Over 743,000 children fled homes to escape violence in Nigeria — UNICEF

Over 743,000 children fled homes to escape violence in Nigeria — UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says over 743,000
under-18 children have fled their homes to escape violence perpetrated by Boko Haram in the North-East.

The Chief Child Protection UNICEF Nigeria, Rachel Harvey, who spoke
in Abuja during an occasion to commemorate this year’s Children’s
Day celebrations, lamented that many Nigerian children were still living
under the shadow of one form of violence or the other.

She said, “Most alarming is the level of violence in the North-East, of
which children are bearing the brunt. Over 743,000 under-18s have
fled their homes to escape the violence.”

According to her, this year’s Children’s day focuses on an important
and timely theme for Nigeria: Violence Against Children: Addressing
the Challenges.

Harvey said, “Many children in Nigeria live under the shadow of
violence not just in their communities, but also in their homes and in
their schools, places that should provide safety from harm.

“Children have lost their lives, witnessed horrific acts of violence, been
forcibly recruited to fight and been subjected to sexual violence,” she
said.

The immediate past Minster of Women Affairs and Social
Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, who also spoke there, said the fact
remained that Nigerian children are still at risk of the ugliest form of
violence, crisis, rape, trafficking, torture, sale of babies.

The Minister said the choice of this year’s theme was informed by the
Nigerian environment characterised by insecurity.

“The choice of our theme was informed by our Nigerian environment
that is currently being characterised with insecurity as well as violence
against women and children”, she added.

Maina said it was a calculated attempt by the Ministry to create more
awareness, sensitize stakeholders on the ills of violence, sexual abuse
and exploitation of children.

After inauguration as governor, Ambode appoints SSG, COS May 29

After inauguration as governor, Ambode appoints SSG, COS May 29

Akinwunmi Ambode, the governor of Lagos state, on Friday announced his first list of appointments moments after his inauguration into office.

In a statement he personally signed in Lagos, Ambode named Tunji Bello as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Samuel Olukunle Ojo as Chief of Staff (COS).

Abiodun Bamgboye was appointed principal private secretary, while Habib Adamson Aruna was appointed Chief Press Secretary (CPS).

The appointments take immediate effect. “Bello, journalist and lawyer is a former commissioner for environment. He studied Political Science at the University of Ibadan and also attended the University of Lagos, where he bagged a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy.

He later read law at the same university,” read the statement. “His bustling journalism career started with the now defunct Concord Press Nigeria, where he rose from being a feature writer to become the editor of National Concord. He was appointed commissioner for environment in July 2011 by former Governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola.”

Ojo, the new COS , is presently the permanent secretary in the office of the COS.

“Aruna rose from the ranks to become the editor of Sunday Independent, from where he resigned in November 2014 to set up Upshotreports, an online newspaper,” it added.

“He studied Political Science at Bayero University and obtained a Masters in the same course at the University of Ibadan.

He attended journalism courses both home and abroad and has been a consistent promoter of progressive ideas.”

FOR THE RECORDS: President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 Inauguration Speech

Inaugural speech by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari following his swearing-in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29th May, 2015

