News

Suspension: Court Declines To Hear Sanusi’s Suit

Published

12 years ago

May 21, 2014

Newly elected President of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole (5th left), and the executive officers, during their visit to News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, yesterday

A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain a suit filed by Mallam Lamido Sanusi challenging his suspension as the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, by President Goodluck Jonathan on February 20.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole held in his judgment that the matter was labour and employment-related, and therefore ordered it to be transferred to the National Industrial Court.
The judge also said the plaintiff was at liberty to challenge his decision at the Court of Appeal.
He added that he deliberately refrained from deciding the case on its merit so as not to make any prejudicial pronouncements before the matter gets to the Industrial Court.
The judge held that, in line with Sections 251(1) and 254(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the proper court, where Sanusi ought to have instituted the suit, was the NIC.
Sanusi had through his counsel, Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN), sued Jonathan and the Attorney-General of the Federation and the police, asking the court to declare his suspension by the president null and void.
But the court upheld the objection of the president and the AGF to the suit, declaring that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit.
Sanusi’s tenure as the CBN governor expires on June 1.
It would be recalled that Justice Gabriel Kolawole, had on April 8 fixed the judgment day after hearing arguments of parties on both Sanusi’s suit and the respondents’ notice of preliminary objection.
The judge yesterday delivered a joint judgment on both the substantive suit and the notice of preliminary objection.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, are the co-defendants in the suit.
Sanusi had previously obtained two separate judgments from the Federal High Court in Lagos, against the Federal Government since his suspension.
The first was the one awarding N50million against the AGF and the State Security Service for seizing his passport on the day he was suspended.
The second judgment restrained the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria from investigating Sanusi on the grounds of bias.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Kola Awodein (SAN), had during the hearing of the suit challenging Sanusi’s suspension, argued that the president lacked the powers to unilaterally suspend the CBN governor.
He argued that the president’s exercise of the executive powers provided in the Constitution was subject to the Act of the National Assembly.
Responding to the defendants’ objection to the suit, Awodein argued that the defendants misconstrued the plaintiff’s suit.
The defence, led by Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), had while arguing the preliminary objections, urged the court to strike out the suit because it was employment-related.
They argued the by virtue of Section 254(1) (c) of the Constitution, the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdictional powers to hear the case.
On the main suit, they argued that the suspension of the plaintiff by the president was within his powers.
They contended that the CBN was an agency of the Executive arm of the Federal Government, whose powers as contained in Section 5 of the Constitution is vested in the president.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.