News
Judge threatens to Expose Kano Ombudsman over serial petitions against him
A Federal high court Judge in Kano, Justice Simon Amobeda has threatened to expose Chairman Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado’s attempt to influence a cause of justice under his jurisdiction.
Justice Amobeda also vowed to remain resolute in dispensing judgment and resist any intimidation.
The jurist raised the alarm on Friday at an open court session when he sighted the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Kano chapter Usman Umar Fari, who also doubles as a legal counsel for the state Anti-Corruption Commission.
Justice Amobeda before attending to the business of the day, confronted Fari with questions on legal procedures required of a client.
The Judge revealed how the Chairman of Kano anti-graft filed 5 petitions before the National Judicial Council, NJC against him.
According to Amobeda, the petitions accused him of passing a judgment against the interest of Kano anti-graft while taking seven months to deliver judgment.
But the Judge insisted his verdicts were passed not in the interest of any party but based on facts available to him.
He wondered why he would be made to respond to petitions on matters that were decided by five Judges against the anti-graft.
Justice Amobeda said he was petitioned “simply because he refused to be influenced”, and subsequently declared that ” I am not a state high court Judge, I am a Federal high court Judge. And God has brought me here, I refuse to be intimidated or cowed”.
According to him, ” If there is anything I gained in Kano, it is the fact that I answered five petitions from a single person. I don’t have anything to say about it but in reply, it wasted my precious time that I would have used to write my judgment.
I delivered a landmark Judgment on the relocation of Sabon Gari drug market, I can’t count the amount of influence I refused. The Minister of Health came to Kano after the Judgment to meet with the Governor on the same issue. Nobody has ever told Amobeda you have done well but it is the one that did not favour them that they will go over the social media to blackmail.
” But by the grace of God, I am paid to do this work and I will do it very well, without fear or favour or ill will. All of us are answerable to God Almighty. If the case does not favor you today it will favor you tomorrow. That is the essence of life.
Amobeda accused the Kano anti-graft boss of disobeying several orders of the court and insisted that the Judiciary will not allow the “small power” of the Ombudsman to bring disrepute to the Justice system.
” In the petition, he said I have power to judge against the agency, yes when you exceed your powers. Your law does not envisage that you arrest somebody, detain and grant him bail. Why can’t you go to the state assembly to amend the law?
You created a department that is so empowered to breach the fundamental rights of the people of Kano. You have disobeyed the orders of the court several times. Because we are keeping quiet, you think you can continue to disgrace the system.
” Because you hold a small power today you want to use it against everybody including the Judiciary. I am not a Judge of the state high court, I am a Federal high court Judge and God has brought me here.
“I refused to be intimidated or cowed. Nobody can shake me. I have the resolution to this job and I will do it very well to the best of my ability,” Amobeda insisted.
Justice Amobeda is well known for several landmark Judgments including the sack of two serving Judges of Kano State High Court, who were sitting on two Judicial panels of enquiries and settled the dispute between the government and the Drug dealers after several years of litigation.
However, our Correspondent’s efforts to speak to the Chairman of the Commission, Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado were not successful but a lawyer at the Anti-Graft Agency who spoke anonymously said they could not comment because the case is before the NJC.
We will not comment on this matter because it is before the National Judicial Council and it is only they or their assigned agent who can talk on it”, he added.
Daily Post
News
Federal Government Declares Public Holidays
The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 18 and Monday April 21 as public holidays for Good Friday and Easter Monday, respectively.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the holidays on behalf of the Federal Government.
Tunji-Ojo extended heartfelt congratulations to Christians across the country on this joyous occasion.
erior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the holidays on behalf of the Federal Government.
Tunji-Ojo extended heartfelt congratulations to Christians across the country on this joyous occasion.
News
Court Jails Man Four Years for Refusal to Accept Naira As Legal Tender
Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Uzondu Precious Chimaobi to four years imprisonment for his refusal to accept the Naira as a legal tender.
Chimaobi was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on February 5, 2025 on a two-count charge bordering on refusal to accept the Naira as a legal tender.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Precious Chimaobi Uzondu, on the 10th of December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, refused to accept Naira (Nigeria legal tender) by accepting the sum of $5700 ( Five Thousand Seven Hundred USD) as a means of payment for a purchase of a cartier diamond bracelet with serial number (12345678) and you, thereby , committed an offence contrary to Section 20 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”
He initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, leading to his full trial.