I am immensely grateful to God Who Has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in place.
I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With the support and cooperation he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a united people capable of doing what is right for our nation. Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing President will become the standard of political conduct in the country.
I would like to thank the millions of our supporters who believed in us even when the cause seemed hopeless. I salute their resolve in waiting long hours in rain and hot sunshine to register and cast their votes and stay all night if necessary to protect and ensure their votes count and were counted.  I thank those who tirelessly carried the campaign on the social media. At the same time, I thank our other countrymen and women who did not vote for us but contributed to make our democratic culture truly competitive, strong and definitive.
I thank all of you.
Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians.
I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.
A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue.
Our neighbours in the Sub-region and our African brethenen should rest assured that Nigeria under our administration will be ready to play any leadership role that Africa expects of it. Here I would like to thank the governments and people of Cameroon, Chad and Niger for committing their armed forces to fight Boko Haram in Nigeria.
I also wish to assure the wider international community of our readiness to cooperate and help to combat threats of cross-border terrorism, sea piracy, refugees and boat people, financial crime, cyber crime, climate change, the spread of communicable diseases and other challenges of the 21st century.
At home we face enormous challenges. Insecurity, pervasive corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power shortages are the immediate concerns. We are going to tackle them head on. Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems.
In recent times Nigerian leaders appear to have misread our mission. Our founding fathers, Mr Herbert Macauley, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Malam Aminu Kano, Chief J.S. Tarka, Mr Eyo Ita, Chief Denis Osadeby, Chief Ladoke Akintola and their colleagues worked to establish certain standards of governance. They might have differed in their methods or tactics or details, but they were united in establishing a viable and progressive country. Some of their successors behaved like spoilt children breaking everything and bringing disorder to the house.
Furthermore, we as Nigerians must remind ourselves that we are heirs to great civilizations: Shehu Othman Dan fodio’s caliphate, the Kanem Borno Empire, the Oyo Empire, the Benin Empire and King Jaja’s formidable domain. The blood of those great ancestors flow in our veins. What is now required is to build on these legacies, to modernize and uplift Nigeria.
Daunting as the task may be it is by no means insurmountable. There is now a national consensus that our chosen route to national development is democracy. To achieve our objectives we must consciously work the democratic system. The Federal Executive under my watch will not seek to encroach on the duties and functions of the Legislative and Judicial arms of government. The law enforcing authorities will be charged to operate within the Constitution. We shall rebuild and reform the public service to become more effective and more serviceable. We shall charge them to apply themselves with integrity to stabilize the system.
For their part the legislative arm must keep to their brief of making laws, carrying out over-sight functions and doing so expeditiously. The judicial system needs reform to cleanse itself from its immediate past. The country now expects the judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office. It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that government will be enabled to serve the country optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling governance today.
Elsewhere relations between Abuja and the States have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better. Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the Federal Government can not interfere in the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country. For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch.
However, no matter how well organized the governments of the federation are they can not succeed without the support, understanding and cooperation of labour unions, organized private sector, the press and civil society organizations. I appeal to employers and workers alike to unite in raising productivity so that everybody will have the opportunity to share in increased prosperity. The Nigerian press is the most vibrant in Africa. My appeal to the media today – and this includes the social media – is to exercise its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism.
My appeal for unity is predicated on the seriousness of the legacy we are getting into. With depleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble and will require careful management to bring it round and to tackle the immediate challenges confronting us, namely; Boko Haram, the Niger Delta situation, the power shortages and unemployment especially among young people. For the longer term we have to improve the standards of our education. We have to look at the whole field of medicare. We have to upgrade our dilapidated physical infrastructure.
The most immediate is Boko Haram’s insurgency. Progress has been made in recent weeks by our security forces but victory can not be achieved by basing the Command and Control Centre in Abuja. The command centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued. But we can not claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.
This government will do all it can to rescue them alive. Boko Haram is a typical example of small fires causing large fires. An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by his extra judicial murder at the hands of the police. Since then through official bungling, negligence, complacency or collusion Boko Haram became a terrifying force taking tens of thousands of lives and capturing several towns and villages covering swathes of Nigerian sovereign territory.
Boko Haram is a mindless, godless group who are as far away from Islam as one can think of. At the end of the hostilities when the group is subdued the Government intends to commission a sociological study to determine its origins, remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, the international connexions to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a reccurrence of this evil. For now the Armed Forces will be fully charged with prosecuting the fight against Boko haram. We shall overhaul the rules of engagement to avoid human rights violations in operations. We shall improve operational and legal mechanisms so that disciplinary steps are taken against proven human right violations by the Armed Forces.
Boko Haram is not only the security issue bedeviling our country. The spate of kidnappings, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers clashes, cattle rustlings all help to add to the general air of insecurity in our land. We are going to erect and maintain an efficient, disciplined people – friendly and well – compensated security forces within an over – all security architecture.
The amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is due to end in December, but the Government intends to invest heavily in the projects, and programmes currently in place. I call on the leadership and people in these areas to cooperate with the State and Federal Government in the rehabilitation programmes which will be streamlined and made more effective. As ever, I am ready to listen to grievances of my fellow Nigerians. I extend my hand of fellowship to them so that we can bring peace and build prosperity for our people.
No single cause can be identified to explain Nigerian’s poor economic performance over the years than the power situation. It is a national shame that an economy of 180 million generates only 4,000MW, and distributes even less. Continuous tinkering with the structures of power supply and distribution and close on $20b expanded since 1999 have only brought darkness, frustration, misery, and resignation among Nigerians. We will not allow this to go on. Careful studies are under way during this transition to identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to bring light and relief to Nigerians.
Unemployment, notably youth un-employment features strongly in our Party’s Manifesto. We intend to attack the problem frontally through revival of agriculture, solid minerals mining as well as credits to small and medium size businesses to kick – start these enterprises. We shall quickly examine the best way to revive major industries and accelerate the revival and development of our railways, roads and general infrastructure.
Your Excellencies, My fellow Nigerians I can not recall when Nigeria enjoyed so much goodwill abroad as now. The messages I received from East and West, from powerful and small countries are indicative of international expectations on us. At home the newly elected government is basking in a reservoir of goodwill and high expectations. Nigeria therefore has a window of opportunity to fulfill our long – standing potential of pulling ourselves together and realizing our mission as a great nation.
Our situation somehow reminds one of a passage in Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar
            There is a tide in the affairs of men which,
            taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
            Omitted, all the voyage of their life,
            Is bound in shallows and miseries.
We have an opportunity. Let us take it.
Thank you
Muhammadu Buhari
President Federal Republic of NIGERIA
and Commander in-chief-of the Armed forces

Adesina wins AfDB presidency

Adesina wins AfDB presidency

Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina won an election on Thursday to
be the new president of the African Development Bank, the pan-African lender
announced in its Twitter account.

Adesina will take over from outgoing bank president Donald Kaberuka on
September 1.

Nigeria’s import-export trade declines by N110.2bn – NBS

Nigeria’s import-export trade declines by N110.2bn – NBS

The value of Nigeria’s merchandise trade declined by N110.2bn or 2.2
per cent on quarter-on-quarter basis at the end of the first quarter of
this year.

It went down from about N4.99trn recorded in the fourth quarter of
2014 to about N4.88trn as at the end of March this year.

The Merchandise Trade Report published by the National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS) yesterday indicated that the drop in the export-import
trade occurred despite improvement in the nation’s export trade by
N275.6bn, representing 9.3 per cent increase over the recorded value
of exports in the preceding quarter, while import dropped by N385.8bn.

The bureau reported however that the rise in export and decline in
import improved the country’s trade balance, which increased by 71.6
per cent from the preceding quarter, to about N1.59trn during the
quarter under review

It stated further that in comparison with the corresponding quarter of
2014, the value of total merchandise trade decreased by N639.5bn or
11.6 per cent, while the trade balance decreased by N839.1bn or 34.6
per cent.

A further analysis of the merchandise trade figures showed that during
the quarter under review, the value of Nigeria’s imports stood at
N1.65trn, representing a decrease of N385.8bn or 19.0 per cent from
the N2.03trn recorded in the preceding quarter.

Year-on-year import value increased by N99.8bn or 6.5 per cent, from
the value of N1.55trn recorded in the corresponding quarter of last
year.

Classification of the import by sections indicates that “boilers,
machinery and appliances” dominated it, accounting for 27.7 per cent
of the total value of import in the quarter under review.

