TheNewsGuru

Tag: CCT

  • Buhari not behind Onnoghen’s trial at CCT – Presidency

    Buhari not behind Onnoghen’s trial at CCT – Presidency

    …says Buhari still in shock over CJN’s planned trial

    The Special Adviser to the President on Politics, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, said last night that President Muhammadu Buhari did not ask the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to resign.

    Ojudu made the clarification in a comment posted on CACOL WhatsApp group.

    It was the first reaction by a government official to the controversy generated by the filing of charges against Justice Onnoghen.

    He said: “Buhari never at any time demanded CJ’s resignation. I challenge anyone who says so to cite the pronouncement, the press statement or quote any public official who made such announcement.”

    According to close sources, the Presidency was not in support of the planned trial of Justice Onnoghen for alleged failure to declare his assets.

    Buhari, according to well-placed Presidency sources, was shocked about the development.

    Sources said the planned trial may have been hatched by fifth columnists in the corridors of power to embarrass the Presidency and create misunderstanding between the judiciary and the federal government.

    Speaking on conditions of anonymity last night, official government sources explained that the only impact such an action would generate at this time is distasteful.

    “Let me tell you point blank Mr. President is not aware and was shocked at the development. It is not going to fly,” a top government official said.

    Another official said: “whatever may be the merits of the case being put against the CJN, it is not advisable at this time. So it is not about the rightness of the planned action.”

    Asked whether the trial would go ahead, the source said: “what is certain right now is that this came as a shock to the Presidency and does not enjoy approval of any kind. You can figure out the rest.”

    When contacted last night over the matter, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that he had not been briefed on the matter.

    “I have not been briefed on it,” was all he said.

  • Alleged false asset declaration: CCT constitutes panel to try CJN Onnoghen

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has raised a panel to try Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Walter Onnoghen, who is accused of lying in his asset declaration.

    The tribunal on Saturday announced that corruption charges had been raised against Mr Onnoghen and the trial will commence on Monday.

    TNG gathered that the case is built on a petition filed by a civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative.

    The petition dated January 7, 2019, accuses Mr Onnoghen of managing several accounts through which has been making transfers of local and foreign currencies in “a manner inconsistent with financial accuracy,” the petition signed by the group’s executive secretary, Denis Aghanya, said.

    In its statement, the CCT said the trial “was consequent to application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman yesterday for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on six count charges”.

    “The application was filed yesterday by the operatives of CCB, dated 11st January, 2019 and signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq), containing 6 count charges all borders on non declaration of asset,” a statement signed by Ibraheem Al-Hassan, head of press and public relations of CCT, said.

    A three-member panel led by Justice Danladi Umar will commence the trial on Monday at its courtroom, situated at the headquarter, along Jabi Daki Biyu, Saloman Lar way, Abuja, at about 10:00 a.m.

  • BREAKING: FG orders CJN to vacate office, to be arraigned before CCT Monday

    The Federal Government has asked the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, to immediately vacate his exalted office as Head of the Nation’s judiciary over alleged sundry asset declaration issues.
    In a move to force Justice Onnoghen out of office, the Federal Government will on January 14, 2019 arraign the CJN before the Justice Danladi Yakubu-led Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja on charges of failure to declare his assets as required by law and for operating Domiciliary Accounts.
    The charge, sighted by PRNigeria against Justice Onnoghen, has already been filed and served on him on Friday at his official residence in Abuja, preparatory for his appearance at the tribunal.
    The Federal Government among others is accusing Nigeria’s Head of the Judiciary of refusal to declare his assets in breach of the provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
    He is also being accused of maintaining domiciliary accounts made up of Dollars, Pound Sterling and Euro Accounts, which are alleged to be contrary to relevant laws, especially for public office holders.
    Justice Onnoghen, whose appointment suffered unprecedented delay by President Muhammadu Buhari over undisclosed issues, may be the first CJN in Nigeria to be arraigned for criminal charges by the Federal Government.
    Apart from putting the Chief Justice in the dock on Monday, PRNigeria learnt that a motion on notice is to be filed against him, praying the tribunal to order him to vacate office and recuse himself of the office so as to prevent alleged interference in his arraignment and trial.
    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who sought anonymity, has been engaged by the Federal Government to lead the onslaught against Justice Onnoghen, while PRNigeria could not ascertain the names of those who will lead the defence team for the CJN.
    It was gathered that eminent lawyers have volunteered to put their services at the disposal of Justice Onnoghen in the bid to rescue him from the claws of the government.
    It would be recalled the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was in 2015 shortly after he emerged the head of the legislature arraigned at the tribunal.
    But the charges against him were quashed and he was discharged and acquitted by the tribunal on the ground that the charges against him by the government were based on hearsay that could not stand in the face of the law.
    Saraki’s discharge and acquittal was upheld by the Supreme Court under the leadership of Justice Onnoghen.

  • CCT: Bauchi introduces electronic payment to curb logistics, other challenges

    The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Unit in Bauchi says it has introduced electronic payment system to beneficiaries in the state, for ease of transaction.
    State Coordinator of the unit, Mr Jibrin Yusuf, said in Alkaleri, Bauchi, on Wednesday while launching the new mode of payment, that the system would address logistic challenges and the crowding of beneficiaries at centres during payment.
    “The electronic payment mode will ease logistics problems and the congestion of beneficiaries at centres during payment period.
    “We are using the new system in effecting payment of September and October entitlements,to also reduce the challenges of transportation,” he said.
    Also speaking while monitoring the disbursement in Alkaleri, the state CCT Focal Person,MrAliyu Abdullahi, said 1,183 beneficiaries from 20 communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area, were being paid using the newly introduced electronic payment mode.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CCT is one of the many Social Investment Programmes introduced by the Federal Government aimed at poverty alleviation.
    The requirement for implementation of the CCT in states is the possession of an existing social register that identifies the most vulnerable and poorest Nigerians in their localities, through a community-based targeting method designed by the World Bank.
    The other three programmes are: N-Power Volunteer Corps, which is designed to hire half a million unemployed graduates; the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, which aims to provide meals to school children.
    The social investment programmes also includes the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which provides soft loans ranging from N10,000 to N100,000 for artisans, traders, market women, amongst others. (NAN)

  • Saraki gives reason for fallout with Goodluck Jonathan

    Saraki gives reason for fallout with Goodluck Jonathan

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has given reason for his fallout with former President Goodluck Jonathan in a spat that climaxed in 2015 leading to the presidential elections of that year.

    In a statement personally signed by him, Saraki said the fracas between him and former President Jonathan was not unconnected to the fuel subsidy scam.

    “In the history of this country, the highest fraud, the most brazen corruption has been the Fuel Subsidy scam. No one wanted to talk about it or confront entrenched powers.

    “As a Senator on the platform of the ruling party at that time, I sponsored a motion on the floor of the Senate calling for investigation that led to the unprecedented exposure of the massive corruption in the fuel subsidy regime.

    “That was my only point of departure with the former President,” Saraki stated.

    In the statement after the judgement of the Supreme Court which upheld the earlier decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) discharging and acquitting him of 18 charges instituted against him, Saraki said he believes in fighting corruption and that he has made his own humble contributions to the fight against corruption.

    “I believe in fighting corruption and I have made my own humble contributions to the fight against corruption in this country.

    “As a presidential aide, I initiated the process that led to the enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

    “I was the first governor to establish the Price Intelligence Unit which later metamorphosed into the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) at the federal level,” he said.

    Saraki reiterated his confidence in the judicial process and the ability of the Judiciary to do justice to all manners of men and in all circumstances.

    He expressed gratitude to all Nigerians who have supported him since his CCT case commenced three years ago.

    “At the end of a tortuous journey of 1018 Days counting from September 22, 2015 when the case began at the Tribunal, I am happy that I have been vindicated. The Supreme Court has affirmed that there is no evidence of false declaration of assets. The court also observed that certain agents took over the responsibility of the Code of Conduct Bureau in this trial, and one can infer that this was done towards a pre-determined end.

    “This outcome has gladdened my heart and further strengthened my belief in this country and as well as my faith in Almighty Allah, who is the righter of all wrongs. God has vindicated me today before the judgement of man, and I am most thankful and humbled at His grace and infinite mercies.

    “Through it all, I refused to be shaken, knowing, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, that the arch of the moral universe may be long, but it bends towards justice. I knew the day would come when justice would prevail and I would be exonerated.

    “I have always believed in the infallibility of our Judiciary, secure in the knowledge that our courts – the last refuge of the oppressed – would never condemn the innocent. This outcome is also a vindication of my belief in the rule of law.

    “As I said in my first appearance at the CCT, this is a politically motivated case. The case was trumped up in the first instance because of my emergence as the President of the Senate against the wishes of certain forces. Ordinarily, I doubt anyone would be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over 15 years ago.

    “What we have seen is the opposite. Instead of working together in the interest of the nation and to seek to do better for our people, we are fighting one another and using legal instruments to mount baseless accusations against one another. Instead of exhibiting the need for unity and working day and night for that purpose, we are stoking the fire of division and rancour. I maintain that, above all else, my CCT trial has been a flagrant vilification of my person, and shows that some people are after their personal interests rather than the national interest.

    “As a result of the war of attrition, various arms of government have wasted resources needlessly. It has been three wasted years across board in this country. Three years that would have been devoted to tackling issues affecting Nigerians, including: economic recovery, insecurity, youth unemployment and strengthening national institutions – were wasted on malicious prosecution. People were ready to trade off three years that would have been devoted to fostering cooperation, unity and economic progress for their selfish ends. It is my hope that those who are behind my persecution will see the handwriting on the wall and leave me to do the work for which I was elected, so I can continue to give my all to this great country of ours.

    “As many have rightly observed, it is plain to see that the anti-corruption fight is being prosecuted with vindictiveness, to target perceived political opponents. I believe in the need to fight corruption, but I will never be party to the selective application of the law or the rhetoric of an insincere anti-corruption fight.

    “My antecedents speak for themselves.

    “I thank Nigerians for standing by me through the difficult period of this trial. The support of ordinary Nigerians and their faith in me, as well as their sophistication and discernment in seeing this case for what it was, has been a source of strength to me.

    “I am most grateful for the support of my Distinguished Colleagues and the Honourable Members of the 8th National Assembly for their unflinching support and regular attendance at the various proceedings. They were unfairly criticised for accompanying me on court appearances, but it is now clear that they did so because they believed that injustice to one, is injustice to all. They have been the true embodiment of esprit de corps. I thank them for banding together in the face of an unconscionable attack on the institution of the legislature.

    “I thank my legal team for their determined and principled stance, and for their knowledge and diligence, which saw this case to its just conclusion. My gratitude to all my friends, political associates, supporters and the good people of Kwara State – all of whom have been solidly behind me.

    “I thank my family for enduring this trial with their usual grace and fortitude. My immense gratitude also goes to the international community for their interest in this case. The Nigerian press have kept watch and I appreciate their vigilance in ensuring that all the facts were held up to scrutiny.

    “To my supporters, yes, there is a reason to rejoice, but our celebration must be tempered with the sobering lessons of the attempted injustice from Day One of this trial. We all have to canvas for fairness in the fight against corruption. We should see this verdict as an inspiration to champion the rule of law, promote democracy and its institutions as well as tolerance of divergent views.

    “The overwhelming support of so many, and the insistence on ensuring that due process and truth prevailed, has made this verdict possible,” he stated.

     

  • Saraki denies discussing CCT trial at nPDP meeting with Osinbajo

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday denied bringing up his trial at the Code of Conduct Bureau with during the meeting held by the new People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday.

    Saraki faulted a report by The Nation newspaper claiming he (Saraki) wanted to use the grievances of members of the nPDP to stop his trial.

    This was revealed in a statement signed and released by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu.

    Read full statement below:

    My CCT Trial Never Came Up At nPDP Meeting With Osinbajo, Says Saraki

    The attention of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has been drawn to the front page headline in the May 30, 2018, edition of The Nation newspaper – ‘Ex-nPDP: stop Saraki’s trial’. The body of the story was contained on Page 6 of the newspaper.

    Ordinarily, Dr. Saraki would have ignored the story as he has done in the cases of other speculative ones concerning the on-going discussions between the new People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government published by the newspaper, but since this story specifically mentioned an issue concerning him and the newspaper is associated both in ownership and viewpoint with a section of the APC leadership, it may be perceived to have some level of authenticity.

    The trial of Dr. Saraki over asset declaration issues which is now before both the Supreme Court and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) was never part of the discussions over the grievances of the nPDP leaders and all those who attended the meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo can attest to this. The issues being discussed between the nPDP and the APC leaderships are beyond personal matters.

    Dr. Saraki will want it known that he is not interested in any settlement of the asset declaration case outside the judicial process. He is confident that the court will give him justice and he will be exonerated of all charges as can be seen by the verdicts of the CCT and the Court of Appeal. In fact, he maintains his earlier position that the trial was politically and maliciously motivated.

    The Senate President’s only concern is that all interested parties should allow the judiciary to freely and fairly decide on the issues before it. Dr. Saraki believes in the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and ability of the court to adjudicate on all matters.

    The Senate President has consistently exhibited a strong belief that nobody should compromise national interest with personal issues. And this has guided his actions, conduct and utterances in the performance of his official duties in the last three years, despite the persistent persecution and intimidation directed at him.

    While urging Nigerians to ignore the speculations contained in The Nation’s story, Dr. Saraki maintains that there is no reason for him to depart from his avowed principle that the nation is greater than any individual, including himself.

     

    Signed:

    Yusuph Olaniyonu
    Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President

  • Assets declaration: CCT convicts 16 civil servants in Bauchi

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Bauchi has convicted 16 civil servants and political office holders found guilty of non-declaration of assets.

    Mallam Ibrahim Alhassan, the Head of Press and Public Relations of the CCT disclosed this in an interview with on Thursday in Bauchi

    He said the convicted persons failed to submit a written declaration of all their assets and liabilities within the prescribed period of three months that violated various provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

    Alhassan said that the action was contrary to paragraph 11(1) of the Fifth Schedules, Part One of the Constitution, punishable under Paragraph 18(2) of the Fifth Schedule.

    He said out there was a total of 55 defaulters out of which 16 persons were convicted.

    “The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar gave a fine of N5, 000 to N30,000 fine to the convicted defaulters and ordered that the fine be paid within 30 days.

    “Failure to remit the fines within the stipulated 30 days will cause the convicts to vacate their positions as state government staff or political office holder.

    ‎”At the instance of the prosecution the tribunal withdrew charges against 12 persons that appeared before the tribunal while 10 defaulters were absent in the tribunal.

    “Therefore, 27 cases were adjourned to Abuja on different dates.

    “Some of the defaulters were cautioned and given second chance due to the factors surrounding their inability to declare their assets,” he said.

    The 55 defaulters, 18 are political appointees,10 police officers, four NDLEA personnel, one Customs officer and 22 career civil servants working with the Local, State and Federal Governments.

  • CCT commences sitting in Bauchi, tries 55 politicians, civil servants, others

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Tuesday commenced sitting in Bauchi to try 55 defaulters who have violated various provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

    In his brief remarks, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, said the tribunal was sitting in Bauchi State for the first time.

    He promised that all cases would be treated dispassionately with a view to ensuring that justice was done to all defaulters.

    He then called for the cooperation of everybody to ensure the smooth conduct of affairs.

    Malam Ibrahim Al-Hassan, Head of Press and Public Relations of the CCT, told newsmen that the sitting would last four days, and that the defaulters were political appointees, para-military personnel as well as Federal, State and Local Government civil servants working in the state.

    Giving a break-down of list of those to be docked, he said 18 were political appointees,10 police officers, four NDLEA personnel, one Customs officer and 22 career civil servants working with the Local, State and Federal Governments.

    He then advised defaulters invited to appear before the tribunal and defend the charges brought against them.

  • CCT okays trial of Commissioner, 54 others in Bauchi

    The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, has approved April 24 and April 27 for the arraignment of a serving Commissioner and 54 other public officers before him in Bauchi State.

    According to a statement by Mr Ibraheem AL-Hassan, Head, Press and Public Relations of the tribunal, the trial would be conducted at the state High Court Bauchi.

    The CCT said the routine inter-state became necessary in order to handle all pending cases brought to it by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    The court said those to be arraigned for the alleged breached of code of conduct of public officers were both career and political office holders.

    Al-Hassan said the respondents included heads of federal, state and Local government Agencies, operating in the state.

    According to him, they include one serving commissioner, nine Senior Assistance operating from the office of Secretary to the Bauchi state government and three Personal Assistance to state Governor.

    Others, according to the spokesman of the tribunal, include four staff of the Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agent personnel with a Commander operating in the state.

    Al-Hassan further listed Chief Superintendent of Custom and eight Police officers of different ranks in the state command to had allegedly breached the CCB’s Act.

    He said the aim of embarking on state’s trial was to bring justice to the door step of the defaulters spread across the country.

    “Also the itinerant session would serve as a means of reaching out to the state on the activities of the CCT.

    “It is our hope that this would serve as deterrent to other public servants who do not consider it necessary to promptly declare their assets’’, Al-Hassan said.

  • Supreme Court fixes July 6 for judgement on Saraki’s CCT trial

    The Supreme Court has fixed July 6 for judgement on whether or not the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki should continue or be suspended.

    A five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Dattijo Muhammad fixed the date for judgment after parties to the case adopted their appeal briefs on Thursday.

    The court is to rule on whether or not there is sufficient evidence for the trial before the CCT to continue.

    The Danladi Umar-led CCT had, in June last 2017, terminated the trial upon an application by Saraki.

    The CCT’s decision was based on the grounds that the prosecution, with its four witnesses and 49 tendered exhibits, failed to lead any credible evidence linking Saraki to the 18 counts preferred against him.

    The 18 counts bordered on Saraki’s alleged false assets declaration and other breaches of the code of conduct for public officers.

    The tribunal had ruled that in the absence of any credible evidence to support the charges, there was no basis to call upon the Senate President to enter his defence.

    However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ruling on December 12, 2017, in an appeal filed by the Federal Government against the decision of the CCT, restored three out of the dismissed 18 counts and ordered Saraki to return to the CCT to defend the three charges.

    But both Saraki and the Federal Government were dissatisfied with separate parts of the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

    While Saraki had appealed to the Supreme Court against the part of the Court of Appeal’s decision restoring three of the 18 counts, the Federal Government had cross-appealed against the part of the decision affirming the tribunal’s dismissal of the rest of the 15 counts.

    At the hearing of Saraki’s appeal and the Federal Government’s cross-appeal on Thursday, the lawyers representing both sides argued against each other’s appeals and in support of their individual cases.