The Archbishop of Canterbury:Dissolving the Anglican Churchto Save It

Justin Welby was named archbishop of Canterbury with high hopes that he was the man who could save the Anglican Communion. Now it appears he may oversee its breakup—a calculated destruction intended,
paradoxically, to save it.

Welby heads the Church of England, making him also the titular head of the affiliated Anglican churches around the world, including the Episcopal Church in the U.S.

The umbrella group, the worldwide Anglican Communion, has been shaken by conflicts over the
ordination and consecration of gays and women and over same-sex marriage in the U.S. and U.K. According to reports in British media, Welby will propose reorganizing the Communion as a looser affiliation at a January gathering According to The Guardian , at a January gathering at his seat at Lambeth Palace, Welby “will propose that the Communion be reorganised as a group of churches that are all linked to Canterbury but no longer necessarily to each other,”

Welby believes that his proposal would allow him to maintain relations both with the liberal churches of North America, which recognise and encourage gay
marriage, and the African churches, led by Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria, who are agitating for the recriminalisation of all homosexual activity in their countries.

The BBC and Telegraph have similar reports. The
archbishop himself has not commented, but Lambeth
Palace did publish a news release on the invitation to
the 37 primates—the heads of the various branches of
the church—to come to Canterbury. The release said the gathering would be a chance “to reflect and pray
together concerning the future of the Anglican Communion … The agenda will be set by common agreement with all primates encouraged to send in
contributions.”

The prospect of a split hung over the heads of the last
two archbishops—Lord George Carey, a steely
conservative, and Rowan Williams, an intellectual with a more liberal bent, both of whom strove for unity in a
fractious church. Williams disappointed progressive
Anglicans by not pushing faster on issues including the
consecration of female bishops in the Church of England.

Meanwhile, the American church was sliding ever farther to the left, in 2003 consecrating V. Gene
Robinson, an openly gay priest, as a bishop in New Hampshire. Then, in 2006, with the question of female
bishops still dividing much of the church, the Episcopal
Church elected Katharine Jefferts Schori to its top
position of presiding bishop, making her the first female
primate in the Anglican Communion. (By the time of the
conference, in January, the U.S. church will have a new
primate, Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop.) In 2012, the Episcopal Church authorized a rite for same- sex unions short of marriage . At the same time, African bishops have begun taking ever-more-strident positions against homosexuality, including supporting laws that would criminalize it or make it punishable by death.

These changes led to acrimonious splits in the church. In the U.S., conservative parishes left the Episcopal Church, labeling themselves “Anglican.” At the same time, African branches of the church reacted strongly against the elevation of female clergy to leadership positions and the sanctioning of homosexuality. There’s been talk of schism in the church for years. Conservatives are upset that Canterbury hasn’t acted more strongly to rein in the Western churches, while liberals ended up disappointed in Williams, whom they found too accommodating of conservatives. In 2008, many traditionalist bishops skipped the Lambeth Conference, a once-per-decade gathering, and Welby has already announced an indefinite postponement of the next Lambeth Conference. The failure of the Church of England to approve female bishops late in Williams’s tenure, despite his support, left a bitter taste among progressives.

The archbishop draws his authority as much from tradition and an Anglican sense of propriety as any
formal role.

When Welby, a former oil executive-turned-clergyman,
was named as the next archbishop in 2012, it was hoped that he could help bring reconciliation. Welby, who was bishop of Durham before his elevation, comes from the evangelical wing of the Church of England, the more conservative part of the church. The archbishop personally opposes gay marriage, though he has also said , “We must have no truck with any form of homophobia.” (Seven months into his tenure, Parliament passed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in England and Wales.) In late 2014, the Church of England approved female bishops.

In the first years of his term, Welby sought to build ties
with African church leaders to forestall schism. If these
reports are correct, he seems to have decided that even
if the Communion could be duct-taped together for now, a more permanent solution was going to have to come eventually.

“We have no Anglican Pope. Our authority as a church is dispersed, and is ultimately found in Scripture, properly interpreted,” Welby said in his statement. That’s essential for understanding what’s happening now. The archbishop draws his authority as much from tradition and an Anglican sense of propriety as any formal role.

Welby can trace his role back to Thomas Cranmer, the
author of the Book of Common Prayer and the first
archbishop after Henry VIII separated the Church of
England from Rome; and from there, he can trace it back to Augustine, the first archbishop, appointed in 597.

But because the archbishop is not a pope, he cannot
make a decree and expect the primates around the world to obey. It meant that neither Carey nor Williams could impose his authority, either to halt the liberal churches’ changes or to silence the conservative ones’ objections. It means, too, that Welby cannot impose peace in the Anglican Communion, and instead must find a creative solution to the church’s problems that eluded his predecessors.

Fighting graft in judiciary

When Justice Mahmud Mohammed came on board as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) the public perception of the judiciary was at its lowest ebb.

Like his predecessors in office, he wasted no time in drawing up road maps and policies which claimed to be the final solution to ending the endemic scourge called judicial corruption.

Despite these efforts, and the establishment of the anti- corruption agencies in the country, the problem of judicial corruption remained unresolved.

The story was told of how some serving judges, who were appointed to serve on the panel of Election Petition tribunals, became billionaires overnight.

The National Judicial Council (NJC), in its latest attempt to tackle this menace recently published the revised Judicial Discipline Regulations.

The regulations instated new rules governing the reception and consideration of complaints against judges. The revised rules are aimed at curtailing frivolous petitions against judges and preventing judges from being distracted by vexatious and baseless allegations against them.

Rule 1(1) of the revised regulations states: “A complaint must be made within six months of the event or matter complained of, provided a complaint relating to a continuing state of affairs may be made at any time while the state of affairs continues or within six months from when it ends.”

However, in most cases, the corrupt conduct of a judicial officer only becomes public knowledge following a careless slip or from the irrepressible work of investigative reporters.

This was exactly what happened recently in neigbouring Ghana, where the long arm of the law has caught up with 22 judges and magistrates, fingered in what can be described as Ghana’s biggest judicial scandal in recent years.

Ghana Judicial Council said that 12 High Court judges were being investigated, following incriminating evidence contained in a video released by a local investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Anas in two different petitions dated August 31, and
September 2, 2015 addressed to the President of the
Republic of Ghana and the Chief Justice respectively,
tendered a damning video that captured the judicial officials taking bribes from litigants.

The journalist had asked the Ghanaian President to take disciplinary action against the indicted judicial officials.

Consequently, President John Mahama directed the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, to take the necessary process against the officials.

Following a crucial meeting of the Judicial Council, the 22 indicted judges were promptly suspended with effect from Thursday September 10, 2015. They remain suspended until a final determination on the case.

