Nigerian government has demanded a proper explanation and apology from the Egyptian government over the alleged maltreatment of a 17- year-old Joshua Kunle Abdul-Azeez, a Nigerian medical student studying in Ukraine. This was a fall-out of a meeting the Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri held with the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ashrat Salama in Abuja today. The minister expressed the government’s displeasure over the issue and demanded for justice. “We cannot continue like this. Mr. President demands that the lives of Nigerians should be protected abroad. We demand explanation from your country. “Egypt and Nigeria are friendly countries. You are not worried that Nigerian citizen was left without food for three days. I just want you to know that it is unacceptable to us and we demand apology from your country.” Salama in his response assured that full investigation will be carried out on the matter. “If we find who is responsible for that act, he will be punished accordingly.” He said that the incident was not enough to affect relations between both countries, even as he expressed concern at the manner in which the matter was reported in the Nigerian dailies. “I was very shocked the way it was displayed in the newspapers. The issue was amplified in a big way in Saturday edition of newspapers. I don’t think the incident should mar our relationship with your country.”
President Goodluck Jonathan has formally declared today that he will contest the 2015 Presidential election for his second term in office, even as he expressed appreciation to all those who have either endorsed him or adpoted him for the post. The President, who was responding to members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who adopted him today as the party’s sole Presidential candidate for the next year’s election said that he was really humbled and overwhelmed by the show of support from all the PDP family. He promised not to disappoint the PDP governors, the leaders, stakeholders and all the organs of the part that have endorsed him as the sole candidate. “Let me really say that the events of yesterday, starting with BoT (Board of Trustees) meeting last night and what has just happened today, with the various motions adopting me as sole candidate of the party has really humbled me. “Let me specially thank our governors that initiated that action. Let me thank members of BoT. Let me thank the Senate President and members of the National Assembly. Let me appreciate the PDP women for their position and the NEC, because no matter whatever anybody does, if NEC does not recognise you, you will be on your own. ” Adopting me as the sole candidate of the party has humbled me; I am totally overwhelmed. When the governors came up in a jointly signed paper, though House of Representatives started it, governors intervention was like an atomic bomb, I commend all departments of the NEC. “I am so overwhelmed that I lack words to express myslef. I leave it for another day. For today, for you to have that kind of confidence, I am extremely challenged. It means that whatever we had done in the past three years, we tripple it. “That is the only way Nigerians will appreciate it. I promise I will not disappoint you.”
Nigeria has dropped by four spots in the FIFA World Rankings and is now 37th as a result of its unimpressive performance in its two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
According to the September rankings released today on FIFA’s website, Nigeria now has 642 points as against 673 points it garnered in the August ranking. The African Champions fell 2-3 to Congo and were held to a goalless draw by South Africa in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers. With the new ranking, Nigeria is now the sixth-placed country in Africa as against the third place it occupied in August. The 2013 AFCON champions are now preceded in Africa by Algeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal which have 926, 879,701, 661 and 645 points respectively. However, the first five teams in Africa moved up in the global rankings as Algeria is now world 20th, Cote D’Ivoire 22nd, Tunisia 31st, Ghana 33rd and Senegal 36th. On the global scene, there was no movement either into or out of the top 10. 2014 FIFA World Cup finalists, Germany and Argentina, have slightly extended their lead over the chasing pack and remain unchallenged at the top of the rankings. They are followed in third position by Colombia, which has swapped places with the Netherlands. The Netherlands paid dearly for their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Czech Republic in their opening qualifying match for UEFA EURO 2016. On their part, Colombia equalled their highest-ever position, having previously achieved third in July and August 2013. Meanwhile in the top ten, Brazil (6th, up 1) and France (9th, up 1) have gained ground, while Uruguay (7th, down 1), Spain (8th, down 1) and Switzerland (10th, down 1) have each dropped a place. However, this month’s biggest winners are Guatemala, which three wins in four matches in the qualifiers for the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015 have seen the team leap by 77 places to 57th. The team’s win against World Cup participants Honduras yielded many of those points. With Iceland (34th, up 12), Congo (48th, up 30) and Antigua and Barbuda (80th, up 69), September 2014 saw the three teams reaching their highest-ever position since the ranking was introduced in 1993. According to FIFA, of the 141 international “A” matches taken into account for this month’s ranking, over half of them (80) are continental qualifiers in Europe, Africa and CONCACAF. “The other 61 fixtures were friendlies and this takes the total number of international “A” matches played in 2014 so far to 526. [myad]
Members of the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s sole presidential candidate for the 2015 election.
This decision was taken few minutes ago, today, at the meeting of the body, held at the party’s national headquarters, Abuja.
Members of the NEC took the decision after various organs of the party said that they had endorsed the President during their meetings which they said were held on Wednesday.
National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mua’zu led other members of the party’s National Working Committee to the meeting.
President Jonathan, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo; Senate President, David Mark; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha were among those present at the meeting.
The NEC meeting was aslo attended by majority of the governors, including the Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido who was earlier touted as be nursing presidential ambition.
No fewer than 35,000 Nigerian Muslims have so far been airlifted to Saudi Arabia to begin this year, 2014 pilgrimage, which climaxed in the first week of October. The airlift was done in 76 flights in the last 13 days when the airlift operation began.
Information reaching us indicated that the hajj operations, being coordinated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have been going on smoothly with four airline participating in the airlift.
As at today, Max Air has airlifted about 22, 135 intending pilgrims, while FLYNAS air airlifted 7,906 intending pilgrims, Medview airlifted 2,942 intending pilgrims and Kabo air airlifted I,471 intending pilgrims.