Subsequently, the prosecution presented its first witness, PW1, Owolabi Oyarekhua Jude, an operative of the EFCC.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, Jude told the court that “the Commission received intelligence on the activities of a jewelry company called Unlimited Jewellers Limited, “whose owner is one Uzondu Precious Chimaobi.
“The Company, which deals in jewelry at Atlantic Mall, Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos intentionally tags and sells its products in Dollars as against the CBN Act, 2007 ,which stipulates Naira as the only legal tender in Nigeria.”
Continuing, he added that “ Subsequently, a covert operation was carried out , where an undercover operative of the Commission disguised as a customer to purchase a Diamond Nail bracelet that was tagged $6000 and bought it for $5700.
“The company refused to receive Naira and demanded Dollars as a means of payment. The payment was made and receipt was issued in Dollars . The owner of the company was arrested and taken to the Commission’s office.”
However, at the resumed sitting on April 14, 2025, the defendant opted to change his “not guilty” plea to “guilty.
Consequent upon his guilty plea, Kofarnaisa, prayed the court to rely on the evidence earlier given by the investigating officer, and admit the same in convicting the defendant.
Kofarnaisa, thereafter, tendered the defendant’s statement and other evidence to further prove his guilt and they were admitted by the court.
Justice Owoeye then adjourned till Tuesday, April 15, 2025 for ruling.
Delivering judgment, they found the defendant guilty and gave him an option of fine of N50,000( Fifty Thousand Naira) on count one.
The Judge sentenced him to four years imprisonment, with an option of fine in the sum of N600,000 on count two.
His Cartier Diamond wristwatch was ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convict bagged his imprisonment when he refused to accept Naira by accepting the sum of $5700 ( Five Thousand Seven Hundred USD) as a means of payment for a purchase of a cartier diamond bracelet. He was charged to court and convicted.
News
Senator Sumaila Begins Consultations on Possible Return to APC
Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila has begin consultation with his constituents to decide his fate on whether to return to the All Progressives Congress or not.
Reacting to a recent call by the APC leaders from Kano South Senatorial District, Senator Sumaila said he had embarked on rigorous consultations with constituents and other stakeholders.
“It is true the APC leaders from my district have called on me to return to APC. The leaders took the advantage of the internal crisis in my party; New Nigeria Peoples Party which factionalized the party.
“And I am sure they are targeting me because they knew my political strength and commitment in politics. So, when the call persist, i have started consulting my constituents and all relevant stakeholders.
“I am into politics because of my people and whatever situation I found myself, I will let them decide my fate. So, even this issue, I will not decide it by myself, I will rather allow them to decide.
“Whatever decision my constituents take, I will abide by it because in politics consultation and openness are critical. So, one thing I can aşure you is that I will not decode my fate alone and whatever my constituents decode, I will go by it.” He concluded.
Federal Government Declares Public Holidays
Court Jails Man Four Years for Refusal to Accept Naira As Legal Tender
Senator Sumaila Begins Consultations on Possible Return to APC
Ganduje, CPC’s Defection Threat and APC’s Hegemony
Buhari’s Aide: APC Ready to Welcome Kwankwaso Back
Federal Government Declares Public Holidays
Court Jails Man Four Years for Refusal to Accept Naira As Legal Tender
Senator Sumaila Begins Consultations on Possible Return to APC
Ganduje, CPC’s Defection Threat and APC’s Hegemony
Buhari’s Aide: APC Ready to Welcome Kwankwaso Back
-
Opinion3 years agoOn The Kano Flyovers And Public Perception
-
Features4 years agoHow I Became A Multimillionaire In Nigeria – Hadiza Gabon
-
Opinion4 years agoKano As future Headquarters Of Poverty In Nigeria
-
History4 years agoSheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory (1917-1992):Nigeria’s Islamic Scholar Who Wrote Over 100 Books And Journals
-
History4 years agoThe Origin Of “Mammy Market” In Army Barracks (Mammy Ochefu)
-
News3 years agoFederal University Of Technology Babura To Commence Academic Activities September
-
Opinion3 years agoMy First Encounter with Nasiru Gawuna, the Humble Deputy Governor
-
History3 years agoThe History Of Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum