News
IPOB: Nnamdi Kanu tells Justice Nyako to recuse herself from trying him on terrorism charges
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has recused herself from trying the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice Nyako remitted the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho for reassignment to another judge, following the lack of no confidence in her by the complainant, Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu, who has been in detention questioned the jurisdiction of Justice Nyako to continue to try him on terrorism charges preferred against him by the Federal Government of Nigeria and urged that she recuse herself from further trying him.
The IPOB leader has been on terrorism trial since 2021 that he was detained in the facility of the Department of State Services, DSS with the case being halted on Monday following Justice Nyako recusing herself in an oral application by his defence lawyer on 24th September, 2024.
The Chief Judge however, rejected the case file brought before him by Justice Nyako, insisting that Kanu’s application for Justice Binta Nyako to recuse herself must come through formal application by way of motion on notice.
Consequently, in a letter dated December 5, 2024, addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the prosecution counsel, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of the trial of the IPOB leader.
Opposing the request for a trial date, the defence counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, in a letter dated December 9, 2024, said the ruling of Justice Nyako recusing herself remains valid.
Ejimakor asked that the case be transferred to a Federal High Court in the South-East if no judge in Abuja is willing to preside over it, a request which was not granted.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Justice Nyako said the Chief Judge had not accepted her recusal and had referred the case back to her.
She asked the defence team, led by Aloy Ejimakor to come up with a written application if they still insist on the recusal.
Earlier, the Prosecution counsel led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN said they were ready for the commencement of trial as his witnesses were ready.
Addressing the court, a furious Kanu questioned why he was brought before Justice Nyako. He said all that the judge said was meaningless to him and that, he does not recognise the authority of the court presided by Justice Nyako in his case.
The IPOB leader said he was only in court because of the respect he has for the rule of law, adding that the judge had previously recused herself from the case.
Kanu said he was not happy with the decision of the Chief Judge who returned the case to Justice Nyako, insisting that the prosecution could not prosecute him.
The prosecution counsel, Chief Awomolo who took an objection to Kanu’s remarks, asked for a definite date for the hearing and added that it was not right for Kanu to insult the court.
Despite Kanu’s objection, Justice Nyako adjourned his case indefinitely for trial.
Despite Kanu’s insistence on Monday that Justice Nyako has no jurisdiction over his case, the judge adjourned the matter indefinitely.
All political office holders who were appointed by the embattled governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara have been suspended from office by the Sole Administrator of the State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
They were suspended from office with immediate effect, according to a statement by the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator, saying the decision followed powers granted the Sole Administrator by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff to Fubara were among those suspended from office.
Commissioners, chairpersons and members of boards, agencies, commissions, and parastatals, as well as all Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants were all relieved of their appointments.
“This suspension takes effect from Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The affected officers are to hand over to the permanent secretaries in their MDAs.
“Where there may be no permanent secretary, they are to hand over to the most senior director/head of administration,” the statement read.
Ibas was sworn in as Sole Administrator on Wednesday, March 19, by President Bola Tinubu after the President declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The President also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
Ibas, who is a former Chief of Naval Staff, vowed to maintain law and order in the state.
“If the main issue is that of maintaining law and order in the state, I think for any meaningful activities to take place in Rivers State, that is the utmost task that I have,” he said to State House correspondents after the swearing-in.
He also promised to work together with other stakeholders to ensure that order is restored in the state.
Agency Report
The 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Bayero, has announced the cancellation of the Eid-el-Fitr Durbar celebration due to security concerns in the state.
Emir Bayero made this announcement while briefing newsmen at his Nasarawa Mini Palace in Kano on Wednesday night.
He said that the peaceful coexistence of the people takes precedence over the Durbar celebration.
Emir Bayero had initially planned to hold the Durbar celebration, which would have coincided with his fifth year anniversary on the throne.
He noted that respected Islamic clerics, elders, stakeholders, and his council members advised him to cancel the celebration to maintain peace.
Emir Bayero urged the people of Kano to use the Sallah celebration period to visit families and friends and to observe the festivities in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
He prayed for Allah’s blessings and mercy during the month of Ramadan, hoping that the people of Kano would receive forgiveness and mercy.
NAN
Overland Airways, Nigeria’s longest serving private domestic airline, in partnership with Niger State Government, is pleased to announce the commencement of flight services to Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport Minna, the capital city of Niger State from Lagos and Abuja, effective April 23, 2025.
Overland Airways will operate three (3) weekly flights on the Minna-Lagos-Minna route and three (3) weekly flights on the Minna-Abuja-Minna route. These flights will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays using Overland Airways’ brand-new Embraer 175 aircraft.
Flights will depart Lagos to Minna at 8am and Minna to Lagos at 3pm. Flights from Minna to Abuja will depart at 9:30am while Abuja to Minna will depart at 2pm.
Capt. Edward Boyo, Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Executive of Overland Airways says: ‘We are excited to commence flight services to Minna from Abuja the Federal Capital and Lagos the Commercial hub of Nigeria. This flight services will facilitate trade, tourism and economic activities in Niger State and its environs and support the Government of Niger State in its quest to attract more direct investments and improve the livelihood of citizens of the State. We thank particularly His Excellency Mohammed Umar Bago, the Executive Governor of the Niger State for his passionate commitment to the growth and development of the State and for making the dream of a connected Niger State come true.”
The Niger State Ministry of Transport in collaboration with the New Niger Development Project (NNDP), jointly stated, “It has been an uphill journey to bring the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport to fruition—from its construction to its operationalization. Today, we are immensely proud to see this dream become a reality. We are honoured to have Overland Airways as the pioneer airline for this project, setting the foundation for expanded air travel connectivity in Niger State. Mr. Governor is particularly proud of this achievement, which aligns with his vision of modernizing infrastructure and boosting economic development in Niger State.”
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the New Niger Aviation, Alhaji Liman Katamba Kutigi, says: “This partnership with Overland Airways will ensure regular and robust flight services from Abuja and Lagos to Minna, Niger State. We are thrilled to partner with Overland Airways, which has a reputation for excellent customer service and reliability, and look forward to working together to reposition the aviation sector and economy of Niger State.”
“Known as the Power State, Niger State, the largest state in Nigeria by landmass and host of major hydroelectric power dams and other businesses, requires reliable air services to drive its economic development and Overland Airways is uniquely positioned to meet this need”, says Capt. Boyo.
Overland Airways service offering has evolved from an all-turboprop fleet to a mixed fleet with the introduction of brand-new Embraer E175 jets. In October 2024, Overland Airways renewed its IOSA safety certification for the 5th consecutive time reaffirming its position as a safe and leading African carrier.
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