It will be recalled that the minister last week announced the constitution of a fact-finding committee to look into the circumstances that led to the sealing off of the gold mining company on account of alleged tax evasion and other sundry infractions.

During a press briefing, Alake restated the position of the federal government that mining belongs to the exclusive legislative list and as such, sub-nationals have no powers to unilaterally disrupt mining operations across the country.

“I’d like to reaffirm our position that though mining companies must obey all laws and regulations guiding their operations such as payment of taxes, environmental regulations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) amongst others, it is our firm belief that sub national authorities do not possess the power to arbitrarily shut down mining operations because the mining of  liquid or solid minerals belongs in the exclusive list, within the purview of the Federal Government, to regulate, legislate and direct,” the minister asserted.

The minister stressed that the federal government understands the peculiarities of the mining environment and the need to collaborate with sub-nationals, hence the leeway provided for states to apply for mining licenses to participate actively in the mining sector whilst taking advantage of their nominees in the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee, MIREMCO, to superintend over mining activities in their domain.

“MIREMCO exists in all states of the federation, and they are charged with the responsibility of ensuring compliance of mining companies with the extant regulations and laws. Out of the eight (8) members that constitute MIREMCO in each state, five (5) including the chairman are nominated by State Governments hence states are already substantially involved in the regulation of mining activities, thus, there should be no reason for constitutional violations,” Alake added.

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Inaugurating the committee, Alake declared its Terms of Reference (ToR) to include identifying the root causes of the disagreement between Osun State Government and Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL); Review of contractual obligations and agreements between both parties; Evaluate the impact of the company’s operations on host communities and the wider Osun State economy amongst others.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ogbe, urged states to cooperate with the Federal Government to avoid disruptions in mining operations, emphasising that such actions send wrong signals to prospective investors and can be a disincentive to the needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) required to develop the sector.

Responding on behalf of the committee, the Vice-Chairman and representative of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Dele Oye assured the minister that the panel would serve with utmost integrity in fulfilling its terms of reference.

Members of the committee include: Director, Mines Inspectorate of the ministry, Engr. Imam Ganiyu (Chairman); Representative of NACCIMA, Dr. Dele Oye (Vice-Chairman); Mr. Pwol Dareng, Asst. Director, Organised Private Sector (OPS) of the Ministry (Secretary).

Other members are Director, Mines Environmental Compliance (MEC), Dr. Vivian Okono; Director, Legal, Mrs. N.C Odili; Representative of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman, Tayo Koleosho; Rep. of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commision (NIPC), Zubeir S. Abubakar.

The probe panel has seven (7) days to submit its report.

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This is contained in a statement issued by the NJC Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye, on Friday in Abuja.

Oye said that the remaining 18 petitions were discountenanced for lacking in merit, abandoned or being subjudice.

The council at its 106th meeting presided over by the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee on 22 petitions written against 27 Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Courts.

Based on the report of the preliminary committee, the Council empanelled four committees to investigate allegations in the petitions that were found meritorious.

Oye said the council also issued a letter of advice to Justice O. M. Olagunju of Oyo State High Court to be circumspect as a judicial officer before acting, even in the most challenging situation.

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Olagunju was said to have used uncouth language in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, challenging council’s decision and its policy direction on appointment of the President, Court of the Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State.

According to Oye, “the discountenanced petitions are against Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, President Court of Appeal; Justices E. O. Williams Dawodu; B. A. Georgewill; Yargata Timpar; S. D. Samchi;  Aisha B. Aliyu; A. A. Aderibigbe; M. L. Shuaibu; H. A. O. Abiru and Abdulazeez Waziri all of the Court of Appeal.”

Others are Justices John Tsoho, Chief Judge, Federal High Court; Z. B. Abubakar; James Kolawole Omotosho; Sunday B. Onu, all of the FHC and Justice Okon E. Abang when he was serving at the Federal High Court.

The rest are Justices Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court; Babagana Karumi of the High Court Borno State; Maimuna A. Abubakar of the High Court of Niger State; A. A. Aderibigbe of Osun State High Court and Aisha B. Aliyu of Nasarawa State High Court.

He noted that the NJC placed five judges on its pre-sanction watch list register for poor performance and would be recommended to the council for appropriate sanction if they did not improve on their performance.

He said that Justice Ariwoola in the meeting, being the last one before his retirement, appreciated the cooperation he received from members of the council and the council’s secretariat and implored them to extend same to his successor.

Members of the council in return eulogized the outgoing CJN and chairman one after the other and wished him good health in retirement.

Source: NAN

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The decisions are contained in a statement by Mr Soji Oye, the Director of Information of NJC, on Friday in Abuja.

The judges that will receive the warning letters are Justices Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court and Amina Shehu of Yobe High Court.

Ekwo was warned for abuse of discretionary power of a judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023 Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors.

He was also barred from being elevated to a higher bench for a period of two years.

Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court was issued a warning for failure to deliver judgment within stipulated period in Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank, Suit No A/94/2010 after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses.

Brikins-Okolosi will also not be elevated to a higher bench for a period of three years.

The council also cautioned Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in Suit No YBS/HC/NNR/1cv/2020 when there was no subsisting judgement of any court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ.

The NJC said that the council at the meeting considered two reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the committees.

It said that some petitions against various judges were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed.

The dismissed petitions were against Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, S. B. Belgore, Bello Kawu both of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Justices O. A. Chijioke, A. E. Akeredolu and Kadi M. U. El-Mainari who sat on Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State, Justices Paulinus Aneke of High Court Enugu State and C. Anya of Abia State.

Others are Justices M. A. Ikpambese and W. I. Kpochi both of Benue High Court; T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka Chief Judge and B. C. Iheka of Imo High Court, Rose Godwin Soji of Nasarawa High Court; T. J. Yakubu, High Court Taraba; W. N. Danagogo and Chinwendu Nworgu, High Court Rivers State; C. C. Okaa, High Court Anambra State and Hon Justice Abdullahi Sulyman High Court, Kogi.

It said the council also deliberated on the notification of retirements of three judicial officers, including that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and notification of death of three Judges of the Federal and State Courts.

Council also considered the recommendation of its Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria and resolved to recommend 86 Judicial Officers for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of States in Nigeria.

They are 22 Justices of the Court of Appeal.

They are Justices Kwahar Polycarp Terna; Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola; Eleojo Eneche; Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf; Abdullahi Muhammad Liman; Abdu Dogo; Fadawu Umaru; Ishaq Mohammed Sani; Zainab Bage Abubakar; Abdulazeez M.  Anka and Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba.

Others are Justices Nwoye Tochukwu; Nwabunkeonye Onwosi; Okorowe Uwaezuok; Ngozika Okaisabor; Ntong Festus Ntong; Nehizena Afolabi; Nyesom-Wike Suzzette; Babajide Lawal-Akapo; Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem; Oyewumi Oyebiola and Olukayode Adeniyi.

The 12 judges for High Court, FCT, are Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo; Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi; Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike; Odo Celestine Obinna and Hauwa Lawal Gummi.

Others are Abdurahman Usman; Buetnaan Mandy Bassi; Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh; Maryan Iye Yusuf; Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria; Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike and Munirat Ibrahim Tanko.

Seven judges for Imo State High Court are Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi; Uchenna Mary Njoku; Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze; Ononogbo Chidi Linus; Adaego Peace Nosiri; Emeka Ozoma Orafu and Mathew Chinedu Ijezie.

Six judges for Bauchi State High Court are Amin Umar Ilelah; Aliyu Bin Idris; Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi; Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf; Abdussalam Idris Waziri and Kawu A. Yerima.

Three Justices for Taraba State High Court are Hamidu Audu, Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma and Joel Daniel Ubandoma.

The thirteen judges for Lagos State High Court are Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru; Azeez Fimisola Augusta; Alebiosu Olawale Lawal; Adewale Russel Musiliu; Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose; Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed and Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade.

Others are George Alfred Akingbola; Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu; Shonubi Adenike Kudirat; Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola; Layinka Oyeladun Amope and Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin.

Four judges for Kogi State High Court are Ajesola Joseph Sunday; Ojoma Rachael Haruna; Kadiri Badama and Ezema Beatrice Ada.

Two judges for Jigawa State High Court are Mohammad El-Usman and Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo.

Five Kadis for Sharia Court of Appeal Bauchi State are Ishaku Magaji; Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo; Bello Mohammed Sambowal; Muhyiddeen Mohammed and Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin.

Five Kadis for Sharia Court of Appeal, Kogi State are Muhammad Muhammad Bello; Okino Isah Saidu; Yakubu Adavenge Abbas; Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu and Idris Alhaji Abdullahi.

One Kadi for Sharia Court of Appeal, Jigawa, is Mukhtar  Adam.

Three Judges for Imo State Customary Court of Appeal are Everyman Ezenna Eleanya, Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna and Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi.

Two Judges for Customary Court of Appeal, Taraba are Esther Tata and Benjamin Samuila Bawage.

One judge for the Customary Court of Kogi State is Maryann Oziohu Otaru.

The NJC, however, added that the recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the president and their respective state governors.

Source: NAN

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Mr Soji Oye, the NJC’s Director of Information, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, saying the recommendation was at its 104 meeting.

He gave the names of the eleven successful candidates for justices of the Supreme Court as Justices Jummai Hannatu Sankey; Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa; Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme; Haruna Simon Tsammani; Moore Aseimo A. Adumein; Obande Festus Ogbuinya and Stephen Jonah Adah.

