Senate
Senate okays Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as Substative CJN, as she vows to clean the augean stable
***Promises to deal with senior legal luminaries over subjudice
The Chief Justice of Nigeria who was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has read the riot act to senior legal professionals who publicly comment on ongoing cases, especially those before the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.
She warns that under her watch as CJN such practice would not be condoned adding that they would be decisevely dealth with.
Responding to a question by the President of the senate Godswill Akpabio during the screening for her confirmation she said, “I want to assure you that as chairman of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, We will ensure that those who should be disciplined, Those who are in the habit of speaking on social media Condemning the judiciary Commenting on cases that are sub judice will not have anywhere to hide, Kekere-Ekun, reaffirmed her dedication to upholding judicial integrity and enforcing strict discipline across the judiciary.
She highlighted her zero-tolerance for corruption and commitment to ensuring compliance with the judiciary’s code of conduct.
Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasized the role of the National Judicial Council’s (NJC) performance evaluation committee, which assesses judges’ work in terms of quality, punctuality, and overall conduct.
She mentioned plans to further tighten these evaluation processes to uphold high judicial standards.
She promised to exhibit the highest level of integrity and discipline in the judiciary, warning sternly
that the days of conflicting court judgements are over and that any judicial officer found culpable, abusing court processes or trying to mislead the court would face sanctions.
She frowned at a disturbing trend that sees judges indiscriminately issuing ex-parte motions.This too on her watch would attract serious punishment.
She vowed to instill the highest level of discipline in the judiciary , deal decisively with erring judicial officers who peddle conflicting court judgements and those who deliberately abuse court processes.
A month after being sworn in as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria , Kudirat Kekere Ekun steps into the hallowed chamber of the Senate at exactly 12:30 , for a mandatory screening and confirmation by the lawmakers.
Addressing concerns about judicial independence, she called for a more transparent and rigorous process for appointing judicial officers, assuring the Senate that the NJC is actively working on improvements.
She stressed the need for better welfare and infrastructure for judicial officers to ensure they can perform their duties effectively.
On the backlog of cases at the Supreme Court, Kekere-Ekun advocated limiting the number of cases reaching the apex court, particularly pre-election and interlocutory appeals.
She argued that many cases should conclude at the Court of Appeal to allow the Supreme Court to focus on policy and constitutional matters. Rather than increasing the number of justices, she proposed refining case jurisdiction to reduce congestion.
Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasized her willingness to collaborate with the National Assembly and Executive to reform laws that promote judicial independence and improve the legal system.
Kekere-Ekun hopes to embrace technology-including virtual court sittings to speed up cases even as she advised courts to fine-tune their rules and eliminate unnecessary bottlenecks.
According to her, pre-election matters should terminate at the Court of Appeal to allow the Supreme Court deal with pressing policy matters.
Akpabio had raised concerns about senior legal professionals who publicly comment on ongoing cases, especially those before the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.
He noted that the practice, which was uncommon in the past, has become prevalent and poses a threat to the integrity of the judiciary.
He argued that such public commentary on sub judice matters, particularly by senior lawyers, could unfairly influence the outcomes of cases and mislead junior lawyers into believing this conduct is acceptable. He urged the Acting Chief Justice to take a firm stance against the practice, calling for a collaborative effort between the judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to hold these senior lawyers accountable.
He suggested that disciplinary measures, including the potential revocation of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title, could serve as a deterrent to others and restore the integrity of the judicial process.
Akpabio had also emphasized the importance of ensuring that cases are argued in court rather than in the media, social platforms, or television. He expressed confidence that under Kekere-Ekun’s leadership, the judiciary could implement stronger procedures to curb this behavior and send a clear message that such actions would no longer be tolerated, thereby safeguarding the rule of law and ensuring justice is delivered fairly.
Kekere-Ekun who was accompanied by the upper echelons of Nigeria’s judiciary, quickly settled in -taking tough questions from lawmakers and in most cases reading the riot act.
After roughly two hours of screening, senate considered Kekere-Ekun fit for the job and swiftly confirmed her.
President Bola Tinubu had in August appointed Kudirat Kekere -Ekun as Acting CJN, following the retirement of Chief Justice Kayode Ariwoola.
She stands on the threshold of history as the 23rd Chief of Nigeria and the second woman to occupy the seat.
A public hearing at the National Assembly on the proposed Chartered Out-of-Home Media Practitioners of Nigeria Establishment Bill on Wednesday revealed sharp divisions among stakeholders in the advertising industry.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, is aimed to establish a regulatory body to oversee, promote, and professionalize the out-of-home (OOH) media sector, which includes billboards, digital displays, and transit advertising.
While some stakeholders, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OOAN), supported the bill, others, like the Federal Ministry of Information, the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), opposed it.
Speaking at the hearing, Abaribe outlined the bill’s objectives, which include standardizing the OOH sector, addressing safety and environmental concerns, and fostering innovation.
“This bill aims to ensure that the practice of owning and managing OOH assets is elevated to a standard that promotes quality, uniformity, and environmental aesthetics,” Abaribe said.
He highlighted the challenges in the industry, such as lack of regulation, inconsistent practices, and environmental degradation caused by unregulated billboard installations. The proposed body would enforce standards, ensure public safety, and enhance the aesthetics of Nigeria’s urban and rural landscapes.
The Ministry of Information, represented by a director overseeing the office of the permanent secretary, opposed the creation of a new agency, arguing that it would place unnecessary pressure on governance.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council also criticized the bill, stating that existing units are already performing the functions proposed for the new body.
ARCON’s Director General, Olalekan Fadolapo, warned that creating another agency would contradict the Steve Oronsaye panel’s report, which recommends streamlining government agencies to reduce redundancy.
COREN’s representative, Dipo Mabogaje, argued in favor of the bill, noting that while ARCON regulates advertising content, a dedicated body should regulate the structural integrity and environmental impact of billboards.
Similarly, the Presidents of ADVAN, Osamede Uwubanmwen, and the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Lanre Adisa, expressed strong support for the bill, emphasizing the need for improved industry standards and professionalism.
The Senate Committees on Establishment, Information, and Media will review the input from stakeholders before making recommendations on the bill. While supporters believe the legislation will address pressing issues in the OOH sector, critics argue that it could lead to redundancy and inefficiencies in governance.
The debate underscored the complexities of balancing industry growth with regulatory efficiency in Nigeria’s evolving advertising landscape.
At the celebration of the 2024 International Children’s Day, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has canvassed for the digitalisation of education in Nigeria to prepare schoolchildren for modern challenges.
Speaking at an event organized by the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Akpoti-Uduaghan highlighted the benefits of digital learning, citing Rwanda and Ghana as successful examples.
She announced the distribution of 5,000 digital devices to public schools in her constituency and pledged to equip a secondary school in the FCT with similar tools.
“Digital education simplifies learning and ensures every child has access to the best resources,” she noted.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content, the senator has championed education reforms and capacity building to empower Nigerian youth.
According to her, the significance of digitisation of education cannot be ignored if school children must cope up with the realities of life.
She stressed that every child has the right to education, regardless of their background.
The senator highlighted the benefits of digital learning, citing examples from Rwanda and Ghana where most public primary and secondary schools have already gone digital.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also shared her efforts to promote digital education in her community.
“Education is a fundamental right, and the future of education lies in its digitalisation.
Over the past three weeks, I have commissioned 5,000 digital learning devices, which have been distributed to public primary and secondary schools in Kogi Central. Embracing digitalisation in education is essential.
“As you sit here today, remember that your colleagues in Rwanda and Ghana have successfully transformed their public primary and secondary schools into digital learning environments. What does this mean? It means simplifying education and making the best educational resources accessible to every child,” she stated.
Additionally, she pledged to equip one public secondary school in the FCT with digital learning devices.
The senator’s advocacy for digital education is part of her broader commitment to empowering Nigerian youth. She has been a vocal advocate for education and has worked to promote local content and capacity building in various sectors.
As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Akpoti-Uduaghan has met with representatives from the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Bank of Industry (BoI) to strengthen capacity building and collaboration.
Her efforts aim to enhance synergy between government agencies and maximise impact on Nigerian beneficiaries.
In attendance are Senator Ireti Kingibie, Senator Neda Imasuen, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, Minister of Women Affairs, ably represented by the Permanent Director of Child Development, Association of Society Engineers, amongst others.
The Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, activated Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to remove the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, from office.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti), during plenary.
The motion titled “Invocation of Provision of Section 157(1) of the Constitution for Removal of the Chairman of the CCT” was unanimously supported by the Senate.
Senator Bamidele, while presenting the motion, emphasized the sacred role of the CCT in maintaining high moral standards in government business and ensuring public officials adhere to principles of accountability and integrity.
He argued that the conduct of Danladi Umar fell short of these expectations.
Key allegations against the embattled Chairman according to the Senate leader included Corruption and Misconduct with Multiple petitions alleging corruption and misappropriation of funds.
Bamidele explained that there were Reports of Mr. Umar being absent from office for over a month without official permission.
He was also accused of refusal to Cooperate with Senate Investigations.
“Umar only appeared once before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions and avoided subsequent invitations.
He was also accused of engaging a physical altercation with a security guard in the Federal Capital Territory, an incident described as unbecoming of a public servant.
The Senate Leader noted that these actions, coupled with ongoing investigations by the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS, constituted gross misconduct and negligence.
Senator Bamidele recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had forwarded the name of Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello to the Senate as the new CCT Chairman.
Bello’s appointment was confirmed on July 4, 2024.
The Senate’s resolution to remove Umar was aimed at allowing Bello to assume his role without further delay.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), disclosed that 84 senators endorsed the resolution to remove Umar, fulfilling the constitutional requirement for a two-thirds majority.
Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), confirmed that all necessary legal processes were adhered to.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, emphasized that Danladi Umar was given ample opportunities to defend himself but failed to do so. Akpabio also criticized Umar’s public altercation with a woman at a plaza, describing it as a disgraceful act for a public officer.
Akpabio directed the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Ben Akabueze, to communicate the Senate’s resolution to President Bola Tinubu for immediate action.
With the resolution, Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello is expected to officially assume duties as the new Chairman of the CCT.
The Senate’s decision underscores its commitment to upholding the rule of law, ensuring institutional accountability, and maintaining the integrity of federal institutions in Nigeria.
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