There are indications that the new Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi will terminate the legal battle he went into with President Goodluck Jonathan and the federal government over his suspension as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

His lawyer, Kola Awodein (SAN), has already asked the National Industrial Court in Abuja to adjourn the monarch’s suit.

The lawyer, who appeared for Sanusi, along with Mr. A.B Mahmud (SAN) and other lawyers, told Justice Babatunde Adejumo, that they needed to consult with their client in view of circumstances which had taken place since the previous proceedings.

President Goodluck Jonathan had suspended Sanusi on February 20 following which he sued the President, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging his suspension.

Sanusi’s term had expired on June 4 and another CBN governor had since been sworn in.

The Federal High Court I Abuja presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole had declined jurisdiction to entertain Sanusi’s suit and ordered that the matter be transferred to the National Industrial Court which was competent to hear it, being labour-employment related.

The NIC had adjourned till Friday for parties to argue their applications for stay of proceedings. But the plaintiff’s lawyers asked for an adjournment to consult with their client.

All the parties in the suit, including the plaintiff, had appealed against the judgment of the Federal High Court.

They had also filed separate applications for stay of proceedings pending the determination of their various appeals.

While Sanusi argued in his appeal that the Federal High Court erred to have declined jurisdiction to entertain the suit, the President and the AGF, through their counsel, Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), contend that the judge’s decision declining jurisdiction, was in order.

But Ozekhome argued in his appeal that Justice Kolawole was wrong to have transferred the matter to the National Industrial Court. He contends that the judge ought to have either struck it out or dismiss it.

Meanwhile, the judge presiding over the matter at the National Industrial Court, Justice Adejumo, who is also the President of the court, on Friday urged parties to explore an amicable settlement of the dispute over Sanusi’s suspension.

Before adjourning the matter, Justice Adejumo said he would adjourn for parties to seek ways of ensuring an amicable settlement in the case.

He said unlike any other conventional courts, his court was mandated to encourage disputing parties to ensure amicable settlement.

“I will strongly commend, by virtue of the provision of this court’s establishment Act, that parties seek amicable way of resolving this dispute. In industrial and employment relations the court is not concern about the consequence of its pronouncement on parties alone, but on the entire society.

“In consulting with their clients, counsel should know what to say to contribute to the effort to ensure amicable settlement.”

He then adjourned the matter till July 4 for mention. [myad]

The Nigeria’s main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to hold its first national convention tomorrow, Saturday, even as police have swung into action tightening security around Eagle Squire in Abuja which is the venue of the convention.
Scores of policemen including the anti-bomb squad, riot policemen, and the dog unit have been deployed in and around the venue of the convention to provide protection for the thousands of party faithful and delegates participating in the event.
Policemen and officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps used heavy duty trucks to block off part of Shehu Shagari Way as well as other junctions along the road, causing a serious traffic snarl.
Scores of vehicles that brought the party faithful were parked on the kerbs and at every available space thus making the area rowdy.
Thousands of APC members had been streaming in to the FCT since Thursday evening while those from nearby states came in on Friday in buses and private cars.
Posters of candidates for various elective positions were pasted on the vehicles with each of them highlighting their strengths and how they would work for the progress of the party, if elected.
Abubakar Audu, who claimed to be a party member from Zamfara State, said he arrived in Abuja late on Thursday night, adding that he was forced to sleep in the bus that brought him and other members for the convention.
It was gathered that access to the convention venue would be tightly controlled to prevent unaccredited persons from entering the grounds to cause confusion.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Altine Daniel, said the command had deployed enough  policemen to ensure a hitch-free event, assuring that the police had secured the convention grounds and other strategic areas in the Federal Capital Territory.
“You can see our men everywhere; we have deployed enough officers and men to ensure a hitch-free convention, so the delegates, party faithful and Nigerians are assured of a crisis-free programme.” [myad]

As the abduction of the over 200 female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state by members of Boko Haram entered the third month running, President Goodluck Jonathan, last night, rallied former heads of state for maximum support for the task of retrieving the girls.
The former Nigerian leaders who met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, comprised General Yakubu Gowon, General Muhammadu Buhari, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Chief Ernest Shonekan as well as the Borno state governor, Alhaji Shettima. General Ibrahim Babangida sent apology as he stayed back in Minna to mourn the death of a senator representing his senatorial district.
Detail of the meeting was made known to State House Correspondents by the special Adviser to the president Dr. Reuben Abati.
He said that the leaders expressed their commitment to doing every thing they could to support the President to find solution to the issue of the abducted Chibok girls as well as the general challenge of insurgency in the country.
The meeting which lasted for about an hour was held over dinner.