The award winning journalist claimed his video contained over 150 hour-documentation, detailing acts of corruption, including bribe- taking and extortion of litigants by judges and other judicial officials in the country.

Also, the Chief Justice has constituted a five-man
disciplinary committee headed by a Supreme Court justice to investigate the allegation against the 12 High Court judges.

The committee has also been mandated to investigate other court officials and clerks, who may have been involved in the scandal.

Back home, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice
Mahmud Mohammed, said recently that between 2009 and 2014, no fewer than 64 judges were disciplined out of the 1020 judges currently serving in the Superior Courts.

Nigerian Judiciary is made up of a hierarchy of courts
beginning from the Customary and Area Courts at the base and the Supreme Court at the apex. We have the Magistrates Courts, Federal and States High Courts, National Industrial Court, Sharia Court of Appeal, Customary Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeal in the middle. The number of Judicial Officers serving in our Superior Courts of Record- High Courts Customary Courts of Appeal, Sharia Courts of Appeal, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal and
Supreme Court are over 1020 as at the end of 2014.

In our lower courts, the figure is about 7000 Judges and Magistrates. Therefore, corruption in the Judiciary having regard to the number of Judges and the number of those accused of corruption, the percentage is very low.

The CJN gave the break down when he spoke at a seminar organised by the Nigerian Bar Association’s Anti-Corruption Commission, with the theme “the fight against corruption in Nigeria: the way forward”.

He mentioned that the NJC during his tenure as the chairman has not shirked this responsibility but faced it head on.

He said that out of the 64 judges that were disciplined as appropriate by the NJC, some of them are no more on the Bench.

The CJN however added that it was sad that the public
officials and persons who benefit from corrupting judicial officers are never investigated, apprehended or even prosecuted, even though the judiciary disciplines its own.

“The basic question, my lords, ladies and gentlemen is, how can we stop judicial corruption when the scale is seemingly tilted in favour of the beneficiaries?

“While trying to improve discipline within the Bench, the
leadership of the judiciary has also taken steps to enact new guidelines that will see a more transparent recruitment process, thus ensuring that only persons that are intellectually sound with integrity are appointed as judicial officers ab initio.

He said further that the bar must purge itself of its
dishonest members for the bench to be corruption-free “since the bench was a product of the bar, it would not change if its origin remained the same.”

Justice Mohammed said it was time for the legal profession to exorcise the pernicious ghost of corruption from its midst so that the bench could be free of unethical practices.

He said, “It is important to highlight that the bench is a
product of the Bar and unless we work in synergy to ensure that only fit and proper persons remain in our midst, it will be impossible to expect a different bench when its origin remains the same.

“I hereby call on the leadership of the bar to expunge from its ranks, such persons whose conduct may be unfit, improper, dishonest or otherwise unethical.

“The time has surely come for us all to take concrete,
meaningful and lasting action to exorcise the pernicious ghost of corruption from the most noble of professions.”

He said although there were corrupt judges in the judiciary, “corruption within the judiciary is only imbibed by a minute minority.”

The CJN also expressed serious concern about the incessant rise in petitions written and forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

“Equally perturbing is the profusion of legal practitioners who are quick to write needless petitions that impugn the character of honest judges simply because they have felt aggrieved at being at the wrong end of that court’s decisions or because they perceive that a judge may not find in their favour.

“Regrettably, rather than directing their productive energies to filing meritorious appeals against such decisions, counsel have sometimes resorted to attacks ad hominem against judges. While I do not seek to discourage counsel from writing petitions that show genuine, cogent cause, I urge counsel to ensure that such complaints are factual and based on acts, which would constitute misconduct or other breach of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, the Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) or any other law currently in force in Nigeria.

This is to ensure that genuine petitions are appropriately addressed with the seriousness and speed that is demanded.

It is of equal importance to ensure that public statements or accusations of impropriety against judicial officers are firmly supported with adequate evidence. It must be appreciated that the integrity of the judges and the judiciary is a sacred public trust that must be protected and upheld by all.”

It is for this reason that, as part of our determined effort to ensure that our Judicial Officers are alert to their responsibilities, the NJC has constituted an Inspection and Monitoring Committee for on-the-spot assessment of judicial officers on duty.

As we continue to fish out and discipline indolent and lazy judges by showing them the way out of the system, we must also acknowledge and praise those judges that are diligent and hardworking. To this end, the NJC’s Judicial Officers Performance Evaluation Committee has also been strengthened to perform its functions,” the CJN said.

While the CJN said that only 64 judges have been dealt with in five years, the picture painted by the immediate past CJN justice Justice Maryam Aloma Mukhtar was that of real cases of massive corruption rampant among judiciary employees including secretaries, court registrars, process clerks and bailiffs nationwide.

Mukhtar noted that the conduct of these employees was in increasing breach of the Code of Court for judiciary staff.

Mukhtar warned that any act of misconduct and breach of the code would be punished decisively to arrest the eroding public confidence in the judicial process.

“Now more than ever, the public has become more critical of the conduct of judicial staff, perhaps buoyed by public outcry against unwholesome conduct of the judicial staff like leakage of judgments before delivery, demanding bribes before the preparation of records of appeal, acting as go-between for some overzealous litigants and some corrupt judicial officers,ostentatious lifestyles beyond legitimate earnings and host of other activities,” she noted.

She lamented that “these corrupt activities of some judicial staff have raised serious issues as to the credibility and integrity of the persons who are employed to assist the judicial officers in the performance of their duties.

“Some of the corrupt ones amongst you have gone ahead to solicit and collect millions of naira from unscrupulous litigants on the pretext that they are acting for the judicial officers handling their cases. This is bad and reprehensible.”

She noted that “Many judges and magistrates have been violently attacked by hoodlums on the mistaken belief that they did not perform even after money has been given to them through their staff.”

Meanwhile many have been caught and disciplined, but so many have so far escaped detection.

The judiciary doesn’t have a garrison of army to fight its cause or enforce its orders and decisions. NJC for instance can only recommend disciplinary actions against erring judicial officers for approval and enforcement by the president.

It cannot go further to levy charges against the judge for his or her criminal acts; neither could NJC prosecute the persons that bribed the judge for instance to balkanize cause of justice. The Counsel doesn’t have criminal investigation unit or ‘’Fraud Detective Squad’’ to detect and investigate criminal involvement of any judicial officer. It can only put the
judge on trial if there is a petition filed against him or her, again, the trials are based mostly on documentary evidence which is hard to get.

Hence there is an urgent need to overhaul the judiciary.

MULAN President- I will never call for the abolishment of SAN title

Barrister Olori-Aje Adam is the newly elected chairman of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) and principal partner of A.O. Olori-Aje & Co law firm based in Abuja. He was called to the bar on January 23, 2001 and was elected chairman of MULAN in April this year.

