A public policy analyst, Sesugh Akume, has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, regarding what he claimed to be unfairness and imbalance in the selection of judges for the Plateau State High Court.

Sesugh claimed that female judges were underrepresented in the most recent National Judicial Council appointment for the High Court in Plateau, which he personally signed and made accessible to journalists in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, the NJC had within the month, announced the “recommendation of its interview committee to appoint five (5) judges of the High Court in Plateau, as follows: i. Charles Donlong ii. Ashashabu Suleiman Wase iii. Shikamma Kassam Shittu iv. Mary Abah Izam v. Nanle Titus Komak.

“It was observed that of the five persons only the fourth on the list, Mary Abah Izam, is female, indicating twenty percent (20%) female representation.

“It should be recalled, however, that the National Gender Policy (NGP) 2006, mandates public institutions in Nigeria to reserve thirty five percent (35%) of all positions exclusively for women.

“I, therefore, respectfully brought to his lordship’s attention that the NJC’s interview committee’s recommendation not being in consonance with the letter and spirit of this national policy, presents the perception of the continued discrimination against women in judicial appointments up to this day and age.

“Also that, especially, the NJC, the apex and regulatory body which is of the judiciary to be seen as going against a national policy which seeks to create balance, and a fairer society, but rather be seen as increasing inequality and/or being indifferent to discrimination against women should not be encouraged.

“I, therefore, urge his lordship, as chairman of the NJC, to use your good offices to correct this historic injustice and set the pace for the judiciary in Nigeria to reflect more gender balance, now and always, beginning with this latest recommendation for appointment in the Plateau State judiciary.”

The West African Examinations Council has announced that it has released the West African Senior School Certificate Examination result for private candidates in the first series for 2023.

However, out of the 8,348 candidates that sat for the exam, it has withheld the result of 413 candidates due to varied cases of examination malpractice.

According to the Head, National Office, WAEC, Nigeria, Patrick Areghan, 4,161 males sat for the exam while the remaining 4,187 were female representing 49.84% and 50.16%, respectively

He said, “The results of 413 candidates, representing 4.95% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination in due course.”

Speaking on the general performance in the exam, Areghan revealed that an analysis of the statistics of the performance of candidates shows that out of the 8,348 candidates that sat the examination, 2,960, candidates representing 35.46% obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects (with or without English language and/or mathematics); 2,003 candidates representing 23.99% obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English language and mathematics

Also, “27 candidates, with varying degrees of special needs, were registered for the examination. Out of this number, eight were visually challenged, two had impaired hearing and four were albinos; all these candidates with special needs were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination.”

Candidates who sat the examination should visit www.waecdirect.org to check their results. They will also be required to apply for their certificates online, through the WAEC Certificate Request Portal website: https://certrequest.waec.ng/.

• Ibom Air apologises for flight delay

A yet-to-be-identified man was on Friday evening evacuated from an Abuja to Lagos flight.

The middle-aged lone protester was said to have announced that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, must never be sworn in as President on May 29.

In the video circulating on social media, it took the efforts of no fewer than six airport security officers to evacuate him after holding up the aircraft for more than an hour, as the 6pm flight had yet to move as of 7pm.

In the video, the man could be heard shouting, as he was being carried off the aisle, “Obidients you’re here. They are doing this to me. Obidients you’re here, I am naked. Obidients you’re here, I am going naked.”

However, no one could come near as officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Ibom Air surrounded him.

Meanwhile, Ibom Airlines has apologised to passengers for the delay they experienced, while the management tried to disembark the passenger who caused the stir.

The Group Manager, Marketing and Communication, Aniekan Essienette, in a press statement posted on their Twitter page on Saturday, addressed the incident.

He said, “We wish to inform the public about an incident on our 6pm flight from Abuja to Lagos on Friday, March 31, 2023.

“A passenger stood up and began addressing other passengers in a manner considered inappropriate and unruly, as he was making other passengers nervous.

