NEWS
Council of State Ratifies Pardon for Ambrose Alli, Three Others
By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
The National Council of State meeting chaired by President Muhammedu Buhari yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ratified the presidential pardon granted to former governor of the defunct Bendel state (now Edo and Delta states), 1979—1983, Professor Ambrose Alli and three other Nigerians over N900,000 fraud.
Although Ali later paid the money back to the government, he was convicted.
Others pardoned are Col. Moses Effiong, Major E.J Olarenwaju (for attempted coup in the Ibrahim Babangida era) and Ajayi Olusola Babalola.Speaking with State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, which had in attendance four former heads of states, namely General Yakubu Gowon, General Ibrahim Babangida; Chief Earnest Shonekan; General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Goodluck Jonathan; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the ratification followed his presentation of a memo, relating to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
He said that the memo presented for consultation in line with one of the constitutional requirements and consideration of grant of pardon to 45 persons, two inmates for pardon, 39 inmates for clemency and four ex-convict for presidential pardon.
“To further clarify on the prerogative of mercy, Mr. President with COVID-19 pandemic, has directed the decongestion of our correctional centers across the country. And by way of collaborative action, the governors, heads of courts across the nations, have worked assiduously in collaboration with the presidential committee on decongestion of our correctional centers and at the end of the day we have succeeded in taking out over 4,000 inmates out of our correctional centers across the country.
“What we have today is a consolidation of what has been done and the strategies put in place to see to the decongestion of our correctional centers.
“As you are aware, more than 70 percent inmates in our correctional centers were awaiting trial across the country and a lot of considerations were put in place to ensure our correctional centers are decongested d the prerogative of mercy was one of such considerations by Mr. President, ” Malami said.
He added that the Council of State also approved the appointment of two new legal practitioners as members of Federal Judicial Service Commission.
The AGF explained that the law confers on President Buhari the rights to appoint members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, subject to consultation with the Council of State.
He said: “The exercise this morning relating to the presentation of the council memo was for the purpose of fulfilling the constitutional righteousness relating to the appointment of the two new legal practitioners, in essence it is to consult with the council of state out of desire for compliance with constitutional requirements.
“The two members to represent Nigerian Bar Association on the federal judicial service commission are Namoso Ekanem (SAN), from Akwa Ibom state representing the South South geo-political zone and
Mammud Abubakar Mogaji (SAN) from Niger State to represent the North Central geo-political zone.”
On his part, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, said Council of State also approved the appointment of Silas Agara, as Chairman of National Population Commission.
Members of the Commission also approved including Muhammed Chuso A. Dottijo, (Sokoto); Alhaji Razaq Gidado, (Kwara); Ibrahim Mohammed, (Bauchi); Joseph Kwai Shazin, (FCT); Engineer Bala Almu Banya, (Katsina); and Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, (Lagos).
DAILY ASSET recalls that the Nasarawa state governor, Abdullahi Sule had denied media report that he joined forces with the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari to stop the appointment of Agara as Chairman of NPC.
President Buhari had in two separate letters dated March 20 and August 12, 2020, nominated Agara, a former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, to head the NPC.
The SGF said that apart from former president Olusegun Obasanjo, that was absent, the meeting was attended by all living former Nigerian leaders.
Mustapha said council members also commended the Presidential Task Force on national response on COVID-19.
He said that the council noted that the impact of the panel on the nation’s economy and the fact that it has exposed the weaknesses in the system.
The members however, appeal to Nigerians to continue to adhere to non-pharmaceuticals measures put in place pending when vaccines will be found for the virus.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Mungonu (rted), also spoke on the security challenges confronting the country adding that Council approved the setting of National Center for Control of Small and Light Weapons to be domiciled in his office.
The Director General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, said he briefed council on the state of the economy because of the twin effect of COVID-19 pandemic and drop in the price of oil.
He said that it is expected that third quarter (Q3) will be negative and the country might fall into recession.
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said the Media has a duty to hold the elected and appointed officials accountable and ensure that they do their work in a manner to strengthen democracy and not weaken it.He said in any thriving democracy, the roles of the government and the media are intertwined, both essential in serving the public interest.
Saying the alignment enables us to achieve common goals that benefit society at large. Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation Hon. Mohammed Idris handed down this during the 20th All Nigeria Guild of Editors Conference at the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa the state capital.He said in the room are many veteran journalists who played very important roles in ushering in the age of enduring democracy in Nigeria. “I salute your individual and collective efforts not just at that time, but even right through to today, as we celebrate a quarter of a century of unbroken democratic experience”.This year’s theme which was titled:”Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country” had in attendance media moguls across the federation.According to the president, “Indeed, our roles are most effective when they are not adversarial but cooperative.By viewing each other as allies in nation-building, we can create an environment where transparency, accountability, and mutual respect thrive. Together, the government and the media can empower citizens, strengthen democratic institutions, and build a more informed and resilient society”.”As editors and media managers, your role in national development cannot be overemphasized. You are the custodians of public perception, the gatekeepers of information, and, importantly, the voice of the people. You have the power to shape narratives that inspire, inform, and engage Nigerians positively and productively. We count on you to report truthfully and to engage constructively to help the public understand not only what this government is doing but also why we are doing it.With a united effort from government, citizens, and the media alike, we can build a resilient, diversified economy that offers security, opportunity, and hope for all Nigerians”.In his opening speech, the host governor senator Douye Diri said, the significance of the media in democratic governance has been recognised since the 17th century. Speaking as the fourth pillar of democracy, the press educates, informs, and entertains, shaping public agenda and debate. Democracy relies heavily on the press to thrive.According to Diri, as ethnic nationalities and diverse interests vie for attention, “your work serves as a beacon of hope, promoting understanding and unity. In these turbulent times around our nation and the world at large, your role as guardians of truth is more critical than ever”.He said integrity remains the cornerstone of the profession, building trust with the public and fortifying the foundations of a healthy democracy.“Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country,” your theme for this conference, is both relevant and timely. Therefore, we implore you as editors and influential voices, to advocate for policies that prioritise sustainable development and empower local communities.In his goodwill message, the former governor also of Ogun state, Chief Olusegun Osoba urged the NGE before they leave to set up a committee to look into the crisis brewing in the NUJ, “they are supposed to hold their annual conference but some people are saying that the president has overstayed his tenure and they took him to court. “You are the only united group after the NPAN to intervene in that crisis brewing in the NUJ”.In his speech, the chairman of conference Chief Nduka Obaigbena said, the time is hard but Nigeria journalists are harder so they have to be tough to cope with the time.He said, Nigeria needs to be fixed first if we want to get it right, saying that it is the first thing to do and work hard to ensure that we also protect our Industries.”Are we going to protect Dangote refinery from cheap imports? If Dangote fails then we all have failed. If we are going to use whatever means to deal with the oil mafias, we should keep our refinery alive. If you say you want to stop monopoly then the four refineries must work””Let that four refineries be completed with Dangote so that they can compete. We challenge the Minister of information to get the refineries working. Everybody is feeling the pains in the country”.In his welcome address, the president of Nigeria Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba said, the biggest threat to media survivors today is availability of resource materials. Saying they are here because they recognize the critical role that both a strong economy and a resilient media sector play in fostering a prosperous, informed and democratic society.”Today, as editors, we stand at a crossroads where our decisions, priorities and strategies will shape the future of our country and journalism. The growth of our nation’s economy directly influences every sector, and our industry is no exception. A strong economy fuels consumer spending, drives innovation, and creates opportunities for media organizations to expand and thrive. Yet with opportunities come new challenges.”Media organizations face mounting pressure to adapt to modern trends while staying financially viable and maintaining journalistic integrity. Now, we thought the only challenge facing the media will be adapting to modern trends. But the biggest threat to media survivors today is availability of resource materials to produce our papers or to broadcast on our TV stations.”The growth of our nation’s economy directly influences every sector, and our industry is no exception. Today’s economic landscape demands that we be agile and innovative.”Many media houses are devising different ways to survive. However, as we exploit these strategies, we must keep sight of our mission to provide accurate, trustworthy and independent information to our audiences.”Sustainability is about more than economic survival. It’s about preserving the values and principles that make our profession a pillar of democracy. And there is a constitutional guarantee for that.Section 22 of our constitution challenges us to hold the government to account despite the poverty in our profession today because we are struggling to meet demand conditions.”The Constitution builds on us to hold the government to account. So at the same time, we must consider how we as editors can contribute to broader economic growth. We know that reliable media support informed citizens, foster accountability and encourage investments in democratic institutions.”An informed public is empowered to make decisions that spur economic growth, create jobs and promote sustainability, in this our work is essential not only to our audiences but also to our economic and social fabrics of our country.”
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike on Thursday revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the dualization of kuje-Gwagalada road.The FCT Minister stated this while inspecting the ongoing road projects in Kuje that are handling by Arab Contractors (linking road from Kuje to Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport and Kuje internal road, by Gilmor Contractor, in AbujaHe said Gilmor is handing over the project by December 2024 and the Arab contractor would have finished the earthwork.
According to the Minister, “What is most important is that the promise Mr President made is being carried out to the letter, particularly as we came in from the airport to the Kuje community, the work is going on very well as I expected, by Arab Contractors.”They have promised that by the end of 2024, they would have finished everything pertaining to earthwork. So, the work is going on fast and here in Kuje, as per the dualization of this carriage road, we believe that by this December, the contractor, Gilmor, would have handed it over.”We have also directed them to continue the dualization from Kuje to Gwagwalada and that will ease off transport difficulties and also reduce travel time when going to Gwagwalada. So, people who have no business along the Giri-Airport axis will now come to town.”Everybody in Kuje who is going to Gwagwalada will also go straight and I know the economic implications these will trigger. Mind you, all these constructions include streetlights. We think that it will change the landscape of the entire city. People do not need to leave Kuje to go and live in the city to go to work. It will be within 20 to 25 minutes and you are already in the city and that is what everybody hopes for. We thank God that we are keeping to the promises made by this Administration”.Wike therefore urged, “This is a public road, not a private road. It is to be used by everybody for the interest of the public. The transmission company will accordingly be told to expedite actions so as to relocate their electrical installations. We are going to make sure that every stakeholder understands the importance of the quick handover of that road”.Responding to questions on funding, he said, “It is a matter of strategy and a matter of being prudent with available resources. No government or institution can say they will have all the required resources to be able to carry out every service. But what is important to us is that we try to make sure people pay their taxes. One thing I can tell you about Nigerians is that when they see that the taxes they pay are being utilized, they reciprocate that by making sure that they pay their taxes but when they see that they pay taxes and nothing is done with it, they will be reluctant to pay.”We are trying as much as we can to continue to increase our IGR. It is our IGR that we are using to pay. There is no other money coming from anywhere. And again, we are strict on the number of projects and we ensure that we have gone far before awarding another project and that the funding is available so that it does not become an abandoned project. So, it is not that we have much money but it is just that we are trying to prudently manage what we have and apply it to the best interest of our people”.
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
In its concerted effort at combating insecurity, the Nigeria Police Force has now authorized that all Constables will henceforth carry arms to combat insecurity.The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 7 Abuja, Benneth Igweh stated this while on an official visit to Niger that everyone now has the power to make an arrest.
According to him “Community Policing is everyone’s business, we have granted all Police Constables the power to carry arms henceforth. ”We have given them two weeks to get trained by the l SPU, CTU or Mobile base; and this will give them the ability to carry out their duties.”According to him “With the rate of crime in our various communities, everyone now has the right to make an arrest. If you see something say something, and then the Police including the community will do something”The Assistant inspector GeneralofPolice, Igweh explained that, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has assured that there will be recruitment into the Police, adding that Niger and Abuja will get more slots.Niger state Commissioner of Police Shawulu Danmamman said the AIG’s visit is a practical initiative to enhance Community Policing.He added that “crime rate is relatively low compared to previous antecedents due to the crime prevention strategies employed since my assumption in office.”However, he said that “insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and farmers/herders clash are prevailing challenges at Munya, Mariga, Rafi, Shiroro, and parts of Kontagora LGAs because of our neighborhood with Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna states”.
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