Clement Nwabuko

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Justice Mary Odili Bows Out Of Supreme Court at 70

Justice Mary Odili Bows Out Of Supreme Court at 70

Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, on Thursday, bowed out of the Supreme Court of Nigeria following her retirement from public service, having attained 70 years on May 12, 2022.

Justice Mary is the wife of Dr Peter Odili, who served as Governor of Rivers State between 1999 to 2007.

Born on 12 May 1952, in Amudi Obizi, Ezinihitte-Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria, Justice Odili attended the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu Campus where she studied law between 1972 and 1976.

In her second year at the university, she bagged the university scholarship for maintaining the second class upper division league with higher scores.
She was rated the best student in the department of commercial and property law in 1976. She passed through the Nigerian Law School between 1976-1977 and was called to the bar in July 1977. Thereafter, she served in Abeokuta and Benin.

She attended various Primary Schools including St Benedict’’s Primary School, Obizi Ezinihitte, St Michael’s Primary School, Umuahia, St Agnes Primary School, Maryland, Lagos and Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, Yaba, Lagos between 1959 and 1965.

She also attended various Secondary Schools including Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Yaba, Owerri Girls Secondary School, Owerri, Mbaise Girls Secondary School, Mbaise and the Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha between 1965 and 1972.

She later proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Enugu Campus) and obtained her Bachelor’’s Degree in Law (LL.B (Hons)) in 1976. She attended the Nigerian Law School in 1977 for her B.L certificate.

Her previous professional appointments/positions includes:

Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Abeokuta, Ogun State (1977 – 1978)

Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Benin, Bendel State (1978)

Magistrate Grade III, Benin, Bendel State (1978 -1979)

Chairman, Juvenile Court, Benin, Bendel State (1978 – 1979)

Magistrate Grade II, Rivers State(1979 – 1981)

Chairman, Juvenile Court, Rivers State (1979 – 1981)

Magistrate Grade I, Chief Magistrate Grade I (1981 – 1992)

Judge, High Court of Rivers State (1992 – 2004)

Justice, Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division (2004 – 2010)

Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division (2010 – 2011)

Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter Odili was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) on 23 June, 2011.

She was conferred with National Honour Commander Federal Republic (CFR)

She is happily married with children.

2023 Election: Buhari’s Media Aide, Bashir Ahmad Resigns

2023 Election: Buhari’s Media Aide, Bashir Ahmad Resigns

Abuja – The Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital and New Media, Bashir Ahmad has resigned his appointment.

His resignation is not unconnected with the president’s directive on Wednesday that members of his cabinet and political appointees seeking any elective position must resign.

The President had ordered that the ministers and other political appointees should submit their letters of resignation on or before Monday, May 16, 2022.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made the disclosure in a chat with State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

A check on Ahmad’s Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon revealed that he has removed “Personal Assistant on New Media to @MBuhari, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” from his profile.

The former presidential aide now claims to be a ‘Digital Communication enthusiast’.

It was gathered that Ahmad resigned because he is seeking to represent Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former presidential aide is to challenge the current lawmaker, Mahmoud Abdullahi Gaya, who is also of the ruling APC.

Peionews recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had yesterday during the Federal Executive Council meeting asked appointed aids with political ambition to turn in their resignation.

Senate urges FG, states to rehabilitate erosion sites 

Senate urges FG, states to rehabilitate erosion sites 

Abuja – The Senate has urged the Federal Government and State Governments to, as a matter of urgency, direct the Ecological Fund Office and other relevant agencies to assist in the control and rehabilitation of erosion sites in the various states of the country.
The call was contained in resolutions reached by the chamber sequel to the consideration of a motion during plenary on Wednesday.
The motion entitled, “The menace of gully erosion in Afashio and Afowa communities of Edo North”, was sponsored by Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North).
Alimikhena, in his presentation, underscored the need for the preservation, restoration and maintenance of the ecological environment of local communities.
According to the lawmaker, doing so would ensure the safe movement of citizens, easy transportation of goods, services, as well as guarantee peace, security and well-being of Nigerians.
He noted that the ecological environment of two communities in Edo North Senatorial District – Afashio Secondary School Road and Mr. J.A. Obotse Road – have been facing serious menace of gully erosion partly due to increased rainfall that exacerbated flooding and threatens the livelihood and existence of both communities.
He disclosed that a recent massive gully erosion that affected the two roads has prevented students from accessing their school and affected the entire people of the communities. 
“The erosion has hindered access to crucial farmlands and also limit the evacuation of food crops.
“Concerned also that this erosion tragedy at this time, has the capacity of collapsing the entire rural agricultural economy of a thriving food basket areas of Edo North, especially the communities of Afashio and Afowa – with the consequent loss of valuable agricultural products and property, and with the attendant results of food insecurity both locally and beyond the state”, he said.
He observed that Rehabilitation, Culverting and Asphalting of the road as a result of the Gully was captured in the 2020 budget of the NDDC which has not been awarded.
The Senate, accordingly, urged the Nigerian Ecological Fund and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) to urgently seek a permanent solution to the endemic gully erosion.
It also urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ensure prompt award of the contract for the rehabilitation, culverting and asphalting of the Afashio Secondary School Road as captured in the 2020 budget of the Commission.
The chamber urged the Ecological Fund office and all other agencies of Federal Government, Local and States Governments to assist in the control and rehabilitation of gully erosion sites in the various states of the country.

