News
NJC stops Yahaya Bello from appointing wife, relations as Judges
The National Judicial Council, NJC, has stopped governor Yahaya Bello from appointing his wife, Barrister Amina Bello and some of his blood relations as Judges.
Bello had submitted names of lawyers from Kogi State for appointment to serve as Judges for the 10 vacant positions, out of which 80 percent of the names he forwarded to the National Judicial Council were from Ebira speaking tribe in Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Those he appointed which would have been confirmed by the National Judicial Council in line with the provision of NJC are mostly from his clan, a development that was rejected by the NJC upon the discovery of the lopsidedness in his appointment.
They were to serve as Judges and Kadis.
The rejection of Yahaya Bello’s appointment was contained in a statement by the NJC Secretary, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, Esq, in reaction to earlier petition filed by a league of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) from Kogi East informing NJC about Governor Bello’s act of nepotism in appointing the Judges and Kadis.
The statement reads: “I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 10 January, 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the National Judicial Council being the apex body in the Judiciary understands that respecting the authority of the court is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental aspect of maintaining a fair and just legal system. As such, the NJC has always been in the forefront of advocating for respect to the rule of law.
“Thus, I wish to inform you that once a suit is instituted against any appointment process, Council do put on hold the process, pending the determination of the matter. Consequently, the NJC has put on hold the process of appointment of Judges and Kadis for the Kogi State Judiciary.”
The names forwarded by Yahaya Bello include his blood relations, nephews, his wife, Amina Bello and family friends.
Titled “RE: Provisional Short-list Of Candidates Of Ten Judicial Officers Of The High Court Of Justice Shariah Court Of Appeal And Customary Court Of Appeal,” the indigenous Kogi SANs stated that appointment of Judges to superior courts of record was regulated and required provision of basic facilities such as availability of courtrooms/Judges chambers, official cars, residential accommodation as well as equipped library in Judges’ chambers, citing Rules 1-5 of National Judicial Council Revised Guidelines.
In the 12-point issues raised in the letter signed by Yunus Ustaz Usman, Life Bencher for himself and on behalf of 16 other Senior Advocates, the legal luminaries also pointed out that the proposed candidates listed for appointments of judges did not reflect the geographical spread. They noted that the list was lopsided to the disadvantage of other parts of the state.
According to the letter, the candidates listed for customary Court of Appeal were all from Kogi Central and there was no candidate from Kogi East or Kogi West, noting that there were qualified persons from Kogi East and Kogi West that were not selected.
Shortlisted candidates for the Bench:
The list contains the names of the shortlisted candidates for appointment to the 10 (Ten) vacant positions for Judges and Kadis
HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
1) Badiru Abdulghaniy, Esq.
2) Ezema Beatrice Ada, Esq.
3) Ibrahim Idenyi
4) Amina Yahaya Bello, Esq.
5) Joseph Sunday Ajesola Esq.
6) Dr Mohammed Tanko Esq.
7) Badama Kadiri, Esq.
8) Umaru Medina, Esq.
9) Ibrahim Jubril, Oladimeji, Esq.
10) Ojoma Rachael Haruna, Esq.
11) Zakari Wahab
12) Halimat Onuka
SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL
1) Idris Alhaji Abdullahi, Esq.
2) Abdulwasiu Oladele Salaudeen
3) Muhammad Muhammad Bello, Esq.
4) Mohammed Usman, Agaba, Esq.
5) Okino Isah Saidu, Esq.
6) Abdulaziz Muhammad Abdulmali
7) Ganiyu Adeku, Esq.
8) Yakubu Adavenge Abbas
9) Hassan Hussaini
10) Musa Muhammad Jibreel
11) Hussaini Zakariya Labaran, Esq.
12) Salihu Abdullahi
13) Idrees Usman Abdullahi
14) Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu
CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL
1) Musa Onogo Idris, Esq.
2) Maryann Oziohu, Esq.
3) Shaibu Ozovehe Ebenezer, Esq.
Bello will end his eight years tenure as governor of Kogi State on January, 2024
Over 1,500 residents have benefited from a Fidelity Food Bank outreach in Kabuga community, Dala Local Government Area of Kano state.
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, executed in partnership with Misnoory Foundation, saw staff of the bank distribute essential food items to support people during the holy month of Ramadan.
Commenting on the distribution event, Divisional Head, Brands and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, emphasized the bank’s dedication to supporting its host communities through impactful projects.
“Social responsibility is at the heart of who we are as a bank. Our Fidelity Food Bank initiative is one of the way we drive social welfare in our host communities. The initiative was launched to support the vulnerable and alleviate the impact of hunger in the society as part of our contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger.
“Consequently, we have distributed more than 150,000 food packs at outreach events like this across the country since April 2023 when we launched the initiative. Our outreach in Kabuga is designed to support women, widows, children and the community with food items for the Ramadan season.”
On her part, the Founder, Misnoory Foundation, Maryam Isa Inuwa stated that, “The commitment of the foundation towards poverty alleviation and various humanitarian support to society’s most vulnerable members perfectly aligns with the Fidelity Bank initiative.
“Fidelity Bank is one of the major sponsors of our humanitarian outreaches to the needy in the society. The foundation is delighted to count on the bank as a long-standing partner.
“We seek to touch the lives of many people in need through our various humanitarian efforts across different communities and today, it is the turn of Kabuga community to benefit from the Fidelity Food Bank program”.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 8.5 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Awards; the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023; and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards.
It was also recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023 and the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, has commended his principal for assenting to South West and South – South Development Commissions Bills as well as the Nigeria Anti – Doping Bill 2025.
Senator Lado who made the commendation in a personally signed statement, described presidential assets to the bills as monumental milestone and testament to visionary leadership and national progress.
The statement reads: “I extend my warmest congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for yet another historic achievement his decisive and visionary assent to the South-West Development Commission Bill, the South-South Development Commission Bill, and the Nigeria Anti-Doping Bill, 2025.
“These landmark legislations are a clear reflection of President Tinubu’s relentless commitment to inclusive governance, equitable progress, and Nigeria’s emergence as a global powerhouse.
“His Excellency has once again demonstrated that leadership is not merely about policies—it is about impact, legacy, and a deep-rooted dedication to uplifting every citizen.
“By signing into law the establishment of the South-West and South-South Development Commissions, President Tinubu has reaffirmed his role as a transformational leader who prioritizes regional empowerment, economic expansion, and infrastructural excellence.
Building on the foundation of his earlier assent to the South-East and North -West Development Commissions, it is evident that President Tinubu is deliberate in bringing development across all regions.
“These commissions will serve as catalysts for industrial growth, job creation, and social advancement—ensuring that every corner of Nigeria benefits from his administration’s progressive vision. This is the mark of a true statesman—one who understands that a nation’s strength lies in its ability to uplift all regions without bias.
“In the same vein, the Nigeria Anti-Doping Bill, 2025 is yet another bold step that solidifies Nigeria’s commitment to fairness, excellence, and integrity in global sports.
“President Tinubu has once again positioned Nigeria as a nation of high ethical standards, ensuring that our athletes compete on the world stage with honor and credibility. By domesticating the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sports, his administration has safeguarded the future of Nigerian sports, protecting our athletes from unfair practices while reinforcing our global reputation as a country that upholds integrity.
“This momentous occasion underscores President Tinubu’s unmatched leadership—one that is proactive, decisive, and deeply attuned to the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian people.
His ability to enact groundbreaking policies that foster unity, drive economic prosperity, and elevate our international standing speaks volumes of his unwavering dedication to national transformation”.
News
BREAKING: Key contact details missing in petition to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has acknowledged receiving a petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District but noted that key contact details of the petitioners were missing.
In a press release signed by Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission stated that the petition was submitted with six bags of documents containing signatures from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in the district.
However, the covering letter only provided a general location, “Okene, Kogi State,” without a specific address or multiple contact numbers as required by INEC’s regulations.
INEC emphasized that the recall process is guided by the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and its 2024 Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.
The commission assured that once the petition meets all requirements, it will proceed with verifying the signatures using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in an open process involving petitioners, observers, and the media.
INEC is currently making efforts to reach the petitioners through other means and urged the public to disregard speculation on social media regarding the recall process.
Kano residents benefit from Fidelity Food Bank initiative
Lado commends President Tinubu for assenting to South-South, South West Commission bills
BREAKING: Key contact details missing in petition to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan – INEC
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