Others are Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru; Jamilu Yammama Tukur; Abubakar Sadiq Umar and Mohammed Baba Idris.

Justice of Court of Appeal has Justice Mohammed Ahmed Ramat as its sole candidate.

Other courts have Justice Joel Filibus Agya as the Chief Judge of Taraba State, Umar Abubakar; Chief Judge of Kebbi State, Kadi Sadiq Usman Mukhtar; Grand Khadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kebbi State; A. O. Femi-Segun, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Ogun State.

Others are Justices Alfred Yakubu, President, Customary Court of Appeal; Taraba State, Tajudeen M. Abdulganiyu; President, Customary Court of Appeal Oyo State and Opokuma David Lawrence, Customary Court of Appeal, Bayelsa State.

Ogun State Customary Court of Appeal Awoyomi Bolanle Adenike and Lawal Adeniyi Olusanya as its judges.

Amaebi Ibomo Orukari, is the candidate as High Court Judge, Bayelsa State; Akinyemi Martins Ayodele, High Court Judge, Ogun State, while Cross River State has three High Court judges and they are, Ama Edet Ekpo, Theresa Ansa Agom and Jalarth Ogar Agim.

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Zamfara State has three Khadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, who are Aminu Abdullahi Gusau, Usman Hassan Gummi and Hadi Sani, while Nasarawa has two Kadis as Abubakar Ahmad Tijjani and Aliyu Ibrahim Ebbema.

Kano State has nine High Court Judges.

They are Fatima Adamu; Hauwa Lawal Umar; Musa Ahmad; Musa Daihuru Mohammed; Farida Rabiu Danbappa; Halima Aliyu Nasir; Aisha Mahmoud; Adam Abdullahi and Hanif Sanusi Yusuf.

Nasarawa State has four High Court judges as follows: Esther Mami Ejeh; Ibrahim Dauda Shekarau; Musa Muhammad Dallah and Makama Tanze Benjamin.

Oye noted that all the recommended candidates to the Supreme Court Bench would be sworn-in after the approval of their recommendation by President Bola Tinubu and the subsequent confirmation of their appointment by the Senate.

The various Heads of Court recommended would also be sworn-in upon the approval of their appointment by their various state governors and subsequent confirmation of same by their respective State Houses of Assembly.

The number of justices on the bench of the Supreme Court reduced to 10 with the impending retirement from the apex court of Justice Musa Muhammad on October 27.

Source: NAN

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The summit with the theme, “National Dialogue on Electricity”, being supported by Shell Nigeria, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG; Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; Zenith Bank Plc. And NNPC Limited is conceived for stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, to  deliberate on issues of meeting power transmission needs; a sustainable electricity pool; meeting the nation’s needs across entire spectrum of energy value chain; maintaining balance in gas supply for power generation among others.

WES 2023 is also accommodating a special breakout session tagged Startups on WorldStage with the theme, “The Game Changers” for founders, startup enthusiasts, corporates, angel investors, and media to network and forge the way forward.

Confirmed speakers at the dialogue include Dr. Nnaemeka Ewelukwa, MD/CEO Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET); Engr. Aliyu Tahiri, MD/CEO, Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA); Engr Sule Abdulaziz, MD /CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The organised private sector is expected to make a strong presence at the summit with the participation of Mr Dele Kelvin Oye, National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); and Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

According to the organisers, the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Mr Aminu Maida, will deliver the keynote address for the breakout session with Mr. Tim Akano, CEO, New Horizons Nigeria and Mr. John Tani Obaro, Group Managing Director (GMD), SystemSpecs Holdings as confirmed speakers.

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The recommendation, according to NJC director of information, Mr. Soji Oye, in a statement, was made at the council’s 103rd meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

The meeting considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and at the end of deliberation, recommended the under-listed names of successful candidates as Head of Court and other Judicial Officers for the Federal High Court and the Sharia Courts of Appeal of Kaduna and Kano State.

READ ALSO: Age falsification: NJC recommends retirement of two judges

They are Kadi Muhammad Aminu Danjuma as Grand Kadi Kaduna State while the 23 judges, Federal High Court are:

Ekerete Udofot Akpan

Hussaini Dadan-Garba

Egbe Raphael Joshua

Anyalewa Onoja-Alapa

Aishatu Auta Ibrahim

Ogazi Friday Nkemakonam

Ogundare Kehinde Olayiwola

Onah Chigozie Sergius

Hauwa Buhari

Ibrahim Ahmad Kala

Hauwa Joeph Yilwa

Amina Aliyu Mohammed

Sharon Tanko Ishaya

Chituru Joy Wigwe-Oreh

Musa Kakaki

Owoeye Alexander Oluseyi

Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi

Agbaje Olufunmilola Adetutu

Salim Olasupo Ibrahim

Dipeolu Deinde Isaac

Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr

Abdullahi Muhammad Dan-Ige

Mashkur Salisu

Four Kadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano State are Muhammad Adam Kadem; Salisu Muhammad Isa; Isa Idris Sa’id and Aliyu Muhammad Kani

All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the president and their respective state governors and or confirmation by their state Houses of Assembly, as the case may be.

