Latest news with #FederalHighCourt
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Court tell Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to kontinu her work
Di court don order di Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan back to her legislative duties. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court for di judgement dem tok say her six months suspension dey too much. According to di section 14(2) of di Privileges Act of di Senate, suspension dey in default. Di judgement add say constituents no suppose dey witout representation and make Senate review dia laws on suspensions. Meanwhile, court bin find Senator Natasha in contempt of court, sake of di satirical apology wey she bin post for her Facebook page. Justice Binta Nyako fine am five million naira ($3,266), wey she go pay into di court registry. Court also order her to publish a formal apology for her Facebook page and for two national newspapers. She must to do dis within seven days of did ruling.
Business Insider
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghanaians protest at Nigerian High Commission over alleged harassment
Hundreds of Ghanaian investors and community members staged a protest outside the Nigerian High Commission in Abuja yesterday, demanding action over alleged "systematic harassment, intimidation, and violation of our fundamental rights" by the Nigeria Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ghanaian investors protested outside the Nigerian High Commission in Abuja, citing systematic harassment by Nigerian authorities. The protest highlighted arbitrary arrests and intimidation from the police and EFCC against Ghanaian businesses. A lawsuit was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by Ghanaian investors seeking an injunction against further interference. Our businesses are being hounded at every turn, stated Kojo Mensah, a lead developer for the River Park Estate project in Abuja. The investors claim their basic rights are being breached, citing arbitrary arrests, repeated police invitations, and intimidation from both the police and the EFCC. We've been arrested arbitrarily, summoned without cause, and subjected to endless interrogations, yet the very complaints we cooperated to resolve back in 2012 remain buried in some dusty file, he added. Call for intervention Waving banners proclaiming "Hands Off Ghanaian Investors!" and "Tinubu, Mahama: Intervene Now!", the demonstrators called for the immediate dismissal of Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun. They accuse him of orchestrating targeted attacks on Ghanaian businesses operating in Nigeria. The investors pleaded, We demand that President Bola Tinubu and President John Mahama use every diplomatic channel to stop this injustice. Legal action initiated The protest follows the filing of a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja by Jonah Capital and its co-plaintiffs, naming IGP Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police, and the EFCC as defendants. The plaintiffs are seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent both agencies from any further interference in the River Park Estate matter, the immediate disclosure of a long-overdue Special Investigation Panel (SIP) report, and the sum of N200m in damages for alleged breaches of their constitutional rights. According to the plaintiffs, the lawsuit aims not only to secure redress but also to protect the integrity of foreign investments in Nigeria and deter what they describe as state-sponsored intimidation of legitimate investors.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Court strike out video and written statement DSS obtain from Kanu under pressure
Justice James Omotosho of di Federal High Court Abuja don comot two video evidence and three written statements wey di Nigeria goment bin wan tender as evidence for di trial of Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu, di leader of Ipob, a secession group for Nigeria bin tell di court say im bin dey under duress wen e write di statements, and im lawyer bin no dey present. For di last hearing, Justice Omotosho bin order a trial within trial to establish weda or not to admit di evidences. Delivering im ruling for di proceeding on Thursday, Omotosho say di law provide say any accused pesin suppose get legal representation bifor e go make im statement. Omotosho first tok say di video show say di atmosphere bin dey cordial wen Kanu bin dey make di statement, and e no see any sign of coercion or force. "However, dis court no go close im eyes to di fact say di defendant bin complain regularly about di absence of im counsel," Omotosho tok. According to di trial judge, section 15 of di Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) provide say di statement of a suspect must to be obtained for di presence of im counsel, and wia di suspect no get counsel, an officer of di legal aid council of Nigeria or a member of di civil society suppose dey present. Omotosho say: "Even though di statement bin dey recorded on video, di fact say di lawyer of di defendant no dey present don make di statement inadmissible in evidence "Dis court dey empowered to also expunge di video recordings wey e bin don admit in evidence. As e don dey established say di statement no dey admissible, it holds to law say di video recordings also no dey admissible." "I hereby order as follows:
Business Insider
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Chinese illegal miners face deportation in Nigeria, to lose ₦134 million
