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Onnoghen: Buhari Acted Without Lawful Authority, Wifa Affirms

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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barinua Moses Wifa has said that President Muhammadu Buhari acted without lawful authority in the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen.
Wifa, who stated this during a live radio programme monitored by The Tide, in Port Harcourt, last Monday, wondered if the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami SAN, advised the President and that what he did under the provisions of the Constitution.
The legal luminary further said that from the President’s comments while swearing in Tanko Mohammed as the acting CJN, he wanted Onnoghen removed.
“I want to know if the Attorney General did advise him (Buhari) and what he said in the advice to the President, that under this provision of the Constitution, you can act unilaterally, if there is no such provision.
“What the President has done is to come to a determination as to his guilt or otherwise of the situation, in swearing in Justice Tanko Muhammed, who is the next in status to the CJN. It is there in his statement, and you could see the purpose and motive clearly stated out there.
“He (the President) said under his (Onnoghen’s) watch, so many persons who are corrupt have been set free. I think it is quite clear from there that he wanted Onnoghen removed. I think he acted without lawful authority. We are trying to practice a constitutional democracy. Some people say that this is a nascent democracy. I do not think so. We have been there for the past 58 years.
“Part of the reason it is difficult for us to get it right is because of what I may call the Nigeria DNA. We are enmeshed in our tribal, ethnic, religious and political enclave,” the SAN argued.
He noted that some of those defending the President’s actions were doing so based on sentiments, saying, “I see what the President has done purely within the context of the Constitution, that he is wrong,” pointing out that “the Judiciary is supposed to be insulated from the other departments of state: Executive and Legislature.
“That is why you have the National Judicial Council at the centre and you have the State Judicial Service Commissions, including the Federal Judicial Service Commission. The purpose was deliberately to insulate the Judiciary from actions of the Executive.
“So, what has the President done? He claims from what I read in the media to be acting on an order of the CCT. Is that valid or not? Whatever it is, let us assume that it is valid. He now on the basis of that suspends the CJN contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.
“Contrary in the sense that he does not have such powers. I do not want to read any motive into what people have said because the President cannot act outside the Constitution. He must be able to point to something in the Constitution that authorizes him to act the way he has acted, and I do not see it,” he argued.
“The scheme of the Constitution from Section 153 to the Third Schedule to all the parts, it is only the National Judicial Council (NJC) that has powers to exercise disciplinary control. If the President says I was given an order, I do not want to enter into any dispute as to whether that order is valid or not. But there are certain persons who are questioning his legality.
“Is there any provision of the law that once a court has made that determination, then he can act unilaterally on it? Where is it? It is not there! So, he either has to go to the Senate of the National Assembly to say ‘look I have this order from the court, and I think based on the indictment contained in the ruling, I want to remove the CJN’.

Dennis Naku

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NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

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The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

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Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

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