Connect with us

News

Federal High Court Orders Judges to resign appointment as inquiry chair or risk take home pay

Published

2 years ago

on

Court Sign

 

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano and presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda, has given 48 hours deadline to two Kano Judges, Justice Farouk Lawan Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf appointed by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf to serve as Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the Recovery of Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets, and Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate Political Violence and Missing Persons respectively, to resign their appointments.

Justice Simon Amobeda gave the order while delivering his judgment in case instituted by former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje seeking the court to stop Governor Yusuf from probing his administration.

Justice Amobeda said failure by the judges to comply with the 48-hours deadline, the National Judicial Council (1st Defendant) shall stop forthwith, the payment of any remuneration, allowances and benefits meant for judicial officers from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation to the Judges.

He said the judges should desist from performing executive functions assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State in Court rooms meant to adjudicate disputes between persons and authorities in Kano State.

Justice Amobeda further said the action by the Governor to set up the commission of inquiries to investigate Ganduje without appealing an earlier court judgment by Justice A. Liman declaring that Ganduje can only be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), amounts to abuse of office and undermining the sanctity of the judiciary.

According to him, “That, by the combined provisions of Sections 153(1)(i) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, CFRN, 1999 (as altered), Paragraph 21(d) of Part I of the Third Schedule Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered)and sections 1, 3 and 6 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap. 26, Laws of Kano State, the Governor of Kano State has no power to appoint the 4th and 5th Defendants and administer another Oath of Office on them to serve as Chairmen of Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Governor of Kano State, an office meant for Commissioners of Kano State Government in order to exercise executive powers assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State and stop them from performing their functions as Judges of the High Court of ! Kano State, without recourse to the 1 Defendant.

“That, by the combined effects of the provisions of Sections 6, 84, 153(1)(1), 271(2), 272 together with Paragraph 21(c) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), the 4th and 5” Defendants are not legally permitted, while still purporting to hold the Office of Judge of High Court of Kano State, to accept appointments as Chairmen of Commissions of Inquiry with quasi-judicial powers equivalent powers to that of a Magistrate Court and subject to review by a Judge of the High Court of Kano State.

Advert

“That, by the combined effect of Sections 5 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), the action of the Governor of Kano State of appointing the 4th and 5th Defendants as Chairmen of the Commissions of Inquiry pursuant to the provision of Sections 3 and 6 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap. 26, Laws of Kano State, instead of appointing from amongst the Commissioners of Kano State Government is an encroachment into and undermining the judicial arm of government, a breach doctrine of of the separation of powers, a grave violation of the Constitution, and gross misconduct on the part of the Governor of Kano State and the 3rd Defendant who administered the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance to the 4th and 5th Defendants.

“That, by the combined effect of the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 84 and 271 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered) and Paragraph 21(c) of Part I of the Third Schedule thereof as well as the provision of the Preamble and Rule 3.7 of Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, issued by the 1 Defendant, the 4th and 5th Defendants, having accepted an executive appointment as Chairmen of Commissions of Inquiry, abandoned their judicial functions and turned their Court rooms to a place of performing executive function assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State, cannot simultaneously continue to hold office as Judges of the High Court of Kano State and cannot be entitled to salaries and allowances of Judicial officers, as fixed by the 2nd Defendant and being paid by the 1 Defendant.

“That, in view of the decision of this Honourable Court coram: Hon. Justice A.M. Liman in Suit No.FHC/KN/195/2023 (Between Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje v. Nigeria Police Force & Ors) delivered on 5th day of March, 2024 declaring that the Plaintiff herein can only be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), it is an abuse of office and undermining the sanctity of the judiciary for the Governor of Kano State to set up a Commission of Inquiry which is inferior to this Court to purport to investigate the administration of the Plaintiff.

“That, the 4th and 5th Defendants, being serving judicial officers shall respectively resign from the appointment as Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the Recovery of Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets, and Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate Political Violence and Missing Persons respectively, and shall desist forthwith, from performing executive functions assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State in Court rooms meant to adjudicate disputes between persons and authorities in Kano State.

