NBC, AIT: Dilemma Of Media Freedom, By Yakubu Ozohu-Suleiman

June 23, 2019

The Nigerian media, especially the press, undoubtedly had struggled through series of repressive policies since independence – Newspaper Prohibition from Circulation Act of 1967; Public Officers Protection against False Publication Decrees No. 11 of 1976; and No. 4 of 1984; Detention of Persons Decree No. 2 of 1984 and Newspaper Registration Decree No. 44 of 1993, etc. All of these policies were a product of Military dictatorship.

However, the enthronement of democracy in the last few decades saw media freedom powered with section 39 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), which stipulates that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and information without interference. “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government”, section 22 specifies.

Desirable as full attainment of media freedom might be, the reality of global experience is such that has placed the media in contextual covert control and official regulations, even in the most advanced democracies. This is because of the creational reality that human beings are either too weak or too political to be left freely to their own expressions. The right to freedom of movement, for example, does not include freedom to move from places to places without interference, and to visit and be visited by anyone, by any means, regardless of frontiers. We consider it plausible to enforce traffic wardens and lights, Visas and Immigration Departments to regulate road use and avoid infringements on the territorial determination of countries. However, on the right of opinion and expression, there seems to be a confusing over-stretch, necessitating a rethink over the subsumed media freedom.

A recent experience in Nigeria pointing to this necessity occurred when the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) suspended the license of African Independent Television (AIT) – a local private media outfit, over what the NBC described as AIT’s breach of the Commission’s ACT and broadcasting code.

According to the NBC, aside from AIT’s habitual failure to pay license fees as and when due, the media company had defied the Regulator’s several warnings over its willful and repeated application of hate speech, divisive and inciting comments in discussion of national issues. AIT was particularly observed to have created a nexus in which it selects and airs user-generated political comments on social media unedited, knowing how volatile and detrimental they are to national interest.

The suspension generated heated debate across the country. Some see the NBC as having rightly exercised its constitutional authority, in view of AIT’s being signatory to the broadcasting code, and non-denial of having repeatedly failed to heed NBC’s several reminder of its violation of the broadcasting code and the provisions of its license. Others uphold AIT’s perspective that its suspension was a political infringement on media freedom by the NBC.

Although AIT has since returned to the air, the ongoing debate on whether the NBC did the right thing or not, should, in my view, bring to the table a global rethink over media freedom on three major premises. The first is that it is impracticable to achieve uninterfered media freedom as it is with objective journalism, which led AIT to the problem under discussion. The second is that the epistemological flaw in objective journalism is same that seem to have made media freedom the basis for irresponsible conflict reporting, fake news and hate speech. The third is that media freedom has also been serving as the covert basis for interdependent exploitation of the people by the government and the media.

Beginning with the third premise, any careful observer would know that majority, and the most powerful media companies, including AIT, are owned by the very people from whom media freedom is sought – government and their allies, ruling or opposition. Essentially therefore, media freedom is not a bargain between “the people” and the government; it is a struggle between government factions in which “the people” are used for cover-up justifications. It is particularly of concern to me that the media have hidden under this freedom (the right to obtain and publish) to attract huge contracts and make big monies from the governments or their oppositions by ways of reporting or covering-up or refusing to report them to the people. On the other hand, governments, seeing the commitment of media professionals to this instrument of freedom, have devised ways of either owning media companies directly or empowering or contracting their allies to establish, own and operate them. This editorial contract is what AIT is considered to have been doing for the current opposition party in Nigeria – PDP. In the end, media freedom is largely a construct through which the government and the media interdependently deceive the people about state affairs.

On the second premise, many may not have known that it is the right to media freedom that is being exploited in producing pornographic contents all over the world. What is simply required is for the producers to cite the back-up laws and issue warning on contents. It is the same right to media freedom that has served as the basis for the prevalence of insensitive conflict reporting, hate speeches and fake news all over the media. Today, Nigeria and rest of the world is battling with campaigns and technologies to control fake news because of the scams and harms it has come to establish. The worst platform where the right to media freedom is overstretched is social media. This is where you will find the most of hate speeches, fake news and inciting contents and this is one of where AIT got into the NBC’s hook.

