Committee

Abdulaziz
Apr, Tue, 2025

Emergency rule: Reps inaugurates 21-member ad-hoc committee to oversee Rivers govt.

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By Ikenna Osuoha
The House of Representatives on Tuesday inaugurated a 21-member ad-hoc committee to oversee the caretaker government in Rivers during the state of emergency.

Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, said that the inauguration of the committee was in line with Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

While reaffirming the National Assembly’s commitment to transparent governance in Nigeria, Abbas urged the committee to be non-partisan and impartial.

“Today’s inauguration of the 21-member ad-hoc committee on Rivers State reaffirms our constitutional commitment to transparent governance.

“Empowered by Section 5 of the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation 2025 and pursuant to Section 11(4) of our Constitution, this committee has a clear and non-partisan mandate,” he said.

According to him, the committee is to monitor the implementation of federal directives and policies in Rivers, ensuring that the caretaker administration adhered to the law.

The speaker said that the sensitivity and gravity of the assignment could not be over-emphasised, describing it as a litmus test for the committee members’ commitment to democratic principles and constitutional governance.

“The importance of the assignment places a considerable burden on the chairman and all members, as every action taken will be subject to national scrutiny,” he said.

Abbas urged the committee members to conduct their oversight with highest level of impartiality and monitor every aspect of the caretaker administration in strict accordance with the constitution.

“Beyond mere oversight, your work must actively support efforts to restore lasting peace and re-establish a fully functioning democratic system in Rivers State.

“You are called upon to interface with federal agencies, security institutions, and any reconciliation initiatives that may be established, fostering trust among all stakeholders in the process,” he said.

The speaker emphasised that the national assembly’s intervention in Rivers was not an instrument of political vendetta but a constitutional necessity.

He explained that it was the collective duty of the legislature to safeguard peace, security and rule of law in the state.

Abbas said any time that any state house of assembly was unable to perform its functions by reason of the situation prevailing in that state, the national assembly could make laws for the peace, order and good government in such state.

While commending President Bola Tinubu for rising to the occasion in Rivers, in accordance with section 305 of the constitution, he said it was a display of responsible leadership.

The speaker charged the Sole Administrator, Retired Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas to be highly transparent in the discharge of his duties, saying that his government is temporary.

Responding, Chairman of the committee, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, thanked the speaker for rising to the occasion.

Ihonvbere, a professor and House Majority Leader, promised not to fail the national assembly and Nigerians at large in the discharge of their mandate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the committee include: Ali Isa, Deputy Chairman, Isiaka Ibrahim, Idris Wase, Aliyu Betara, Sada Soli, James Faleke, Igariwey Enwo, Shehu Rijau and Wole Oke.

Others are: Akarachi Amadi, Patrick Umoh, James Barka, Alex Egbona, Isa Anka, Amos Daniel, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, Onuh Onyeche, Fatima Talba, Chris Nkwonta and bibake Enenimiete. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Abdulaziz
Mar, Wed, 2025

Judiciary

Long detention: Committee calls for Justice minister’s urgent intervention

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By Ebere Agozie
The Working Group on the Legal Status of Inmates in Correctional Centres has urged the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi to intervene in cases of inmates who have stayed beyond the maximum period of imprisonment in detention.

Mr Olawale Fapohunda (SAN), the Facilitator of the group, made the call during the presentation of a report to the minister on Wednesday in Abuja.

Fapohunda noted that the first report of the group was set up to audit the legal status of inmates and has the mandate to investigate cases that are inconsistent with Section 35 of the 1999 Nigeria’s Constitution (as amended).

“This report provides a comprehensive review of the audit of the legal status of inmates in selected custodial centres in Nigeria.

“The audit exercise was carried out between January 13 and March 14 2025 which the process includes physical visitations to the custodial centres as well as interaction with inmates.

“Our mandate was mainly to focus on the legal status of inmates that have been kept in detention for a longer period than the maximum period of imprisonment prescribed for the offence.

He said that the group identified two distinct categories of inmates; inmates in remand for non capital offences who, after being arraigned, their cases were caught up by the slow judicial process and would require the active intervention of the State Ministries of Justice.