In this interview, he discusses MULAN, capital punishment and the need to ignore calls to abolish the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title.

What is your view on capital punishment?
From the point of view of the human rights activists, it’s some kind of punishment that is too harsh and barbaric.

However, you’d discover that countries with capital
punishment are the ones maintaining some level of sanity.

The essence of that law is not in the execution itself; the essence is in the deterrence and the impression. Some people complain that Islam advises the amputation of the hand for stealing but during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, the total execution of amputations was only twice because people knew if they steal, it is punishable by hand amputation. The prophet himself said that ‘even if it’s my daughter that does something that would warrant her hand being cut, I’ll cut it’. It’s the fear that will keep people
in line, which is why I think capital punishment should stay.

Some people have called for the abolishment of the SAN title. Do you think it should go?
To cut the head is not the solution to a headache. The best thing to happen to you as a lawyer is to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. I will never call for the abolishment of that title. If there is a problem with the method of appointment or confinement, let us fine-tune it and restructure it to accommodate those who we believe are qualified and may not have been conferred.

Regarding discipline among the members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), are you satisfied with the disciplinary mechanisms within the association?
The disciplinary mechanisms within the NBA are perfect but we can say that there is room for further development and improvement. To the best of my knowledge, what they do now is if there is any allegation against a member of the bar, the person who is alleging misconduct or any other offence
forwards his complaint to the chairman of that branch. The chairman of the branch will look at it and may call for a response from the affected member. They will send you a direct copy of that allegation and put a forwarding letter on it stating the complaint and the date of the complaint with a time limit for a response. If they are satisfied with your response then they will arrange for a meeting with you and the complainant to settle the issue. The complaint can be passed on to higher stages depending on the complexity.

Once the complaint is filed, there is no going back so the complainant withdrawing the filing can’t stop the
investigation. As it is today, I believe we have a considerably perfect disciplinary measure.

The NBA has introduced Stamp and Seal. Some people feel that the Stamp and Seal Policy is discriminatory. What is your opinion?
I agree with the Stamp and Seal policy. I believe it’s in the best interest of lawyers in Nigeria. Before, we usually see people in places like business centres preparing documents in their systems and putting the name of a lawyer who may be their uncle or brother in Lokoja, Ibadan or even Lagos who isn’t aware of the transaction. If a problem erupts, one wouldn’t know where to trace it to. It’s the best thing to happen to the Nigerian bar. It gives us a sense of belonging and protects the integrity of the bar. You’ll think twice before putting your seal on any document.

The NBA is the umbrella body for lawyers in Nigeria and MULAN is a sub group. Can you tell us more about MULAN?
Alhamdulillah. MULAN is more of a streamline of a bigger body called the NBA. The NBA is a larger body with a larger responsibility to cover thousands of lawyers in Nigeria by taking care of their welfare and practice. It is productive to have a body that will take care of specific interests and therefore MULAN was introduced to look after the welfare of Muslims who are lawyers; how they do, how they practice, what kind of practice they do, what kind of welfare they
need, and so on. We have other groups like CLASSFON (Christian Lawyers Association of Nigeria). Now, even ethnic groups are coming up. We have the Yoruba and Igbo groups as well as the younger generation of lawyers.

We started at state level before coming together to formally launch the association in the year 2005. There was the need for us to protect our religion, to protect our practice and to have a closer look at our welfare. That was how we virtually came together and since then we have been up and doing.

What achievements have this association made so far?
Within the short period of our existence, we have gone for prison visitations as part of our activities and offered financial assistance to our members, including the payment of penalties and fines depending on the situation. We visit hospitals and IDPs (internally displaced persons). In fact recently, we visited some IDPs and donated a whole lot of things to them. Those are examples of things we do for the welfare of our members. We are currently working on a project that will be very marvelous by the time we unveil it.

Olu of Warri: Prince Eroro assumes regent as Olu designate goes into seclusion

WARRI – The Olu designate of Warri kingdom, Prince
Godfrey Ikenwole Abiloye Emiko has gone into seclusion following his selection to become the 20th Olu on the throne.

Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, Mr. Edward
Ekpoko, while explaining the implication of Olu in waiting’s action in Warri, Delta state said yesterday that it is in line with the tradition of the land.

Ekpoko, who is also Chairman, Warri Study Group said, “I have been bombarded with media enquiries to meet
Abiloye since he was chosen Saturday. The simple
response is that he cannot be reached until passage rites of HRM, Atuwatse II, his predecessor are concluded.

“It is at that point within the next 90 days that his
coronation commences that he comes out of seclusion. In his absence Prince Eroro Emiko, Olori-Ebi (Head) of the royal family assumes regent of the kingdom. He will start receiving visitors coming into the royal family in due course.”

Ekpoko also clarified that Chief Yaya Pessu, Ojomo of
Warri kingdom who took the role of Ologbotsere when he broke news of the passage of HRM, Atuwatse II and
announced his successor in one breath was not a chief
priest.

“Neither the Ojomo or Ologbotsere is Chief Priest. Also
note that the last Ologbotsere of Warri kingdom was
Chief Ogbemi Newe Rewane and not his sibling, Alfred
Rewane as reflected in some reports”, he further clarified.

Court Adjourns Saraki's Trial to October 21

The trial of the Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, has been adjouned to October 21.

Earlier, the trial of Dr. Olubukola Saraki took a dramatic turn when he refused to mount the dock.
The trial tribunal, headed by Justice Danladi Umar, called up Saraki’s case at exactly 10:32am.

Where is the prosecution, is the accused person here?”,
Justice Umar who was looking directly at Saraki from his vantage post, queried.

“Mr lord I cannot see him. I think the first thing is for him to enter the dock first, then we will announce our
appearances. After which the charge will be read to him”, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs submitted.

“With profound respect to the chairman and member of
this tribunal, I agree with my learned brother that we
should enter appearances first. The order of this tribunal was that the accused should be produced today. It was not for his to enter his plea. The case was earlier adjourned for mention”, counsel to Saraki, Mr. J.B. Daudu, insisted.

Daudu vehemently opposed the idea of Saraki entering
the dock, relying on an Appeal Court decided case law in Igbeke vs FRN, 2015, 3 NWLR.

Eventually, Saraki entered the dock and pleaded not guilty to the 13-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the federal government.

The Tribunal adjourned sitting to October 21, 2015.

Dangote to bankroll 15 new professors for Kano University

KANO – The pro Chancellor, Kano University of Science
and Technology, Wudil, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has offered to bankroll salaries and emoluments of 15 new Professors for the state owned tertiary institution for 4 years.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Shehu
Musa told Reporters during an interactive session to mark its 15 years anniversary, explained that the philanthropic gesture was part of effort to boost manpower of the science based institution.

