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No Petition ever written against me to NJC for Past 23 Years – Acting Chief Judge of FCT

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3 years ago

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Justice Baba Yusuf
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The Acting Chief Judge of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf has disclosed that nobody has written petition against him since 1998 when he was appointed as Judge in Nation’s Capital.

Justice Baba-Yusuf who made this disclosure while appearing before Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening as subtantive Chief Judge of FCT vowed to continue to protect the sanctity.

According to him, nobody has written any petition against me to National Judicial Council since 1998 when I was appointed as Judge in Federal Capital High Court. I realized that I need to make adjudication of Justice pure.

He told the Committee chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele that he started his career as magistrate in 1986 and in 1991 when Kogi state was created he became Chief magistrate first grade.

Also speaking after the submission of the Acting Chief Judge of FCT, the Chairman of the Committee said that no Petition submitted against the nomination if Justice Baba-Yusuf and he had been cleared by the Department of State Service (DSS).

Senator Bamidele said, ” No petition before us on your nomination and you have a clean bill from Department of Service .”

He added that the Independence of the Judiciary is non-negotiable saying that if Nigeria must have a virile and resilient democracy, where the rule of law is norm and not an optional .

In his words, ” As I have always said and wish to once again reiterate that the Independence of the Judiciary is non-negotiable, if we must have a virile and resilient democracy, where the rule of law is norm and not an optional.

“Accordingly, all hands must be on deck to ensure that the Independence of the Judiciary is not jeopardised and compromised in any way.

“In this regard , I wholeheartedly commend the efforts of Mr President to brazing the trail and taking the bull by the horn to ensure financial of the state Judiciary, just like its counterpart at the Federal level in compliance with the provision of section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic 1999, as amended , through the Executive Order No.10 of 2020.

“This is a step in the right direction and it is Worthy of commendation.”

It could be recalled that Justice Baba-Yusuf was appointed as Acting Chief Judge of FCT sequel to the voluntary resignation of Justice Salisu Garba as the chief judge of the FCT high court.

In August 2021, Baba-Yusuf was appointed as the acting Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

In a statement issued on August 2, Senior special assistant on media to the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ahuraka Isa said Garba voluntarily resigned to enable him to take up the position of administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

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Judiciary

Court Stops VIO, Others From Seizing Vehicles, Imposing Fines

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3 months ago

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October 3, 2024

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VIO Vehicles
VIO Vehicles
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has curtailed the powers of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIO), barring it from stopping and impounding vehicles or imposing fines on motorists across Nigeria’s capital.

Justice Evelyn Maha, on October 2, 2024, delivered this judgment in response to a fundamental rights enforcement lawsuit initiated by public interest lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

The court found that the VIO, along with other enforcement officials, lacked the legal authority to halt vehicles or penalise drivers.

The ruling impacts the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander of Jabi, the Team Leader of Jabi, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who were all named as respondents.

Justice Maha ruled that none of these parties, under the Minister’s authority, could justify the seizure of vehicles or the imposition of fines on road users.

The judge further issued a perpetual injunction prohibiting these officials and their agents from infringing on the rights of Nigerians to move freely, asserting that any such actions violate constitutional rights, including the presumption of innocence and the protection of personal property.

This ruling reinforces motorists’ rights and limits the powers of the authorities in vehicle-related enforcement without legal grounds.

 

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Judiciary

27 Rivers Assembly Lawmakers Dump PDP For APC

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1 year ago

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December 11, 2023

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Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike
Rivers State Assembly Complex. Insets: Governor Siminalayi Fubara (L) with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
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The Current political drama in Rivers State has taken a new turn as 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A member of the Assembly, Enemi George, confirmed to Channels Television that the 27 lawmakers were under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule.

He said the decision was taken during their sitting on Monday morning.

For weeks, Amaewhule and another member, Edison Ehie, have been embroiled in a Speakership tussle. Amaewhule is believed to be loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike while Ehie is known to be in the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The Assembly under Amaewhule had in October served an impeachment notice on the governor and removed Ehie as the House leader. However, some members of the Assembly loyal to Fubara immediately impeached Amaewhule and made Ehie the new Speaker.

The crisis in the 32-member Assembly had begun as a result of a rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Though the two politicians have both attended same public events in the last few weeks and all seemed to have been settled but with Monday’s defection of 27 lawmakers from the PDP to the APC, more drama might unfold in the state’s political arena.

Meanwhile, some political players from other parties over the weekend announced their defection to the PDP.

Leading the defectors from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the APC were the deputy governorship candidate of the SDP in the 2023 election, Patricia Ogbonnaya; and former Ahoada-West Chairman, Karibo Wilson.

They decamped alongside their supporters and other party excos.

The politicians dumped their former parties to pitch tent with the PDP group loyal to Fubara.

Also in attendance were some of the Ehie-led group of lawmakers, with the member representing Ahoada West, Goodboy Sokari representing the governor alongside Oko Jumbo from Bonny Constituency.

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Judiciary

NJC Recommends Appointment Of 11 Supreme Court Justices

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1 year ago

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December 7, 2023

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Entry Point to Supreme Court Complex Abuja
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The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of 11 justices to the Supreme Court.

A statement by the apex court’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, said the recommendation was made at the 104th meeting of the council in Abuja on Wednesday.

The recommended candidates would be sworn-in after the approval of their recommendation by President Bola Tinubu and the subsequent confirmation of their appointment by the Senate.

With this appointment, the apex court will have the full complement of 21 justices, as envisaged by the Constitution.

Those recommended for appointment to the Supreme Court are:

Hon. Justice Jummai Hannatu Sankey, OFR
Hon. Justice Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa
Hon. Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme
Hon. Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani
Hon. Justice Moore Aseimo A. Adumein
Hon. Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya
Hon. Justice Stephen Jonah Adah
Hon. Justice Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru
Hon. Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur
Hon. Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar
Hon. Justice Mohammed Baba Idris

The NJC at its last meeting for the year also recommended the appointment of Justice Mohammed Ramat to the Court of Appeal, as well as six heads of courts and 26 other judicial officers.

The various Heads of Court recommended would also be sworn-in upon the approval of their appointment by their various State Governors and subsequent confirmation of same by their respective State Houses of Assembly.

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