By Ebere Agozie

ActionAid Technical Working Group has called for stringent punitive measures against judicial officers who deliberately misuse the application of the law in adjudication.

Ms Adesuwa Iluobe, Coordinator of the ActionAid Citizens’ Led Engagements on Judicial Accountability in Post-Election Justice Delivery in Nigeria (CLEAP-Justice) project, presented the recommendations to newsmen in Abuja.

Iluobe said the interactive session with the media with the theme “Towards Increased Citizens’ Consciousness for a Transparent Judiciary “ was to discuss the gaps within the Acts that necessitate reforms and policy advocacy.

She said: “We equally recommend that the National Judiciary Council (NJC) should be more proactive in the discipline of judges who misuse ex-parte orders and such judges should not be appointed to election tribunals.

“Making disciplinary reports public would deter judges from compromised actions, as they would be aware of the potential public scrutiny.

“Collaboration with identified incorruptible judges should be pursued and comprehensive security and welfare provided to help them withstand external pressure’’.

According to her, the project also recommends enhanced objectivity and transparency in the appointment of judges and throughout the judicial system.

“The process applied by NJC should include citizens’ scrutiny of proposed appointees.

“The establishment of an online platform is needed for citizens to report judicial misconduct or blow the whistle on judges and court proceedings.

“Also, the position of the CJN should be unbundled to reduce the concentration of power and promote transparency.

“There should be deputies to all Heads of Courts, with their roles and responsibilities clearly defined’’.

She said that where there are allegations against the CJN and other Supreme Court justices, Justices of Supreme Court level from other Commonwealth jurisdictions should be involved in the disciplinary process.

She said that CLEAP Justice also recommended a constitution amended to the effect that election litigations for National Assembly and gubernatorial elections should be at two levels.

“The litigation should end at the Court of Appeal, with three-panel members at the lower court and five at the Court of Appeal.

“Also, independent experts on elections in each tribunal should be included to provide opinions.

“In order to ensure completion of Election Petitions before swearing-in, there should be shorter timelines for election petitions from 180 days to a maximum of 120 days or 60 days at each level’’.

“Individuals who have worked with INEC should be restricted from engaging in partisan politics for at least five years after leaving the commission.

“It recommended that efforts should be made to nurture public trust in election processes and outcomes and transparency in the electoral system promoted’’.

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Zainab Oyekan

A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered that a 14-year old boy who stole two grinding machines be kept in a juvenile home for six months.

The Magistrate, Mr Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the minor after he pleaded guilty to the crime.

The magistrate , however, gave the convict a fine of N20,000.

He urged the minor to change his ways.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat told the court that the case was reported on July 1, at the Laranto Police Station by some community leaders.

The prosecutor said that the convict conspired with his friends, now at large and stole the machines worth  N 50,000 .

The prosecutor, however, said that the grinding machines were recovered during police investigations.

The offence, according to him, is punishable under the Plateau Penal Code Law. (NAN)(http://www.nannews.ng)
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edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Naomi Sharang

President Bola Tinubu has signed the judicial office holders salaries and allowances bill into law.

The Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Sen. Basheer Lado, announced this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

“This extraordinary move underscores the president’s absolute prioritisation of the welfare of Nigerian workers above all else.

“Just like he did when he recently put on hold an ongoing Federal Executive Council meeting to assent to the new National Minimum Wage Bill of N70,000,” he said.

Lado said that the new act “prescribes salaries, allowances and other benefits for judicial officers to reflect the changing realities.

He described the signing of the bill as a landmark achievement and a manifestation of his unwavering commitment to the welfare of Nigeria’s workforce.

“This landmark decision reflects the president’s profound dedication to ensuring that every salary earner, especially those serving in vital and strategic roles, receives the recognition and compensation they deserve.

“In Tinubu’s administration, the welfare of our workers has become a central pillar of national progress.

“His visionary policies continue to uplift the lives of millions, ensuring that the dignity of labour is upheld and that those who serve our nation are justly rewarded.

“This assent is a clear testament to the president’s tireless efforts to build a more prosperous and equitable country, where every worker is empowered to contribute to the nation’s greatness.

Lado commended Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Abass Tajudeen for their patriotic commitment to progressively improving the welfare of citizens.

He also lauded the entire members of the National Assembly for prioritising the welfare of the citizens by passing and transmitting the executive bill.

He urged judicial office holders in the country to redouble their efforts in ensuring that justice was served and speedily.