“That, where the 4th and 5th Defendants fail to comply with this Order within 48 hours of its service on them, the 1st Defendant shall stop forthwith, the payment of any remuneration, allowances and benefits meant for judicial officers from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation to the 4th and 5th Defendants while they are still holding office as Chairmen of Commissions of Inquiry,” Justice Amobeda stated.

The court however, disagreed with the argument of the plaintiff’s counsel that the judges cease to be judicial officers by accepting to be members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

Meanwhile, respondents in the suit are: National Judicial Council (1st Defendant), Revenue Mobilization Allocation And Fiscal Commission (2nd), Attorney-General Kano State (3rd), Hon. Justice Farouk Lawan Adamu and Hon. Justice Zuwaira Yusuf as 4th and 5th defendants respectively.

 

Related Topics:

News

Governor Dauda Lawal Defects to APC After Stakeholder Consultations

Published

1 day ago

on

March 9, 2026

By

 

The Zamfara State Government has announced that Governor Dauda Lawal has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following what officials described as “extensive consultations with stakeholders, political leaders, elders, and supporters across the state.” This was contained in a statement signed by Nuhu Salihu Anka, Director General, Media and Communication, Office of the Governor.

According to the statement, Governor Lawal’s decision was driven by the overriding interest of stability, progress, and sustainable development in Zamfara State. “After careful consideration, His Excellency has decided to formally defect to the APC,” Anka said, noting that the move followed prolonged internal crises within the PDP at both national and state levels.

The government explained that unresolved leadership disagreements and structural challenges in the PDP had created uncertainty and distractions that threatened effective governance. “These challenges have continued to hinder the delivery of democratic dividends to the people of Zamfara State,” the statement emphasized.

Governor Lawal reiterated that his primary responsibility remains the peace, security, and development of Zamfara State. “It became necessary to align with a political platform that provides greater unity, stability, and stronger cooperation with the Federal Government,” Anka quoted the governor as saying.

Advert

The statement further revealed that the final deliberation leading to the defection was held at the Government House in Gusau, under the coordination of the Deputy Governor, alongside senior government officials and key political stakeholders. “This was a collective decision reached after wide consultations,” Anka explained.

Governor Lawal expressed appreciation to PDP members and supporters for their cooperation over the years. However, he noted that the prevailing political realities and unresolved crises within the party made it necessary to take what he described as “a bold step in the interest of good governance and the future of Zamfara State.”

By joining the APC, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening unity, improving security, accelerating development, and ensuring that Zamfara State benefits fully from stronger collaboration with the Federal Government. “This is a new political phase aimed at promoting unity, stability, and development,” Anka stated.

The government therefore called on citizens, political leaders, party supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm and supportive. “We urge everyone to embrace this transition peacefully as Zamfara enters a new chapter of political cooperation and progress,”

 

Continue Reading

News

Petrol Price Surge to Deepen Cost-of-Living Crisis as Dangote Refinery Hikes Rates Again

Published

1 day ago

on

March 9, 2026

By

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The financial burden on Nigerian consumers is set to intensify following a sharp increase in petrol prices by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, marking the third adjustment in less than a week.

Effective Monday, the refinery raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to ₦1,175 per litre. This represents a significant jump of ₦180, or approximately 18.1%, from the ₦995 per litre price announced just last Friday. In a parallel move, the gantry price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) was also revised upward to ₦1,620 per litre.

Confirming the development to our correspondent, a senior official at the refinery, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on public commentary, stated that the changes have been formally communicated to marketers and depot operators.

“Yes, the gantry prices have been adjusted. PMS is now ₦1,175 per litre while Automotive Gas Oil is ₦1,620 per litre,” the official said. “The market has been extremely volatile, and replacement costs have shifted significantly in recent days. These adjustments reflect prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”

Advert

Data from the industry pricing platform, petroleumprice.ng, confirmed that the revised rates have been integrated into depot pricing systems nationwide, effectively resetting the benchmark for downstream marketers.

This latest surge—which has seen gantry prices climb from ₦774 to over ₦1,175 in a matter of days—is already translating to higher costs at the pump. Retail outlets in several states are now selling petrol for approximately ₦1,200 per litre, adding another layer of economic strain on households and businesses.

