JUDICIARY
Kano Election Petitions Tribunal Stops Yakasai From Giving Evidence

Ganduje Accuses PDP of Smugling Witnesses Before Election Tribunal
From Abdulgafar Oladimeji, Kano.
Kano governorship Election Tribunal headed by Justice Halima Shamaki sitting at Miller road, on Tuesday night refused PDP chieftain, Umar Tanko Yakasai from giving evidence at the ongoing governorship election trials.
Yakasai, who was ushered before the court by Abiodun Jelili Owonikoko(SAN) according to the court, Yakasai would not be permitted to testify owing to the discovery that his name was not enlisted amongst the witnesses before the court.
Earlier, Barrister Owonikoko(SAN) told the court that the witness had made deposition, urging the tribunal to permit the witness to give evidence.
Counsel to the first respondent(INEC), Adedayo Adedeji raised an objection over the appearance of Yakasai before the court.
He told the court that the name on the list of witnesses was one Tijjani Yakasai and not Dr Umar Tanko Yakasai.
According to him, the tribunal on 16th July rejected an application made by PDP, requesting to amend the list of witnesses, he stated that Umar Tanko Yakasai was on the list sought to be amended, which was dismissed by the tribunal.
He argued that the witness despite his deposition on oath is not qualified to testify, explaining that his name ought to also be enlisted to be eligible to give evidence.
Adedayo further told the court that the attempt by PDP to bring Yakasai into the witness box was a flagrant disregard of the Tribunal.
He prayed the Court to stop Yakasai from testifying before the tribunal.
The tribunal presided by Justice Halima Shamaki granted the request made by the respondents, explaining that her decision to stop the witness from giving evidence was informed by the ruling, delivered by her tribunal, dismissing the request for an amendment on the list of witnesses.
According to her, the petitioners have filed an appeal challenging her initial ruling on the application seeking to make amends to the list of witnesses, on this ground, she said “my hands are tied” saying Umar Tanko Yakasai would not be allowed to testify.
Ganduje Accuses PDP of Smugling Witnesses Before Election Tribunal
Meanwhile, the Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has accused the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Kano state chapter of allegedly smuggling a witness to testify before the Kano governorship Election Tribunal.
Ganduje, represented by his Counsel, Offiong Offiong(SAN) raised an alarm, against the attempt by Umar Tanko Yakasai to give evidence before the governorship tribunal.
According to him, the name Umar Tanko Yakasai is not enlisted on the list of witnesses, adding that the appearance of the witness before the court is an alleged attempt by the petitioners to smuggle the witness before the court .
Ganduje told the court that the Kano PDP through the back door attempted to present a witness to testify before the tribunal.
According to him, the name on the list of witnesses was enlisted as one Tijjani Yakasai and not Dr Umar Tanko Yakasai.
Adding that the tribunal on 16th July rejected an application made by PDP, requesting to amend the list of witnesses, he stated that Umar Tanko Yakasai was on the list sought to be intended amended list, which was dismissed by the tribunal.
Counsel to the petitioners, Barrister Abiodun Jelili Owonikoko(SAN) furiously resent the use of the word “smuggle” by the representative of Governor Ganduje.
CRIME
Court Jails Fraudster 235 Years for N525m Fraud

By Gom Mirian, Abuja
Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo has convicted and sentenced a notorious international fraudster, Scales Olatunji, to 235years imprisonment for internet fraud and money laundering.
Olatunji was arraigned on July 2, 2019 on 45-count charges bordering on identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thus setting the stage for his trial.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Scales Olatunji Ishola “M”, Meraiyebu Charles “M”(at large), Gabriel Adeyemi Olugbenga “M”(at large), Ojomo Oluwatobi Ayodele “M”(at large) and Adekola Oluwatoyin “M”(at large), between January 2017 to October 2018, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired among yourselves to convert the total sum of N525,172,580. 00 (Five Hundred and Twenty Five Million, One Hundred and Seventy-two Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty Naira) only, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: fraud (Business E-mail Compromise and Identity Theft), and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”
Another count reads: “That you, Scales Olatunji Ishola “M” on or about the 15th day of May 2018, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did send electronic messages (email) using emailoffice01@aol.com to one Monica Goulmoen of the Charity Association for providing girls and boys in Kobane with a football pitch, while impersonating a certain Per Ravn Omdal, a former Norwegian Football Association President, demanding the sum of €64,000.00 (Sixty-Four Thousand Euros) to be transferred to you via IBAN GB74HBUK40062132722119 which was paid and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act”.
EFCC counsel, Nwandu Ukoha opened the case on November 7, 2019 and subsequently tendered 35 exhibits through four prosecution witnesses, which were all admitted in evidence against the defendant.
Delivering judgment on Monday, June 27, 2022, Justice Okeke convicted Olatunji on all the 45- counts preferred against him by the EFCC. He sentenced Olatunji to seven years imprisonment on counts one to five, and five years imprisonment on counts six to 45. The sentence, shall, however, run concurrently with effect from the date of arrest.
The court also ordered that the money in the convict’s account be forfeited to Norwegian citizens through the EFCC. Also, his properties: House No. 6, located on Road 2 West-end Estate, Ikota, Lekki, Lagos State and House No. 10, Donatus Odum Street, Ikate, Lagos State are to be sold by the EFCC and the proceeds restituted to the Norwegian victims.
The convict’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when operatives of the EFCC arrested him on March 20, 2019at his Ikota , Lekki’s residence based on a petition from the Oslo Police District in Norway, requesting the assistance of the EFCC in investigating a network of Nigerians that had defrauded Norwegian citizens for years.
Investigations revealed that the convict belonged to a syndicate of internet fraudsters who specialized in Business Email Compromise-BEC.
COVER
Justice Ariwoola Becomes Third CJN in 7 Years