Professor Musa revealed that the pro Chancellor has also elected to provide 15 housing units to accommodate the new hands settled for academic rigour.

The Vice Chancellor said Aliko Dangote has also completed arrangements to provide the university with industrial bore holes that would cater for 30,000 population.

He disclosed that Dangote has further made necessary
provision that would link the University with Integrated
Power Project, pointing out that before now, the science based Institution was being powered by stand by generator.

Professor Musa while cataloguing Dangote’s gesture to the University further announced plan by the business mogul to sponsor the schools Agriculture master plan that would accommodates 1 million farmers.

The Vice Chancellor commended TETFUND for its high
impact intervention totalling N3billion, further stressed
that the University currently boast of 56 capital projects He said private individuals had also contributed to the University success story, as he added that Kano State Government alone invested N7billion on capital project at the institution within the past 12 months.

Commenting on the challenges confronting the University, Professor Musa revealed that the institution is been threatened by flood and erosion.

But he however disclosed that adequate representation
has been made to ecological Fund for its intervention
adding that “at the moment we need emergency
intervention from the ecological fund to save the institution”.

Former Governor of Kano state, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso established the University during his first term in office in year 2000.

Buhari reluctantly approves N70m for Independence celebrations

ABUJA-APPARENTLY disturbed by the dwindling revenues of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari approved only N70million for this year’s Independence celebrations.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF made this revelation.

According to the SGF, Buhari reluctantly approved the
N70m after complaining that he would have preferred the money is diverted for the payment of workers salaries.

He said the president had argued that the money was too much to be spent on frivolities such as celebrations when Nigerians are grappling to survive the present day economic stress .

He further explained that “this year’s celebration is,
indeed low key because the present administration
appreciates the economic hardship that Nigerians and the nation is confronted with today and he almost slashed it downward from N70m”.

“To address the situation, government has adopted a
general policy to be very prudent in the management of
our financial resources, so this year’s celebration is,
therefore, in consonance with the cost-saving policy
direction of this administration”.

Towards a successful celebration the SGF said “four
events have been approved by the president to manage
the entire celebration process”.

“The events are: Jumat prayers, international
thanksgiving service, ceremonial change of guards and a children’s party”.

“Apart from these four events the president will also
address the nation on Oct 1”.

“To ensure a successful commemoration, four sub-
committees have been constituted to handle the
preparations for each of the four events”.

Obasanjo writes children story book on peace

ABEOKUTA – Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, launched a children’s story book on peace to celebrate the the 2015 International Day of Peace, The former president said he decided to launch the story book entitled, “Peace Story for Children” to ensure the entrenchment of sustainable peace in the country.

Obasanjo, while launching the 14-page booklet illustrated with various cartoons at an event held at the OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, attended by pupils from different secondary schools in the state, said that it had become imperative to sow the seeds of peace in the minds of children whose minds were more receptive to ideas.

Obasanjo, who was represented at the launch of the
booklet by the Director of the OOPL Centre for Human
Security, Prof. Peter Okebukola, noted that since the
youths were the leaders of tomorrow, imbibing the
essence of peace when young should be vigorously
pursued.

Addressing the pupils from the various schools who also participated in a debate with the theme, “Whose
Responsibility Is It to ensure peace? Is it the people or
the government?”, Okebukola disclosed that Obasanjo
called him overnight to tell Nigerian children to imbibe the culture of peace while still young.

Commissioner–nominees, others to write aptitude test

Nominees for appointments as commissioners in Cross
River State are to undergo mandatory integrity and
aptitude test, even as the state governor, Prof. Ben
Ayade, has already set up a selection committee to
oversee the process.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, said the nominees would have to undergo the aptitude test before their names would be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

The statement disclosed that appointment of chairmen and members of boards, agencies and parastatals and even special advisers would go through the same routine.

“Governor Ayade wants all nominees for appointments as commissioners to undergo integrity test. They will also write an aptitude test,” the statement said
According to the statement, the governor believes that
every would-be appointee in the state must be subjected to ethical measurement to ascertain whether or not they can function in the new order, where accountability and transparency are the watchwords.

Consequently, the governor has set up a selection
committee to oversee the process.

According to the statement “Renowned Abuja-based
lawyer, Mr. Paul Erokoro, is the chairman of the
committee which has prominent woman leader and
politician, Mrs. Grace Ekanem and Chief of Staff to the
Governor, Mr. Martin Orim as members.”

In another development, Governor Ayade has terminated the contract for the evacuation of refuse in Calabar.

This follows the inability of the contracted firms, PATSON and PACLISON to evacuate refuse from the streets of Calabar.

It will be recalled that during a tour of the metropolis
shortly after assuming office, Governor Ayade had given the contractors a three-month ultimatum to improve on the sanitary condition of the metropolis with a view to restoring its rightful status as the cleanest and greenest state in the country.

Army approves promotion for 5,000 soldiers fighting Boko Haram

Abuja—The Nigeria Army has approved the promotion of 5,000 soldiers fighting insurgents in the North-East and others involved in other operations, as part of steps to boost their morale.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, made the announcement yesterday in Abuja, at the opening of the 2015 Chief of Army Staff Third Quarter conference at Army Headquarters.

He said that the approval of the promotion of the soldiers was one of the many measures introduced by the Army under his command to boost troops’ morale and reposition its operations.

He added that it was also in line with the vision of the
Army command to reward gallant troops in any way
deemed fit to boost their combat readiness and
willingness to serve fatherland.

He said that troops serving in the North-East and in other operations in the country would regularly receive rewards from the Army High Command for their selfless service to the nation.

Lt.-Gen. Buratai said: “Since we came on board, we have introduced several measures aimed at encouraging our troops to give their best in the service of their nation.

“The approval of the accelerated promotion of 5,000
soldiers was to redeem the promise made by my
predecessor to the troops fighting insurgents in the
North-East.

“It is my belief that this promotion, coupled with other
incentives, will encourage our troops to fight for our
country.”

The COAS charged the officers and all personnel of the
Nigeria Army to constantly maintain the required level of physical fitness.

Amaechi, Fayemi, Fashola Fail Anti- corruption Test

As the screening of President Muhammadu Buhari
ministers continue, some appointees have reportedly
failed to pass anti-corruption test.

The Department of State Service (DSS) recently received a much awaited list of 36 ministerial nominees for security screening.

While DSS carries on the screening indications appeared that three immediate past governors, Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi Amaechi and Kayode Fayemi, have supposedly failed.

Three former governors worked hard for Buhari’s
presidential campaign to and were seen as top candidates for positions in the government.

Nigerian Pilot reports that the DSS did not clear three
ministerial appointees based on claims of corruption
brought against them before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).

The source said that the security agency supposedly
denied to clear Amaechi, Fashola, Fayemi because of a
series of petitions written against them over accusations bordering on money laundering, fraud and misuse.

The insider further added that when the trio appeared
before the screening committee, they were opposed with the appeals and other related documents attached to the petitions.

They reportedly have received orders from Buhari that any of the appointees with any harmful and fraud related issues should not be cleared by the security agency.

Festus Odimegwu, a former managing director of Nigerian Breweries Limited, and a former presidential candidate, Pat Utomi, are also among the ministerial appointees that have been screened.

Those already said to have been screened as nominees for President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet also include a former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and a Lagos-lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).

Also on the list are a former Chief of Army, Lt.-Gen.
Abdulrahman Dambazu (retd.); an ex-chief executive of the Federal Inland Revenue, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okaru; a former finance commissioner in Lagos State, Mr. Wale
Edun; and a former National Legal Adviser to the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

According to some sources Falana was favoured by a camp in the party to emerge as the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.

A top APC chieftain said the Vice President, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo and the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had persuaded Buhari to appoint Falana.

Tinubu and Osinbajo were said to have told Buhari that
appointing Falana, who he jailed over 30 years ago, would boost his image as a ‘converted democrat.’

It was, however, learnt that Malami was being favoured by the President.

The APC has three former governors in Ekiti State: Niyi
Adebayo, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi.

“Falana has already been screened by the DSS. However, Buhari is closer to Malami who is from the North,” a source from APC said.

Utomi, a famous economist and former presidential
candidate of the African Democratic Congress, had been screened by the DSS and the police.

Edun, who served under former Tinubu as Lagos state
governor, had also been screened by security agencies.

Odimegwu, nominated by the president, fell out with
former president Goodluck Jonathan when he openly
criticised the federal government.

Odimegwu is also close to former President Olusegun
Obasanjo. Oyinlola, a one-time secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, defected to the APC shortly before the Osun State governorship election and he is a close associate of Obasanjo.

Another appointee, who asked not to be named, said:
“Although I have met the director-general of the DSS
twice, I don’t think such visits could be regarded as
screening.

“I understand the service has done its research on
ministerial nominees. For now, nobody is sure of anything until the names are announced.”

See full list below:
1. Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Osun State governor and ousted PDP national secretary.

2. Chief Bode Mustapha, former PDP National Auditor and an APC chieftain from Ogun state

3. Engineer Segun Oni, former Ekiti state governor and
APC deputy national chairman (South West)

4. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti
state

5. Abba Ruma, a former Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources

6. Chief Kanu Agabi, a former Minister of Justice.

7. Donald Duke, a former Governor of Cross River state

8. Babatunde Fashola, the immediate past governor of
Lagos state

9. Yinka Folashade Oredola

10. Rotimi Akeredolu, a former gubernatorial candidate in Ondo state.

11. Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past governor of Rivers state

12. Engineer Funsho Kupolokun, former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

13. Rabiu Kwankwanso, immediate past governor of Kano state

14. Bisola Adegbenro

15. Isaiah Danjuma, son of General Theophilus Danjuma
from Taraba state.

16. Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation.

17. Kehinde Lawanson, a former executive director of First Bank.

18. Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), former Minster of Justice

President Buhari had in Ghana reassured Nigerians and the international community that his cabinet is a must in September.

In the lists of supposed ministers, which were circulating in the media , Fashola was predicted as AGF/Minister of Justice, while earlier he was supposed as minister of works and housing.

Under the former governor state administration beholden $1.02bn which signifies 33.86 % of the country’s total sub-national external debts.

Ex-governor of Rivers state was set to become new
secretary to the government.

Amaechi was also accused of dropping state into massive external indebtedness by a coalition of non-governmental organisations interested in transparency and responsibility in governance.

Former governor of Ekiti state was also expected to play a key role in Buhari’s cabinet.

Buhari doesn’t want to be stabbed like Jonathan — Ebigwei

Dr. Sylvan Olisanye Ebigwei (MON), consultant dental
surgeon, is President-Emeritus, Aka Ikenga, the Igbo
socio-political organisation. In this interview, he says the Igbo’s vote for former President Goodluck Jonathan was calculated to unite the former Eastern Region. He wants MASSOB to change its name to be relevant. He also spoke on other national issues. Excerpts:

The North wanted power and they now have it. What is
your take on that? Nigeria is too complex for one section to usurp all that the country has without reaction. Nigeria today is not the Nigeria of yesterday. There is a level you can pursue a man, the man will stop and start pursuing you. So, whatever the North wants today, if they want Nigeria to be one, they must make sure that there is equilibrium in governance and appointments in critical areas.

Already, there is disequilibrium in what is happening today and we cannot hide the fact. And that was why the South-South met last week. The President is from the North, the Chief Judge is from the North, the Senate President is from the North, the Speaker of the House of Representatives is from the North. This cannot go on because people will react. So, if the Northerners think they can do this and get away with it, Nigerians will react.

Right now, I can say the period we are in now is a period of honeymoon for Buhari. By the time he sets up his government, people will start looking into critical areas. Buhari government has been described as government of probes. How far can be go?

If you want to probe, probe everybody, because Jonathan merely ruled this country for five years or thereabout. By the time he came in, Nigeria was in tatters Nothing was functioning. The roads were not there, power was not there, people were just stealing money anyhow. All these stealing did not start during the Jonathan era. Jonathan came in and met a rotten Nigeria. Where was he to start from? It was the people, who destroyed this country that surrounded him. Cleaning up Nigeria was an enormous task. Even those arrested for corruption, how many were jailed? EFCC will make a lot of noise, take suspects to court and that’s the last we hear because the judiciary itself was not helping matters. Had it been we had a strong judiciary, people would sit up. But when people steal, they say, okay, this is my own, this is for law enforcement, the other one is for the judiciary. With that mindset, people started acting with impunity because they know that criminals are not being visited with adequate punishment. That was the reason Jonathan did not succeed.

A cursory look around shows some parastatals like NEPA suddenly come to life. We know Buhari government has not awarded any contract yet. What happened? People are wondering what is happening. It shows how evil and how rotten people have gotten in this country.

Buhari government is not in place, it has not run any
budget, he has not spent a dime in re-positioning PHCN, but look at us today. In my office, I have been enjoying uninterrupted power supply for nearly three weeks now, thereby saving money to feed my family. What it portrays is that during Jonathan’s administration, no matter how Jonathan tried, he was being sabotaged.

Power generation

Men of evil abound in this country. And because of this
sabotage, despite all the billions of dollars poured into
power generation, the power is there, gas is there, but
evil people refused that the country should work. But
they know what they are gaining. It shows complete
sabotage. And these are the people, the present administration should fish out. If they did it to sabotage Jonathan, they can still do it to sabotage the government of Buhari.

Looking critically at Buhari’s appointments so far, people say he is side-tracking the Igbo. How do you view this? Buhari is being afraid of what happened to
Jonathan. If I am in Buhari’s shoes, I will not appoint people who will betray me.

Because Nigeria today is not like Nigeria of yesterday. People are no more honest. The value system of the
average Nigerian is poor. We don’t trust people. Critical
appointments have not been made. The appointments he is making are of domestic issues, people who will surround him. You don’t get people who will stab you at the back and put them to follow you. No. Jonathan did that and they stabbed him. That was why he got angry and told them he had had enough. That was why he threw in the towel even before they finished counting the votes.

Because he discovered that he was totally betrayed. So, Buhari knew what happened to Jonathan, he would not want it to happen to him.

MASSOB is being threatened everywhere. What is their
undoing? As President of Aka Ikenga, I told MASSOB that there is no need for a man to run a good race but outside the track. Igbo man is being marginalised, we know that. But when you want to fight for your rights, you must find a decent way to do it, so that you can have the sympathy of all.

Many of us do not believe in the disintegration of this
country. I told them then that there is no other country
they can fit in except in Nigeria. I told them, this agitation you are doing, find another name and put on it. You will have the sympathy of everyone in Igbo land because without pressure we cannot get what we want in this country. Change the name MASSOB. What is in a name?
Find another name, continue with your agitation, so that you can have followership among Ndigbo. No Igbo man wants to get separated from this country.

You are President Emeritus of Aka Ikenga. We hear there is an agenda to unite the Igbo from all the Igbo speaking South. What impact can this have?

As President of Aka Ikenga, our mind set then for
supporting Jonathan was to use his platform to extend
true hands of fellowship towards the old constituents of the old Eastern Region. Aftermath of the civil war, the core Igbo became almost a pariah to their brothers and sisters of old Eastern Nigeria, as well as the Ikweres in Rivers and the Anioma people in Delta State. What we did was to show solidarity with the Ijaws so that in future the Ijaw man will know that when they had a problem, in their hour of need, the core Igbo man came to his aid. That was our mindset.

So whatever transpired, whether he ruled well or did not rule well it has worked, because you can now hear the South-South are meeting with the South East, etc. As recent as last week, there was a meeting of the whole of Southern Region of Nigeria to look into their common interest in the present dispensation.

And they came out with a communiqué, advising the
President what to do and the negative aspect of his
administration so far. So that solidarity is working, that unity is working, that brotherhood is working.

Are you saying the Igbo have no regret over how they
voted at the last elections? Yes, the Igbo have no regrets. Some people are saying the Igbo lost, No. To us, the Igbo didn’t lose because the mindset of supporting Jonathan is different from the mindset of quite a lot of people. Igbo didn’t lose under Jonathan, they had a fair share of governance.

Fair share of governance The only problem was that many government appointees of Igbo extraction were selfish. They did not empower their own people. Look at the North, the express rail between Kaduna and Abuja, that will open up the whole area and bring Kaduna and adjoining states nearer to the seat of
power. Roads were constructed in the North. Look at the Almajiri schools. Nobody ever thought the almajiris
should go to school. These are all the handiwork of
Jonathan. Look at the Abuja Airport, Kaduna Airport, not to talk of Murtala Mohammed Airport. They have all been elevated and modernized. A lot was achieved. Anyim Pius Anyim was SGF, and that was a powerful position. You can use the position to build up capacity for your own people. So, you cannot blame Jonathan if those he put in power could not use such positions to better their own people.

I passed through Asaba bridge, I see that work is going
on at the second Niger Bridge. Before now, it was all
rhetoric. During the Obasanjo era, it was all rhetoric, but now you can see that something is being done.

Gov. Ajimobi In Sizzling Romance With Arisekola’s Daugther, Fatimah

While Oyo state languishes in several months of unpaid
salaries, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi is allegedly busy having
carnal knowledge of not just his wife but another woman who happened to be the daughter of his godfather.

Perching birds has it that Fatimah, who is daughter of
late Alao Arisekola , despite been married to Layi Are is
alleged to be warming the bed of Gov. Ajimobi.

It was gathered that the illicit act started between
Fatimah and Gov. Ajimobi when the later had several
unsettled disagreement with her husband. The husband, Layi was said to have consulted Gov. Ajimobi, who happened to be Arisekola’s protege and a close Friend of the Are’s family to help save his home.

Layi is the son of prominent Ibadan socialite, Dr. Lekan
Are, a former Chief Executive Officer, Ogun/Oshun River Basin Development Authority and Chairman of Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Gov. Ajimobi was said to have invited Fatimah to his
office but the amiable governor could not take his eyes
off Fatimah’s beauty which made him to make romantic
passes at her. Those in the known revealed that Gov.

Ajimobi awarded huge contracts to the tune of billions of naira to Fatimah to let her know that she is in saver hand and with a clause that she will become his sex partner. It was gathered that right there the illicit love affair kick started.

As a payback for the alleged romance, it was said that
Gov. Ajimobi introduced Fatimah to top politicians and
Director Generals in Abuja, who in turned gave her
contracts.

These juicy contracts and other enticing gifts was said to have made Fatimah threw caution to the wind and prefer the comfortable arms of another man’s husband ignoring her marital duties at home to her legal husband, Layi.

The lovebirds was alleged to have made countless
international trips together under the pretense of been
part of Governor’s entourage to other countries for
business meetings.

Fatimah was alleged to have played prominent role at
Gov Ajimobi’s daughter,Jibola’s wedding by taking care of VIPs who were in attendance. Her active role was said to have confirmed the suspicious of many who has been suspecting the two to be having illicit affairs.

To confirm government house’s side of the story, Mr.
Festus Adedayo, Special Adviser to Gov. Ajimobi was
contacted but declined to speak on the matter.

Senior lawyers know corrupt judges —CJN

THE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud
Mohammed,said senior lawyers in the country know corrupt judges, in view of their unguarded utterances, accusing the judiciary of corruption.

Speaking during a special session of the Supreme Court to mark the commencement of the 2015/2016 legal year and swearing-in of newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Justice Mohammed urged senior lawyers to fish out the identity of the corrupt judges, so that they can be properly dealt with by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

“I regard as unfortunate, unguarded comments of some
prominent members of the Bar, that the Judiciary is corrupt.

Such comments coming from the members of the Bar means that they know the identity of the corrupt judges and as such, they should fish them out to be dealt with by the NJC,” Justice Mohammed stated.

He reiterated that for the country to truly expect a
steadfast, impartial and noble institution, the Judiciary must be truly independent, adding that the Supreme Court was currently working towards the introduction of court automation, so as to address issues of delay, corruption and inefficiency in our judicial system.

Commenting on calls for the abolition of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria by some Legal Practitioners, the CJN said the conferment of the rank of SAN was a privilege conferred in accordance with section 5 (1) of the Legal Practitioners Act by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, adding that “it is, indeed, a statutorily recognised privilege.

“As much as I will concede that the system of conferment may require reforms, its abolition will be tantamount to proverbially throwing away the baby with the bath water. In any event, none of us here can decisively abolish the rank,”he said.

The CJN, however, said, it was only the National Assembly that can abolish it via a bill of both chambers and urged legal practitioners to close ranks and seek constructive solutions to the challenges confronting the legal profession.

On his part, the president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh (SAN) condemned the face-off between the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the Federal High Court in Abuja over the 13 count charge preferred against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, saying it was an unnecessary distraction.

The NBA boss said “the constitutional hierarchy of our
courts is well settled and we urge all to respect it. This is not good for our judiciary. Let wise counsel prevail.”

2face pleads with Don Jazzy and D ’banj to make one more hit

FORTYfied :2face pleaded with Don Jazzy and D’banj to please produce one more hit song.

At the FORTYfied event, D’banj performed a leaked
version of a song he did with 2face ‘I’m Feeling Good’
which was produced by former label mate and partner
Don Jazzy.

The Kokomaster brought back old memories which forced 2face to plead on behalf of the fans and for the sake of people looking up to them to make one more hit song together.

‘Don Jazzy and D’banj, abeg make una do one more song, just one…. I take God beg una’ 2face pleaded.

D’banj in response said ‘Sure! It’s going to happen’.

Although Don Jazzy didn’t respond to the plea.

Okorocha gets approval to borrow N20bn

OWERRI—Imo citizens may be grappling with a staggering debt of over N80 billion if Governor Rochas Okorocha goes ahead to take the Federal Government approved N20 billion proposed bond issue.

Currently, the state is owing over N60 billion, including
the Federal Government’s N26 billion bailout fund, which is expected to be paid back in 20 years.

The recent move by Governor Okorocha to grab another N20 billion became manifest via a letter from the Federal Ministry of Finance, DMO/PMD/241//T/7, dated August 25, 2015, and signed by A. M. Daniel-Nwaobis, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance.

According to a document made available to Vanguard, the Permanent Secretary’s mail was sequel to Okorocha’s earlier letter, dated May 2, 2015, requesting for approval to issue on “an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order, ISPO, for an amount of N402,957,780.91 monthly for 84 months in respect of a N20 billion ISG (Imo State Government) Bond Issuance Programme” to Finance Uncompleted and New Projects.”

The Federal Government drew Okorocha’s attention to
“the fact that based on the fall in oil prices and the
consequent decline of revenues for governments at all
levels in the country, there is an urgent need to exercise
greater restraint with respect to borrowing to avoid future debt unsustainability.”

While informing Governor Okorocha that the Debt
Management Office had advised that his request could be granted, the Permanent Secretary granted a “no objection” approval for the government to go ahead with the plan.

“Accordingly, I hereby grant a no objection for the state government to issue an ISPO for a monthly deduction of N402,957,780.91 for 84 months in respect of a N20 billion bond for the completion of on-going infrastructure development projects and for new development projects in the state, subject to the state meeting other requirements of the Investment and Securities Act, 2007,” the Permanent Secretary stated.

Meanwhile, a very senior civil servant, who pleaded
anonymity, told Vanguard that “the Okorocha
administration’s commitment to pay approximately N403 million monthly and for seven years, means that the payment would outlive the present administration.”

Federal High court fixes Sept. 30 to hear Saraki’s case

Abuja – The Federal High Court has fixed Sept. 30 to hear the case filed by the Senate President, Sen.
Bukola Saraki, asking the court to stop the Code of
Conduct Tribunal from trying him.

Saraki is charged with false declaration of assets by the Code of Conduct Bureau at the tribunal.

The judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, after listening to
arguments from counsel to parties in the matter, ruled
that the suit was ripe for hearing.

“ Since all the parties have filed relevant documents, this case is ripe for hearing and in order not to waste the court’s time, the case is adjourned to Sept.30 for
hearing.’’

Counsel to Saraki, Adebayo Adelodun, had said that in
spite of the notice served on the tribunal by the Federal
High Court, it had gone ahead to entertain the matter.

He drew the attention of the court to a statement made
by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar,
that the court could not summon it because it had
coordinate jurisdiction with the court.

Counsel to the Federal Government Taiwo Abidogun,
however, argued that Ministry of Justice, Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal had not received any notice from the court.

Abidogun said that was why the tribunal sat on Friday
and issued a bench warrant against the Senate President.

He said that even if service was made, it must have come after the tribunal had risen.

Mohammed, however, corrected Abidogun and provided
evidence to show that the notice was actually served the respondents.

Okonjo Iweala speaks about her new jobs.

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, on Monday, expressed joy over her new job to join the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates.

The former finance minister, had also announced that she will also be joining US investment bank, Lazard’s
sovereign advice division.

Okonjo-Iweala who tweeted via her Twitter handle,
@NOIweala said: “I’m excited to join GAVI to immunize
300 million more children in the next five years and save 5 million to 6 million more lives.”

The new portfolios, however, follow her second stint as
Nigeria’s finance minister, which ended in May after the
Goodluck Jonathan-led government was voted out of
office. Okonjo-Iweala has spent the past three decades working on fiscal management and governance systems in Africa through 25 years at the World Bank, most recently as a managing director, and twice as finance minister in what is now the continent’s biggest economy.

She has although, recently come under sharp criticisms
particularly by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, over issues bordering on alleged corruption in the last administration.

Okonjo-Iweala has argued that her work on transparency and anti-corruption as finance minister under both Mr Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo has been unfairly “brushed aside.”

Do you know you’re helping to pay for that wedding you’re invited to!

Going to a wedding? Then you may find yourself paying dearly for it. As the average price of what was once a simple ceremony soars to millions of Naira, shameless brides are turning to ever-more greedy tactics to make guests shell out for the privilege of coming to their nuptials.

Just last mouth, a close friend went to China Town, Ojota, to view some of their latest ‘exclusive’ fabrics, when she saw the exact lace material she just shelled out some N120,000 to pay for the aso-ebi for another friends daughter’s marriage.

“I almost became apoplectic at the difference in prices,”
she shrieked down the phone to me when she got home. “Modele (the friend) charged us NI20,OOO for five yards when the selling price was just N50,OOO”. On and on she went, but she knew she wouldn’t get my sympathy. I have always cringed at the idea of forking out a huge chunk of my pay packet for the ‘privilege’ of wearing the same wedding gear as other guests who I don’t even have anything in common with.

