MATTERS ARISING: Judiciary: NJC on cleansing mission

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justice-of-nigThe National Judicial Council (NJC) has established a prima facie case against Justice Abubakar Talba of the Abuja High Court who allowed a convicted pension thief, John Yusuf, to pay N750,000 fine and walk away free after he was convicted for stealing N1.3 billion.
The council at its two-day meeting recently held in Abuja, set up a panel to further investigate the judge and come up with a detailed report of what actually transpired between Yusuf and Justice Talba. The committee will consider whether the judgment given by Justice Talba was appropriate in the circumstances.
The same committee has also been ordered to probe the petitions against four Court of Appeal justices whose names were not disclosed.


muhammed abubakarSecurity: FG to establish DNA lab for police
The Federal Government is planning a forensic and deoxyribonucleic acid laboratory for the police as part of strategies to combating the nation’s security challenges. Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, who said this during the unveiling of the 2013 Police Week Celebration in Abuja, stated that the Presidential Committee had been set up to assess the state of the forensic laboratories currently in use by the Police and other security agencies in the country.
He added that the committee would examine all laws relating to forensic services in the country, with a view to bringing them up to date with what obtains in other climes, and also advise the Federal Government on the modalities for upgrading the available ones considering the technical and financial implications of establishing new ones in line with global standards.

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jonathan pix3Politics: Women empowerment brand: Jonathan promises more
President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to give Nigerian women more than the 35 per cent affirmative action they agitated for, considering their contributions to national development and the transformation agenda. The President, who was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, made the promise in Lagos at the launch of the women’s chapter of the Centenary celebrations.
While making a roll call of women who have contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria, the President acknowledged the need to give more chances to women in national development. “On this auspicious occasion, we cannot forget great women like Queen Amina, Queen Idia, Hajiya Gambo Sawaba, Emotan, Queen Kambassa and several others. These great women contributed greatly to their kingdoms and continually stood up that the rights of women be given to them. I congratulate all Nigerian women and thank you for your steadfast support in the transformation agenda. I know that you have been clamouring for 35 per cent, but we will give you more than the 35 per cent being agitated for. I acknowledge your contributions; we know you are not competing with us but trying to complement us. I urge that you do not neglect your homes and we will continue to be partners in progress.”
Though this administration has given more chance to women than any other in the history of Nigeria, it should not fail to realize that empowering the women goes beyond their involvement in politics. Efforts should therefore be made to improve them economically, while attention should also be given to the issue maternal mortality which is still very high in the country.

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Politics: 2011 Post-election Violence: FG approves N5.7bn
Addressing the post-election violence of 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the release of N5,747,694,780.00 as assistance to nine states of the federation for direct disbursement to those who lost their properties, means of livelihood and places of worship in the incident.
The compensation according to the federal government will also include the families of the dead and the wounded during the crisis. The breakdown of the compensation to the nine states, based on a report of the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, which assessed the reported losses and damage to properties in all the affected states, are as follows: Bauchi – N1,574,879,000.00, Sokoto – N55,888,506.00, Zamfara – N93,253,485.00, Niger – N433,375,875.00 and Jigawa – N208,667,634.00. while Katsina, Kano, Adamawa and Akwa Ibom States got N1,973,209,440.00, N944,827,000.00, N420,089,840.00 and N43,504,000.00 respectively.
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