Kogi
NJC blocks Bello from appointing wife, relations as Judges
The National Judicial Council, (NJC), has blocked governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State from giving judicial appointments as parting gift to his wife, Barrister Amina Bello, and some of his blood relations
Bello had submitted names of lawyers from Kogi State for appointment to serve as Judges for the 10 vacant positions.
However, there was a seeming lopsidedness in the appointment in favour of Kogi Central as 80 percent of the names he forwarded to the NJC were from the Senatorial District.
Those he appointed, which would have been confirmed by the NJC in line with its provision, 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 at 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.
Gover Bello is billed to end his eight years tenure as governor of Kogi State on 27th January 2024
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered 500 women from Kogi State’s 21 local government areas, reaffirming the crucial role of women in economic development.
Speaking at the empowerment distribution event at Muhammadu Buhari Square, Lokoja, Mrs. Tinubu—represented by Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, wife of the Kogi State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, stressed the importance of investing in women for national progress.
She stated that the initiative, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is designed to promote inclusivity, economic empowerment, and sustainable development, particularly for women. She also revealed that 18,500 women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones would benefit from the program, starting with the North Central region.
“Empowering women is fundamental to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goals 5 and 8, which focus on gender equality and economic growth,” she emphasized.
The program, executed in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs and the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), provided beneficiaries with essential business tools, including deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators, and industrial grinding machines, to boost entrepreneurship and economic independence.
Mrs. Tinubu urged the beneficiaries to maximize the opportunity, ensuring self-reliance and contributing to the nation’s economic development.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has expressed deep grieve over the passing of the District Head of Adavi, Alhaji Salihu Ozi-Salami, who passed away on Wednesday at his residence in Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area.
In a condolence message, the Governor described the late Alhaji Salihu Ozi-Salami as a distinguished leader who served his people with honor, dedication, and a deep commitment to peace and unity. He acknowledged his invaluable contributions to the growth and stability of Adavi and the larger Ebira community.
Special Adviser on Media to the
Governor, Ismaila Isah quoted in a statement quoted Ododo to have extended his sympathies to the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tijani Muhammed Anaje, the Ohi Otenyiete of Ebira Land, Alhaji Isa Ozi-Salami, who is the deceased’s younger brother, as well as the late leader’s family and the entire Ebira people.
Governor Ododo prayed for Allah’s mercy upon the soul of the departed and for strength and solace for those left behind to bear the loss.
Born in 1939, Alhaji Salihu Ozi-Salami was appointed District Head of Adavi in 1994. He lived a life of service and integrity until his passing at 86. His remains have been laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites at his residence in Ogaminana.
***Emphasizes crucial position of information in crime prevention, fighting
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
THE new Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Miller Gajere Dantawaye has emphasized the need to foster a workable and dependable synergy with working journalists to enhance effective policing of the state.
The CP disclosed this during a courtesy visit on the Chairman and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi State Council at the NUJ Press Centre in Lokoja.
Dantawaye held that while the Command would engage in collaborative work with sister security agencies, efforts would be made to foster a reliable synergy between the Nigeria Police, Kogi State Command and the NUJ as a brother agency.
“While we have sister agencies, there are brother agencies and NUJ is one of them. I have come to serve the people of Kogi State and we need intelligence from all corners.
“We want Kogi to be a place where everybody works in synergy with security agencies. Synergy with DSS, the Army and the Police because we need intelligence from all corners. If you see something that we need to know, please let us know.
“As members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, you are likely to have access to more information and we want you to help us with information that can help in policing the state well”, he implored.
The Vice President, Zone D of the NUJ, Alhaji Adeiza Momoh-Jimoh in his remarks thanked the Police boss for choosing to pay a visit to the NUJ saying that the last Police Commissioner to pay such visit was CP M.M. Katsina.
Momoh-Jimoh expressed the hope that Kogi would benefit immensely from the rich credentials and experience of the CP Miller Gajere Dantawaye.
He pledged continued collaboration and synergy of the journalists with the Police Command under his watch adding that as very responsible professionals the NUJ members would not take the synergy for granted.
Chairman of Kogi Council of NUJ, Alhaji Seidu Ademu Haruna in his welcome address, said the NUJ had watched with keen interest, the activities of CP Dantawaye since he assumed duty in the state.
“And without any iota of doubt, you have started well. We have observed that you came to the State prepared. What you asked of is synergy but we are going to give you more.
“As our friend, when you succeed, we have succeeded and we, by the grace of God, will not allow you to fail”, he said.
CP Dantawaye, a seasoned and experienced operational and professional Police officer who had served in various states of the Federation as well as Aso Villa in different capacities, assumed duty in Kogi in January. (Ends)
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