On the possibility of achieving media freedom, experience in the most advanced Western democracies shows that there are covert measures to curtail media freedom. In the United Kingdom, for example, when Ofcom – the country’s media regulatory body was set up by Tony Blair, it relocated most important decisions involving the media to the Department of Trade and Industry from the Department of Culture, Media and Sports. By this action, the economics of advertising and shareholders pressure became the means through which journalism of mainstream media organizations in the country are manipulated in the direction of state’s interest. This is an example of what I mean by contextual covert control of media freedom.

In the United States, laws and policies governing media operations are made by the Congress along with House and Senate Committees. The Federal Communication Commission – the US media regulatory body can only operate within the parameters set by the Congress. Today, the media policy process in the USA is increasingly fragmented to involve the government agencies such as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Federal Trade Commission, State Department and Department of Homeland Security, with the PATRIOT ACT becoming a notable instrument for curtailing media freedom.

A colleague, Professor Tonnie Iredia – former Director General of the Nigeria Television Authority recently drew public attention to what he described as undesirability of official control of broadcasting on the grounds of observed technology-driven global realities. He was particular about broadcast licensing having the possibility of breaching the fundamental rights of those who request for licenses and are denied or suspended. The question however, is, will the removal of official media licensing guarantee true media freedom? If the answer is No, as I do think it is, then there is an urgent need to thoroughly and contextually revisit the issue of media freedom, as the freedom should, indeed, mean the freedom for you to know that you are not free, but that your opinions and expressions matter to the rights and well-being of others.

Ozohu (PhD) is a senior lecturer at ABU Zaria, Kaduna State.

A Worthless Award For Life-Saving Venture, By Mcginger Ibeneme

Greenbarge Reporters

June 23, 2019

Four years later, the African Union has remembered to present me and my colleagues with medals of honor for stopping Ebola in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.
I dedicate this to Dr. Stella Adadevor and Justina Ejelonu -you guys are the real heroes. You died for us all.
Adadevor stopped Sawyer. He made calls. She also made calls; pulling the right strings to stop him from plunging into the population and spreading the deadly virus.
She contracted Ebola in the process and died a most painful death. It was like self-sacrifice. She had organ failures, kidney shutdown, multiple seizures and stroke, profuse bleeding, heart failure and later on, death. She died for Nigeria.
Adadevor has not been properly honored by her country whereas every year politicians troop into Abuja to share national honors for doing practically nothing – whereas real heroes are ignored.
Nurse Justina Ejelenu worked with Adadevor and also contracted the disease in the line of duty. She died without doing anything for herself or her family. No one remembers her.
We arrived Abuja after six months of risking our lives in West Africa to stop the menace a few days after (President Goodluck) Jonathan had lost the presidential election in 2015.
No one paid any attention to us any longer. All the initial plans to honor us was thrown out of the window.
The new regime took no interest whatsoever and to date, not even a handshake from a local government chairman, not to talk of some financial gift.
Politicians share billions (of naira) each time they are leaving office after mindless self-help to the national purse. Yet, those who worked for the nation are never rewarded.
This regime has not as much as said a word to us talk less of recognizing our contributions.
The day we arrived at Sierra Leone everyone was happy. They said we were from Nigeria and we had the magic.
They sent us to worst-hit areas and we went to duty patriotically. We did our best and Ebola stopped. The country took the whole accolade without even saying a word to us.
The African Union has casually tossed medals to us without any ceremony. I went to Port Harcourt to pick up my piece from a junior staff of the state’s ministry of health who asked me to sign off on a piece of paper and be gone.
There were only two persons in the room. Nobody bothered with me. It was even the staff who told me that some people who picked up the medal earlier had tested it and that it was not even real gold; so it’s probably worthless.
I spent my money and time to pick a piece of garbage after risking my life for Africa. I felt like a fool while leaving dejectedly.
This reminds me of my experience in the field.
An American passed out while we were on duty and I helped to resuscitate him. He was later diagnosed with Ebola and I quarantined myself. A few days later I developed a fever and noticed blood in my stool.
I asked my colleagues to send a letter to the African Union that I might have contracted the deadly disease. To date, I never got any response. I stayed in self-quarantine for 21 days without a word from Africa that I was fighting for.
My contemporary was airlifted to the US in a matter of moments but I survived by the grace of God or sheer luck. Never spoken to. Never tested. Never nothing. Being African is shitty. I don’t know if am a survivor or not. I just know that my life is worth nothing
I dedicate this medal, though probably worthless to healthcare workers from Africa who died for their continent but were never appreciated or even recognized.
I live in hope that one day our land shall experience the kind of leadership that would value those who sacrifice for her and reward those who make genuine efforts.
For now, am just in severe pains.
God bless Africa
God bless Nigeria
N. Mcginger Ibeneme (MBBS)