Buhari Orders FEC Members With Political Ambitions To Resign

Buhari Orders FEC Members With Political Ambitions To Resign

Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) running for elective offices to submit their letters of resignation on or before Monday the 16th of May, 2022.

The Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting.

Those affected are Ministers of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu; Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, who have all joined the presidential race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Others are the Minister of State Mines and Steel, Uche Ogar, who is running for the governorship position in Abia State, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who declared her ambition to contest for the senatorial seat in Plateau State.

Mr. Mohammed stressed that this mandate excludes the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo because he is an elected member of the cabinet.

He affirmed that any amendment or additions to this directive will be disseminated accordingly.

The Minister added that if the need arises, the directive might involve political appointees.

ASUU Strike: Senate Will Bring Back FG/ASUU To Negotiation Table – Lawan

ASUU Strike: Senate Will Bring Back FG/ASUU To Negotiation Table – Lawan

….Urges students to avoid confrontation

Abuja – The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said on Tuesday that the Senate will intervene in the lingering dispute between the Federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) by bringing back the two parties to the negotiation table.

Lawan made the promise to the officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) who were led to his office by a concerned Methodist Bishop, Dr. Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha.

The NANS President, Sunday Asefon who spoke for his other colleagues lamented their continued stay at home and disruption of their academic programme and urged the Senate President to intervene in the dispute between the Federal government and the University teachers.

Responding, the Senate President expressed unhappiness about the turn of events, recalling that the Senate had intervened in the past before everything broke down again.

He however promised that the Senate would wade in again and expressed optimism that the issues would soon be resolved.

“You are in the right place. We are going to intervene. We will make concerted and sustained efforts to bring back ASUU and the Federal government to the negotiating table so that we are able to resolve as quickly as possible those issues that are now very knotty and have stopped our Universities from reopening, that is now making our students walking the streets all over the country.

“But I want to appeal to you too, since we are going to make effort to bring back everybody back to the negotiating table, you should give us a chance to do that believing that we are going to find a solution because it is not only enough to bring them back to the negotiating table, but we will participate and I want to make sure that we find the solution when we start the negotiation again.

“Now that you have come here, we are going to make sure that everybody in this sector especially those in public sector who has responsibility and mandate perform their functions. We will make sure they do that.

“Because you have come, I think we also have some tonic enough in us. Time is of essence and we must do whatever is necessary to get this issue resolved.

Also responding to the threat by the students to distrupt political activities, Lawan appealed to them to continue in the path of consultation and avoid confrontation.

“I want to also advise, I don’t think it will be necessary to distrupt political activities. We shouldn’t do that and we don’t need to do that. 
‘What we need to do is to continue to follow the path of consultation, consolidation and avoid confrontation. It is when you emphasise consultation, it is much easier for us to find something that you can consolidate.

“Your prayer that you want the Federal government and ASUU back to negotiate and resolve the issues. We have taken this prayer. We have endorsed it and we will work for it as quickly as possible.

“It is an opportunity for me also to appeal to ASUU to suspend this strike period because there is no way ASUU can negotiate with the Federal government when it is on strike. So it is an opportunity for us to have them, at least create a window, suspend the strike for a certain period and let us see how far we can go.

“I want to be very positive that we are going to resolve this issue as soon as possible by the Grace of God,” Lawan said.

The Senate President said the 2009 agreement which is the Crux of the matter was not properly thought out before it was signed.

“Somebody just wanted ASUU to go back to the classroom and just signed everything there.We must understand that there are things that when we promise we should do, we must do,” Lawan said.

Nasarawa: We’re Ready To Host Inaugural Investment Summit – Gov Sule

Nasarawa: We’re Ready To Host Inaugural Investment Summit – Gov Sule

Lafia – Engineer Sule of Nasarawa State has said the state is ready and prepared to host its inaugural investment summit scheduled for tomorrow and next.

Engineer Sule stated this on Tuesday, shortly after inspecting the Lafia airport ahead of the arrival of the former Ghanian president, John Dramani Mahama.

Dramani is expected to fly into Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital later in the day.

Chatting with the Government House press crew shortly after inspecting the airport, Engineer Sule emphasized that his administration is ready to host the investment summit and that Nasarawa State has made all the preparations to be able to host investors and to show investors the way, opportunity and prospects that exist in the state, so that they can invest.

The Governor explained that unlike what most people frequent, the summit being hosted by Nasarawa State is not economic but an investment summit, with the people being invited being investors that will directly invest in the areas of mining and agriculture.

“Usually, people just go and attend economic summits but ours is a little different. It’s not an economic summit, it’s actually an investment summit. The people we are inviting are people that are investing directly in the areas of mining and agriculture. That’s the main focus of our approach,” Engineer Sule stated.

He explained however that, other investors will also participate in the summit since there are several areas in Nasarawa State with prospects and potentials, especially in housing development, health care, education, amongst others.

The Governor used the opportunity to appreciate the organising committee for the summit, top government functionaries, management and staff of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), for all the efforts put in place towards hosting the investment summit.

Engineer Sule particularly thanked members of the state economic advisory council led by renowned banker and lawyer, Professor Konye Ajayi, for the collective ideas to host the investment summit.

As the first Nasarawa State investment summit holds tomorrow, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, former Emir of Kano, HRH Muhammad Sanusi II and the President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, are expected to grace the opening ceremony.

Also expected at the event is the Vice President Islamic Development Bank Dr. Mansur Muhtar.

2023: Governor Sule Submits Nomination Form

2023: Governor Sule Submits Nomination Form

….Says only the best will emerge APC presidential candidate

Abuja -. Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has submitted his nomination and expression of interest forms to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Engineer Sule submitted the completed forms to the National Organising Secretary of the party, Suleiman Argungu, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Monday.

This is just as the Governor hinted that, in spite of the high number of aspirants seeking to fly the flag of the ruling party for the presidential election, only the best will eventually emerge as the presidential candidate of the party.

Speaking to journalists shortly after submitting his forms, Engineer Sule appreciated the leadership of the party at the national level, for the orderliness, capacity and competence demonstrated while conducting the exercise.

Engineer Sule described the exercise as exciting, especially that the form he just submitted was bought on his behalf by common people that came together to raise funds to purchase the forms for him.

“Its a more exciting thing for me personally, because this form that I just submitted was purchased for me by the common people in Nasarawa State.

“People that got together, raising N1000, N100 here, N200 here, they were able to raise the funds to buy the form for me. That is what is even more exciting for me in the submission of this forms,” he stated.

Commenting on the high number of aspirants seeking to fly the flag of the ruling APC in the presidential election, the Governor assured that only the best will be selected to emerge as the presidential candidate of the party.

“The more people are showing interest, the more it’s proven to the world how exciting the party is. Whatever is good, will attract people.

“There are so many other parties that we don’t even have a single person purchasing any form out of the 18 registered political parties. In fact, if we have 100 people who are showing interest, it clearly shows that at the end of the day, we will select the best,” Engineer Sule said.

Engineer Sule used the opportunity of the parley to clarify issues suggesting that he only intended to stay for a single term in office, stressing that he never made such statement.

According to the Governor, the same opposition flying the false claim, sent their agent to ask how Engineer Sule feels when people say he is a one-term governor.

“What happened was that the same opposition that are showing it actually sent somebody to ask me what will be my reaction about people who are calling me one-term. And I said to them, if God Almighty makes it one term, I Abdullahi Sule, will be more than happy to spend my one term and go back,” he stated.

The Governor pointed out the opposition is merely scared of going into the election against him.

“They are bringing this up because they are afraid. They should not be afraid of Abdullahi Sule, they should come and make it one term, it’s not too late. They should come and beat me at the polls,” he challenged the opposition.

On the letter of withdrawal issued by the national secretariat of the party for aspirants to sign, Engineer Sule said he will sign the form only after seeking necessary explanation.

Engineer Sule was accompanied on the trip to submit his forms by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, Senators Umaru Tanko Almakura and Godiya Akwashiki, members of the APC State working committee, other critical stakeholders and party stalwarts.

Revealed! How APC Governor Paid N100m To Lure Jonathan Into 2023 Race

Revealed! How APC Governor Paid N100m To Lure Jonathan Into 2023 Race

Abuja -. A search by a leading newspaper in Nigeria, DailyTrust has shown that a serving northern governor, name withheld, actually the N100 million to the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) for tye procurement of the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms.

The motive of the transaction was a part of the agenda by some powerful APC members to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2023 presidential race.

A group called Nomadic Pastoralists and the Almajiri Communities led by one Ibrahim Abdullahi had picked up the forms on Jonathan’s behalf on Monday, claiming they paid for them.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after picking the forms, Abdullahi said they decided to purchase the forms for Jonathan to enable him stage a comeback and continue with the good work he had started.

But hours after the news went viral, Jonathan’s Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, said his principal did not authorise the purchase of the forms but thanked the donors for their concern.

He also said Jonathan was not in the presidential race of the ruling party.

Daily Trust gathered from sources that a serving northern governor credited the APC Collection Account domiciled with Heritage Bank, with N100m.

The bank had also in a letter dated May 9, 2022 told the APC that it received the amount.

The letter was titled, ‘Notification of credit into account: All Progressives Congress (APC) Collections Account: 5600007616’.

Daily Trust had reported how two influential governors from the northern part of the country are plotting the return bid of Jonathan.

Multiple sources, who are in the know, said two governors, close to President Muhammadu Buhari, have secured the buy-in of a section of the presidency to actualise their agenda of drafting the former president into the presidential race.

While one of the governors is from the North West, the other is from the North East geopolitical zone.

The two governors have been playing key roles in the affairs of the APC in the last few years.

In the last seven years, the former president has not been attending activities of his party.

This is just as his romance with President Buhari and top shots of the ruling party takes the centre stage, a development that has pitched him against opposition leaders in the country.

The purchase of presidential forms for Jonathan changed the whole discussion around the 2023 presidency. (MetroWatch)

Senate Passes Bill To Enact Arbitration And Mediation Act, Three Others For Concurrence

Senate Passes Bill To Enact Arbitration And Mediation Act, Three Others For Concurrence

 Abuja – The Senate, on Tuesday, passed a bill to enact the Arbitration and Mediation Act to provide for a unified legal framework for the settlement of commercial disputes.

Also passed were there other bills for concurrence from the House of Representatives by the chamber after a clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole.

The bills include: Federal Medical Centre Ogoja, Cross-River State (Establishment) Bill, 2022; Federal Medical Centre Igboora, Oyo State (Establishment) Bill, 2021; and Advertising Regulatory Council Bill, 2022.

The four bills for concurrence were sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North). 
The Senate Leader, in his lead debate, said that the Arbitration and Mediation Act, 2022, seeks to repeal the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Cap A18, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He disclosed that the piece of legislation recognizes and enforces the New York convention on foreign arbitration awards to any award made in Nigeria or in any contracting state arising out of international commercial arbitration.

He added that it also seeks the application of the Singapore convention on the international settlement agreements resulting from mediation. 
The four bills for concurrence were passed by the Senate after a clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole.

Meanwhile, a bill to repeal the National Secondary Education Commission Act, Tuesday, scaled second reading in the Senate.

The bill seeks to enact the National Senior Secondary Education Act, 2022, to prescribe minimum standards for senior secondary education in Nigeria. 

Sponsor of the bill, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, I’m his lead debate on the general principles, said the bill makes provision for the management of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission Fund – as a source of government intervention towards repositioning Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria. 

The bill after consideration was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) for further legislative work. 

The Committee was given four weeks to report back to the chamber in plenary.

IGP Congratulates New CRAN Excos

…Charges journalists on Balanced Crime Reportage

Abuja – The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has congratulated the newly elected President of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), Olalekan Olabulo of the Tribune Newspaper, and other elected Executive Officials at the Association’s general elections held on Friday 6th May, 2022 in Lagos State.

This congratulatory message was contained in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi made available to Peionews.

According to the statement, the IGP noted that the new officials are individuals who have dignified and distinguished themselves in their various media fora, adding that the election is a recognition of their years of selfless service and commitment to value.

He equally appreciated the outgoing officials led by the immediate past president, Sunday Odita, of the Guardian Newspaper, for their labor at maintaining a friendly mien while carrying out their statutory responsibilities.

The IGP while assuring of his administration’s commitment to leave no stone unturned in the fight against crimes and criminality in the country, urges the new officials to work collectively and closely with the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring a balanced reportage while the Force collaborates with CRAN for a safe, secured and peaceful country in general. 

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,FORCE HEADQUARTERSABUJA