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CJN swears-in 22 appeal court judges, tasks them on cleaning ”augean stable”

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The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on Wednesday, said the enormous task of cleaning the ‘Augean stable’ rests squarely on the shoulders of the new judges.

Ariwola, therefore urged them to fasten their belts and roll up your sleeves to face the challenges head-on.

He made this known at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed 22 Justices of the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

”In other words, you should hit the ground speeding at a supersonic velocity; and not just running.

”There are several unfathomable crimes being committed in the country, aside from the usual political matters that have made litigations to go on alarming rise.

“You must redouble your pace to catch up with the expectations of the sprawling community of litigants. As judicial officers, you have a divine mandate on earth that you must discharge with unveiled honesty and sincerity.

“Above all, you must give good account of yourselves to justify your elevation to the Court of Appeal,’’ he added.

He reminded the judges of the need to be diligent in the discharge of their duties even as they face two governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, respectively.

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“As usual, the courts will be besieged with plethora of petitions. It is our statutory duty to hear all matters that come before us and adjudicate according to the laws of the land.

“We must not falter; and we must not tread the path of infamy.

“Yes, it is true that we cannot please everyone through our actions and work, but with the right application of the law and the constitution of the land, which we all have collectively pledged to uphold; we can go a long way to do those things that our conscience will be very proud of; and the generality of the Nigerian citizens will equally be happy about.

“Every position we attain in life always avails us that unique opportunity to do something novel and impactful, especially if there was any previous act of wrongdoing or misapplication of discretion.

“With your lordships’ elevation to the higher bench today, you have to be very mindful of the enormous confidence the public is now reposing in you vis-a-vis these expectations’’.

He lamented the fact that the judiciary has been treated to an unpalatable cocktail of misleading and conflicting judgments as well as frivolous interlocutory orders emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdictions.

“These have literally attempted to make a mockery of our judicial system and flagrantly desecrate the revered temple of justice.

“Several cases of such abound across the length and breadth of the country. This is, largely, an embarrassment to our jurisprudence, and we win never handle it with levity.

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“Punitive measures must definitely be meted out to such erring Judges.

“We have already activated the process of reining-in such errant Judges with a view to making them face the consequence of their despicable and odious conduct’’.

He reminded the judges that they are not occupying their respective positions to serve ourselves, but the Nigerian masses.

“And the best way we can serve them is by doing what will make them feel safe in our hands and also trust us to always deliver the right judgments that will not be tainted by sentiments, emotions or other clandestine considerations’’.

The new Justices are: Abdullahi Muhammad Liman from Nasarawa State; Abiodun Akinyemi from Ogun State; Olukayode Adeniyi from Oyo State; Zainab Abubakar from Kebbie; Isaq Sani from Kaduna State and Lateef Lawal-Akapo from Lagos State and Ngozika U. Okaisabor from Imo.

Others are Donatus Okorowo from Enugu State; Ruqayat Ayoola from Kogi; Polycarp Kwahar from Benue; Eberechi Nyesom-Wike from Rivers; Fadawa Umaru from Borno, Oyewumi Oyebiola from Oyo State; Ntong Festus Ntong from Akwa Ibom; Nehizena Afolabi from Edo; and Nnamdi Dimgba from Abia.

The rest are Abdu Dogo from Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Abdulazeez M. Anka from Zamfara; Owibunkeonye Onwosi from Ebonyi; Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf from Kwara; Victoria Nwoye from Anambra State; and Enenche Eleojo from Kogi

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Arrest threat: I’m being forced to go on exile, El-Rufai cries out

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Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that some political forces are attempting to force him into self-imposed exile through intimidation and threats of arrest.

El-Rufai said this in reaction to claims by a Twitter user that there were plans to arrest El-Rufai upon his return to Nigeria on “concocted allegations.”

El-Rufai, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accused unnamed political figures of attempting to use the judicial system against him.

He said such threats were part of a larger plan to force him into self-imposed exile but noted that he has no intention of leaving the country.

“They freaked out when we challenged the legality of the premeditated defamation, and went to every length to compromise the judicial process, and this is continuing at the Court of Appeal,” El-Rufai disclosed on X on Tuesday.

“They have sent such similar messages of intimidation and threats through many of my friends, family and political associates because they want me to go on self-imposed exile. I will not.“

However, El-Rufai noted that he had put his “previous academic” and “language-learning plans” on hold to spend more time in Nigeria than ever before.

He noted that “Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option.

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“The arrest, detention and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs. I have been arrested and detained thrice in the past for expressing my views of previous governments.”

El-Rufai also noted that he has been “arrested and detained thrice in the past for expressing my views of previous governments.”

The arrest, detention and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs, El-Rufai added.

He, however, disclosed that he plans to return to Nigeria for the upcoming launch of former President Ibrahim Babangida’s memoirs on February 20, 2025.

“There is always a morning after the arrest or detention or torture, and political life continues. As for death, it when Allah destines it, and it is ultimate the date of every human,” El-Rufai said.