The NBS clarified further: “Other commodities which contributed
considerably to the value of import in the review period were mineral
products (13.1 per cent), base metals and articles of base metals
(10.2 per cent), vehicles, aircraft and associated parts (9.6 per cent),
and products of the chemical and allied industries (8.7 per cent).
“The key drivers of the year-on-year growth were boilers, machinery
and appliances and vegetable products, which increased by N88.7bn or
24.2 per cent and N33.8bn or 47.6 per cent from Q1 of 2014 values
respectively.
“Imports classified by broad economic category revealed that industrial
supplies not elsewhere classified, ranked first with N491.4bn or 29.9
per cent of total Q1, 2015.”
According to the agency, the product with the greatest import value
was motor spirit, which stood at N181.3bn or 11.0 per cent of the
total, while the country’s major import sources are China, United
States, Belgium, Netherlands and India, which respectively accounted
for N387.5bn or 23.6 per cent, N133.8bn or 8.1 per cent, N118.7bn or
7.2 per cent, N108.7bn or 6.6 per cent and N96.6bn or 5.9 per cent of
the total value of goods imported during the quarter.
The bureau reported that when analysed by continent, the country
consumed goods largely imported from Asia, with an import value of
N708.2bn or 43.0 per cent of the quarterly total, compared with
Europe’s value of N458.4bn or 27.9 per cent and Africa’s N252.2bn or
15.3 per cent. Import from the ECOWAS region amounted to N9.6b or
3.8 per cent of the total value of import from Africa.
Comparatively, the value of exports totalled N3.23trn in the first
quarter of this year, indicating an increase of N275.6bn or 9.3 per cent
over the value recorded in the preceding quarter.
The bureau stated that relative to the opening quarter of 2014, the
value of exports declined by N739.3bn or 18.6 per cent, with crude oil
contributing N2.25trn or 69.7 per cent to the value of total of export,
thus dominating the structure.
It explained that when classified by section, the export trade trend
showed that Nigeria exported mainly mineral products, which
accounted for N2, 880.3bn or 89.2 per cent of total export.
Other products exported by Nigeria include vehicles, aircraft and parts
thereof; vessels etc at N185.8bn or 5.8 per cent of the total; prepared
foodstuff; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco at N53.8bn or 1.7
per cent of the total, and vegetable products at N36.7bn or 1.1 per
cent of total export.
NBS stated: “Natural Liquefied Gas was the product with the second
greatest export value, after crude oil, with a value of N306.2bn or 9.5
per cent of the total export value during the period of review. “Nigeria
exported goods mainly to India, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and
Brazil, which values stood at N436.6bn or 13.5 per cent, N319.6bn or
9.9 per cent, N263.4bn or 8.2 per cent, N260.0bn or 8.0 per cent and
N257.0bn or 8.0 per cent of the Q1, 2015, totals respectively.
“Exports by continent of destination revealed that Nigeria mainly
exported goods to Europe and Asia, which accounted for N1, 152bn or
35.7 per cent, and N909.1bn or 28.1 per cent respectively of total
export during Q1 2015.
“Nigeria exported goods valued at N601bn or 18.6 per cent of total
exports to the continent of Africa, while exports to the ECOWAS region
totalled N277.3bn or 46.1 per cent of the total goods exported to
Africa,” the Bureau added.