Air Peace Apologizes To Passengers Over Averted Plane Crash In Port Harcourt

Editorial staff

June 22, 2019

Air Peace | photo credit: Sahara Reporters

Management of Air Peace has apologized to its passengers over the near crash of its aircraft P47291 which flew from Abuja and skidded off the runway at the Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, while landing due to downpour.

The incidence which occurred today, June 22 at about 3.42pm did not record any casualty.

Reacting to the incidence, the Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, attributed the incident to the flooding of the runway.

“We confirm that Air Peace Flight P47291 Abuja-Port Harcourt had a runway excursion upon landing at the Port Harcourt International Airport on June 22 due to downpour.

“Our professional crew quickly recovered within seconds of the incident and the aircraft was successfully normalized.

“Our esteemed passengers on board the flight were calm during the incident and disembarked normally.

“Our teams of experts and the authorities are currently reviewing the incident and we will give our cooperation for a thorough exercise.

“We apologize to our esteemed passengers for the inconvenience caused them and wish to assure them that we will continue to prioritize their safety in all our operations.”

The affected aircraft have been granted for inspection by the aviation authorities.

Nigerian Politics: What Goes Around, Comes Around, By Eric Teniola

Editorial staff

June 22, 2019

Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (1932-2017), from Oko, Orumba North local Government Area of Anambra State, was the vice president of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983. Chief Edwin Ume Ezeoke (1935-2011), from Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was speaker of the House of Representatives from 1979 to 1983. Professor Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo has been vice president of Nigeria since 2015. He was born into the family of Opeoluwa Osinbajo, who was the late treasurer of Our Saviours Anglican Church, Ikenne, Ogun State. Professor Osinbajo was born in Creek Hospital, Lagos. The vice president’s mother, Madam Olubisi Osinbajo’s parents are both from Ejigbo in Osun State and Ilaro in Ogun State. The speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Adefemi Akeem Gbajabiamila was born in Surulere, Lagos. Dr. Ekwueme, Chief Ezeoke, Professor Osinbajo and Femi Gbajabiamila are lawyers. Incidentally, Professor Osinbajo and Gbajabiamila are old boys of Igbobi College, Lagos. As they say, what goes around, comes around. Personal interest, not regional or religious interest, is the first priority of every politician.

While the election of Mr. Gbajabiamila of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as speaker was planned, that of Chief Ezeoke happened by accident forty years ago. On October 5, 1978, a meeting was held on the sixth floor of LAPAL HOUSE, in Igbosere, Lagos, which was the headquarters of Hacogen Company Limited. The company was then owned by Dr. Joseph Wayas. It was at that meeting that the National Party of Nigeria zoned offices. The presidency was zoned to the North, while the vice presidency was zoned to Anambra and Imo States. The presidency of the Senate was zoned to Bendel, Cross River and Rivers States. The chairmanship of the party was zoned to Lagos, Oyo, Ondo and Ogun States, while the speaker of the Hose of Representatives was zoned to the Middle Belt. At that time there were nineteen states in the federation.

After the August 11, 1979 election, the then Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) declared Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari (February 25, 1925 – December 28, 2018) as president. All the four other parties in the electoral contest then – the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Nigerian People’s Party (NPP), Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) and the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) – condemned the declaration. They immediately formed an alliance to register their denunciation of the electoral outcome.

A press conference was immediately called at the Eko Holiday Inn, Victoria Island, Lagos and was addressed by the presidential candidate of the NPP, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. All the other presidential candidates – Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim and Alhaji Aminu Kano – attended the press conference. That media parley was the last act the NPP took on the issue before developing cold feet thereafter. The NPP became “a beautiful bride”, and the NPN dangled a carrot in front of it. On August 19, 1979, the UPN filed an action at the presidential election tribunal to protest the declaration of the Federal Electoral Commission of Chief Michael Ani. The tribunal was headed by Justice Boonyami Oladiran Kazeem of the Federal Court of Appeal.