“The judiciary remains the hope of the common man and it is hoped that Nigerians seeking justice get it irrespective of their status in life,” he said. (,NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kayode Olaitan

By Adenike Ayodele/Olaitan Idris

A Lagos-based lawyer, Dr Yemi Omodele, says Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) should generate funds internally to pay their workers’ salaries in view of the financial autonomy granted local governments.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Supreme Court, on July 11, granted financial autonomy to local governments.

The apex court delivered judgment in a suit filed by the Federal Government against state governors.

In interviews with NAN on Monday in Lagos, Omodele said that the LCDAs should devise means to generate funds for sustainability.

He suggested that staff of the LCDAs should go into increased farming and other lawful ventures to generate more money to sustain themselve as well as address food insufficiency in the country.

“Funds generated internally will assist LCDAs in paying workers’ salaries,” he said.

He also said that local governments, from where the LCDAs were created, should share federal allocations with the LCDAs.

“It should be pointed out that the main local governments and the LCDAs are twin brothers.

“The calculation will be that local governments that have LCDAs will have to share whatever funds they get from the federation account with the LCDAs so that the LCDAs will not run into extinction,” he said.

The lawyer said that the Supreme Court judgment was good for democracy.

“It will lay to rest, recklessness of some governors in spending money that does not belong to them,” Omodele said.

Mr Ige Asemudara, also a Lagos-based lawyer, said that the fate of the LCDA workers were directly connected to the status of the local council.

Asemudara, the Founder of Mission Against Injustice in Nigeria, said that a local government must have been listed in the constitution it qualify to receive revenue from the federal allocation to be able to pay workers’ salaries.

According to him, the council must also be an elected one.

“The various LCDAs in Lagos State, for example, will not receive allocation.

“Only the 20 LGAs in the constitution will receive allocation, if they have elected chairmen and councillors,” Asemudara said.

Mr Ganiyu Olanrewaju, also a Lagos-based lawyer, told NAN that there were implications of local government financial autonomy on LCDA workers.

“The Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments did not carefully look at states like Lagos and how the enforcement might lead to changes in the administration and funding of LCDAs.

“It is important to note that the fate of LCDA workers in Lagos will depend on the state government’s implementation plan and negotiations with relevant stakeholders, including labour unions and local government authorities.

“This restructuring might lead to uncertainty and anxiety among LCDA workers. Job security and potential redundancies will be a big problem.

“Unfortunately, in actualising this change or restructuring in the system, it can bring about letting some workers go,” he said.

The lawyer said that some LCDA workers might also be redeployed or transferred to other government agencies or departments.

“However, we cannot rule out the benefits of the judgment, as local government workers will experience better working conditions, infrastructure and equipment, which will enable them to perform their duties more effectively,” he said.

He said that state governments with LCDAs could harmonise salaries and benefits of the workers with those of local government staff, potentially leading to improved remuneration.

According to him, the need for effective communication, planning and stakeholder engagement cannot be over-emphasised to ensure a smooth transition. (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Ijeoma Popoola

By Edith Nwapi

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has rejected an appeal to nullify the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as its candidate for the upcoming Governorship Election in Edo.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by A. M Lamido, on Monday, dismissed the appeal filed by the embattled Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu.

Shaibu was earlier impeached from office but recently got reinstated by the court.

While dismissing the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/642/2024, for want of merit, Lamido held that it found no reason to set aside the May 27 judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The court further ruled that the trial court was right for refusing to invalidate the outcome of PDP primary election based on the suit by the appellant.

It awarded a N1million cost against the appellant.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had, in his judgement that was affirmed by the appellate court, held that Shaibu lacked the legal right to seek to nullify the outcome of the primary poll.

Omotosho further held that the plaintiff did not meet the condition precedent to confer such a legal right on him.

According to the court, no evidence was adduced to establish that he participated in the primary election he sought to nullify its outcome.

Omotosho held that it was a basic requirement of the law that a plaintiff must take part in a disputed election to be able to challenge its outcome in court.

He said that there was overwhelming evidence that the plaintiff was never physically present at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, where the primary election of February 22 took place.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shaibu had in the suit prayed the court to issue an order stopping the INEC from accepting or recognising Ighodalo as the gubernatorial flag bearer of PDP in the election.

He contended that the primary election that produced Ighodalo was not conducted in compliance with both the Electoral Act and party Constitution.

He prayed the court to, among other things, compel the party to conduct a fresh primary election in the state. (NAN)

Edited by Sam Oditta