[myad]

President Goodluck Jonathan has called on leaders of all the political parties in Nigeria to rise against what he called very remorseless anti-democratic forces operating in the political system that are ever ready to exploit lapses in the management of the political and electoral processes.
Some of these forces, he warned, are out to use the forthcoming 2015 elections “as their last stand to truncate the nation’s hard won democratic liberty. But, dear compatriots, with respect to the 2015 elections in particular, and our journey as a Nation in general, we must never allow these negative forces to prevail.”
The President, in his address at the Summit of the All Political Parties and Political Stakeholders held on Thursday at the
International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja noted that the onset of the 4th Republic, under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, brought the institutionalization of inter party mechanisms, domiciled in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter- Party Affairs.
The concept of inter- party relations and collaboration, he added, presupposes that even though political parties may differ in ideologies, processes and structures of governance, but that they must remain united in the common objective of preserving and consolidating the nation’s unity and its democratic foundation.
“Political party affiliates must, thus, relate with one another and conduct themselves with responsibility and statesmanship focused on positive inputs into governance, whether they be in power at present, or not. 
“Inter-Party relations and collaboration make it incumbent on the party in power, at any level or section, to govern in recognition of the beneficial voices and views of opposition parties. And vice-versa for the parties out of government, to proffer issue-based engagement, geared towards improved performance in governance, and service delivery to the people.”
President Jonathan said that this is only possible through a rancour free relationship among political parties, in their conduct, acts and utterances.
The President regretted that the current national political outlook with regard to inter -party collaboration has been less than salutary, adding that the conduct and utterances of leading politicians at home and abroad are rapidly creating and spreading unnecessary tension in the country.
“Unguarded utterances on their part,fester the embers of discord, bitterness and rancour.
“Such unfortunate developments play into the hands of extremist elements, waging a vicious campaign of terror against the Nigerian State.
“The recent mindless bombings and killing of innocent Nigerians in Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory, Jos in Plateau State, the killing in Adamawa State including that of the traditional ruler as well as the heartless and criminal abduction of over 200 school girls from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno state are better addressed by a political class which is united in its commitment to defend the polity irrespective of political differences.  We must never politicize the fundamental and core imperative of defending the State.  To do so can only embolden the terrorists and other enemies of our Republic who will seek to exploit any perceived political and social divisions for their nefarious ends.  We must never give them such opportunity.  Our political parties must remain positive and constructive engagement as we seek to build a virile, strong and stable nation that can compete with other states in the world. 
Jonathan said that the Summit by all political parties offered the opportunity for political parties and politicians to reflect and review the possible consequences their actions, conduct and utterances in the recent past have had and could have, on our polity, national security and corporate existence.  
“This Summit must be an occasion for political rejuvenation and re-orientation. Its outcome must be a common stand against all and any anti-democratic forces that are currently waging a vicious and mindless war against the State.   the President reminded them that they needed to first build a nation before engaging in arguments on how best to run it.
According to him, the system is not yet so shockproof to withstand all unguarded and careless political statements and actions, saying that if the state enterprise fails, no political party or politician will be spared from the consequences.
“Hence, at a time such as this when our existence as a nation is threatened by anti-democratic forces, we, politicians and political parties, must rise to the higher moral ground in defence and protection of our existence as one nation and one people. “Our role should not be limited to the struggle to win elections and acquire political power, but also to handling the demands of patriotism and statesmanship, and restoring hope to the Nigerian people.
The President stressed the exigency of acting, conducting and speaking those things that reflect, at highest level, a commitment to the defence and preservation of the nation’s social cohesion, political stability and sovereignty.
“We must reinforce, and recommit our various supporters across the nation to the Nigerian Project, irrespective of party affiliation, ideological differences and alliances.”

[myad]