On September 11, the tribunal upheld the declaration of FEDECO that Alhaji Shehu Shagari was duly elected as president. Not satisfied with that judgment, the Unity Party of Nigeria, led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, filed an appeal at the Supreme Court. The appeal was filed on behalf of the party by Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi (1931-2014). On September 26, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, with five justices of the Court voting in support of the judgement, while two of them opposed it. Those in favour were the chief justice of the federation, Justice Atanda Fatai Williams (1918-2002), Justice Chukwuhweike Idigbe (1923-1983), Justice Ayo Gabriel Irekefe (1922-1996), Justice Mohammed Bello (1930-2004) and Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais (83). The two opposed to the judgment were Justice Kayode Eso (1925-2012) and Justice Andrews Otutu Obaseki (1925-2017).

After the judgment of the Supreme Court, Alhaji Shehu Shagari took the oath of office on a rainy day at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos on October 1, 1979. He gave an indication shortly after that he wanted to run an all-inclusive government. The Unity Party of Nigeria opted out of the arrangement by insisting that in a presidential system of government, there was no room for an all-inclusive government. Alhaji Shehu Shagari was part of the parliamentary system of government in the First Republic.

Following the decision by Alhaji Shehu Shagari to invite the other parties to join his government, a meeting was hurriedly summoned on October 3 at the Federal Palace Hotel by the NPN National Working Committee. It was agreed at there that the zoning policy of the party was to be reviewed. At the meeting, the NPN agreed to allocate the speakership of the House of Representatives to the NPP and the deputy Senate presidency as well. That was how the son of my late friend, Simeon Mbarorkaa Tarka (1953-2009), (Gboko West), a favorite at that time, lost his chance of becoming the youngest speaker of the House of Representatives.

As for the Senate presidency, the NPN decided to hold on to that because of the need for the confirmation of ministers and ambassadors and other responsibilities allocated to the Senate by the Constitution. At the meeting, two senators-elect signified their interests in the Senate Presidency, and these were Chief David Omueya Dafinone (1927-2018), a chartered accountant from Bendel South, who is an Urhobo, and Dr. Joseph Wayas (78) from Ogoja Senatorial District of Cross River State. In the shadow election supervised by Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro (1923-2010) from Uromi in the present Edo State, Dr. Wayas emerged as winner. In attendance at the meeting were the national chairman of the NPN, Chief Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye (1916-2007); the secretary of the party, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma (1934-2018); his deputy, Dr. Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo (1941-2003); and the publicity secretary of the party, Alhaji Suleiman Takuma (1934-2001). President Shagari’s close aide, Alhaji Umaru Abdurahman Dikko (1936-2014), later conveyed the decisions taken at the Federal Palace Hotel to the president. The following day, the general secretary of the NPP, Chief Paul Wanttareph Iyorpuu Unongo (82) announced that his party has taken a decision to work in accord with the NPN of President Shehu Shagari.

Earlier, the NPP’s National Working Committee had met at the house of Mr. Ademola Thomas in Victoria Island, Lagos. Present at the meeting were chairman of the party, Chief Olu Akinfosile; Mr. Solomon Lar; Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya; Chief Matthew Mbu; Chief J. Edewor; Alhaji Yusufu Dan Tsoho; Dr. Obi Wali; Mr. Joe Asogwa; Alhaji Ado Ibrahim; Dr. Ben Nzeribe; Alhaji Megida Lawal; Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo and Chief Basil Okwu. Also in attendance were Chief Paul Unongo, Dr. Omo Omoruyi, Chief Kolawole Balogun, Mr. Sam Mbakwe, Chief Moo Obikwe, Chief Raphael Ben Keshi Okafor (alias RBK), Chief Samuel Onitiri, Alhaji Jafaru Manga and others.

On Tuesday October 9, 1979, there was an election in the National Assembly for the post of Senate president and deputy Senate president. There was also an election for the speaker of the House of Representatives and the deputy speaker of the House, which were all conducted by the then clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Gidado Idris. For the post of the speaker, candidates fielded included Mr. Hamza M. Ngadiwa of the GNPP from Biu constituency of Borno state, while the NPN and NPP put forward Mr. Edwin Ume Ezeoke of the NPP. Mr. Ume Ezeoke was nominated by Mr. Yinusa Kaltungo of the NPN from Tangale-Waja South and was seconded by Lt-Colonel (rtd) P.C. Amadi of the NPP (Owerri North). Dr. Gordon J. Idang of the UPN from Etinan II, in the present Akwa Ibom State, moved the motion for Mr. Ngadiwa and this was seconded by Mr. M.A. Olukoya (Ijebu-Ode). In the election, Mr. Ume Ezeoke scored 245 votes, while Mr. Ngadiwa had 201 votes. As for the post of the deputy speaker, Mr. Olaiya Fagbamigbe (Akure) of the UPN moved a motion for the election of Mr. Faji Fajobi from Ikere-Ekiti, which was seconded by Alhaji Sidi Ali (PRP) from Danbata Constituency in Kano. Colonel (rtd.) P.C. Amadi nominated Alhaji Kuta Idris Ibrahim (1942-2008) for the post of deputy speaker and this was seconded by Alhaji Yinusa Kaltungo. In the election that followed, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim of NPN (Minna North) had 244 votes, while Mr Fajobi scored 201 votes.

In the election also conducted in the Senate on that day, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki (Ilorin/Asa) of the NPN nominated Joseph Wayas for the Senate presidency and this was seconded by Alhaji Ibrahim Jalo Waziri (Bauchi East) of the NPN. Chief Emmanuel Idahosa Akpata (Bendel Central) of the UPN nominated Justice Franklin Orishe Muiyewa Atake of the UPN, with this getting seconded by Dr. David Olatunbosun Oke (Ondo West). Dr. Joseph Wayas won with 53 votes, while Justice Atake had 42 votes. As for the deputy Senate presidency, Dr. Jaja Anucha Nwachukwu (Aba) of NPP nominated Mr. John Wash-Pam and this was seconded by Alhaji Mohammed Uba Ahmed (Bauchi South East). Alhaji Usman Alto Danbatta (Kano North-Central) nominated Alhaji Sabo Barkin Zuwo of the PRP for the deputy Senate presidency and was supported in this by Senator David Oke. Mr. John Wash-Pam of NPP had 51 votes, while Alhaji Sabo Bankin Zuwo scored 43 votes.

It was the NPP-NPN accord that enabled the following NPP members to become ministers in 1979: Chief Paul Unongo from Benue State, Chief (Mrs) Janet Adefenwa Akinrianade (1930-1994) from Iseyin in Oyo State, Professor Ishaya Shaibu Audu (1927-2005) from Zamaru, Zaria in the present Kaduna State and Chief Ademola Geoffrey Thomas (1925-2017) from Lagos State.

Eric Teniola, a former director in the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.

Contest For Vice Chancellorship Of UniAbuja: 4 Candidates Emerge For Final

Editorial staff

June 22, 2019

Four out of over 120 candidates that applied for the Vice Chancellorship of the University of Abuja have been shortlisted for the final selection of one of them before June 29. Among them is a woman, Professor Mabel Evwierhoma

Others who have been shortlisted from within the institution are Professor E.J. Nwane, Professor O.P. Ajaegbuna, and Professor G.O. Egwu. They will be joined in a selection interview in the next few days by 10 other candidates picked from other institutions in the country.

University sources said that if Professor Mabel Evwierhoma, of the Theatre Arts Department and a renown feminist is able to scales through the tough contest, she would become the second female ever to hold the post in the university after Prof. Laraba Abdulahi, who was the vice chancellor from 1999 to 2004.

The tenure of the current vice chancellor, Professor Michael Adikwu, who was appointed in 2014, will expire ‪on July 1, 2019.

Women’s World Cup: Nigeria Fall To Germany 3-0

Editorial staff

June 22, 2019

Germany have beaten Nigeria 3-0 to reach the last eight in the ongoing women’s Women’s World Cup competition in France.

The first goal came through Alexandra Popp in the 20th-minute of play when he headed the ball into the net even in what seemed an offside position.

The first goal was followed with a penalty when referee Yoshimi Yamashita ruled that Evelyn Nwabuoku committed a foul against Lina Magull.

Sara Dabritz converted from the spot and Lea Schuller fired in a late third.

Either Sweden or Canada stand between the two-time winners and a place in the semi-finals.

