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The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, ordered that he should be released to his lawyers.

“There must be an end to detention without trial” the judge held, stressing that it was the refusal of the Economic and Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC, to comply with the order the court made on November 2, that led to the ruling.

Besides, the court held that it could not allow Emefiele to remain in custody owing to claim of the Federal Government that he would on November 15, be arraigned on a fresh charge.

It held that the claim was speculative as there was nothing to establish that the planned arraignment would hold as scheduled.

More so, the court noted that a purported remand order that FG’s lawyer tendered before it, which was signed by an Abuja Chief Magistrate, bore conflicting dates.

“A very crucial fact that this court cannot overlook is the Applicant’s claim that he has been incarcerated for a period of upward of 151 days without trial,” Justice Adeniyi added.

He held that section 298(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, empowered the court to make necessary orders, even when there is a remand order against an Applicant.

Consequently, the court directed that Emefiele should be released to a team of three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, that represented him in the matter.

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It held that the lawyers should produce him in court on November 15 for his planned arraignment or at any other date that he is required to appear in court.

Justice Adeniyi directed Emefiele to surrender all his international documents to the most senior Registrar of the court, pending his arraignment.

It subsequently adjourned further proceedings in the matter till November 17.

The ruling followed a fundamental right enforcement suit that the erstwhile CBN boss, who has been in detention for about five months, filed through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Matthew Burkaa, SAN.

Cited as Respondents in the suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/040/2023, are; the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as well as the anti-graft agency itself.

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had on June 9, suspended Emefiele from office as the head of the apex bank.

He was later arrested at his Lagos residence by the Department of State Services, DSS.

Emefiele had since then, faced a two-count charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition before the Federal High Court in Lagos, as well as a 20-count corruption charge that the Federal Government entered against him and two others before an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama.

However, proceedings in both cases were put on hold, following the decision of the Defendants to explore a plea bargain deal with FG.

The former CBN boss was subsequently transferred to the EFCC detention facility, by the DSS.

FG had in opposition to Emefiele’s request for bail, notified the court that he would on November 15, be arraigned on a fresh charge.

It will be recalled that Justice Adeniyi had on November 2, ordered the anti-graft agency to either release the embattled former CBN Governor, unconditionally, or produce him in court to be granted bail.

In compliance to the directive, the EFCC produced him on court for the hearing of his bail application.

Nigeria’s currency, the Naira, experienced a slight depreciation against the US Dollar in the foreign exchange market on Tuesday.

According to data from the official FMDQ market, the Naira closed the day at 809.2 Naira per US Dollar, marking a decrease of 28.3 Naira compared to the previous day’s rate of 780.09 Naira per US Dollar.

In the parallel market, the Naira was traded at rates varying between 1030 and 1100 Naira per US Dollar on the same day. Additionally, on the Binance P2P market, the Naira’s exchange rate stood at 1020 Naira per US Dollar.

Tope Fasua, serving as a Special Adviser on the Economy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, issued a cautionary message to currency speculators, suggesting that the Central Bank’s policies and government-led initiatives under President Tinubu’s administration would likely counter their expectations.

At a book launch event held in Abuja on Tuesday, Fasua stated, “For those speculating and hoping that the currency will weaken, I believe that the central bank is implementing policies, and the government, led by the President, will surprise some of them.”

Expressing confidence in the future trajectory of the Naira, Fasua highlighted the belief that, with President Tinubu’s administration implementing strategic policies, the Naira is anticipated to appreciate 600 Naira per US Dollar soon.

The Lagos State University (LASU) has removed the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Tajudeen Olumoko, following allegations of certificate racketeering.

The allegations follow a report on Monday claiming that a syndicate was selling genuine LASU certificates for between N2m and N3m.

In response to the allegations, the university has appointed a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Dr Abiodun Fatai-Abatan, as acting DSA.

The removal has been confirmed by a source at the university. “Yes, it is true, Olumoko has been removed, and Abatan has taken over as DSA. This happened yesterday (Tuesday),” the source said.

However, the university’s Coordinator for Information and Public Relations, Oluwayemisi Thomas-Onashile, has denied any knowledge of the removal, stating, “I can’t say if he has been removed or not. I am not yet in the office. So, I don’t know anything yet.”

The Lagos State House of Assembly had on Tuesday said it will invite the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Akibu, the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the Senate of the tertiary institution and other top staff over the allegations of extortion and certificate racketeering levelled against the school.

Protest has disrupted the stakeholders meeting organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the governorship election in Imo state this Saturday.

Politics Nigeria gathered that trouble started immediately after INEC’s national commissioner representing South East, Kenneth Ukeagu, ordered journalists to turn off their cameras and other gadgets.

Ukeagu was the representative of the national nhairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, at the event.

Members of the opposition political parties led by the running mates of the Labour Party governorship candidate, Tony Nwulu, and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jones Onyereri, opposed the directive.

They alleged that the call by INEC’s chairman was a confirmation that the All Progressives Congress had made arrangements with the electoral umpire to rig the election.

Nwulu insisted that there was no way the media would be shut out of the stakeholders’ meeting.

He asked Ukeagu if the meeting was “a secret cult” and said that it was a plan by INEC to rig the election in favour of the APC.

The PDP governorship candidate’s running mate, Onyereri supported Nwulu and displayed copies of documents he described as fake results sheets posted on the INEC’s portal during the House of Assembly election in the state.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asserted that the upcoming November 11 governorship election in Imo State is not necessarily bound to proceed as scheduled.

Uchenna Ekwe, the NLC Head of International Relations, made this declaration during an interview on Channels TV on Wednesday. Ekwe emphasised that the Imo populace has been subjected to relentless violence, rendering the election ineffective.

He further stated that Imo workers have lost faith in the election’s ability to bring about any meaningful change.

Ekwe questioned, “Talking about the election, in Imo in particular, did the votes count? How did he (Hope Uzodinma) become governor? In Imo, is the place not terrorized?”

“Go to Imo I challenge you, you won’t see a poster of any other party, you can’t even see a tiny poster of any other party. Get feedback from your correspondents in Imo, ask them in the whole street on Owerri whether there is a poster of any other party,” he challenged.

Ekwe expressed scepticism regarding the prospect of a credible election, citing the disruption of an INEC meeting. He maintained that workers and the general populace have lost confidence in the election’s ability to yield positive outcomes.

How can you say election is coming up, INEC meeting was disrupted, how can you hope that there will be any election, we don’t have faith, even the workers don’t have faith that the election will determine anything, that is the truth,” Ekwe asserted.

“We don’t believe election in Imo will produce anything because the Imo people have been crushed, violence have taken over the place. We are not telling them not to come out to vote but the people will be scared to come out,” he added.

Must there be election in Imo, will the world end? Will the world end if there is no election in Imo State? No, the world would not end, we are not disrupting election,” he concluded.

…… vows to punish racketeers, extortionist

The Acting Director-General/Chief Executive Officer National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)
Engr. Abisoye Coker Odusote has assured residents of the federal capital territory (FCT) of the readiness of the commission to clear issues of backlog and ensure seamless collection of the National Identification Number (NIN).

Odusote who gave the assurance on Tuesday during an impromptu visit to the Corporate office of the Commission in Abuja expressed displeasure over the slow pace of registration, collection process and the working condition of the staff and Nigerians waiting to be attended to.

‘We will work to resolve these issues immediately, as am heading back to my office, am going to make sure that I start addressing these issues because there is no reason you should be under the sun waiting to be registered with NIMC.

‘So I do apologize to you and I will make sure that whatever is going to be done will be done within 3 to 4 days because this queues here is too long and we can’t continue like this, there are shortage of systems up there but we are going to make sure we look into these.”

Meanwhile, odusote noted that the issues of racketeering will be duly addressed as culprits will not go scot free if found guilty of extorting members of the public.

“I have my inspectorate and enforcement head and the CSO right here with me I have set up a committee in conjunction with the police for them to address these issues, very soon we will start to see some changes as all extortion going on here will soon stop and it is not just here but in our offices nationwide.”

Odusote however pledged a better working condition and a conducive environment including a seamless process for NIN registration and collection.

‘Like I said we have taken stock that we are currently taking an assessment audit in all our offices for us to assess the conditions of the offices so there will definitely be a rehabilitation of our offices it is not right for Nigerians who want there NIN done to be conducted in an unconducive environment.’

She charged staff of the commission to work assiduously and maintained that data of Nigerians are critical and national assets hence must be guided jealously.

All primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions in Kogi State will be closed from Friday, November 10 to Tuesday, November 14, 2023, in observance of the upcoming gubernatorial election.

The directive was issued by the Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon Wemi Jones, in a statement released on Tuesday.

Jones stated that the closure is to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment for the conduct of the election. He urged all eligible voters to exercise their civic duty and participate in the electoral process.

Schools will resume regular academic activities on Wednesday, November 15, the commissioner said.

The Bauchi State Police Command has apprehended two suspects in connection with the tragic death of Muhammadu Murtala Ali, a 43-year-old man who lost his life while testing the effectiveness of a bulletproof charm.

The incident occurred on October 30 in Zaki Local Government area of the state.

According to a statement from Ahmed Wakil, the Police Command’s spokesperson, Danladi Ya’u, a native doctor of Damaiwa village, Bursali ward in Zaki LGA, and three other accomplices (currently at large), went into the bush to test a bulletproof charm on the deceased.

Unfortunately, Murtala was shot dead with a locally-made gun by Danladi Ya’u.

Upon receiving the report, a team of detectives, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Zaki, responded and arrived at the crime scene to evacuate the body of the victim to the General Hospital in Jakusko, Yobe State, where he was certified dead.

Wakil disclosed that two suspects were promptly arrested, and efforts are underway to track down and apprehend the remaining accomplices.

“The investigation is ongoing, and the defendants will be brought to court as the case unfolds,” he stated

In response to the recent brutalisation of the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the Nigeria Police Force in Imo State, the Organised Labour, comprising the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has declared a comprehensive shutdown of services in the state.

Decisions taken at an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday afternoon mandated a shutdown, including the cessation of electricity and fuel supplies. Aviation workers have also been directed to suspend flights into and out of Imo state.

A communique released after the meeting stated, “The NEC-in-session orders the immediate withdrawal of services and shutdown of Imo State beginning midnight today. All workers and affiliates are expected to ensure compliance from wherever they are. All flights into and out of Imo state, fuel supplies and electricity be stopped immediately as applicable. All Public and Private Sector workers are to immediately down tools indefinitely.”

The Organised Labour’s implementation is set to begin at midnight on November 8, 2023, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing standoff between the unions and the state authorities.

The labour centres had issued a five-day ultimatum on Friday, demanding the redeployment of the Imo State Commissioner of Police and the arrest and prosecution of a government aide allegedly involved in the assault on Ajaero.

Ajaero’s arrest ahead of a statewide protest in Imo triggered a contentious narrative between the police, who claimed his custody was protective, and Governor Hope Uzodimma, who accused the labour leader of interfering in state politics.

The assault on Ajaero has garnered condemnation from various quarters, including notable figures such as Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, and human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN).