The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has pledged to strengthen ties with the people and the government of Plateau State during a courtesy visit by the Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, at Customs Headquarters Abuja on September 29, 2023.

Welcoming the Governor and his entourage to the Corporate Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service, the CGC highlighted the Service’s progress during its first 100 days in office and its commitment to revitalizing the agency through partnerships with stakeholders and governors nationwide.

In response to the governor’s request to include Plateau among the states receiving Customs’ humanitarian support, the Acting CGC assured prompt intervention, emphasizing the Service’s role in distributing food and non-food items to communities.

*The CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, while receiving the Plateau State Governor, Mutfwang

Governor Caleb Manasseh expressed gratitude for the efforts to improve the Customs institution and sought continued support and partnership to enhance Plateau State’s economy and security.

This visit reflects the Acting CGC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships with state governments to bolster trade and secure border areas across the federation.

*The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, during his visit to Customs Headquarters Abuja on September 29, 2023.

…Justice Amobeda averred that the Kano state government’s action of forcefully demolishing and vandalising the applicants’ shops without due process is illegal***

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Friday ordered the Kano State Government to pay N30 billion as compensation to shop owners whose properties were demolished at Kofar Mata Eid praying ground in Kano city.

The applicants Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Idi Shop Owners, Traders Association, and 56 others, through their Counsel, Dr Nuraddeen Ayagi, prayed the court for compensation.

They filed a motion exparte seeking for their enforcement of fundamental rights, right to own properties and damages against the State Government for demolishing their shops.

The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, the Attorney General of Kano, Nigeria Police, AIG Zone 1, Commissioner of Police Kano.

Others are the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and NSCDC Kano Commandant.

The presiding Judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, averred that the Kano state government and seven other respondents’ action of forcefully demolishing and vandalising the applicants’ shops without due process to law is illegal and unconstitutional.

“The demolishing violates the applicants’ right to own property, right to life cum livelihood and right to dignity of human face as unprofessional.”

Amobeda ordered the first to third respondents to jointly pay the applicants the sum of N10 billion as general damages for violation of the applicants’ fundamental right to life and ownership of property as guaranteed by law.

“I hereby ordered the respondents to also pay the applicants an additional sum of N20 billion for punitive and exemplary damages,” Amobeda said.

The respondents are yet to react to the judgment.

… Describes the Petitioner as ‘busybody***

The Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal on Monday declared as dead on arrival, a petition of the state Governorship Candidate of PDP, Dr Abdulazeez Adediran (a.k.a. Jandor), against Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s election.

The tribunal held that evidence before it showed that the petition lacked merit.

Adediran had contended that Sanwo-Olu was wrongfully nominated and sponsored by his party, the All Progressives Party (APC), and, therefore, was not qualified for the election.

However, Justice Mikail Abdullahi, while reading the tribunal’s decision on the matter, held that the position did not form part of the grounds for disqualification for election into the office of a governor, under Sections 177 and 182 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

The tribunal also declared that it had no powers to inquire into the primary election of the APC which produced Sanwo-Olu, adding that the issue was a pre-election matter which did not fall under its jurisdiction.

“Only an aspirant or member of a political party can complain about the outcome of the party’s primary election, not a busybody like the petitioner,” Abdullahi held.

Abdullahi said: “The second respondent has the highest number of votes, this petition is dead on arrival.

“In view of the evidence adduced before this tribunal, the grounds on which the petitioner is seeking the disqualification of the second and third respondents (Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat) lacks merit.

“Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat are eminently eligible to contest under Section  177 of the Constitution as they are members of a political party and educated up to school certificate level.

“In view of the evidence before  the tribunal, I have found Gov. Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Hamzat, duly elected, and I therefore declare them winner of the March 18 governorship poll.”

The tribunal will also deliver judgment in a petition filed by Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party Governorship Candidate for Lagos State