A Nigerian court has ordered the deportation of four Chinese nationals over their involvement in illegal mining of precious minerals in Plateau State. A Nigerian court ordered the deportation of four Chinese nationals for illegal mining activities in Plateau State. The individuals were convicted for unlawful possession and purchase of mineral resources. The court mandated the forfeiture of all proceeds from the illegal activities, including funds and minerals. Chinese illegal miners Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, and Long Kechong have been ordered to be deported by the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, following their conviction for unlawfully mining solid minerals in the region. The convicted Chinese nationals were arrested by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for engaging in unlawful mining activities. According to the EFCC statement, the defendants were arrested on March 9, 2025 at JLM Mining company site following credible intelligence on activities of some Chinese suspected to be involved in illegal mining activities in Jos, Plateau State. Justice Agishi found them guilty of the illegal purchase and possession of mineral resources. Each was sentenced to five years imprisonment or a fine of ₦1 million. In addition, they were deported and permanently banned from re-entering Nigeria. The court also ordered the forfeiture of all proceeds from the illegal activity to the federal government, including ₦134.87 million recovered from Liang Quin Yong. Justice Agishi also ordered the forfeiture of all mineral resources recovered during the investigation, along with an administrative fine of ₦16.3 million. The fine was imposed for the defendants' failure to report a financial transaction within seven days, as required under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, to the EFCC's Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML). Plateau mineral deposits Plateau State is endowed with a rich variety of mineral resources that contribute significantly to Nigeria's mining sector. The most historically significant of these is tin, alongside columbite, an ore of niobium, has also been a major mineral extracted from the region, with the state hosting the world's largest known deposits. Smaller but economically important quantities of other minerals such as tantalite, wolfram (tungsten), kaolin, zircon, and uranium are also found across Plateau. In the eastern and central parts of the state, lead and iron ore have been identified, while coking coal deposits are located in the Lafia area. Additionally, gold and silver deposits have been discovered near the town of Shendam, further underscoring the state's vast mineral potential. Illegal mining in Plateau Over the years, Plateau State's rich mineral resources have been exploited by illegal miners, many of whom operate without licenses, disregarding laws, local communities, and the environment. Illegal mining has become a pressing concern, not only damaging the environment but also fueling insecurity and tensions in local communities. It has also attracted foreign actors, some of whom have been implicated in illicit operations.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Sole Administrator Ibas shun court order, appoint pipo to run all 23 Local councils for Rivers state
Many kwesions don dey come out since di Sole Administrator of Rivers state begin dismantle goment institutions for di state. Since di suspension of govnor Sim Fubara by President Bola Tinubu, di oil rich state dey without commissioners wey dey run goment operations. But di Sole Administrator, Rtd Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas say im go run di goment wit Permanent Secretaries. Di only appointees wey e do for im sef na a Secretary to di State Government and im Chief of Staff. However, di latest be say oga Ibas don begin make more appointments. Bifor now, na Heads of Local goments dey run operations for di local councils but no go be di case again as di Sole Administrator don approve di appointments of administrators for di 23 Local goment areas of di state. For statement by di Secretary to di State goment Prof Ibibia Worika, dia appointment take immediate effect from Monday 7 April, 2025. Dis dey come despite an order from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt wey bar di Sole Administrator from appointing administrators to run di local council areas. Na on Tuesday Justice Adamu Turaki Muhammed issue di order for case weyone group dem dey call PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative file against di Sole Administrator for im official capacity. Di Sole Administrator also appoint Chairman and members of di Rivers State Electoral Commission. Dia work na to conduct election into di local goment councils. Sole Administrator get power to appoint LG administrators? Di Sole Administrator get power to make such appointments? Dat na di kwesion kontri pipo dey ask as some of dem dey challenge di legality of suspending an elected governor and State Assembly members and appointment a Sole administrator inside democracy. Di na as di Federal High Court for Port Harcourt schedule 21 May, 2025, to begin hearing on a suit wey Belema Briggs and odas file against President Bola Tinubu, di National Assembly, di Attorney General of di Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, di Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, and di Nigerian Navy. Di plaintiffs dey seek a judicial interpretation of di 1999 Constitution of di Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), specifically Sections 1, 4, 5, 11, 180, 188, and 305. Dem dey ask di court to determine weda, under diz provisions, President Tinubu get di constitutional authority to suspend an elected executive arm of goment in Rivers State, wey dey constitutionally guaranteed a four-year tenure. Di plaintiffs also dey challenge di declaration of a state of emergency by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025, wey result in di suspension of di Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of di Rivers State House of Assembly. Dem argue say such actions dey constitute a flagrant violation of di constitutional provisions wey dey listed above. For dia originating summons, di plaintiffs also dey ask di court interpretation of weda di National Assembly get power, under Sections 5, 11, and 305 of di Constitution, to ratify di President proclamation wey effectively suspend di executive arm of di state goment. Also, eleven PDP Governors also don approach di Supreme Court to challenge di suspension of di Governor of Rivers State.