The increase is expected to trigger a fresh wave of price adjustments across the country. Higher fuel costs invariably lead to increased expenses for transportation, logistics, and production, costs that are typically passed on to consumers. This dynamic threatens to exacerbate Nigeria’s already high cost of living.

The price hikes underscore the challenges facing the Federal Government’s efforts to stabilize the downstream sector. Through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, the government has been working to secure crude oil supply for the Dangote refinery via third-party international traders in a bid to sustain local refining and, ultimately, moderate prices.

However, officials caution that these interventions may not yield immediate relief for consumers. As the 650,000-barrel-per-day Lekki-based refinery adjusts its prices in response to volatile market realities, Nigerians are left grappling with the immediate consequences of a deregulated market where pump prices are increasingly subject to global and local market forces.

Continue Reading

News

ADVERT:KANO STATE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT BOARD IMMUNIZATION PLUS AND MALARIA PROGRESS BY ACCELERATING COVERAGE AND TRANSFORMING SERVICES (IMPACT PROJECT)

Published

1 day ago

on

March 9, 2026

By

KANO STATE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT BOARD
IMMUNIZATION PLUS AND MALARIA PROGRESS BY ACCELERATING COVERAGE AND TRANSFORMING SERVICES (IMPACT PROJECT)

CREDIT NO. IDA-65390

Request for Bids – Goods

Procurement of 44 Nos. Ultrasound Scan Machines for 44 Secondary Facilities in Kano State.

NG-KANO MPA-536529-GO-RFB

Date of Issue: March 9, 2026

1. The Kano State Government through the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has received a credit from the International Development Association toward the cost of the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT), Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this credit to payments under the Contract for the Procurement of 44 Nos. Ultrasound Scan Machines for 44 Secondary Facilities in Kano State.

2. The Kano State Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT), Project now invites sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the Procurement of the following:

Item No.
Description / Identification of Items
Qty
Bid Security
Delivery Period
Location(s)

 

Procurement of 44 Nos. Ultrasound Scan Machines for 44 Secondary Facilities in Kano State.

NG-KANO MPA-536529-GO-RFB
44
₦19,700,000.00
90 days
Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT), Project, State PIU Office, Na’ibawa Zaria Road, Opposite Gidan Fiat, Kano State

Advert

Bidding Procedures
3. Bidding will be conducted through National Competitive Bidding using Request for Bids (RfB) as specified in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” Procurement in Investment Projects Financing” November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”) available on www.worldbank.org/procure and is open to all Bidders as defined in the Procurement Regulations. In addition, please refers to paragraphs 3.14 to 3.17 in the “Procurement Regulation” on the conflict of interest.

Invitation
4. Interested and eligible bidders may obtain further information from the State Project Manager, Kano State IMPACT Project, and inspect/obtain the bidding documents at the address below, between 9.00 am to 4.00 pm Mondays to Fridays, except on public holidays.

5. Qualifications requirements include:

The Bidder should demonstrate that it has successfully completed the supply/installation of a minimum of 30 (Thirty) Ultrasound Scan Machine within the last 5 (five) years.”
Audited financial statements for the last three (3) years, to demonstrate the financial capability of the Bidder in terms of Profitability and adequate working capital,
Registration with Professional organizations/Licenses to sell Medical Equipment in Nigeria.
Company Registration,
Certified Manufacturers Authorization,
Evidence of after-sales services in Nigeria

A margin of preference for eligible national contractors shall not apply; Additional details are provided in the Bidding Documents.

6. A complete set of Bidding Documents in English may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written Application to the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of ₦ 100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira only). The payment method will be a Bank Draft in favour of the Kano State IMPACT Project. The Bidding Documents will be collected by the representative of the Bidder or by courier services on request, which shall be at the bidder’s cost.

7. Bids must be delivered to the address below at 11:00 am local time on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Electronic bid submissions will not be accepted; Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives, who choose to attend in person at the address below 11:00 am local time on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security of ₦19,700,000.00 in local currency or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency.

8. The address referred to above is:

The State Project Manager,
State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU),
Kano State Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT), Project,
Address: Na’ibawa Zaria Road, Opposite Gidan Fiat, P.M.B 3295, Kano State.
Telephone: +234 803 530 7255 / +234 806 558 1226
Email address: piukanoimpactproject@gmail.com

Continue Reading

Trending