“For the attention of the pathetic characters that don’t sleep well whenever I am in Nigeria, take notice that I intend to return in time for the launch of Pres IBB’s memoirs, in sha Allah, scheduled for 20th February.”

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Public outcry as MTN raises weekly 15GB Data price from N2,000 to N6,000

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MTN Nigeria has raised the price of its weekly 15GB data plan to N6,000 from N2,000 to the outcry of many Nigerians.
This increment is part of a recently approved 50 percent hike in the price of telecom services.

Many MTN Nigeria subscribers have taken to X to express their frustrations. “Nigeria is a very difficult place to live in, honestly. MTN waking up one day to increase their weekly 15 GB data from 2k to 6k without prior warning is textbook insanity. That’s 24k in a month, almost the minimum wage of the country on data, bruh, this is hell,” tweeted @TheSilvapr.

“MTN increasing the cost of its 15 GB data subscription from 2k to 6k is a significant price hike, and it reflects the true economic and business realities rather than just a random decision. Complaining Won’t Change Anything because Telecom operators have to operate within a profit-driven system,” wrote @official_GZU.

Aside from the 15GB tariff plan increase, the telco has also raised the cost of other plans. The revised price increase now includes a 1.8GB monthly plan for N1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at N1,000.

Its 20GB plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500, while the 15GB plan now costs N6,500, up from N4,500. Its 90-day 1.5TB plan has jumped from N150,000 to N240,000, and the 600GB 90-day plan increased from N75,000 to N120,000. Its two/three-month data plan of 100GN for N20,000 is now 90GB for N25,000; 160GB for N30,000 is now 150GB for N40,000.

For now, Airtel and Globacom are yet to review their prices. However, all telcos are expected to follow MTN’s lead after the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50 percent increase in the cost of calls, data, and SMS on January 20 for the first time in a decade.

The hike is meant to support “the ability of operators to continue investing in infrastructure and innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers through improved services and connectivity, including better network quality, enhanced customer service, and greater coverage.”

However, telcos could not immediately increase prices as they were waiting for regulatory approval from the NCC. “We don’t have the price increase in our hands because, even though it has been announced and based on Section 108, every single product that you want to increase its price has to go to the NCC, be iterated, and approved,” one expert explained.

At an industry gathering on January 25, Gbenga Adebayo, the chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), noted that phased increment would begin soon.

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“We are now following what is called the regulatory requirement, regulatory steps of filing, reviewing, and obtaining approvals. As soon as those approvals come through, different players will introduce new rates as the time comes. I’ll say over next week, we start seeing some improvement in the prices,” he stated. (

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Nnamdi Kanu challenges court’s jurisdiction as Justice Nyako adjourns case indefinitely

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The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, on Monday, questioned the jurisdiction of the court over his alleged terrorism case when he re-appeared before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court for the resumed hearing of his protracted case.

Despite Kanu’s insistence that Justice Nyako has no jurisdiction over his case, the judge adjourned the matter indefinitely.

Kanu was brought into Nigeria in June 2021 and has since been detained and tried for alleged terrorism. His trial was stalled after Justice Nyako recused herself from the case following an oral application by the defendant on September 24, 2024.

The IPOB leader had directly told the judge that he no longer had confidence in her handling of his trial.

However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, reverted the file to Nyako on the ground that Kanu’s application must be brought formally before the court through a motion on notice.

Consequently, in a letter dated December 5, 2024, addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Adegboyega Awomolo, the prosecution counsel, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of the trial.

Opposing the request for a trial date, the defence counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, in a letter dated December 9, 2024 said the ruling of the judge recusing herself remained valid.

Subsequently, Ejimakor asked that the case be transferred to a Federal High Court in the South-East if no judge in Abuja is willing to preside over it. His prayer, however, did not see the light of day.

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At the resumed hearing on Monday, February 10, 2025, Justice Nyako said the chief judge had not accepted her recusal and had referred the case back to her.

She asked the defence team led by Ejimakor to come up with a written application if they still insist on the recusal.

Earlier, the Prosecution counsel led by Adegboyega Awomolo, said they were ready for the commencement of trial as his witnesses were ready.

Poor knowledge of Court affecting Nigeria – Kanu

Addressing the court, a furious Kanu questioned why he was brought before Justice Nyako. He said all that the judge said was meaningless to him. He said he does not recognise the authority of the court presided by Justice Nyako over him.

The IPOB leader said he was only in court because of the respect he has for the rule of law, adding that the judge had previously recused herself from the case.

Kanu said he was not happy with the decision of the chief judge who returned the case to Justice Nyako, insisting that the prosecution cannot prosecute him.

The IPOB leader insisted that Justice Nyako is biased over his case and should not preside over his case. He said poor knowledge of the court is affecting Nigeria.

The prosecution counsel took an objection to Kanu’s remarks and asked for a definite date for hearing since the prosecution has refused to file a written application. Awomolo said it was not right for Kanu to insult the court.

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Despite Kanu’s objection, Justice Nyako adjourned his case indefinitely. (CHANNELSTV)

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