NASS removes controversial clauses in constitution amendment

NASS Removes Fontroversial Clauses In Constitution Amendment

The National Assembly has agreed to remove the
controversial clauses in the amendments to the
Constitution under the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015,
which it passed this year.
It would be recalled that President Goodluck
Jonathan had withheld his assent to the amendments
to the 1999 Constitution and the AGF instituted a
suit against the lawmakers to annul the
amendments.
The lawmakers’ agreed to amend the Act in an out
of court settlement between the representatives of
the executive and legislative arms of government in
Abuja on May 26.
Parties agreed that the views of the president be
considered and effected by deleting some alterations
in the Alteration Act, 2015, for which the president
had withheld his assent.
The six-point of settlement in the suit between the
Attorney-General of the Federation and the National
Assembly, was made public on Wednesday.
According to the terms, NASS agreed to delete
alterations made to Section 8 of the Principal Act on
referendum in respect of state creation.
It also agreed to delete alterations made to Section 9
of the Principal Act dispensing with the assent of
the president in the process of constitution
amendment.
NASS also agreed to delete alterations made in
Sections 45a-45b of the Act relating to Free Basic
Education and Maternal Healthcare Services.
It also deleted alterations made to Sections 150, 174,
195 and 211 of the Principal Act relating to the
separation of the office of the Attorney-General of
the Federation and Minister of Justice.
This also applies to State Attorney-General and
Commissioner For Justice.
Accordingly, the suit of the Attorney-General in Suit
No: SC/214/ 2015 before the Supreme Court was
withdrawn following a motion for discontinuance.
The court accordingly struck out the case.
It was also agreed that President Goodluck Jonathan
shall assent to the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Wednesday
said it had arrived at an amicable resolution of the
dispute with the National Assembly (NASS) over the
constitution amendments.
At the resumed hearing of the case, Mr Bayo Ojo
(SAN), counsel to the federal government, informed
the court that parties had met and settled the
matter.
Ojo said that in view of the agreement reached by
the parties, he would like to file a fresh motion for
discontinuance of the suit later in the day.
“The parties met yesterday and both made
concessions and were able to reach agreement on
the terms of settlement.
Mr Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), counsel to the NASS,
corroborated Ojo’s submission, saying that it was
true that the parties had settled.
He urged the court to strike out the suit outright on
account of the parties’ agreement to settle their
differences.
Ojo , however, opposed the oral application,
explaining that he needed to brief President
Jonathan after Wednesday’s Federal Executive
Council meeting on the settlement terms.
He urged the court to grant him an adjournment to
enable him to return to the court to file the notice of
discontinuance.
“Under Order 50 Rule 2 (1), within time, that is 14
days, to file the notice of discontinuance without
necessary seeking leave of the court to do so,’’ Ojo
prayed the court.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud
Mohammed, who presided, however, ruled that the
sitting be stood down till 4 p.m., to enable Ojo brief
Jonathan and return to file the discontinuance
motion.
Ojo had on Monday sought to amend the originating
summons which he filed on behalf of the Attorney-
General of the Federation.
He had sought to substitute the AGF with the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the
plaintiff in the suit.
Awomolo had opposed the application on the ground
that it was “incurably defective.’’
Awomolo argued that the proper party in the suit
was the President of Nigeria, who was not before
the court and, therefore, urged the court to strike
out the suit.
Responding to Awomolo’s submission, Ojo argued
that his application, dated May 20, and brought to
court on Monday was to cure the inherent
defectiveness of his originating summons.
The CJN, however, disagreed with Ojo, saying that
even if the AGF was replaced with the President, the
originating process would still be defective since the
supporting affidavit was not sworn to by the
president.
This prompted the court to direct the parties to go
back and reconcile and report their out-of-court
settlement on Wednesday.
In the originating summons filed on behalf of the
President and Attorney-General of the Federation,
Ojo had argued that the amendment passed by NASS
did not have the mandatory requirement of four-
fifth majority of members.
The government also requested the Supreme Court to
give an order nullifying and setting aside Sections 3,
4, 12, 14, 21, 23, 36, 39, 40, 43 and 44 of the Fourth
Alteration Act, 2015 purportedly passed by the
legislature.
Ojo argued that the defendant was making moves,
with the tacit consent of state legislators, to employ
certain provisions of the Constitution to pass the
purported Fourth Alteration Act, 2015 into Law.
According to the plaintiff’s counsel, the Fourth
Alteration Act 2015 contains many proposed
amendments inconsistent with the spirit of
federalism, separation of powers and checks and
balances.
He argued that it would be in the interest of justice
to grant all prayers sought because most of the
provisions of the purported Fourth Alteration Act
2015 are contrary to public policy and good
governance.
The National Assembly had before the filing of the
suit by the Federal Government and Thursday’s
order for the maintenance of status quo, said after
30 days, it would go ahead to override the
president’s veto.

Court Orders NDLEA Operatives To Vacate Kashamu’s Residence

Court Orders NDLEA Operatives To Vacate Kashamu’s Residence 

Temporary reprieve came the way of embattled Ogun State Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu as a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to vacate his Lagos residence.

Justice Ibrahim Buba, who gave the order while ruling on a committal application filed by Kashamu's counsel, Ajibola Oluyede, also directed the men of the Nigerian police to ensure that NDLEA operatives vacate Kashamu’s residence immediately “without a free for all.”

It will be recalled that the NDLEA had, on Saturday, placed Kashamu on house arrest pending his scheduled appearance in court on Monday.

But contrary to expectation, the NDLEA could not produce Kashamu in court on Monday as the PDP chieftain reportedly refused to yield to attempt to take him to court.

The PDP chieftain,  according to the Agency, had insisted that the NDLEA Must Produce a warrant of arrest in line with the extradition treaty before he can be taken to court.

Also on Monday Kashamu has filed a contempt proceedings against the Attorney General of the Federation and the Chairman of the NDLEA before Justice Buba alleging that they disobeyed an order of another judge of the court, Justice Okon Abang, directing all parties before him to maintained status quo pending the final determination of the suit.

Justice Abang gave the order in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Kashamu though another of his lawyers, Alex Iziyon (SAN) to challenge his proposed extradition to the United States of America for an alleged drug-related offences.

Respondents in the suit are: Chairman, Nigerian Drug Laws Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Director General, Department of State Security(DSS) The Interpol National Central Bureau(NCB) and Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF.

Others are; The Clerk of the National Assembly, The National Security Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission(ICPC), Nigeria Custom Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

When the committal proceedings resumed before Justice Buba on Tuesday, Iziyon (SAN) while responding to application for an adjournment of the matter by a lawyer from the Attorney General's office, Mrs. A. C. Akwiwu, urged the court to direct the NDLEA officers to vacate his client's house.

The lawyer submitted that the action of the agency is against the order of Justice Abang and that judgement in the matter has been fixed for the 27th of May (today).

Iziyon further urged the court for order that any warrant or application by anyone should be brought to the court and that the court should also direct other law enforcement agencies to ensure that any order made by the court are obeyed since the NDLEA officers who laying siege to Kashamu's residence are armed.

Lawyer representing the AGF, Akwiwu, had asked for an adjournment of the matter on the ground that the case is quasi - criminal in nature and that all the orders being sought by the applicant should await the response of the AGF to the processes filed.

"We are here out of respect for the court. We seek to regularise our appearance before the court. We shall be seeking for a further date to enable us react to the processes filed by the applicant ", she said.

After, listening to the arguments of both parties, Justice Buba, in a bench ruling described the case as a unique one, in the sense that the applicant has been in and out of the court.

While making reference to the sister case before his brother Judge, Okon Abang, he held that parties in the matter were bound by the order of the court which directed that status quo should be maintained pending the determination of the suit.

According to Justice Buba, the order of Justice Abang, whether right or wrong is binding on parties and must be obeyed. The position of the law is clear, that is, any person against whom an order is made is bound to obey it or go on appeal.

The court also held that even though it will be in the interest of justice to grant the AGF's application for adjournment, justice will be better served in the case if the oral application made by Kashamu's lawyer is granted.

"The men of the NDLEA are hereby ordered to vacate the residence of the applicant in line with the order of Justice Abang ", the judge ruled.

Justice Buba also directed that the Nigerian Police Force (NPF)  must be notified of the pending contempt proceedings before the court and that the order must be published by the applicant in a national daily.

The court thereafter adjourn the matter till June 4, for the hearing of the contempt proceedings.