A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has granted bail to former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, but with stringent conditions, one of which is the deposit of his international passport. Four others standing trial for alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust were also granted bail.

Others standing trial over a 19-count charge preferred against them include, a former director of finance at the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, a former Group General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Aminu Baba ​Kusa and two firms, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Reference Hospital.

Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf granted bail to the accused persons on the sum of N250 Million on the condition that they produce a surety each who must be a serving or retired civil servant not lower than the rank of a director.

The c​ivil servant must also show possession of a property within the FCT worth the same amount, the judge ordered.​

All the accused we​re also asked to deposit copies of their i​international passports with the c​court registrar​. They are to also​notify the court of any travel arrangement outside the FCT.

Mr. Dasuki is accused of mis-spending about $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of weapons for the fight against extremist group, Boko Haram.

He denies wrongdoing. [myad]

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has said that the Nigerian judicial system is obsolete and needs a complete overhaul in order to ensure quick and inexpensive justice delivery.
Justice Mohammed who spoke today in Abuja at the inauguration of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, said: “there is need for an overhaul of the Nigerian Judicial System in order to render it fit for the 21st century circumstances; there is need to ensure that justice is quick and inexpensive.
“Litigation has become slow, costly and highly inflating, especially given their complexity, endless interlocutory applications and potential for acrimony.”
The ADR centre is an arm of the NICN, which seeks to resolve disputes through a neutral mediator, devoid of litigations, with its agreements upheld as consent judgment.
Justice Mohammed commended the NICN’s initiative and vision in instituting an ADR centre, which he noted was the first in the West African sub-region, adding that the centre would ensure swift dispensation of justice without acrimony.
“It has now become abundantly clear that ADR offers a more flexible, people-oriented dispute resolution mechanism.
“The ADR would help prevent widespread industrial relations crises if given adequate support.”
The CJN further urged the NICN to employ capable mediators and build the capacity of the centre’s staff to ensure that the “wheels of justice move more freely.”
Justice Mohammed expressed the hope that the centre would be a reference point for affordable and accessible justice for peaceful resolutions.
Justice Babatunde Adejumo, the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, gave the assurance that the centre would ensure adequate resolution of labour related issues.
Adejumo said: “One pivotal aim for the centre is to assist parties in dispute to collaborate towards settling their disputes and arriving at a win-win or mutually acceptable agreement in less costly, speedy and efficient manner.
“With the establishment of the court’s ADR centre, the court’s mission of an efficient, timely and just system of justice delivery will be further enhanced.
“Our goal is to have matters determined within 12 months from the time of filing.”
Adejumo said the centre’s headquarters is located in the NICN headquarters in Abuja, with zonal centres in Kano, Gombe, Ibadan, Enugu and Calabar.
He said the court was making remarkable progress towards its vision to bring justice delivery to the door steps of the people at minimal cost, inconvenience and delay.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that representatives from the US Embassy, National Assembly, Anambra and Abia State Governments and the Nigerian Bar Association were present at the inauguration.
Other guests at the event were the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomole.

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) in collaboration with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), hosted the pupils of the Innercity Mission School, Lagos to Christmas and end of the year party.
During the party, the organisers splashed the pupils with a variety of gifts, including school bags, book shelves, television sets and audio visual aids.
SNEPCo Managing Director, Bayo Ojulari said: “we do this every year to bring smiles to the faces of the less-privileged and to send the message of hope to Nigerians.”
The Managing Director, who was represented at the event by the company’s General Manager, Offshore Assets, Effy Okon added: “our choice of the Innercity Mission School is in appreciation of the shared values between the mission and SNEPCo. We remain committed to working with our senior partner NNPC, and co-venturers, to provide opportunities to Nigerians who otherwise would be out of school and thus deprived of developing their full potential that may significantly benefit society.”
Director of the mission, Victor Aregbe, described the relentless support from NNPC and SNEPCo as exemplary.
He recalled that the school’s ICT centre and well-equipped library donated by the NNPC/SNEPCo had transformed learning in the school.
The Innercity Mission School is a charity initiative of the Innercity Mission for Children. The school, with the support of partners and donors, provides nursery and primary education to indigent children free of any charges including the provision of school uniforms, educational supplies, breakfast, lunch and transportation to and from the school.
SNEPCo is the offshore subsidiary of Shell in Nigeria and operates the Bonga floating, production, storage and offloading vessel as contractor under a production sharing contract with the NNPC, which holds the lease for OML 118. SNEPCo holds a 55% contractor interest of the OML. The other co-venturers are Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Ltd (20%), Total E&P Nigeria Ltd (12.5%), and Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd (12.5%).
The General Manager, Offshore Assets of the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Mr. Effy Okon, in a dance with pupils of the Innercity Mission School, Ikeja, Lagos, at the SNEPCo-sponsored 2015 Christmas party.[myad]