The report again vested the power on the NJC which shall recommend to the Senate with the requirement of two third voting including at least ten votes from the minority. d. Funding of INEC for election, also, capital and recurrent (salaries and allowances for chairman/Board members) expenditure to be from a consolidated revenue fund of the federation. e. Dates of Elections, The report sought the amendment of sections 132(2) and 178()2) of the Constitution to fix a single date for the Presidential and Gubernatorial elections with at least six months before the expiration of the current holders

When the Sokoto division of Court of Appeal was set up, the matter was transferred Kaduna to Sokoto. The five man panel led by Justice Musa Mohammed Dattijoheard the appeal and had long written the judgement since January this year, but the court seems to have been perpetually stopped from delivering its judgment, no thanks to the unabashed undue interference from the least expected quarters. Twice the appellate court fixed date for judgment, twice it was stopped.

We shall return to this question subsequently. It suffices however to state that even section 39 which is in Chapter 4 of the Constitution is not an absolute right as section 45 of the Constitution permits its derogation by laws reasonably justifiable in a democracy in defence of….The point is that even if section 22 had been placed under Chapter 4, that would not be the end of the matter. But the derogation from section 39 compels an examination of judicial attitude to Press freedom.

COMMENDATIONS and condemnations, yesterday, trailed Wednesday’s sack of service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police by President Goodluck Jonathan

IN THE spirit of Eid-El-Fitri, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and some eminent Nigerians including former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State and Emir of Wase, Dr Haruna Abdullahi, yesterday, felicitated with Moslems on the festivity and urged the citizenry to push for peaceful co-existence and good leadership in the country

Chief Robert Clarke, SAN, in this interview spoke on the rate at which corruption is gaining ground in the country. On the conduct of governorship election in those state where their Governors were returned after rerun polls held in such states, he argued that INEC is not expected to conduct governorship election in the affected states arguing that such move is unconstitutional. He added that some of the lawyers who were in support of the INEC’s position have vested interest in the matter

Fear has gripped Gombe State as there are concerns that Gombe Federal Prisons may be another port of call of the members of Boko Haram, an Islamic religious sect which debuted on August last year in Maiduguri, Borno State, killing hundreds of people, most of whom were members and officers of the Nigeria Police in a chain of attacks meted against major police formations and other public buildings in the state

The federal government is to start work on the Onitsha water scheme project that was recently terminated because of poor performance by the former contractor, FUNTAI

The Police has smashed a certificate forgery syndicate, which has in the past 10 years, duped manufacturing companies and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, of millions of naira with the application of fake and forged SONCAP certificates on goods produced in the country

Enugu State House of Assembly has said it would establish an endowment fund for the five children of their late member, Mr Emmanuel Maduabu, who died in an auto crash on August 17.

Imo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has commenced a special patrol, code named “Operation Barka De Sallah”, packaged for enforcement of traffic regulations throughout the celebration

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, reacted yesterday to criticisms against his administration by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and warned that he would not be intimidated by the alleged use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to blackmail the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, lawmakers in the state House of Assembly.

Supporters of former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, have intensified their lobbying of indigenes of Bayelsa State and South-South with a plan to open a campaign office in the state

GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has reminded Nigerians about the spiritual message which the feast of Eid -el-Fitri contains, noting that Muslims’ successful conclusion of the Ramadan fast was a reminder that human society must be imbued with values that lead to and reflect the brilliance of God

THE new Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in charge of Cross River State, Mr. Mike Igini, has no official residence, as the one provided by the state government for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC boss, years ago, is in bad condition