Over 75,000 Nigerian Muslims are expected to perform the hajj this year. [myad]
We have people if given the opportunity, I have no doubt I can perform creditably. Look, I am conversant with that villa for over 20 years now. From the days of my membership in the House of Representatives as Deputy Speaker, I know what the Commander-in-Chief should be doing under these circumstances. These are parts of what the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said when he spoke to select journalists in Kano recently. Excerpts:
Let us know the measures you are putting in place to retain investors in Kano in the face of the many crises being witnessed in the polity?
With what we are passing through in this country, what Kano or any other state can do is to have people who can protect our interest; but those people who are supposed to, are working against it. If you talk about investment, we have so many airlines that are interested in flying to Kano, but somebody in Abuja is busy blocking them, to the extent that many of them aren’t interested anymore. Even those who were allowed, like Emirate that was co-incidentally to come on August 1, which is today, some people blocked their coming. This was after getting all the papers and selling tickets. There are people right now holding the tickets. They said they should not come to Kano.
I personally went to the chairman of Emirate in Dubai. We held meetings with him. I saw almost everybody, including the then Minister of Aviation (Stella Oduah). The last time I spoke to her during a meeting, I asked her when we were going to have the approval to get the airline coming to Kano. Her answer was “it depends on the outcome of today’s meeting”. That was the end. Now that we have Osita Chidoka; I don’t know much about him, but from the little I know, I think he is someone who will not reduce the Federal Government to his village meeting or a gathering of his friends.
We have a situation in Nasarawa where a sitting Governor of APC is about to be impeached. How are you taking it as a chieftain of the party?
Well, I don’t think anybody is happy; whether in APC or any other responsible party in this country, especially those who are conversant with the tenets of democracy. Democracy is about winning election; and while you won election, somebody would have lost election. And you see, in our Constitution, there are many sections that talked about the opposition.
Again, across the world, especially where you have mature democracies, the Constitution supports opposition in its own way. In this country, we have a Commander-In-Chief who is very powerful in terms of killing his opponents. He is ruthless and does not wait for anybody to advise him. That is what we have seen in Ekiti state. We went there and saw what happened. In politics, that is what we call armed robbery; armed people taking votes for a particular political party. The army, same as the police, belongs to Nigerians. They are not any political party police. If care is not taken, the implication is that the military and police will be politicised. The Nigeria Army didn’t come from a particular village; they are from all kinds of villages in this country.
This military and police should be exonerated from politics. They should not be used to intimidate people and take victory by force. In APC, that is what we have seen happened in Ekiti. They went to Adamawa using the same security agencies, using other opportunities they have and that opportunity worked against the welfare of the people. They literally took Adamawa by force. We have read in the papers. You have reported what happened at the residence of the Chief Judge, what happened at the state Assembly.
In the case of Adamawa, I have forgotten the number of local government areas, but they are over 20. There are 25 members in the State House of Assembly. Out of that number, you took the position of Governor elected by millions of people and gave it to one person who was elected by just those from his local government.
They used the weaknesses of the Constitution, cajoled the young lawmakers of the Assembly. I am sure he induced them. At the end of the day, they told them look, “Why are you leaving this elderly man? Why can’t you take it yourself? Go and take it; we will support you; we will give you all the support of the Commander-in-Chief to go and deal with him.” They went there, used the very process that would have protected the people of Adamawa state and made them live in peace, and of course make progress; they used the same process to remove Murtala Nyako. My opinion is that if there is anybody that should be impeached, it is them who are in the headquarters of corruption; of bad politics and everything evil. I am not here to defend any Governor because I am the Governor of Kano. I can’t defend anybody. I will not say somebody is right or wrong; but certainly you should put them on a balance. Everybody knows where the balance will tilt.
Now look at the case of Nasarawa; it is even worst. But I think the people of Nasarawa, especially the young men, have started doing the right thing. They are chasing the state Assembly members, and I think they should chase them to the villa where they belong because I don’t think they are protecting the people’s interest in Nasarawa. We had wanted to go to Nasarawa and mobilise the people to help fight injustice, but Governor Al-Makura who is a complete gentleman, said we should not come. But you see, in this game, if you are dealing with mad people, you don’t just become a gentleman, you have to go out there and handle them as they are.
Are you not afraid that they may use the state House of Assembly against you here in Kano?
They have been trying that. You are aware they came here and collected all the principal officers and other members of the state House of Assembly; not because they stole anything, but because they didn’t want us to go and pass the budget. The EFCC came dead in the night and started collecting them like criminals. They took them to Abuja. We followed them but, there was just no answer, nothing. At the end of the day, I don’t know what happened, they granted us bail, and the case is still in Court. I have never seen this kind of thing anywhere, where authorities came to the state to pick elected representatives in the night, took them to EFCC, and locked them there.
Just recently, we had the same case after we joined the APC. They came with one hawk. I think he is from Kebbi. He was calling them to his house. You know Kano is a great state, and we want people to come and settle in Kano, but many of them are trying to become enemies. If you are from Kebbi, why can’t you go there and talk about Kebbi. Maybe because Kebbi is so small that you cannot talk about it, they are here creating all sorts of trouble. They are meeting in his house discussing all sorts of things.
But God so kind, by the time they started the meeting, they were already celebrating and they told Abuja that they have gotten the Speaker and majority of the members. They boasted that APC has got the executive, while PDP now has the legislature; thinking that because they got the principal officers and gave them money, everybody will follow.
By the time I called them, we had meeting on a Friday which ran into Saturday, and by Sunday, they put them in the aircraft and took them to Abuja. Monday morning, I told them to go and declare, and instead of 31 members for APC, we were now having 34. So they have been trying, but we are politicians here and we have been in the game. I have been here, I have been there, I have been all over, and I have some doses now. I have some junks, which when pressed, I will use it and I believe all politicians in my position do the same.
Even General Buhari has said what I want to say now, that I have never seen a situation like this where the biggest beneficiary of this democracy are the ones destroying it. You ask me who is happy. I should be one of them, my people should be all happy. We have performed, we have done so many things that can enable us to be happy but, unfortunately, we are not happy because of what they are doing. Politics should not be seen as enmity, politics should be seen as something that you have to destroy this or that. The very forces that they used in Ekiti, they used in Adamawa, which they are now using in Nasarawa. I am sure they want to try it again in Osun.
These are the forces that they would have used in the North-eastern states. On Ekiti Election Day, the whole state was taken over and dominated. I don’t think Ekiti is as big as Sambisa Forest. You go and dominate there. Why are you dominating an innocent state? And what they don’t know is that the party taking seats by force from other states does not give them automatic success in 2015. In this state in 2011, I had no one counsellor, I had no one Local Government Chairman, I had no Commissioner, and I had no Governor. Even our friends, who were supposed to help us from Abuja, didn’t believe in us, but we won the election.
So, if you take Ekiti, you go and take Nasarawa, you are forcing everybody. There is one advertisement on NTA which makes me very angry, showing the Commander-in-Chief smiling. It is by the Transformation Agenda Ambassadors. These are faceless organizations with headquarters in the villa. They are faceless. Who are they? Tell me Commander-in-Chief. I used to know the credibility of the Nigerian military. I used to know how much they were respected even outside the country.
Now, where are the respects? I am happy Rochas Okorocha is also advertising his own achievements. Tell me what the Commander-in-Chief is doing. Things that we have not even seen on ground, we are already seeing it on television; courtesy of technology. I hear some people wanted to do one-million-match rally in Abuja. I can do 10 million here in Kano. What is one million? Maybe somebody advised them and it didn’t take place because, I had wanted to do 10-million-match in Abuja; take over and dominate everywhere.
The rumour is making the round in town and people are speculating that you want to contest the presidency. Are you interested?
We have good materials in APC; we have people if given the opportunity, I have no doubt can perform creditably. Look, I am conversant with that villa for over 20 years now. From the days of my membership in the House of Representatives as Deputy Speaker, I know what the Commander-in-Chief should be doing under these circumstances. Instead, they are just using propaganda. Look at the Chibok girls. For three weeks, they were arguing and didn’t believe that over 200 children were abducted.
Even if it is 20 tortoise or goats, won’t you look for them? One of the reasons why I love this country is that we have people of high calibre in all the regions and states. Look at my former colleague, former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili. This is somebody who worked in the World Bank, but has now devoted her time to the issue of the Chibok girls. She is not from this part of the country, but she felt she had to take the bull by the horn and that is what we are seeing in developed countries where people fight injustice. They sent some hawks to go and stop the protesters. While she is saying ‘Bring Back Our Girls,’ some people are busy saying “votes for us; we want to stay and maintain the status quo; look at my photograph, I am smiling.” They don’t know that time is of the essence.
Tell us some of your legacies?
From 2011 to date, salaries are being paid as at when due. Projects are in progress. We have huge projects which ordinary states that are getting many times what we are getting cannot boast of. Challawa and Tiga Dam project is costing us N14.2 billion and we are finishing it latest by March. There is the fly-over at Kofar Nasarawa, about a kilometre. There’s also the one near Radio Kano which we want to name Obasanjo Fly-over. Look at the one in Sabon Gari, two kilometres, which is costing over N11 billion, and one at Wuju Wuju, almost N10 Billion.
We have the North-West University; a five kilometre road in 44 Local Government Areas, which is over 220 kilometre of dualised roads with street lights. We also have some institutes numbering about 24 and so on. All these are minus free education at all levels, from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, which is our trade-mark. [myad]
After 28 months in the saddle as Nigeria’s number one judicial officer, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar will on November 20, bow out as the 14th Chief Justice of Nigeria after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 for Supreme Court justices. The first female CJN’s tenure in the history of the nation is regarded by many as eventful. Her exit, no doubt will be missed by many.
Aloma Mukhtar is the first and only female Chief Justice of Nigeria who became the first female to be sworn into the Court of Appeal on September 24, 1987 and the first female justice of the Supreme Court in June 2005 after Senate confirmation.
The road to Mukhtar’s emergence began in April 2012 when her predecessor in office, Justice Dahiru Musdapher served the National Judicial Council (NJC) the mandatory three-month notice of retirement.
In appointing Mukhtar who was the most senior in the apex court, President Goodluck Jonathan complied with Section 231 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate.
Paragraph E, Third Schedule Part 1 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended requires the Federal Judicial Service Commission to advise the National Judicial Council in nominating persons for appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Upon receiving Judicial Commission’s advice, the NJC made the recommendation to Mr. President. This is unlike the American system where the President goes out of his way to search for a nominee and selects from a list of qualified candidates.
When Justice Mukhtar stepped in as Chief Justice of Nigeria on July 16, 2012, there was great expectation by people who are keen observers of her antecedents. Her accession therefore to the exalted position of Chief Justice of the most populous country of black Africa was a welcome development to many Nigerians who expected her to come and clean up the Augean stable that the judicial institution had become.
As the first female to attain the position in Nigeria, she carries the burden of proving her mettle as well as surpassing the performance of her all male predecessors in office.