On top of which you know you might not get value for
money but you buy it anyway because it’s now pay back time – you’d dolled out wedding packages your friends had gladly paid for and you’re bound to return the gesture – broke or not! With the top-up on the aso-ebi, you help to cover the costs of the meals and a share of the entertainment. Bank details are often
printed at the bottom of the invitation so you can pay in advance!

“It’s brazen,” says Dorcas, a wedding planner and it also takes away from the pleasure of the event. There is a big difference between the usual ‘envelope’ you give to the celebrant, to having to fill in a bank draft to pay for your entertainment in order to attend the wedding! One couple.whose event I covered asked all the relatives to bring a dish.

Inevitably, everyone brought coolers of delicacies and
some few savoury wishes which were gobbled up in
minutes. By the time some late-corners sauntered in, all
the foods were gone and some had to send for food at
the nearest eatry.

“And if you ever wondered why that crystal glasses you bought your friends never make an appearance at their dinner parties, it’s because they probably never existed.

With so many couples living together before getting
married, there is no longer the need for those wedding
staples of knives, forks and nice set of crockery. But
brides will still put household items on their wedding lists, while secretly planning to take their cash value instead.

This is something most shops that offer weddings lists
will agree to if they’re very familiar with the wedding
planner. With the planner’s help you can cash in the
toaster, the iron and the dinner service, pool the proceeds and buy a nice wide-screen telly instead.

“Of course, budgets can be tight and brides always seek to cut costs, but some money-saving efforts are so rude it’s astonishing. One of the newest tricks is covertly providing champagne for guests on the high table – but no one else. And if you ever wondered why waiters at weddings happily take your orders for drinks only to vanish into thin air, it’s because they are so used to the tactic they don’t bet an eyelid at such request. People.think that their guests won’t notice, but it’s obvious it’s most annoying.

It’s also quite common for brides to ask for a huge
polystyrene wedding cake with real icing on it. It looks as if they’ve spent a fortune on state-of-the-art cake but only one of the smaller tiers is actual cake which they cut through!

“Brides-to-be also make the most of the friends they
have, happily tapping on the skills of all their friends and friends-of-friends for everything from doing their hair and make-up to bagging a free MC. There is no job too small to be requested as a contribution to the big day or in lieu of a gift.

But what happens when you have so many friends and
relatives but not enough space at the hall? Brides who
want to let would-be guests down gently send out letters for the engagement ceremony, and if yours arrive without the ‘card-admits-one” invite, you’ll know you haven’t made the cut. This short-listing method basically boils down to ‘the more important you are, the more stages of the wedding you get invited to’, with only a select group of people attending the whole thing.

The rise of electronic communication means that not just an e-mail, but a ‘one-size- fits-all’ email seems to be an acceptable way of expressing gratitude for gifts no matter how expensive. I believe that if someone has been generous enough to buy you a present or hand over a hefty cheque, the least you can do is sit down and write them a decent ‘thank you’ letter.

Clever Or Clueless?! (Humour)

After suffering from severe headaches for years with no relief, Trevor is referred to a headache specialist by his family doctor. ‘The trouble is,’ Trevor tells the specialist, “I get this blinding pain, like a knife across my scalp and … “. He is interrupted by the doctor, “And a heavy throbbing right behind the left ear?” “Yes! Exactly! How did you know?

“Well, I myself suffered from the same type of headache
for many years. It is caused by a tension in the scalp
muscles. This is how I cured it: every day, I would give my wife oral sex.” “Is that all it takes?” says Trevor. “Oh no,” says the doctor. “When she came, she would squeeze her legs together with all her strength and all the pressure would relieve the tension in my head. Try that every day for two weeks and come back and let me know how it goes.”

Two weeks goes by and Trevor returns, grinning. “Doe,
I’m a new man! I haven’t had a headache since I started
this treatment. I can’t thank you enough.” “That’s fine,”
says the doctor. “I was glad to pass on a personal cure.” “By the way,” says Trevor, standing up to leave. “You have a lovely home.”

Saraki Trial: Code Of Conduct Tribunal Erred By Disobeying Order Of ‘Superior’ Court – Agbakoba, Adegboruwa

A former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Chief
Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has faulted the Code of Conduct Tribunal for declaring itself at par with the Federal High Court.

The former NBA president was reacting to the issuance of a bench warrant for the arrest of Senate President Bukola Saraki by the CCT on Friday.

Represented by Mahmud Magaji (SAN) and another ex-NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN), Saraki had raised objections to his trial by the tribunal citing the non-appointment of a substantive Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as well as a pending ruling of the Federal High Court, which had summoned both chairmen of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCT and a Deputy Director in the Federal
Ministry of Justice, Musiliu Hassan, who filed the case at the tribunal on behalf of the Federal Government.
In his ruling on Saraki’s objections, the presiding judge,
Justice Danladi Umar, said that the tribunal took notice of the fact that there was no AGF at the moment.

He further held that the absence of the AGF does not stop the filing of a criminal charge adding that in the absence of the AGF, the Solicitor General can institute such charge.

On that ground, the tribunal knocked off the accused’s
argument. On the issue of a pending ruling, the tribunal held that the Federal High Court has the same jurisdiction with it, and hence, it was not binding by its ruling.

Justice Umar, therefore, gave the go-ahead for the trial to continue.

Reacting to the ruling, Mr. Agbakoba said the CCT was wrong to say that it was a court of equal jurisdiction with the Federal High Court.

“There are two kinds of courts in Nigeria, superior and
inferior. All the superior courts are defined in Section 6 of the constitution; it does not include the Code of Conduct Bureau, it does not include the National Industrial court”, he said.

According to him, “The Code of Conduct Bureau is not a
superior court; it is an inferior court and because it is an inferior court, it is amenable to the judicial review jurisdiction of a superior court of record like the Federal High Court”.

The Federal High Court, the former NBA president noted, is empowered by law to review the judicial work of the Code of Conduct Tribunal because it is an inferior court.

This same line of argument was supported by Ebun
Adegboruwa, who described the Tribunal’s action as an
assault on rule of law.

“What the Code of Conduct Tribunal did in spite of the order of the High Court amounts to judicial abuse of the due process of the rule of law and amounts to judicial rascality on the part of the serving judge of Code of Conduct Tribunal”.

Adegboruwa said the Tribunal was under the supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court, adding that the option left for the Tribunal was to approach the court that gave the order to either challenge it or vacate it.

He said, “It will amount to total anarchy for the parties
affected by an order to decide whether or not to obey the order. So, to that extent, the bench warrant issued against the Senate President is ultra vires, it has no place in law and cannot be enforced, because if the order of the High Court to the tribunal was not enforced also the bench warrant of the tribunal to the Senate President cannot be enforced.

You cannot use wrong to achieve a right