News
Accountable judicial systems solution to coup plots – Tinubu to ECOWAS judges
President Bola Tinubu has said that accountable judicial systems will solve the resurgence of military coups and strengthen democracy across West Africa.
Presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngalale, in a statement on Thursday, said the President made these remarks at a meeting with a delegation from the ECOWAS Judicial Council led by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the Council, at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
“We are committed to transformative democracy because we believe the judiciary can protect democracy. We are ready to support you as learned minds with the requisite experience and institutional memory to comprehensively reform our institutions.
“I assure you, as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, that the judiciary is one of the pillars to protect our democracy, and it is only in this regard that we can make a difference on the continent,” the President said.
President Tinubu congratulated judges from member states who participated in the two-day council meeting in Abuja, applauding the successful conclusion of their deliberations.
He assured them that their recommendations would be considered by the heads of state and government of ECOWAS.
“We will work with you to ensure that your expertise is employed to promote justice in our democratic experiences on the continent and in the region. You are truly the last hope of the common man across our sub-region,” President Tinubu added.
Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Judicial Council, Justice Ariwoola emphasised the council’s commitment to facilitating the effective functioning of the ECOWAS judicial system.
At the end of its meeting in Abuja, he said the council agreed to establish two sub-committees to address pertinent judiciary-related issues in the region.
He also said the first sub-committee would look into the council’s rules of procedure, which were found to be inadequate.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria explained that members from Benin Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone have been tasked to work on the rules of procedure on the Judicial Council.
Justice Ariwoola further explained that the Council of Ministers had tasked the Judicial Council, in collaboration with the Commission and the Community Court, to address the enforcement of judgements issued by the Community Court.
“The court, under the guidance of its President, has made presentations which have adequately informed the Judicial Council on the issues and challenges encountered in the enforcement of the judgements. The Judicial Council thought that a second committee was required to tackle the issue because of the complexity of the matter.
“The members of this second sub-committee are Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cabo Verde, and Togo,” he added.
Justice Ariwoola stated that both sub-committees would present their findings to the Judicial Council, which would subsequently make recommendations to the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has revealed one of the reasons he can’t make peace with Governor Similayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Wike accused Fubara of removing a chief in his family and went ahead to make another person a chief.
The FCT Minister stated this on Wednesday while fielding questions from journalists at a media parley in Abuja.
According to reports, the statement comes amid the ongoing political crisis in the State, with Wike and Governor Similayi Fubara at the center of the feud.
“Sometimes when you people talk about this peace, you don’t take everything. You don’t just sit outside to talk.
“Look at me, a former governor, Minister of of the FCT, Governor (Fubara) had the temerity, the audacity, because he has money from federation account, because he has more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), will enter my own family to remove a chief and make another person a chief,” Wike said.
Akwa Ibom state Police Command has said that some locally made firearms have been recovered during stop and search operations along Ikot road in the state .
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state DSP Timfon John and made available to Journalists in Uyo on Thursday stated that the recovered firearms was in a determined effort to rid the state of illegal firearms and criminal elements .
The statement reads in parts:” Operatives of the Command intercepted a Mercedes Benz C300 with customized plate number FORBES JR, leading to the recovery of a locally fabricated firearm and two live cartridges.
“The operation, which took place at the Control Post in Ikot Ekpene, was part of the Command’s intensified stop-and-search strategy aimed at curbing crime and enhancing public safety.”
He said the vehicle had three male occupants who were identified themselves as: Nsisong Paul Okon, 27, native of Itak Village in Ikono local government area ,Francis Forbes, 62 from Ikot Akpa Edok Ndiya Village and Prince Forbes, 27, of Ikot Akpa Edok Ndiya Village from Ikono local government area respectively.
However, John disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Baba M. Azare has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter.
“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command reaffirms its zero tolerance for unlawful possession of firearms and remains resolute in ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state”.
President Bola Tinubu has instructed lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allow the impeached and reinstated Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, to continue leading the house.
The President made this position known when he met with the lawmakers at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.
As reported earlier, this is the first time President Tinubu is meeting the lawmakers since the crisis began in the house January 13, 2025.
One of the lawmakers told newsmen that ” Obasa is staying. We will obey the president. What we had was a family meeting. The President condenmed Obasa’s actions but blamed us for not carring him (Tinubu) along during the impeachement execrise”.
However, the lawmaker said President Tinubu warned Obasa to carry everyone along.
” He also warned him (Obasa) that if there were any future complaints from any quarters, he would be gone. “The President said he should let peace reign; and so based on that, we have accepted.”
On the pending matter in court, the source said: “The President has instructed him to withdraw it.”
Mercy Chinwo: Court orders arrest of VeryDarkMan for defamation
Rivers crisis: Why I won’t make peace with Fubara – Wike
Police intercept vehicle, recover firearms in Akwa Ibom
Know The Airlines, Departure And Arrival Terminals In Lagos Airports By Ayodeji Awokunmi
Know the Airlines, departure, and arrival terminals in Lagos Domestic Airports
Dissecting Caritas CEO’S ‘Public Relations Thoughts And Deeds’ By Stanley Olisa
-
News7 days agoSenator Natasha: Don’t be in position men will talk to you anyhow – Tinubu’s wife tells women
-
News1 week agoWhy I stepped down as Lagos Speaker – Full text of Meranda’s resignation speech
-
News7 days agoBREAKING: Doyin Okupe is dead
-
News1 week agoUTME 2025: JAMB enrolls 1.6 million candidates in 26 days
-
News1 week agoWhy I lied at Ebuka Obi’s church – Woman speaks after fake N500m mansion testimony
-
Politics1 week ago
Rivers crisis: Leaving office worst thing that can happen to me – Fubara
-
Entertainment1 week agoWhy I can’t forgive nurse who injected my husband – Mohbad’s wife
-
Politics1 week agoFormer Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel in EFCC custody for alleged N700bn fraud