… As Osinbajo cautions youths against joining bad gangs of fraudsters***
There was a mild drama at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Thursday morning, November 4, as parties to the suit challenging the premature reappointment of Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority were informed that the matter was heard a clear 24 hours before the scheduled date of November 4.
Maritime media correspondents had besieged the premises wanting a glimpse of the suspended Managing Director, with some of them armed with questions meant to field by opportunity so offered.
It would be recalled that Elder Asu Beks and two others had on March 25, 2021, filed a suit challenging the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari to prematurely reappoint Hadiza Usman, six clear months before the expiration of her statutory five years tenure.
The plaintiffs, among other reliefs, had also prayed the court to declare the composition of the current Board of Nigerian Ports Authority, a nullity, stressing that it did not meet the statutory requirements, prescribed by the NPA Act.
Publisher, Shipping World, Elder Asu Beks with the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, (right) at the second edition of Nigeria’s Maritime Industry Living Legends Awards held in Lagos.
At the first hearing of the suit on July 5, 2021, and filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by Chief Mike Ozekhome, the attention of the Presiding Judge, Justice Tijani Garba Ringim, had been drawn to the fact that the defendants, including President Mohammadu Buhari, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Hadiza Bala Usman and Emmanuel Abisoye, NPA Board Chairman, had no counsels representing them, which prompted the case to be adjourned to November 4.
However, the plaintiffs arrived at the court to learn another had occurred.
“I just cannot understand what is going on.
We (plaintiffs and Counsel) were in court on July 5. The Judge went through his diary and picked November 4 as the date for the next hearing which is today.
“But to my surprise, I was informed by Registrar that the matter came up for mention the previous day and even admitted a motion from Barr E. A Ogboji, Counsel to Hadiza Usman and Emmanuel Abisoye, withdrawing their representation”, fumed Barr Ejieke Onuoha, representing Chief Mike Ozekhome Chambers, Counsel to the plaintiffs.
“We will we get to the root cause of what may have transpired”, he further highlighted.
Hadiza was, however, later suspended and directed to face a probe, over alleged inappropriate handling of over an N160billion.
In the meantime, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has cautioned Nigerian youths to refrain from joining bad gangs of fraudsters, otherwise known as “yahoo boys”.
Osinbajo gave the warning on Thursday in Ibadan, while delivering the first convocation lecture of Kola Daisi University, Ibadan, Oyo State.
He urged them to embrace integrity and good character in order to excel in their chosen careers.
The vice president also charged youths to make effort to access various programmes set up by the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to support young entrepreneurs and other Nigerians.
Osinbajo said that there were numerous Federal Government supports programmes they could access and to make it in life.
“Do not be distracted by the “yahoo, yahoo boys” that are coming up one day with fancy cars, because their days are always numbered.
“They will go to jail one day; so, what is the point of making money when you cannot sleep well at night?
“So, it is important for us to bear in mind that Nigerian education is an important credential because you will understand the terrain and understand the law of the land,” he said.
Chief Kola Daisi, Founder of the university, was, however, installed as the first Chancellor of the university at the ceremony.
Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun, the Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman of the university, performed the installation of Daisi as the first Chancellor of the university.
In his remarks, Daisi said: “I believe that an educated society is essential to a successful democracy.
“In this era of technology, it is very certain that probably, as much as 70 per cent of jobs in our future economy, will require university education.
“My words of inspiration to the graduands of today is to dream high, aim high and work hard in life in order to accomplish such aims.
“To commemorate this occasion and especially, to attain the competitiveness and distinction I envisaged, a special Endowment Fund has been established for Kola Daisi University.
“With every humility, I hereby wish to subscribe the sum of one billion naira as my initial subscription to the University’s Endowment Fund,” Daisi said.
Commenting, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adeniyi Olatunbosun, urged the graduands to always equip themselves with knowledge development through additional skills to remain relevant in the changing world.
The newsmen report that 52 graduands from various programmes such as Computer Science, Industrial Chemistry, Microbiology, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, English and Literary Studies, History and Diplomatic Studies, Mass Communication and Political Science, were awarded the first degree with 12 first-class grade.
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was represented by his deputy, Rauf Olaniyan at the convocation.
Commenting, Prof. Julius Okojie, the former Executive Secretary of, National Universities Commission (NUC), pleaded with the Federal Government to assist in the funding of private universities.
Among prominent personalities at the ceremony were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; the Minister of Solid Minerals, Olamilekan Adegbite, among others.