Buhari Signs Bill For Run-Away Criminals To Be Arrested Anywhere In World

Greenbarge Reporters

June 21, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a bill into law, known as mutual assistant in criminal matters Act, 2019, making it possible for those who commit crime in Nigeria and run away to other countries to be arrested and prosecuted anywhere in the world.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Dr. Ita Enang who briefed news men today, June 21 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the law is aimed at obtaining from other countries, on reciprocal basis, mutual assistance in the prosecution of Criminal matters, including the location and identification of suspects, witnesses and other materials for prosecution of criminal matters.

“Other objects include but not limited to:

(I) (9) the identification, tracing, freezing, restraining, recovery, forfeiture and confiscation of proceeds, property and other instrumentalities of crime;

(II) (k) the interception of telecommunications (II) (i) conversion of electronic surveillance

(IV) (m) the restraint of dealings in property, or the freezing of assets, that may be recovered, forfeited or confiscated in respect of offences.

And other assistance that is not contrary to the municipal law of the requesting State.”

Dr. Ita Enang said that the Attorney -General of the Federation is designated as the Central Authority for making, receiving and transmitting requests for assistance to and from other countries as well as performing other functions reserved in the Act.

He said that where the alleged offence is of a political character or an offence under military law or is not an offence under the laws of Nigeria, the provisions of this law shall not apply, saying that the new law comes into effect from June 20, 2019.

Abike Dabiri Warns Other Countries To Respect Rights Of Nigerians

Editorial staff

June 21, 2019

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NDC),Abike Dabiri–Erewa has warned countries around the world to respect the rights of every Nigerian the same way their citizens are being treated in Nigeria.

Abike Dabiri, who spoke to news men today, June 21 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was reacting to the situations in Ghana, South Africa and other countries where Nigerians are being maltreated.

Teaching Of History Returns To Nigeria’s Schools Soon

Editorial staff

June 21, 2019

The Federal Government has directed the Federal Ministry of Education to ask all basic and secondary schools across the country to immediately implement the teaching of History as a subject.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Sonny Echono told newsmen in Abuja today, June 21, that teaching of history will stand as subject, adding that the directive will take effect from the next academic calendar.

Recall that the federal government had on June, 18 assured that teaching of history would be returned to school curriculum while ensuring that all primary school teachers are trained to deliver digital literacy.

Echono said: “by the next academic calendar, history will be taught as a standalone subject.

“It is with immediate implementation. So, definitely for the next academic year, everybody will fall in line because we already articulated the curriculum and the examination should be done along those lines.”

The Federal Government officially expunged history from its basic school curriculum in 2007 and relegated it as an elective, instead of a core subject at senior secondary level, thus widening a generational gap on students’ mental development.

The attack on history actually started after the 1969 National Curriculum Conference, which resulted in the adoption of a National Policy on Education, and subsequent adoption of a 6-3-3-4 system of education.

Court To Gov Yahaya Bello: You Can’t Sack State Chief Judge

Editorial staff

June 21, 2019

Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah

The Kogi State High Court, sitting in Koton-Karfe, has ruled that Governor Yahaya Bello and the State House of Assembly jointly or unilaterally, cannot remove the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Nasir Ajanah, without recourse to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

In its ruling today, June 21, the court declared that the Chief Registrar of the State High Court held a statutory position as the accounting officer of the judiciary and is, therefore, not subject to the control and supervision of either the executive or the legislature.

The presiding judge, Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye noted that it is the NJC, established under section 153(I) of the constitution (as amended) that has the power to recommend to the governor, the removal of a judicial officer where a Chief Judge of a state is to be removed, for whatever reason.

He stressed that it is the NJC, and not the state House of Assembly that is empowered to make recommendations to the governor of a state under item 21(d) of the third schedule to the constitution.

The judge delivered the ruling on the suit filed against the Assembly, Governor and three others by Justice Ajanah and the Chief Registrar, Yahya Adamu.

The Kogi State House of Assembly, Speaker of the House, Bello Abdullahi, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, Governor Yahaya Bello and the state’s Attorney-General are named as respondents in the suit with number HC/KK. 11CV/2018.

Justice Omolaye-Ajileye said that he found merit in the action and that all the declarations sought are allowed while granting all the reliefs and declarations sought by the claimants in the suit.

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