“Our crew deemed his continuous unruly behaviour unsafe and called on airport security to help with the situation. Upon his refusal to stop or disembark peacefully, the security operatives were left with no choice but to forcefully disembark the passenger as a last option.

“We are aware that several videos and reports of this incident are circulating on social media and wish to provide the right perspective.

“Ibom Air wishes to assure our passengers that we maintain very high safety and service standards and will never compromise the safety and security of our passengers.

“We apologise to the affected passengers for the time it took to disembark this passenger, which caused an otherwise on-time departure to be delayed by an hour.”

• CBN approves Wole Akinleye as Deputy Managing Director, Tunde Mabawonku as Executive Director

After serving in acting capacity since January 1, 2023, Wema Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Moruf Oseni as the substantive Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2023.

Oseni will be succeeding Ademola Adebise, following approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Oseni’s journey with Wema Bank began in 2012 when he joined as an Executive Director.

Before his appointment as Managing Director/CEO, he served as Deputy Managing Director for the last four years, a role where he demonstrated the capacity to lead the bank to even greater heights as it continues to evolve into a financial powerhouse.

With over 25 years of experience, including more than 16 years at senior to executive management levels, Oseni was the Managing Director/CEO of MG Ineso, a principal investment and financial advisory firm. He had also served as Vice President at Renaissance Capital and was an Associate at Schroder Salomon Smith Barney/Citigroup Global Markets in London.

Oseni’s credentials speak for themselves, with an MBA from the Institut European d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) in France, a Master’s in Finance (MIF) from the London Business School, and a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). He is also an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of the Harvard Business School and King’s College, Lagos.

In addition to Oseni’s appointment, the CBN also approved the appointments of Wole Akinyele as Deputy Managing Director, and Tunde Mabawonku as Executive Director.

Wole Akinleye previously served as the Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking and the South West Business, while Tunde Mabawonku served as the Bank’s Chief Finance Officer.

The Board is confident that these new appointments will be crucial to the continued transformation and growth of the Bank as it positions itself as a market leader in Nigeria’s banking industry through technology and innovation.

All appointments are effective from April 1, 2023.

Regarded as Nigeria’s most innovative bank and the longest-surviving indigenous Financial Institution in Nigeria, Wema Bank Plc has over the years, diligently offered a range of value-adding banking and financial advisory services to the Nigerian public for 77 years.

Incorporated in 1945 as a Private Limited Liability Company under the old name of Agbonmagbe Bank Limited, it commenced banking operations in Nigeria in the same year.

Wema Bank subsequently transformed into a Public Limited Liability Company (PLC) in April 1987 and was listed on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has directed all government agencies involved in the implementation of the work of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Returns and Resettlement of Displaced Persons in the North East to harmonise items needed and their prices in all procurements to be undertaken on behalf of the Committee.

The Vice President who is the Chairman of the Committee also directed effective monitoring and evaluation of the implementation at a meeting he presided over on Friday at the Presidential Villa.

At the meeting, presentations were made by the Borno State Government, the Military, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, and the National Emergency Management Agency, following the release of N15 billion by the President to implement the exit strategy and the immediate commencement of repatriation of the Nigerian refugees in the neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

Specifically, the Federal Government has released N6 billion to the Borno State Government, N3 billion to the Defence Headquarters, N2.5 billion to NEMA and N3 billion to the Refugee Commission for the first phase of the work of the Presidential Committee.

After presentations by the different government agencies, questions were raised about price differentials between quotes and local market rates, and also certain duplications of needed items.

Osinbajo who expressed serious concern about the price differentials and the duplication of needs then directed that the Sub-Committee on harmonization of needs and prices should correct the situation.

He also directed that the Sub-Committee should be engaged with the task of effective evaluation and monitoring. He then specified that the Sub-Committee should work in consultation with Borno State Governor, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Babagana Zulum, regarding the harmonization of the needs and prices.

According to the Vice President, “the President is very serious about the work of the Committee” emphasizing the need for judicious use of resources and transparency in the spending of the funds already released.

“It makes sense to have the already existing Sub-Committee liaise with the Governor of Borno State in order to streamline the needs and acquisition of requirements preparatory to the return of the IDPs,” the Vice President stated.

