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Court Refuses To Stop Edo Assembly From Impeaching Dep Gov

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On Wednesday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court declined to grant an application by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, directing Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki, the House of Assembly and others, in the case he (Shaibu) instituted against his impeachment, to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The development occurred after Justice James Omotosho refused to grant the oral application made by Mr Shaibu’s lawyer, Oladoyin Awoyale, to the effect.
In a motion ex parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, the embattled deputy governor had sued the Edo government, governor, House of Assembly, and Speaker as the first to fourth defendants.
The suit also named the Clerk of the House, Chief Judge, Inspector-General of Police, and Director-General of State Security Service as the fifth and eighth defendants.
In the motion dated and filed March 8, Mr Shaibu sought an interim injunction restraining the third to fifth defendants from interfering with the subject matter of the originating summons.
He also sought an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants jointly or severally from taking any adverse actions in relation to any attempt or process targeted at his removal from office as Deputy Governor of Edo State pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
He urged the court to make an order restraining the 1st to 8th defendants from preventing him from performing his official duties and discharging his responsibilities, including attending the State Executive Council meetings/functions and other duties.
On March 13, the judge refused to grant the ex-parte motion after Mr Awoyale moved it.
Instead, the judge ordered the lawyer to serve all the defendants with the processes and hearing notices and adjourned until March 18 for the hearing.
But on Tuesday, when the matter came up, Mr Awoyale told the court that he could not serve some of the defendants, and the judge adjourned the matter to Wednesday to hear another motion filed.
Upon resumed hearing on Wednesday, Mr Awoyale informed the court that he had a humble application dated March 8. He said the motion sought an order granting leave to them to effect service of the originating summons and other processes on the first and second defendants by substituted means, such as pasting the documents at the gate of the Edo government House or by courier service.
The senior lawyer said the motion also sought an order granting leave to effect service of the processes on the third and fourth defendants by substituted means, through pasting it on the parliament’s gate or by courier service.
He urged the court to grant their prayers.
He said the sixth, seventh and 8th defendants had been served.
Mr Awoyale then prayed the court for an order for parties to maintain a status quo pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
He cited previous cases to back his submission.
But the judge turned down Awoyale’s request for an order for parties to maintain status quo.
“Counsel, you know that it is not possible,” he said.
The judge held that the previous case cited by the lawyer was not applicable in the instant suit.
He said that according to the authority cited about the military administrator of Lagos, all the parties in the suit had been served, but in the present case, some parties had yet to be served.
“Today, we are just seeking leave to serve the parties by substituted means. So, can this court grant this? The answer is no,” the judge said.
The judge, however, advised the lawyer to apply for a fiat through the Federal High Court chief judge so that their case could be heard during vacation, as the court would commence its vacation on Friday.
The judge, who granted the leave for substituted service as prayed by the lawyer, adjourned the matter until April 15 for a hearing.

 

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Reps Urge FG To Pay ASUU, NASU’s Withheld Salaries

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The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to pay the withheld salaries of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU).
This followed the adoption of a Motion of Urgent Public Importance by Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa) during plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, Fulata said that the government must accede to the unions’ demands because they were genuine.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the President to direct the relevant bodies to come up with modalities for negotiation with both ASUU and NASU.
The House said this would enable them to come up with workable, implementable and final agreement to be signed by both parties.
The House urged the president to direct the Ministry of Finance, to ensure full implementation.
The House mandated its Committees on University Education, Polytechnic Education, Federal Colleges of Education, Labour and Productivity, Finance, Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

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Bill To Prescribe Salaries, Allowances Of Judicial Officers Pass 2nd Reading

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The bill seeking to prescribe salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of Judicial office holders in Nigeria has passed second reading at the Senate.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, Sen. Lola Ashiru (APC-Kwara) at plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the bill, Ashiru said the bill, an executive bill, was forwarded to the two Chambers of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, in accordance with provisions of Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
He said the bill, in a nutshell, seeks to prescribe salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for judicial officers in order to nip in the bud, the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration.
This, he said was to reflect the contemporary socio-economic realities of the time.
Ashiru said the bill intends to unify the salary structure, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial officers holders both in the Federal and at the State levels.
“This proposed legal framework, undoubtedly, will bring about significant improvement in the welfare, capacity and independence of the Judiciary, which have been contentious issues of public discourse over the years.”
He said that the intent of the bill was in conformity with the current administration’s resolve to strengthen the country’s Judiciary and the criminal justice system .
This, he said was to ensure its independence in the performance of its constitutional role, as the arbiter of the temple of justice.
He urged the senators to support the expeditious passage of the bill in view of its importance to the socio-economic and political development of this country.
Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), who seconded the motion said it was necessary to ensure adequate remuneration of Judicial officers was in line with the current economic reality.
He said that there was the need to provide an adequate remuneration that would prevent judicial officials from being tempted for corruption.
Sen. Orji Kalu (APC- Abia ) commended the executive for presenting the bill to prescribe a remuneration for the judicial arm of government, saying that no right thinking Nigerian would want to oppose it.
He urged the officials to ensure that justice is dispensed rightly to Nigerians.
He also urged the government to improve remuneration of other sectors given the economic reality.
Deputy President of Senate, Barau Jubrin (APC-Kano) said the President has done creditably well by presenting the bill for remuneration of the judicial officials.
He said the judicial officials had suffered in silence for as they were not disposed to speaking up on the issues, just like the labour unions.
He said it was cheery and commendable for President Tinubu to have brought the bill, which was designed to enhance the salary and welfare of the judicial officials.
President of Senate, Godswill Akpiabio said presentation of the bill was a right step in the right direction by President Tinubu.
Akpabio, referred the bill to the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative inputs and to return back to plenary in four weeks, after the bill was read for the second time.

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Court To Hear Suit Against Ganduje’s Suspension, May 28

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Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, has fixed May 28 for hearing in the substantive application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Dr Ganduje is challenging his suspension from the party by factional ward executives led by one Basiru Nuhu Isa.
He was first suspended by APC Ganduje Ward executives led by one Haladu Gwanjo on April 15. Another faction emerged and also announced suspension of Dr Ganduje on April 20.
The Tide source reports that the secretary of the party in Kano, Zakari Sarina, said the suspension by the faction was another case of impersonation.
Dr Ganduje is seeking a declaration that his suspension from the party without giving him opportunity to defend himself amounts to violation of his fundamental right to fair hearing.
He is also seeking a declaration that his suspension by the faction was unlawful, null and void.
Counsel for the embattled APC chairman, Hadiza Ahmad, applied for service on the respondents by substituted means which the court granted.
Justice Liman adjourned to May 28 for hearing in the matter.

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