By Eze Okechukwu and Mathew Dadiya Abuja
President Muhammad Buhari yesterday at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja swore in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, to replace Bauchi-born Justice Tanko Mohammad who resigned from the position early yesterday on health grounds.
By the swearing in Chief Justice Ariwoola, who hails from Iseyin District of Oyo State becomes the third CJN in the seven years of President Buhari administration cumulatively in both in acting and substantive capacities.
In March 2017, Professor Yemi Osibanjo in his capacity as Acting President nominated Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria to replace Justice Mahmud Mohammed. And in January 2019, Justice Onnoghen was suspended for alleged false asset declaration, paving the way for Justice Tanko Mohammad.Justice Ariwoola, born on August 22,1958 started out at the Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State between 1959 – 67. Afterwards, he proceeded to the Muslim Modern School in Iseyin between 1968-69, before going to Ansar – Ud – Deen High School, Saki in Oyo North District of Oyo State.
He studied Law at the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State where he bagged his bachelor of law’s degree with honours in July 1980. In July 1981, Ariwoola was called to the Nigeria Bar and he got enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate soon after. The jurist served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 -2011 in Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos divisions within the period. He was also a judge of the High Court of Oyo State, a position he was appointed to in 1992 from private legal practice.
Justice Ariwoola was the next most senior among the Supreme Court justices after the voluntarily retiring Justice Mohammad. Observers had watched out if the administration of President Buhari would flout orderly procedure in the appointment of Justice Mohammad’s replacement.
Former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani had urged the government not to cut corners “in order to find a person who will fit into the political, sectional, religious or ethnic peg of the ruling establishment” but rather do the needful by following the established order for such appointments by the Apex Court.
Though the resignation of Justice Mohammad has been put down to Ill health, it’s in the public glare that crisis of monumental proportion has bedeviled the Supreme Court for a while now, leading to an allegation of corruption by 14 Justices of the Supreme Court against him. The allegations, which the justices conveyed in writing to Justice Mohammad captured non replacement of run down vehicles, accomodation challenges, epileptic power supply to the Supreme Court, lack of drugs at the Supreme Court clinic, increase in the electricity tariff, non- increase in the allowance for diesel, lack of internet services to residences and chambers.
But in a swift response to the allegations, Justice Mohammad through his media aide, Mr. Ahuraka Isah berated the fueding justices for taking the issue to the public realm; an action he likened to “dancing naked in the market square”. His spokesman would later advise the public that there’s no hostility or ill feelings among the justices of the Apex Court, adding that Justice Mohammad had held a meeting with the aggrieved justices to assuage their grievances.
Meanwhile, prior to the climax of the feud, Justice Ejembi Eko who retired from the Supreme Court on May 23,2022 had called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC and other investigative agencies in the country to probe and expose what he described as internal fraud in the management of the budgetary resources of the judiciary.
” The vandalization of the judiciary budget, despite increase of the budgetary allocation calls for investigations by the ICPC and other investigatory sgencies, “he said.
Similarly, Justice Walter Onnoghen who was forced out out of office by the President Buhari administration in 2019 and replaced with Justice Mohammad had at a book launch on June 16,2022 warned that the Supreme Court was gradually turning to “a glorified High Court”, owing to the ill treatment of the justices.
DAILY ASSET recalls that in a bid to restore calm and order at the Supreme Court,both the Body of Benchers and the Nigeria Senate, through the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters,as mandated by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan waded into the crisis “to as a matter of urgency intervene and bring normalcy to the troubled Apex Court.
JUDICIARY
CJN Tanko Mohammed Resigns

Mohammed resigned in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari swore in Mohammed as the acting CJN in January 2019 following the suspension and later sack of former CJN Walter Onnoghen.
CJN’s Special Assistant on Media, Isah Ahuraka, confirmed his resignation to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola is the next most senior judge to Justice Mohammed following Justice Mary Odili retired on May 12 after attaining the retirement age of 70.
Mohammed’s resignation comes amid the corruption allegations leveled against him by some Supreme Court judges.
Fourteen Supreme Court judges in a protest memo accused Mohammed of not giving justices their legitimate entitlements.
The justices said their annual foreign training, meant to enhance capacity building for the country’s judicial process, had been blocked by Muhammad.
The main issues put forward by the justices in their letter through a welfare committee were; non-replacement of poor vehicles; accommodation problem; lack of drugs at the Supreme Court clinic; epileptic electricity supply to the Supreme Court; increase in electricity tariff; no increase in the allowances for diesel; lack of internet services to residences and chambers.
In response, Mohammed told the judges that the Supreme Court was cash-strapped and cannot grant their requests.
CJN noted that the Supreme Court, like any other establishment in the country, has been hit by a devastating economic crunch.
As a result, he said the leadership of the court under him could no longer meet some of its obligations to Justices, especially in the area of welfare.
He, however, said that the memo sent to him by the aggrieved Justices, notwithstanding, there is no rift between him and Justices of the apex court.