered the DSS operatives, who after being joined by four of their colleagues, started rough handling the staff and any other person that tried to broker peace.

The operatives dragged the two staff from the linking point, which is about 125 metres in distance.

The incident attracted the sympathy of staff of the Unity Bank, United Bank for Africa, UBA, Senate Committee on Public Accounts and journalists in the Senate Press Centre, whose offices were in the area.

Miffed by the embarrassing scene, staff of the National Assembly from various offices at the White House, including the Mace Bearer in the Senate, spontaneously gathered at the front of the DSS office to demand the immediate release of the two staff.

It took the intervention of the Divisional Police Officer of the National Assembly, Alex Annagu, and the Deputy Clerk of the Senate, Legislative, Mrs Ilobah Isabella, who calmed frayed nerves as they appealed to the irate workers to go back to their offices.

Amidst the crisis, John Nnadi stormed out of the DSS office located underground and started shouting solidarity songs and was immediately joined by other workers who were still hanging around to see the outcome of the confusion.

Chanting ‘We no go gree o, we no go gree’, the irate staff marched to the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly to register their grievance, but he was yet to arrive before they were dispersed by the DPO, who appealed to them for calm.

In the past two weeks, the National Assembly management has replaced its official security arm, Sergeant-at-Arms, who are familiar with staff and the legislative aides and other personnel, with DSS operatives who are daily having altercations with those accessing the Complex.

[DailyPost]

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of 86 Justices and judges for the Court of Appeal, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal, and Customary Courts of Appeal of states across the country.

Here is the full list of the recommendations:

