News

Judge Slams EFCC For Delays In Cases Disposal

Published

14 years ago

March 9, 2012

Justice Abubakar Umar of Abuja High Court, has blamed the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for the delays in the disposal of criminal cases it instituted against corrupt officials.

Umar, who expressed the view yesterday, said counsels handling various cases for the anti-graft agency were responsible for the slow disposal of the cases through their incessant requests for adjournments at the slightest instance.

The judge’s reaction, followed the request by the counsel to the EFCC, Sylvester Tahir to adjourn a case involving a Lebanese and his son, who were standing trial for alleged forgery of some Federal Government documents.

The accused, Jihad Ghraizi (57) and Mohammed Ghraizi (27) are standing trial on a 14-count charge of conspiring to forge four different documents, two of them belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria, between December 1999 and June 2008, while presenting same as original copies.

The offence is contrary to sections 97, 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.

The accused persons were also alleged to have forged documents of the Ministry of Interior to fraudulently secure 60 per cent shares of Madeni Construction Company Limited, contrary to sections 97, 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.

Counsel, to the EFCC, Sylvester Tahir, who was supposed to cross-examine a handwritting expert, DSP Ayodele Olufemi, sought for adjournment to enable him read the report of the expert and “prepare” himself.

When the judge asked Tahir to come back on Friday, March 9, to cross-examine the witness, the EFCC counsel told the court that he would be travelling to Jos for other cases.

Not happy with the request, Umar, wondered why the EFCC would be asking for special courts to try corruption cases, when it was essentially contributing to the slow dispensation of its cases in the regular courts.

“The EFCC will be the same to run to press and complain that the judiciary is responsible for the seeming delays in disposal of cases.

“I told you to come back tomorrow and cross-examine the witness. You are now telling me you will be travelling.

“Are you the only lawyer in the EFCC? Can’t the EFCC send another counsel to cross-examine a witness? the judge queried.

By the way, this is not your witness. It is the accused’s witness. “The public will not understand that EFCC is responsible for the slow disposal of corruption cases. It will blame the delay on the judiciary,” he said.

Earlier, the accused’s counsel, Suleiman Yakubu, had opposed the application for an adjournment as requeted by the EFCC, saying there was no reason for it.

Yakubu said the prosecution needed not to study the reports of the handwritting expert before cross-examining him.

Umar, who said that he was reluctantly adjourning the case to Monday, April 2, ordered the prosecution not to come with applications for adjournment again.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.