The meeting on Friday was attended by Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, Governor of Gombe State, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, Director General of NEMA, AVM Muhammadu Alhaji Muhammed (Rtd.), and representatives of Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police, and other heads of agencies involved.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Governor Zulum said “the meeting is on the settlement of IDPs that are living in the Republic of Chad, Cameroon and Niger. Based on the recommendations of the Chairman of this Committee, the Vice President, the sum of N15 billion has been released to the Committee.

“We are here to discuss modalities of implementation, who does what. So far so good, a lot has been discussed, and many items will be procured so that the repatriation exercise will take place with immediate effect.

“More than 300,000 people have been repatriated, but under this phase, we are to begin the process. This is the 4th phase of the repatriation exercise which we shall embark on very soon. Guidelines were provided to respective agencies that are to handle this matter.”

Governor Zulum also disclosed that the modalities include what is to be given to the individuals in terms of food and non-food items. According to him, “what kind of houses shall we build, what is the transportation medium, what is the minimum threshold to return people from the neighbouring countries to Nigeria, these are some of the issues that we discussed according to international best practices.”

Each government agency at the meeting made presentations on the state of preparation for the returnees.

According to the presentation of the Borno State Government, construction of housing for refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, rehabilitation of damaged houses and the provision and rehabilitation of social utilities such as schools, health, water and other facilities have begun.

President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the Committee last year February with members drawn from State Governments, Ministries, security agencies, National Refugee Commission, and the National Emergency Management Agency, among others.

Pope Francis left hospital Saturday after a three-night stay for a bronchitis infection, joking with well-wishers and journalists waiting for him outside that he was “still alive.”

The 86-year-old pope, who was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday with breathing difficulties, got out of the car transporting him and smiled and joked with the crowd, before heading off to the Vatican to begin preparations for the most important week in the Christian calendar.

On Friday, the pope visited the children’s cancer ward at the hospital, handing out chocolate Easter eggs and even baptising a weeks-old baby boy, according to a video published by the Vatican.

Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said Francis had been working earlier on Friday in the hospital’s private papal suite on the 10th floor and catching up on newspapers. On Thursday night, he ate pizza with some hospital staff.

The Argentine pope was discharged as expected on Saturday, as Bruni was earlier positive he would preside over Palm Sunday mass in St Peter’s Square.

The ceremony marks the beginning of Holy Week, which culminates in Easter.

Francis’ hospitalisation was his second since 2021, when he underwent colon surgery, also at Gemelli.

His increasing health issues over the past year have sparked widespread concern, including speculation that he might choose to retire rather than stay in the job for life.

His predecessor, Benedict XVI, quit in 2013, in a radical step not seen since the middle ages.

Visitors to St Peter’s Square on Friday expressed relief over the pope’s improvement.

“I was afraid for the pope,” said one 56-year-old Italian tourist who gave his name as Davide.

“But I’m happy he’s better, that he’s returning. For believers and the Catholic community, it’s important,” he added.

AFP

The Chairman, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, National Assembly chapter, Sunday Sabiyi, has debunked the allegation of N500 million financial misappropriations raised against top officials in the union.

Sabiyi noted that the masterminds of the petition wrote it in malice and not an accurate account of what transpired.

He denied the allegation saying the petition was written out of malice.

He said, “My attention had been drawn to reports by a section of the media alleging that the union leaders misappropriated the sum of N500 million.

“It must be stated that nine aggrieved members of the union were suspended by the Union in a general congress upon an allegation of sale of the union’s land during the tenure of the previous Executive.

“It will be recalled that a committee was set up to investigate the said allegation in which the suspended members were found guilty upon the submission of the committee’s report to the congress of the Union.”

He noted that “The decision of the nine suspended Executive members to petition the police after over two years of their suspension was an afterthought and attempt to divert the attention of the staff with frivolous allegation just after another free and fair election where the incumbent Chairman, Sunday Sabiyi coasted to victory in a landslide.

“However, in the interest of peace and harmonious working relationship in the National Assembly, the union has resolved to use its internal mechanism within the trade union principle to look into the allegations as the National body remains the only authorized apex body of the union that can audit the books of any of its chapters.”

Sabiyi added, “Consequently, the Chairman Comrade Sabiyi hereby calls on all members of the union to remain calm and law-abiding as he remains resolute, committed, and focused on consolidating on the gains already made by his led Executive team in discharging his duty to the best interest of staff especially now that he has a renewed mandate which he holds with two hands.”

Top officials of the National Assembly branch of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria were interrogated by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department on Wednesday over allegations of financial misappropriation involving about N500 million.

Three top officials of PASAN in the National Assembly were invited by the FCID on Wednesday and grilled for several hours.

The FCID letters of invitation to each of the officials were routed through the office of the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development of the National Assembly.

The letters inviting them to appear at the Police Department on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, were separately addressed to the Chairman PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, Sunday Sabiyi; the Financial Secretary, Stacy Nwodo; and the Treasurer, Samtiya Daniel.

Their invitation was on the strength of a petition jointly written against them by nine suspended officers of PASAN, who accused the executive of financial misappropriation.

• Ooni calls for peace, religious tolerance in Ile-Ife

The Osun State Police Command has begun an investigation into the alleged attack on some residents of Ile-Ife by Oro worshippers.

This is as the former Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers and Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun State, Sakariyau Adesiyan, said that there was a need to end the procession by adherents of Oro in daylight in Ile-Ife.

Adesiyan made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Ile-Ife.

“This must be the end of the daylight Oro procession in Ile-Ife. This is not the first time they have been attacking Muslims and Christians in daylight.

“What happened yesterday (Thursday) was barbaric and satanic, because the person that was attacked was inside the mosque. Those who were praying were inside the mosque.

“They have once attacked people. So, we are saying enough is enough. The Muslims are not happy with what they did,” Adesiyan explained.

According to him, Oro adherents came into the mosque and allegedly attacked Muslims.

The Ex-NLC Chairman stressed that they wanted the perpetrators punished, adding that the people would continue their protests if those involved were not arrested.

Also, the Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Ife Central, Tajudeen Adesiyan, said that the Muslims were about to observe Solat Asri prayer when they were attacked.

Adesiyan claimed that the Oro traditional worshipers were returning from their shrine, when they forcefully entered the mosque and they were asking for Imam Lateef Adesiyan.

“It happened inside the mosque and the mosque was destroyed. There was a pool of blood from those injured. We are telling Nigerians that the constitution allows everyone to practice his religion as he likes,” he stated.

He observed that there had never been a day when Christians would ask Muslims to stay indoors for religious events, but the traditional worshipers were intolerant of other religions.

The Secretary emphasised that they were going to end the indiscipline act of the traditional Oro worshipers in Ile-Ife.

An eyewitness, Bashir AbdulAzeez, said, “We were about to observe our Salatul Asr on Thursday evening around 4:30pm when scores of Oro worshipers attacked us as we did our ablution.

“They attacked us and told us to move away. Before we could explain anything, they started beating our people.

“They invaded the mosque and destroyed the Quran and other properties,” AbdulAzeez stated.

According to him, the Imam and five other Muslims have been receiving treatment at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife.

When contacted, the Chief Imam of Ifeland, Alhaji AbdulSemiu AbdulHammed, stated that the Palace had intervened in the matter.

The Chief Imam indicated that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, had called him to appeal to Muslims to be patient as the matter would be resolved amicably.

He emphasised that the Ooni promised to bear the hospital bills of the injured persons and rehabilitate the vandalised mosque.

He said the head of Olorisa worshipers would be arrested and brought to justice, and reaffirmed that there was a fundamental human right of freedom of religion in the land.

The Chief Imam urged Muslims to be law-abiding in their protest.

The Police Spokesperson for Osun Command, SP Opalola Yemisi, said that the attack was confirmed and that the Oloobatala people attacked the Muslims at their worship place.

Opalola said an investigation was still ongoing in the case.

There was pandemonium at Idi Omoh Mosque, Ilare, Ile Ife, on Thursday, when Oro worshipers attacked Muslims.

Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has called for peace and orderliness in the ancient city of Ile-Ife and its environs.

Ooni, who spoke through his Second-in-Command, Obalufe of Ifeland, Oba Idowu Adediwura, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Ile-Ife.

He said as the royal father of Christians, Muslims and traditionalists and as a leader who championed peaceful coexistence globally, there was no reason why his home should be in disruption.

He believed there was no reason why people of different faiths should not live peacefully in tolerance.

He noted that the two major faiths and traditional worshippers had coexisted peacefully in ages past and that there should not be hostilities between them now.

Oba Ogunwusi promised to renovate the mosque that was affected as well as pay the hospital bill of the Imam of the mosque.

Four persons were reportedly injured when traditional religion worshippers attacked worshippers in a mosque in Ile-Ile on Thursday.

Traditionalists in the town had announced on Wednesday that the “Oro’’ cult would perform some rituals in some parts of Ife between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., advising residents to avoid the area.

NAN

The National Broadcasting Commission has slammed a fine of N5 million on Channels Television for breaking the broadcasting law in a programme with the Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.

This is contained in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station and dated March 27.

The News Agency of Nigeria exclusively obtained the letter on Friday in Abuja.

The letter, with the title: “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”, was signed by Balarabe Ilelah, the commission’s Director-General.

It read in part, “The NBC monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okibaloye, on Wednesday, March 22.

“Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities.”

He noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder, violating some sections of the broadcasting code.

“Consequently, on the following infractions, Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 (five million naira) only in the first instance,” he said.

He added that any further infraction by the television station would attract higher sanctions.

“You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated,” the NBC Director-General said.

NAN

BY MAYOWA SAMUEL

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, has granted an order freezing all the monies of the Abia State Government domiciled in about 27 financial institutions.

This is coming two months to the May 29 handover date by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to the new Governor-elect, Alex Otti of the Labour Party.

Justice Bello Kawu, in an exparte motion no: M/6686/2023, also barred all the banks from cooperating with the financial aides of Governor Ikpeazu pending the determination of the motion.

The suit was filed by Uche Eni against the Accountant-General of Abia State and the Commissioner for Finance.

Access Bank Plc, Eco Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federation Account Allocation Committee, Accountant General of the Federation and 21 other financial institutions were listed as respondents.

The court granted the reliefs sought by the claimant’s lawyer, Johnmary C. Jideobi, while adjourning the matter to April 5, 2023.

The court granted the following Order(s):

“A mareva order of this Honourable Court freezing forthwith all the monies belonging to the people and Government of Abia State of Nigeria or controlled by the Defendants and domiciled in any Bank (whatsoever named) operating within Nigeria or domiciled with or in the hands of the 1st to 28th Respondents PENDING the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed herein.

“An order of this honourable court restraining the 1st to 28th Respondents from co-operating with the 1st and 2nd Defendants or any authority and person purporting to be acting on behalf of or in the name of the Government of Abia State of Nigeria (howsoever named or described) in accessing any funds held by the 1st to 28th Respondents for the benefit of the people and Government of Abia State of Nigeria PENDING the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed herein.

“An order of court granting the Claimant/ Applicant leave to effect a substituted service of all the originating processes in this suit, inclusive of the ex-parte Order of this Court, on the 1st and 2 Defendants at the Abia State Liaison Office, Abia House, Abuja, through any registered post or courier service operating within the Jurisdiction of this honourable Court and for same to be deemed as proper services.

“An order restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants forthwith from Interfering with dealing with, withdrawing or accessing in whatever manner, monies in the hand of the 1 to 28th Respondents belonging to the Government and people of Abia State pending the hearing and disposal of the Motion on Notice filed herein.

“An interim order of this Honourable Court restraining all the Respondents and their privies, whether severally or individually, from extending any loan facility (howsoever called or described) to the Government of Abia State pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed herein.”