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The Supreme Court Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Oye said the recommendation was made during the NJC’s 95th meeting held on September 15 and September 16.

He said that all the recommended candidates were expected to be sworn-in after approval by President Muhammadu Buhari and their respective state governors and confirmation by the respective State Houses of Assembly.

“The council considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and recommended the 37 successful candidates to their respective state governors for appointment as Heads of Courts and other Judicial Officers in Nigeria.

“Those recommended as Chief Judges are Justices Richard O. Olorunfemi for Kogi State, Joe Itsebaga Acha for Edo, Akintoroye Williams Akin for Ondo, Husseini Baba Yusuf for FCT,  Ekaette Francesca Fabian-Obot for Akwa Ibom and J. O. Adeyeye for Ekiti.

Others are Baba Gana Mahdi as Grand Kadi, Yobe, Umaru Ahmad Liman as Grand Kadi, Bauchi, Osagede Osado Emmanuel as President, Customary Court of Appeal, Nasarawa, Mashud Akintunde Akinfemi Abass as President, Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State and Siyaka Momoh Jimoh Usman as President Customary Court of Appeal, Kogi.

Three Judges were recommended for High Court of Gombe and they are Zainab Abdulkadir Rasheed, Abdussalam Muhammad and Daurabo Suleiman Sikka.

Akwa Ibom has two, Effiong Asukwo Effiong and Princess Eme Daniel Ekong, Bauchi has one, Nana Fatima Jibril while Kaduna High Court also has two – Abdulkarim Mahmud and Eugene Michael.

The three candidates recommended for Katsina State are Kabir Shuaibu, Ibrahim Ishaku Mashi and Ibrahim Abubakar Mande while Professor Alero Akeredolu was recommended for Ondo State.

Four successful candidates for Oyo State High Court are Olusola Adebisi Adetujoye, Folabimpe Beatrice Segun Olakojo, Professor Taiwo Elijah Adewale and Kareem Adeyimika Adedokun.

The Kogi State three candidates for its High Court are Abubakar Sule Ibrahim, Abdullah Sulyman as well as Aminu Ali Eri.

Two Kadis for Gombe Sharia Court of Appeal are Adamu Kuna Jibril and Ahmed Baba Bala while the four for Bauchi are Musa Sani Abubakar, Mahdi Manga, Khamis Al-Hamidallah Muhammad and Sani Musa with Ondo State having one in the person of Orimisan James Okorisa and Oyo Customary Court of Appeal having Ajadi Olubukola Omolayo.

Source: NAN

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The government delegation comprising the Secretary to the State Government, Biodun Oyebanji; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Biodun Omoleye; Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social development, Chief (Mrs) Moji Fafure; Commissioner for Environment, Gbenga Ageyo; lawmaker representing Ido/Osi I at the State Assembly, Abiodun Fawekun,  and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr (Mrs) Enuice Oladimeji, visited the two families in Ido-Ekiti and Usi –Ekiti on Friday afternoon.

The delegation led by Oyebanji visited Mrs Esther Okunofua, mother of Joseph, who was a 300 level student of Biology Education in Ido -Ekiti and Mr and Mrs Adedayo Dada, parents of Kehinde Dada in Usi Ekiti.

Oyebanji said the visit was at the instance the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who was saddened by the unfortunate incident, adding that the visit was to demonstrate that the state government shared in their grief and to encourage them during the trying period.

“On the instruction of the governor, delegation of the government is here to condole with the families that lost their loved ones during the unfortunate incident that happened in Oye Ekiti. We are here to commiserate, encourage them to take heart and to assure them that government is with them in this trying period,” Oyebanji said.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Chief (Mrs) Moji Fafure, who also spoke with the parents in Yoruba language urged the parents of the deceased to take solace in the word of God as no amount of counselling can fill the vacuum created by the irreparable loss.

She also prayed for the families.

“The governor and his wife sent their condolence messages. They share in your grief over the unfortunate incident and they prayed that God in His mercies will not allow a reoccurrence. The loss is painful but it is our prayer that the Almighty God will keep your remaining children safe. Never again will you bury any of your children,” she said.

At the resident of the late Kehinde Dada, the deceased’s elder brother, Bankole Dada, thanked the government delegation for sharing in their grief.

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