In her first speech at the Senate screening on July 11, 2012, she had said, “On the perception of the judiciary by the public, indeed as it is as at now, it is very bad and I am saddened by it. But, then, I said earlier on, I will try, I don’t want to sound like a broken record. I will try to make sure that the confidence reposed in the judiciary, as it were before, will be returned. I will try as much as possible to ensure that the bad eggs that are there are flushed out; that there will be a cleansing by the National Judicial Council based on petition. It is sad that the ordinary man on the street thinks and feels that he cannot get justice. This is because of the situation we find ourselves. I will ensure that this perception changes.”
After 26 months in the saddle, Mukhtar had been adjudged to have performed creditably well.
Carol Ajie, Human Rights Lawyer and Fellow, Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa had this to say about justice Mukhtar,
“Justice Mariam Mukhtar, had worked twice as hard as others as a judge through the hierarchy of courts before she was elevated to the Supreme Court Bench in June 2005, a measure that wholly prepares her for the challenging task ahead. Of impeccable integrity, she earned momentous respect from members of the Bench and Bar in a way that is unprecedented. Accomplished, she comes with iconic experience and legendary judicial finesse. Adored by many who look upon her as our super model and mentor; firm yet fair with a reputation for intellectual precision and zero tolerance for corruption, fit as the 13th CJN and first female to ascend this zenith, at a time the judiciary seeks the cleansing of the Augean stable, to win public respect.”
Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and one of Nigeria’s foremost human rights activists has this to say about Justice Mukhtar, “In a country where judicial corruption has been virtually institutionalized, I make bold to say that Justice Mukhtar has never been associated with corrupt practices or any form of abuse of office. She is conservative but ready to take a radical stand in defence of the rule of law. She is quiet but aggressive in dealing with cases of corruption. Her decision to team up with Adesola Oguntade JSC (as he then was) and Walter Onnoghen JSC in writing powerful dissenting opinions in the controversial case of Mohammadu Buhari v Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) convinced the reactionary forces in the legal establishment that she could rock the boat if allowed to become the head of the country’s judiciary. The clean bill of health given to Justice Ayo Salami, the suspended President of the Court of Appeal by a Committee of the National Judicial Council (NJC) chaired by Justice Mukhtar was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. A plot was therefore hatched to prevent her from becoming the CJN’’.
Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN) of Aelex Law firm and candidate in the 2014 NBA election, likened Justice Mukhtar’s job to that of Hercules’ cleaning of the Augean saying “When the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar was sworn into the office in July 2012, there were many calls upon her to restore the judiciary to its pride of place in the body polity by investigating the rumours of corruption that were rife, and acting on the many complaints about judicial behaviour. As she has only two years in office as Chief Justice of Nigeria, this is her augean stable’’.
Looking back however, it can be said that Mukhtar did not disappoint Nigerians. She indeed worked hard and her effort to sanitize and remove the bad eggs in the nation’s judiciary is not unnoticed. Speaking on her experience in office, she says,
“On my assumption of office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, I inherited 139 petitions, 106 of which were vexatious or baseless, only 33 of the petitions were considered worthy of attention. After my assumption of office as the Chief Justice, 198 fresh petitions were filed, of this number, 150 were found to be frivolous, 15 are awaiting responses from judges and only 21 were slated for consideration.
We must always remain conscious of the fact that anybody who raises an allegation of corruption against a judicial officer must be ready to substantiate it. Anybody who also offers baseless allegation must in line with the relevant statutes must be to face the long arms of the law.”
A firm believer in judges’ discipline, Mukhtar never shy away from explaining to them the path she expects judges to tow. Hear her,
“There is indeed no reason why a judicial officer who sits over trials should not be made to come under trial in deserving cases, as a person who cannot follow must not lead and a person who cannot practice incorruptibility must not sit at judgment over others and find it humiliating to stand trial. “What is more worrisome is that members of the Bar who are learned in the country’s legal system have indulged themselves in many negative practices. This has led to an influx of frivolous petitions before the National Judicial Council.”
Accessing his principal, Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, media aide to CJN wrote that so far, not less than 100 editorial comments were published in the dailies and magazines in reactions to Mukhtar’s onslaught on the judiciary in Nigeria.
In a recent article in which Justice Mukhtar’s efforts against judicial rot was highlighted, Ahuraka said, “Prior to Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar’s assumption of office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), many had lost hope in the Judiciary’s ability to dispense justice independently. The state of affairs in the Judiciary was aptly captured in a report by the US Department of State on Human Rights practices for 2011. The report had observed copiously that the Nigerian Judiciary was very corrupt and susceptible to manipulations by the rich elite in business and politics.
While many were still in doubt about her capacity to tackle the rot in the system, some who knew Justice Mukhtar as an incorruptible judicial officer and an individual with rare sterling qualities thought otherwise.
According to Ahuraka, Newsweek, a British magazine named Justice Mukhtar as one of the ‘125 women of impact in the world’ in its April 8-15, 2013 edition. Her nomination was premised on her judicial cleansing reform and avowed determination to get rid of judges involved in fraudulent practices.
Specifically, the magazine noted that, ‘’in a country notorious for its crooked officials, Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice, Mukhtar, has built a reputation as an unwavering reformer unafraid to root out criminals.” Also, the World Justice Project (WJP), an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to advance the rule of law globally, scored Nigeria high only in civil justice among the nine factors it studied in its report recently released. The Washington-based WJP accessed the 99 countries studied on compliance with the rule law. The WJP Rule of Law Index 2014 report awarded Nigeria a pass mark only in Civil Justice, ostensibly the Judiciary headed by Justice Mukhtar.
In its editorial of July 15 this year, The Guardian newspaper commented thus; ‘’Speaking at the opening session of a conference on judicial reforms organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and some Non-Governmental Organisations, the Chief Justice accused SANs working in tandem with corrupt judges being investigated by the National Judicial Council (NJC) of being guilty of corruption and misconduct. “She cited a particular instance where a judge accused of corruption invited about six SANs to represent him before the NJC. The conference on judicial reforms, in which the Chief Justice spoke, could not have come at a better time in view of dwindling public confidence in the judiciary. It is indeed noteworthy and commendable that Chief Justice Mukhtar has waged a relentless war on corruption in the judiciary since she assumed office,” Ahuraka said.
Born on November 20, 1944, Mukthar was called to the Nigerian Bar on June 26, 1967. By September 24, 1987, she became the first female to be sworn into the Court of Appeal. She breaks another record as the first female justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria when the Senate confirmed her appointment on May 10, 2005.
She started education at St. George’s Primary School, Zaria, and later at St. Bartholomew’s School, Wusasa, Zaria. She proceeded to Rossholme School for Girls, East Brent, Somersets, England, Reading Technical College, Reading, Berkshire England, Gibson and Weldon College of Law and was called to the English Bar in November, 1966.
She worked as a pupil state counsel, Ministry of Justice, Northern Nigeria in 1967; Office of the Legal Draftsman, Interim Common Services Agency, Magistrate Grade I, North Eastern State Government in 1971; Chief Registrar, Kano State Government Judiciary, 1973; Judge of the High Court of Kano State, 1977-1987; Justice of the Court of Appeal, 1987-1993; presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, 1993-2005; and justice of the Supreme Court from June 2005 to date.
With just two months to the end of her tenure as CJN, many can testify that, though we have not gotten to the promised land, remarkable progress has been made towards that direction since Justice Mukhtar assumed office two year, two months ago. [myad]
The Rivers state branch of All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown a poser at the erstwhile state commissioner of police, Joseph Mbu who was quoted recently as saying that he was a lion who tamed the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi. The party asked “so, Mbu was in Rivers states only to fight the governor instead of criminals?” The party added: “it is a big shame that rather than fight crime and insecurity during his days in Rivers State, Mbu – as he himself has now confessed – was busy fighting his boss – a man who has achieved several acclaimed feats in the area of security!” In a statement this morning, the senior special adviser to the state chairman on media and publicity, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the party said that as a mere Commissioner of Police, he ought to have been taking orders from above if he was actually in the State to do his professional work as a policeman and not to execute a hidden agenda from enemies of Rivers State in Abuja. It said that this careless statement by a man whose tenure as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State nearly ruined both the security and economy of the state simply vindicated the party’s stand that Mbu ought not to be in a disciplined and respected profession like the police. “We have consistently pointed out that Joseph Mbu ought not to be in police in the first place, not to talk of being promoted to enviable rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police which he presently occupies.” The statement reads: “We read with utmost shock the unfortunate outburst and self glorification of Mr. Joseph Mbu, the recently promoted to Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), who in an unprovoked attack claimed to have tamed Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi during his (Mbu’s) infamous days as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State. AIG Mbu was reported to have made the boastful claim on Monday in Abuja while handing over to Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, his successor as FCT Commissioner of Police. Mbu on that occasion described himself as the lion that tamed the leopard in Rivers State. He was referring to Governor Amaechi – the Chief Security Officer of Rivers State from whom Mbu, as a mere Commissioner of Police, ought to have been taking orders from if he was actually in the State to do his professional work as a policeman and not to execute a hidden agenda from enemies of Rivers State in Abuja. This careless statement by a man whose tenure as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State nearly ruined both the security and economy of our dear State simply vindicates our stand that Mbu ought not to be in a disciplined and respected profession like the police. We have consistently pointed out that Joseph Mbu ought not to be in police in the first place, not to talk of being promoted to enviable rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police which he presently occupies. It is a big shame that, rather than fight crime and insecurity during his days in Rivers State, Mbu – as he himself has now confessed – was busy fighting his boss – a man who has achieved several acclaimed feats in the area of security! We have once more been proved right! For an assumed Ploice Officer that ought to be a protector of the people to turn round to become a lion simply demonstrates that this man ought not to be in a disciplined discpline like Police. It is a sad commentary on the rot in our dear Country that a man like Mbu, who has no respect for constitutional authority and takes pleasure in sabotaging a man from whom he should be taking orders, could rise to his present enviable position in the Nigeria Police Force. This obviously speaks volumes about the present state of affairs in the Force. In the circumstances, we just pray and hope that what we are reading in the papers about the assigned mission of our new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Dan Bature, is not true. From reports in the press, Mr. Bature has been sent to install an unpopular PDP character who has destroyed our education sector at the Federal level as the next Governor of Rivers State. If this is indeed true, we hope that Mr. Bature will refuse to be another Joseph Mbu and do his work in Rivers State as a professional officer, as we have always known him to be to avoid destroying his hard earned reputation as a serious Police Officer. Long Live APC! Long Live Rivers State!! Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, SSA Media and Public Affairs to the State Chairman, APC Rivers State. 18-09-14.” [myad]
Archbishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri has lamented that Nigeria is fast loosing the battle with members of the outlawed Boko Haram as the sect has taken over and in control of 25 towns in three North-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
He named the towns as Damboa, Buni Yadi, Madagali, Gwoza, Gujba, Gulak, Bama, Gulani, Shuwa, Marte, Kukawa, Michika, Dikwa, Bularafa, Bazza, Gamboru Ngalla and Buni Gari. Others are Banki, Bara, Pulka, Bumsa, Ashgashiya, Taltaba, Limankara and Njibulwa.
Archbishop Oliver Dashe, who was giving a situation report and update of the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri over the last one month, said: “It may interest you to know the towns that are being controlled conveniently by the Boko Haram. Their flag is flying in Borno, Yobe States and parts of Adamawa State that make up the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri. Apart from Sambisa which is their main Camp and many more camps which are yet to be touched by the Nigerian troops. Right now, we have close to 20 priests taking refuge in Yola.”
The church cried out saying that Maiduguri, the Borno State capital “is sitting on a keg of gun powder, with the fall of Bama which is about 71 kilometres away and Konduga, the next major town is Maiduguri.
“There are conflicting reports about Bama as to whether it is in the hands of the terrorists. But the number of civilians that have migrated into Maiduguri on foot from Bama, Kawuri and Konduga is suggestive that the terrorists have an upper hand in the fight.
“We are faced with a huge humanitarian crisis; people are sleeping on the streets in Maiduguri, despite the seven or more camps within the city for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The state government is doing its bit to provide for them but the number is overwhelming and the resources are limited.
“The last one month has seen the intensification and aggressive devastation of the Boko Haram activities in northern, central and southern parts of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri. The brutality and callousness with which people are killed can only be compared to that of the ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Many of our people are being forced out of their ancestral homes, villages and towns.
“Right now, thousands are living in caves on the mountains, some in the forest; the few who were able to escape are being absorbed by friends and relatives in Maiduguri, Mubi and Yola. Thousands have managed to escape into Cameroun and are living under very difficult conditions of lack of food, shelter and medication.
“What is very worrying and discouraging in the whole scenario, is the attitude of the military whom we mortgage and depend on for security. In the face of these attacks, they flee and ask civilians to do the same. There is no doubt that the morale of the security men and women is at its lowest ebb in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.
“The level of sophistication and capabilities that these terrorists have attained within five years is very revealing and scary. The mastery and tact with which they fight is unequalled by our military. Their resilience can be compared to that of trained Marines. That is why they are able to over-run towns and villages almost unchallenged. They can boast of armoured tanks and armoured personnel carrier (APC), rocket launchers, anti aircraft and anti tank destroyers, sub-machine guns, new and latest guns AK 47 and an inexhaustible boxes of ammunitions and bullets.
“While I refused to believe a single narration of this reality because both Christians and Muslims are being affected, both Christians and Muslims have been killed; both Christians and Muslims have been driven out of their ancestral homes, villages and towns, Christians and Muslims have been internally displaced and are refuges in their own home state. There is still a religious under-tone to this whole mess.
“We might shy away from it, we may be silent and unable to speak up or speak out now against the plan to Islamize the North-east and eventually Nigeria. But what we are witnessing in Northern Adamawa is a clear confirmation and the unfolding of this agenda. But I am speaking as a leader and shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri and how much destruction and devastation we have seen and are still going through.
“The near inaction of the government, the lukewarm attitude and the silence of the government is very disturbing. There is a total disconnection between what our so called leaders in Abuja report in the media and the reality on ground. We wish they have the courage to fly into these areas and see things for themselves.
“Our people are dying every day and in most cases with no one to bury them decently, they are left to rot; their homes and properties looted; they have become slaves and prisoners in their fatherland, here is a government that cannot safe guard the lives of its citizens and indeed life has become so cheap that it can be wasted any moment. We used to think that salt is the cheapest commodity in the market, well, life is cheaper now especially in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.
“We are faced with a huge humanitarian crisis; people are sleeping on the streets in Maiduguri, despite the seven or more camps within the city for the IDPs. The state government is doing her bit to provide for them but the number is overwhelming and the resources are limited.
“We are again witnessing a mass exodus of our brothers and sisters from the East, South and West. Many people are relocating to other parts of Nigeria; even the soldiers are moving their families out of the barracks to safer towns and cities in Nigeria.
“This is our current situation in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri. I may not know much about the politics and agenda of Boko Haram, those behind it, the sponsors and sympathizers.
‘One thing I know for sure that they are human beings and not spirits, a local terrorist group with an International face and connection.
“Does the government have all the facts and intelligence about this group, YES, but the government and our political leaders lack the will to act in the interest of her citizens perhaps because of the political ambitions. As a Nation we are almost loosing this battle because it is spinning out of control. The earlier we come together as Nigerians forgetting our religious, ethnic, regional, cultural and ideological differences to face this menace the better for us. We are sinking fast in the quick sand, let us swallow our empty pride as Nigerians and ask for International assistance in tackling this problem. After all, if we have been assisting other countries and nations restore peace and order, why do we feel that it is humiliating to ask for help now that our house is on fire?” [myad]
I have just read, with some amusement, the position of the Nigerian Federal Government regarding the cash, totaling $9.3million that was seized by the South African authorities as an attempt was made to smuggle it into that country. From my little understanding, the Federal Government’s position can be summarised as follows: -That it is aware of the movement of such large sum of money by cash out of the country. -That the cash is meant for the purchase of arms to fight insurgency. -That the transaction was done by cash to ensure the speed of the transaction. -That it resorted to buy from South Africa because of procedural bottlenecks in the purchase of such items from western countries. The above position of the Federal Government is not only ludicrous, it is laughable, untenable and a story only fit to be told to the marines. The following rhetoric posers are germane to this issue: Is it really faster and safer to do an international transaction of such magnitude by ferrying cash across the continent or by a simple wire transfer that can go through in a matter of few minutes or few hours? If, indeed, the matter involves security issues like the purchase of arms by a foreign government like Nigeria, why was the South African Government not brought into the picture beforehand? How could the South African Government be sure that the arms were purchased legitimately by the Nigerian government and not by insurgents if they were not officially informed beforehand? If indeed the manufacturer(s) of such equipment was/were expecting such large amount by cash, why did they not make adequate arrangements with the authorities in South Africa to declare and clear the cash on arrival? Why was money belonging to the Federal Government and meant for purchase of equipment for the Federal Government moved by a private jet and by private individuals and why were they not accompanied by the officials of the Department of State Services or the office of the National Security Adviser in official capacities? Why would a government that is at the peak of promoting the cashless policy in our economy be the chief breaker of that policy by moving such a large amount by cash? If, indeed, it was a legitimate transaction of the Federal Government, why were the officials of our embassy in South Africa not on hand to make the entry easier and smoother? Since the South African Government has said the amount is above the limit of cash allowed into that country, why would a whole government like Nigeria not know the simple immigration laws of a sister and friendly country before allowing that type of amount of cash to be taken to that country? Why would the Nigerian government seek to smuggle cash into a country without disclosure if it was, indeed, for a legitimate transaction? From where did the Federal Government source that amount in Nigeria? Was it from the Central Bank of Nigeria or from the black market? Nigerians demand answers to this with proof. Is it just a wicked coincidence that it is the aircraft belonging to a personal friend and unapologetic ally of the President in the person of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (my big brother in Warri), that was used to smuggle the cash? If, contrary to the above posers, the transaction was contracted out to a private company in Nigeria, does it not amount to the offence of Money Laundering under our laws for the Federal Government to have allowed that company to attempt to pay for the equipment by cash to the tune of that amount without passing through a financial institution? The truth is, any transaction the world over that is done by cash, in a huge volume like this and in this manner can only point to one thing: It is an illegal transaction or a transaction for an illegal purpose that is meant to be untraceable. This was a covert, illegal operation that went horribly wrong. The position of the Federal Government is a cock-and-bull story meant to be shoved down the throat of Nigerians, but some of us are not fools. The hard fact we must all accept now is that billions of our hard-earned monies are being smuggled out of the country on a regular basis under the guise of security matters and with the active connivance of security agencies. Little wonder, then, that the insurgency, rather than waning, is gathering momentum because certain persons, somewhere, are feeding fat on the situation whilst innocent lives and limbs are being wasted.
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President Goodluck Jonathan has formally declared today that he will contest the 2015 Presidential election for his second term in office, even as he expressed appreciation to all those who have either endorsed him or adpoted him for the post.
Nigeria’s Legal Amazon, Aloma Mukhtar Bowing Out, By Adam Adedimeji
After 28 months in the saddle as Nigeria’s number one judicial officer, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar will on November 20, bow out as the 14th Chief Justice of Nigeria after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 for Supreme Court justices. The first female CJN’s tenure in the history of the nation is regarded by many as eventful. Her exit, no doubt will be missed by many.
Aloma Mukhtar is the first and only female Chief Justice of Nigeria who became the first female to be sworn into the Court of Appeal on September 24, 1987 and the first female justice of the Supreme Court in June 2005 after Senate confirmation.
The road to Mukhtar’s emergence began in April 2012 when her predecessor in office, Justice Dahiru Musdapher served the National Judicial Council (NJC) the mandatory three-month notice of retirement.
In appointing Mukhtar who was the most senior in the apex court, President Goodluck Jonathan complied with Section 231 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate.
Paragraph E, Third Schedule Part 1 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended requires the Federal Judicial Service Commission to advise the National Judicial Council in nominating persons for appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Upon receiving Judicial Commission’s advice, the NJC made the recommendation to Mr. President. This is unlike the American system where the President goes out of his way to search for a nominee and selects from a list of qualified candidates.
When Justice Mukhtar stepped in as Chief Justice of Nigeria on July 16, 2012, there was great expectation by people who are keen observers of her antecedents. Her accession therefore to the exalted position of Chief Justice of the most populous country of black Africa was a welcome development to many Nigerians who expected her to come and clean up the Augean stable that the judicial institution had become.
As the first female to attain the position in Nigeria, she carries the burden of proving her mettle as well as surpassing the performance of her all male predecessors in office.
In her first speech at the Senate screening on July 11, 2012, she had said, “On the perception of the judiciary by the public, indeed as it is as at now, it is very bad and I am saddened by it. But, then, I said earlier on, I will try, I don’t want to sound like a broken record. I will try to make sure that the confidence reposed in the judiciary, as it were before, will be returned. I will try as much as possible to ensure that the bad eggs that are there are flushed out; that there will be a cleansing by the National Judicial Council based on petition. It is sad that the ordinary man on the street thinks and feels that he cannot get justice. This is because of the situation we find ourselves. I will ensure that this perception changes.”
After 26 months in the saddle, Mukhtar had been adjudged to have performed creditably well.
Carol Ajie, Human Rights Lawyer and Fellow, Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa had this to say about justice Mukhtar,
“Justice Mariam Mukhtar, had worked twice as hard as others as a judge through the hierarchy of courts before she was elevated to the Supreme Court Bench in June 2005, a measure that wholly prepares her for the challenging task ahead. Of impeccable integrity, she earned momentous respect from members of the Bench and Bar in a way that is unprecedented. Accomplished, she comes with iconic experience and legendary judicial finesse. Adored by many who look upon her as our super model and mentor; firm yet fair with a reputation for intellectual precision and zero tolerance for corruption, fit as the 13th CJN and first female to ascend this zenith, at a time the judiciary seeks the cleansing of the Augean stable, to win public respect.”
Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and one of Nigeria’s foremost human rights activists has this to say about Justice Mukhtar, “In a country where judicial corruption has been virtually institutionalized, I make bold to say that Justice Mukhtar has never been associated with corrupt practices or any form of abuse of office. She is conservative but ready to take a radical stand in defence of the rule of law. She is quiet but aggressive in dealing with cases of corruption. Her decision to team up with Adesola Oguntade JSC (as he then was) and Walter Onnoghen JSC in writing powerful dissenting opinions in the controversial case of Mohammadu Buhari v Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) convinced the reactionary forces in the legal establishment that she could rock the boat if allowed to become the head of the country’s judiciary. The clean bill of health given to Justice Ayo Salami, the suspended President of the Court of Appeal by a Committee of the National Judicial Council (NJC) chaired by Justice Mukhtar was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. A plot was therefore hatched to prevent her from becoming the CJN’’.
Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN) of Aelex Law firm and candidate in the 2014 NBA election, likened Justice Mukhtar’s job to that of Hercules’ cleaning of the Augean saying “When the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar was sworn into the office in July 2012, there were many calls upon her to restore the judiciary to its pride of place in the body polity by investigating the rumours of corruption that were rife, and acting on the many complaints about judicial behaviour. As she has only two years in office as Chief Justice of Nigeria, this is her augean stable’’.
Looking back however, it can be said that Mukhtar did not disappoint Nigerians. She indeed worked hard and her effort to sanitize and remove the bad eggs in the nation’s judiciary is not unnoticed. Speaking on her experience in office, she says,
“On my assumption of office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, I inherited 139 petitions, 106 of which were vexatious or baseless, only 33 of the petitions were considered worthy of attention. After my assumption of office as the Chief Justice, 198 fresh petitions were filed, of this number, 150 were found to be frivolous, 15 are awaiting responses from judges and only 21 were slated for consideration.
We must always remain conscious of the fact that anybody who raises an allegation of corruption against a judicial officer must be ready to substantiate it. Anybody who also offers baseless allegation must in line with the relevant statutes must be to face the long arms of the law.”
A firm believer in judges’ discipline, Mukhtar never shy away from explaining to them the path she expects judges to tow. Hear her,
“There is indeed no reason why a judicial officer who sits over trials should not be made to come under trial in deserving cases, as a person who cannot follow must not lead and a person who cannot practice incorruptibility must not sit at judgment over others and find it humiliating to stand trial. “What is more worrisome is that members of the Bar who are learned in the country’s legal system have indulged themselves in many negative practices. This has led to an influx of frivolous petitions before the National Judicial Council.”
Accessing his principal, Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, media aide to CJN wrote that so far, not less than 100 editorial comments were published in the dailies and magazines in reactions to Mukhtar’s onslaught on the judiciary in Nigeria.
In a recent article in which Justice Mukhtar’s efforts against judicial rot was highlighted, Ahuraka said, “Prior to Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar’s assumption of office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), many had lost hope in the Judiciary’s ability to dispense justice independently. The state of affairs in the Judiciary was aptly captured in a report by the US Department of State on Human Rights practices for 2011. The report had observed copiously that the Nigerian Judiciary was very corrupt and susceptible to manipulations by the rich elite in business and politics.
While many were still in doubt about her capacity to tackle the rot in the system, some who knew Justice Mukhtar as an incorruptible judicial officer and an individual with rare sterling qualities thought otherwise.
According to Ahuraka, Newsweek, a British magazine named Justice Mukhtar as one of the ‘125 women of impact in the world’ in its April 8-15, 2013 edition. Her nomination was premised on her judicial cleansing reform and avowed determination to get rid of judges involved in fraudulent practices.
Specifically, the magazine noted that, ‘’in a country notorious for its crooked officials, Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice, Mukhtar, has built a reputation as an unwavering reformer unafraid to root out criminals.” Also, the World Justice Project (WJP), an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to advance the rule of law globally, scored Nigeria high only in civil justice among the nine factors it studied in its report recently released. The Washington-based WJP accessed the 99 countries studied on compliance with the rule law. The WJP Rule of Law Index 2014 report awarded Nigeria a pass mark only in Civil Justice, ostensibly the Judiciary headed by Justice Mukhtar.
In its editorial of July 15 this year, The Guardian newspaper commented thus; ‘’Speaking at the opening session of a conference on judicial reforms organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and some Non-Governmental Organisations, the Chief Justice accused SANs working in tandem with corrupt judges being investigated by the National Judicial Council (NJC) of being guilty of corruption and misconduct. “She cited a particular instance where a judge accused of corruption invited about six SANs to represent him before the NJC. The conference on judicial reforms, in which the Chief Justice spoke, could not have come at a better time in view of dwindling public confidence in the judiciary. It is indeed noteworthy and commendable that Chief Justice Mukhtar has waged a relentless war on corruption in the judiciary since she assumed office,” Ahuraka said.
Born on November 20, 1944, Mukthar was called to the Nigerian Bar on June 26, 1967. By September 24, 1987, she became the first female to be sworn into the Court of Appeal. She breaks another record as the first female justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria when the Senate confirmed her appointment on May 10, 2005.
She started education at St. George’s Primary School, Zaria, and later at St. Bartholomew’s School, Wusasa, Zaria. She proceeded to Rossholme School for Girls, East Brent, Somersets, England, Reading Technical College, Reading, Berkshire England, Gibson and Weldon College of Law and was called to the English Bar in November, 1966.
She worked as a pupil state counsel, Ministry of Justice, Northern Nigeria in 1967; Office of the Legal Draftsman, Interim Common Services Agency, Magistrate Grade I, North Eastern State Government in 1971; Chief Registrar, Kano State Government Judiciary, 1973; Judge of the High Court of Kano State, 1977-1987; Justice of the Court of Appeal, 1987-1993; presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, 1993-2005; and justice of the Supreme Court from June 2005 to date.
With just two months to the end of her tenure as CJN, many can testify that, though we have not gotten to the promised land, remarkable progress has been made towards that direction since Justice Mukhtar assumed office two year, two months ago. [myad]