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A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of about 10 properties and funds in banks allegedly owned by a former Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari. Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order on Wednesday while ruling on an ex-parte application by a lawyer to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha. Justice Egwuatu said the interim order granted would last for 60 days to enable the ICPC to conclude its investigation, following which the commission could apply for final forfeiture. The judge ordered the ICPC to publicise the order for any person…

President Muhammadu Buhari has postponed the signing of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. A source close to the Presidency told Channels Tv that Buhari will assent to the electoral bill on Friday. According to the source, Buhari will honour the new date. Recall that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Tuesday, said that the President would sign the bill between Tuesday and Wednesday. “The President will sign the electoral bill any moment from now. “It could be today, it could be tomorrow, it could be anytime, but within the 30 days,” Adesina…

The Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and Member Representing Ohafia South State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu and the Majority Leader and Member representing Obingwa East State Constituency, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu  narrowly escaped removal by members of the House. The motion for the immediate removal or suspension of the duo was moved by the Deputy Majority Leader, Paul Taribo representing Ukwa East State Constituency and Seconded by the Minority leader, Chijioke Chukwu representing Bende North State Constituency. The deputy majority leader said the motion stems from the inability of the duo to perform creditably and dutifully…

Gov Udom Emmanuel Sacks Chief Of Staff Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has ordered the sack of his Chief of Staff, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, with immediate effect. This was contained in a press statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong Sand, issued to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday. The statement noted that the letter, which was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, explained that the CoS’ sack became imperative due to urgent need to match skill set and competencies to the task of maintaining the momentum of economic…

Court orders NDLEA to detain Abba Kyari, six others pending investigation The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has obtained permission of a Federal High Court in Abuja to detain suspended DCP Abba Kyari and six others for 14 days in the first instance. Justice Zainab Abubakar, in an ex-parte ruling on Tuesday, granted the NDLEA’s request to detain Kyari, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus (two suspected drug couriers) and others for 14 in its facility in Abuja pending investigation. Justice Abubakar said the NDLEA was at liberty to apply for a renewal of the detention order if it…

A Federal High Court in Jos on Tuesday sentenced former Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe and two others for N450 million fraud. The court also sentenced Raymond Dabo and Leo Jitung to three months imprisonment each. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them in 2018 with conspiracy and money laundering. Delivering the ruling, Justice Musa Kurna, gave the convicts an option to pay a fine of N1 million each. Ochekpe, Dabo and Jitung had entered a plea of no-case submission. While sentencing the convicts, the judge held that after withdrawing the said amount from the bank, they…

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on Tuesday in Abuja commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chairman of the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Gov. Mai Mala Buni for the postponement of the party’s national convention earlier scheduled for February 26, 2022. Kalu who recently returned from Germany said the decision to postpone the convention falls in line with his earlier request to the President and National Caretaker Chairman. He noted that getting it right is more important than just holding a convention for the sake of convention. “For…

Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), on Monday, urged for the trial to be moved to the Umuahia division of the Federal High Court. The lawyer disclosed this reacting to the statement by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, on the possibility of changing the venue of Kanu’s trial. Ejimakor said, “If the Federal High Court overrules the objections to its jurisdiction and persists with the trial, then the venue should be shifted to the Umuahia division of the Federal High Court, because that…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to hear an application by Abba Kyari, the suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), seeking bail from custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on the grounds of ill health. In an ex parte application brought before the court on Monday, Kyari through his counsel, Cynthia Ikenna, told the court that his health has deteriorated. Ikenna prayed the court to release her client who is diabetic and hypertensive on bail pending the determination of the substantive suit. She said the substantive matter is a fundamental human right suit in which…