JUSTICES, COURT OF APPEAL – 22

1. Hon. Justice Kwahar Polycarp Terna

2. Hon. Justice Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola

3. Hon. Justice Eleojo Eneche

4. Hon. Justice Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf

5. Hon. Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman

6. Hon. Justice Abdu Dogo

7. Hon. Justice Fadawu Umaru

8. Hon. Justice Ishaq Mohammed Sani

9. Hon. Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar

10. Hon. Justice Abdulazeez M. Anka

11. Hon. Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba

12. Hon. Justice Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu

13. Hon. Justice Nwabunkeonye Onwosi

14. Hon. Justice Okorowo Donatus Uwaezuoke

15. Hon. Justice Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor

16. Hon. Justice Ntong Festus Ntong

17. Hon. Justice Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi

18. Hon. Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette

19. Hon. Justice Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo

20. Hon. Justice Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem

21. Hon. Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola

22. Hon. Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi

 JUDGES, HIGH COURT, FCT ABUJA – 12

1. Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo

2. Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi

3. Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike

4. Odo Celestine Obinna

5. Hauwa Lawal Gummi

6. Abdurahman Usman

7. Buetnaan Mandy Bassi

8. Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh

9. Maryan Iye Yusuf

10. Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria

11. Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike

12. Munirat Ibrahim Tanko

JUDGES, IMO STATE HIGH COURT – 7

Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi

Uchenna Mary Njoku

Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze

Ononogbo Chidi Linus

Adaego Peace Nosiri

Emeka Ozoma Orafu

Mathew Chinedu Ijezie

JUDGES, BAUCH STATE HIGH COURT – 6

1. Amin Umar Ilelah

2. Aliyu Bin Idris

3. Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi

4. Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf

5. Abdussalam Idris Waziri

6. Kawu A. Yerima

JUDGES, TARABA STATE HIGH COURT – 3

1. Hamidu Audu

2. Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma

3. Joel Daniel Ubandoma

JUDGES, LAGOS STATE HIGH COURT – 13

1. Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru

2. Azeez Fimisola Augusta

3. Alebiosu Olawale Lawal

4. Adewale Russel Musiliu

5. Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose

6. Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed

7. Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade

8. George Alfred Akingbola

9. Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu

10. Shonubi Adenike Kudirat

11. Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola

12. Layinka Oyeladun Amope

13. Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin

JUDGES, KOGI STATE HIGH COURT – 4

1. Ajesola Joseph Sunday

2. Ojoma Rachael Haruna

3. Kadiri Badama

4. Ezema Beatrice Ada

JUDGES, JIGAWA STATE HIGH COURT – 2

1. Mohammad El-Usman

2. Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo

KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, BAUCHI STATE – 5

1. Ishaku Magaji

2. Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo

3. Bello Mohammed Sambowal

4. Muhyiddeen Mohammed

5. Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin

KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE – 5

1. Muhammad Muhammad Bello

2. Okino Isah Saidu

3. Yakubu Adavenge Abbas

4. Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu

5. Idris Alhaji Abdullahi

KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, JIGAWA STATE – 1

1. Mukhtar Shuaibu Adam

JUDGES, IMO STATE CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL – 3

1. Everyman Ezenna Eleanya

2. Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna

3. Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi

JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE – 2

1. Esther Tata

2. Benjamin Samuila Bawage

JUDGE, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE – 1

1. Maryann Oziohu Otaru.b

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has convicted a medical doctor and founder of MedContour Services Ltd., Dr. Anuoluwapo Adepoju, who conducted a failed plastic surgery that resulted in the death of one Nneka Onwuzuligbo in 2020, FIJ reports.

This was disclosed by a former Director-General of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Babatunde Irukera on Friday.

In his tweet, Irukera, tweeting as #TundeIrukera, wrote, “Today is a day of pride for me that I personally prosecuted Anu Adepoju and her medical practice. Though I’ve left, the case has ended in a conviction strengthening the accountability framework for all in society, professionals or otherwise. This is how society should work and grow.

“Dr. Anu Adepoju and her medical practice convicted in all 5 counts charged by FCCPC. The wheel of justice may grind slowly, but we must see it through. What we need are enforced with audacity and the will to prosecute competently and diligently. Good day for consumers of professional services.”

In 2020, PUNCH Online reported that the FCCPC arraigned Adepoju on five counts pressed against her before Justice Mohammed Liman,.

The FCCPC accused the cosmetic surgeon of shunning summons by the agency to appear and produce a certain document

Details later…

[Punch]

The founder of Stanbic IBTC and ANAP Foundation, Atedo Peterside has described the Federal Government’s N90 billion subsidy for the 2024 Hajj as a setback for the nation’s economy.

Peterside stated this in an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday.

Recall that the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, said the Federal Government subsidised this year’s hajj pilgrimage with N90 billion.

He stated this while flagging off the 2024 inaugural flight of Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi.

According to him, the move has a political undertone ahead of the next 2027 general elections.

He said, “This is not about religion but about politics. We are mixing religion and politics.

“So, what do we now expect Christians to do? To say they want their own share of this subsidy?

“How are you going to refuse them? This is all about politics. Perhaps someone feels that ‘it is time for me to score some cheap political points’.

“You now come and send the wrong signal about our economy at a time when our economy is in deep trouble. We need to bring ourselves out of the hole. 

“Each time you turn around and do something insignificant like this (hajj subsidy) and throw away N90 billion, you set back the process by which investors and others can take you seriously.

“For me, it is not just about religion and pilgrimage. It is the setback of the economy by sending the wrong signals. The government should stop sending the wrong signals.”

Forex saga

Speaking on the depreciation of the naira against the dollar, the economist asked President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take steps for the local currency to rebound.

He warned President Tinubu’s administration that hurrying to make the currency gain strength wouldn’t work out.

According to him, the best approach would be for the central bank to stabilise the naira to a level where they can sustain it for some time and gradually build the reserve.

He said, “I will be fair to this government. They inherited the exchange rate problem and what they have been doing is trying to manage it.

“Recently, I would have thought ‘let’s get some stability around N1,300 or N1,400’. Don’t be in a hurry to appreciate the exchange rate.

“Going to sell dollars to bureau de change at N1,000, N1,050; those guys will turn around two weeks later and sell it at N1,400, N1,500. And they will go away laughing. What’s the point of that?

“It’s better to have some stability they can sustain. Keep between N1,300 and N1,400 which looks to be the natural equilibrium band today. Keep it there for a while, and build up your reserve to let confidence come back.

“So stop trying to appreciate the naira in a hurry. It’s not going to work,” he said.

Vanguard News