Davidson Iriekpen writes that there have been enduring calls for withdrawal of the list of judges sent from the National Judicial Council to President Muhammadu Buhari for breaching the Federal Character principle
Never in the history of Nigeria has the appointment of judges and justices for the country’s federal courts attracted so much condemnations and rejection as it has done since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power and since Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad became the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
While the country is still trying to cope with hullabaloo that followed the release of the list of 33 judges for appointment into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court last December, another hue and cry is trailing the list of justices for the Court of Appeal sent to President Buhari for his approval by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and National Judicial Council.
Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), has berated Kaduna-based Muslim Cleric, Sheik Abubakar Gumi over his recent call on government to grant amnesty to bandits terrorising some states in the Northern part of the country.
The leaders in a statement jointly issued yesterday by Mr. Yinka Odumakin (South-west), Chief Guy Ikoku (South-east), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-south), and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), frowned at the statement made by the cleric during his appearance on a live television programme, asking for amnesty for bandits whom he said are fighting against the injustices Nigeria has done to the North.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has reacted to a statement credited to the Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, on the ongoing crisis caused by the activities of Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria.
Gumi, who featured in a programme on African Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday, claimed that the bandits are terrorising communities in the North-West and North-Central because of the injustice meted out to them by the Nigerian nation.
He also repeated his call for amnesty for the armed bandits.
However, in a statement jointly signed by Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Chief Guy Ikokwu South-East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle-Belt), the Forum insisted that Gumi has only revealed his kind of person with the claim of injustice to the bandits.
Amnesty for Bandits: PANDEF, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, M-Belt leaders blast Gumi
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By Dapo Akinrefon
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, Thursday, lampooned Sheik Gunmi who called for amnesty for bandits whom he said are fighting against the injustices Nigeria has done to the North.
In a statement entitled “Gumi Removes The Veil”, the forum asked Gumi whether the Hausa are protesting the injustices Fulani “are doing to them and the rest of Nigeria.”
The statement was signed by Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Chief Guy Ikokwu (South-East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt).
The statement read: “The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum is not in the least surprised by Sheik Gunmi unveiling of his real being on AIT this morning, asking for amnesty for bandits whom he said are fighting against the injustices Nigeria has done to the North.
By Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nwezeh and Udora Orizu in Abuja
There was excitement at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja and other zonal offices nationwide yesterday as President Muhammadu Buhari broke with tradition to pick an operative, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, as the next chairman of the commission.
Buhari in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, sought legislative approval for the 40-year-old nominee from Kebbi State.
If the Senate ratifies his nomination, Bawa will succeed Mr. Ibrahim Magu, who had been acting as EFCC chairman since November 9, 2015, until his suspension on July 7, 2020.