“The second category was those inmates remanded for capital offences, including terrorism.

“In one custodial centre, we discovered at least seven inmates remanded for offences relating to terrorism who have been on remand for upwards of 10 years from date of detention.

“We were unable to find any record that showed that they were brought before any court since the date of their detention’’.

Fapohunda also said that several inmates are kept in detention for periods longer than the maximum period of imprisonment prescribed for the offence because they do not have legal representation.

He noted that although the Legal Aid Council is mandated to provide free legal services to inmates without legal representation, it is presently under resourced and thus barely able to make significant difference.

“There were also inmates with life-threatening ailments who required urgent medical attention, the cost of which was outside the budget of the Correctional Services.

“There are also several minors, including those whose ages as stated on their warrants of detention were incompatible with their physical outlook’’.

He, however, noted that the findings of the working group have been subject of a number of previous interventions at the Federal and the State levels.

“The challenge has always been the absence of coordinated and sustained solutions at the Federal and State levels.

“The group noted the cynicism with which many of the remand inmates viewed the presence of the working group.

“They simply did not believe that this exercise will change their situation. In one particular custodial centre, many of the inmates decided to boycott the exercise.

“The group had to rely on documentations from the Correctional Services and the Courts.

“ It is for this reason that the group resolved to identify key concerns on a state-by-state basis, accompanied by a draft letter, signed by the Attorney-General of the federation to each State Attorney- General urging their offices to take action,” he said

The group recommended that the minister should convene a meeting of the Body of Attorneys-General, with a view to achieving a coordinated response between federal and state governments on the legal status of all inmates including but not limited to those who have overstayed without trial.

Responding, Fagbemi said the group was constituted as part of the mandate of his office to ensure access to justice and ensure that persons are not unduly detained in custodial centres.

“This is crucial to achieving the standards we have set for ourselves in our effort to reform our criminal justice system.

“The vision of Mr President is for a criminal justice system that maintains law and order, deters crime, punish offenders, while at the same time strives to rehabilitate those offenders in order to facilitate their recovery and reintegration to society.

“A common objective of these reforms is to provide sustainable solutions to the issue of inmates spending unreasonable periods in detention, enhancing conditions in correctional centres and facilitating treatment.

“Rehabilitation and re-integration of inmates. While some progress have been made in varying measures, the reality is that we still have much to do.

“I must state that laws by themselves will not solve this problem. The solution, in my view, lies in the active intervention and collaboration of federal and state institutions with a mandate on criminal justice delivery’’.

The minster expressed his concern about the inadequate resourcing for the Legal Aid Council which is a critical institution in the quest to facilitate access to justice.

“Enhanced funding for the council will be consistent with governments’ stated goals of affirming the rights of all Nigerians irrespective of social situation or economic status.

“Consequently, my office will intensify efforts aimed at achieving additional funding for the council’’, he added.

Mr Aliyu Abubakar, the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria expressed his appreciation for the opportunity given to the council to be part of the data collection exercise of inmates in our correctional facilities nationwide.

“The outcome of the exercise has been an eye opener even for us at the council. The sheer volume of inmates without Legal Representation is to say the least, disturbing especially for Inmates who are accused of capital offences.

“This lack of legal representation has not only resulted to over-crowding of the facilities by Awaiting Trial Inmates (ATI), but also contributed immensely in the denial of the suspects their Fundamental Human Rights as envisaged by the Constitution.

He, thereafter, appealed that the council be considered whenever the opportunity arises for Supplementary Budget by the government.(NAN)
edited by Sadiya Hamza

Philip Daniel Yatai
Oct, Sun, 2024

Education

NASS committee seeks enhanced security, power infrastructure in tertiary institutions

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By Naomi Sharang

The National Assembly joint committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund has called for urgent measures to address security and power challenges in tertiary institutions in the country.

Chairman of the joint committee, Sen. Muntari Dandutse, made this known in a statement in Abuja, as a fallout of a retreat organised by the National Assembly in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The retreat had as its theme “Security and Energy Challenges in Nigeria’s Tertiary Institutions”.

According to Dandutse, the rising tide of insecurity and the persistent energy crisis in tertiary institutions demand immediate and focused attention.

He said that the landscape of our educational institutions was fraught with challenges.

“These challenges threaten not only the safety and well-being of our students and faculties, but also the very integrity of our educational mission.

“As a committee that is saddled with the responsibility of oversight of tertiary institutions, we cannot fold our hands and watch idly, the deteriorating state of our institutions.

“We feel legally, morally and conscientiously obligated to rise up to occasion with a view to addressing this menace.

“However, the recent surge in violence, kidnapping, and other security threats has created an environment of fear and uncertainty thus undermining the core functions of these institutions.

“Our students and educators deserve an environment conducive to learning and research, free from the spectre of insecurity.

“And this, we are poised to achieve by providing an enabling environment through legislative frameworks that would guarantee a level playing ground”.

Chairperson, House Committee on TETFund and other Services, Rep. Miriam Onuoha called for improved measures to tackle the security measures on campuses.

Also, Chairman of the Board of TETFund, Aminu Bello Masari, said that the fund would create a new budget intervention line aimed at addressing the pressing issues of security and power in Nigeria’s higher education sector.

Masari underscored the pivotal role that education played in the nation’s development and the urgent need for improved funding in the sector.

“Threats to security and inadequate power supply pose significant risks to the stability and success of our higher institutions.”

“These issues not only jeopardise the safety of students and staff but also negatively impact academic performance and the overall functioning of institutions”.(NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Philip Daniel Yatai
Oct, Fri, 2024

Metro

FCTA begins post-development audit of buildings in FCT

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By Philip Yatai/Angela Atabo

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has begun a post-development audit of buildings in the FCT.

Chief Felix Obuah, Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), made this known while inaugurating a Ministerial Committee on Post-Development Audit of Buildings in the FCT.

Obuah explained while inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Thursday that the Abuja Master Plan, developed in 1979 provides the roadmap for the orderly development of the nation’s capital city, Abuja.

According to him, the overarching goal is to build one of the most prestigious and modernist cities in the world.

He pointed out that over the years, the FCTA has been able to develop many phases of the city, districts and neighbourhoods.

“We have equally been able to develop critical infrastructures that provide circulatory road systems, metro lines and stations, sewer lines and drainages, among others.

“Today the city can boast of many iconic landmark developments such as the National Mosque, the National Christian Center, the National Assembly Complex, and the Supreme Court Complex.

“Others are the World Trade Centre, Abuja – the tallest building in the city with 22 floors, the CBN Complex, and many other iconic buildings of international repute and reference points for tourists.

“All these attests to the fact that our city has come to stay; our city has developed substantially from Phase 1 through Phase 3 while the other phases are equally being developed.

“Nonetheless, it becomes imperative too, that at this juncture of the city’s development, we take a cursory look at our journey in terms of what we have so far developed, the trend and chart a more robust course for the city’s development,” he said.

He said that it was on these grounds that the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike approved the constitution of the committee to audit the post- development of the city’s buildings.

He said that the committee, which would be chaired by Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, would be expected to provide accurate records of all development permits issued.

This, he said, would reduce the cases of unapproved development, illegal conversion of land use, and land grabbing.

He added that the committee would also provide data on the consumption of the city’s utilities and services such as water, electricity and connectivity to sewer lines.

This, according to him, will expose illegal connections to the facilities which is denying the government its due revenues.

“The committee will also provide data for accurate taxation and enhanced revenue generation by bringing all buildings and properties to the FCT Internal Revenue Tax Net.

“This will generate billions of Naira for the FCT Administration.

“Another task for the committee is the provision of data on research on city planning, development and management.

“Some of the buildings will be subjected to integrity tests to reduce cases of building collapse and hazards,” he said.

The coordinator said that members of the committee were drawn from all the departments in the FCTA and expected to conclude the tasks in six months.

He assured the committee members of the FCT Minister’s commitment to providing the necessary logistics to ensure the success of the exercise.

Speaking on behalf of the committee members, Galadima noted the need for the FCTA to document all activities, in terms of structures, services, and facilities.

He said that the committee would deliver on its mandate as expected. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza