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BREAKING: Lawmaker shot dead in Enugu
A Councilor, Nelson Sylvester, popularly known as Ofunwa, representing Eha-Ulo ward, in Nsukka Local Government Area Legislative Council, Enugu State, has been shot dead.
Newsmen learnt that the lawmaker was murdered by gunmen on Sunday night at his residence in Eha-Alumonah.
Although details of the incident are still sketchy, a competent source disclosed that the assailants stormed the lawmaker’s house and started raining bullets on him.
He added that the Councilor ran into a neighbouring compound, from where his lifeless body was later recovered.
The development has sparked tension in the town and other neighbouring communities.
The source, who described the suspected assassination as one too many, added that “it is heartbreaking; it is too hard for us to swallow. We are in deep agony.”
Newsmen put calls across to the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, but he said he was not disposed to answer calls.
A text message was then sent to him.
He responded thus: “I have not been briefed on such incident. However, I’ll verify and revert back ASAP, please.”
The Court of Appeal, Abuja, has set aside contempt proceedings initiated by the former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Joseph Oyewole set aside the proceedings in a unanimous judgment on Thursday while overruling the respondent’s preliminary objection, citing technicalities.
The Appeal Court said the trial judge failed to extend the orders of Feb. 9 in its final Judgment of April 17.
He said the second issue raised by the respondent on the interim order had become an academic exercise.
The court awarded N1 million cost against the respondent.
The appellate court had granted an ex-parte motion for stay of contempt proceedings filed against the EFCC’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, by ex- Governor Bello.
The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Oyewole, granted the EFCC’s application to serve the processes in the appeal by substituted means on the former governor.
The court consequently adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to May 20.
It would be recalled that the EFCC boss was summoned to appear before the Kogi State High Court in May to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for disobeying its orders.
But he had appealed the ruling of the trial court and sought a stay of the proceedings of the court.
The Kogi High Court based its ruling on the premise that the EFCC chair carried out “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the court on Feb. 9, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion.
It would be recalled that Justice I. A. Jamil, in a ruling on Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that “the said act was carried out by the respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act.
The judge held that the EFCC’s act amounted to contempt.
EFCC operatives had laid siege on the residence of the former governor, as early as 8am on April 17, with a bid to arrest him despite a court order restraining them from taking such action, pending the determination of the originating motion.
Justice Jamil’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Bello, through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, where he prayed the court for an order to issue and serve the respondent (EFCC chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why order of committal should not be made on him.
The lead judgment at the Appeal Court on Thursday, was delivered by Justice Oyewole, while Justices A.M. Talba and D. Z. Senchi were in agreement.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ondo State has deployed 1,000 operatives ahead of the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration in the state.
Mr Ibiloye Oluyemi, the State Commandant of NSCDC, made this known while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Akure.
Ibiloye explained that the operational order for the celebration period had been communicated to the eight area commanders and the 36 divisional officers covering the 18 local government areas in the state.
According to him, the deployment will also give special attention to the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.
“The Rapid Response Squad, Tactical Team, and the Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) will patrol black spots, vulnerable locations, recreational centres, and other flashpoints to nip in the bud any criminal intention.
“Operatives from the female squad, anti-vandal unit, agro rangers, operations department, and intelligence officers will coordinate and watchfully protect lives and property before, during, and after the Salah celebration,” he said.
The commandant assured residents that the command would be “civil and professional in the discharge of the national assignment under its watch.”
He also appealed to the people of the state to be security conscious and law-abiding.
“Report any suspicious movement of persons or consignment to the security agencies around you. I wish all Muslim faithful a blessed Salah Celebration,” he said.
The Federal Government has started the process of reviewing the National Environmental (Permitting and Licensing Systems) Regulations, S.I. 29, 2009, to address areas of gaps in trending and emerging environmental issues.
Speaking at the expert critique meeting for the review on Thursday in Abuja, Dr Innocent Barikor, the Director- General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), said the document sought to strengthen environmental laws.
He said that the regulation also aimed at improving air quality and environmental conservation and avoidance of exposure to waste and hazardous substances.
“The regulation seeks to achieve statutory environmental targets and outcomes.
“Such as improvement in air quality, environmental conservation and avoidance of exposure to waste and hazardous substances by issuing Environmental Permits to the Regulated Community.
“These permits have significantly aided the agency to achieve her mandate of ensuring compliance with environmental laws, policies, standards and guidelines.
“However, in the course of operationalising the provisions of these regulations in the last 15 years, some gaps were identified.
“These gaps included trending and emerging environmental issues such as climate change, marine pollution and biodiversity conservation which are of global concern.’’
Barikor said that the factors necessitated NESREA to seek for assistance through the Quick Wins of its 5-Year Impact Plan from the UNEP-LEAP Small Scale Funding Agreement (SSFA).
He said this was under the Montevideo Programme V to facilitate the review of the regulation.
The director-general said that permitting and licensing regulations was the backbone that provided the necessary structure to balance growth and innovation and public safety.
“However, as with any system, there is always room for improvement, thus, the need for the ongoing efforts to refine and enhance our regulatory processes,” he said.
He said that the agency had so far conducted desktops reviews/documentations and interacted with relevant stakeholders across the six geo-political zones.
The director-general said that the agency also interacted with stakeholders from the 35 States of the federation through its zonal and state field offices.
Barikor urged stakeholders to consider the review process as a testament to the agency’s commitment in leaving a legacy of environmental sustainability for generations to come.
An expert, Mr Victor Ojogbo, said that the issue of the environment was critical.
Ojogbo, a former Director, Department of Planning and Policy Analysis, NESREA, said that the essence of the review was to examine the issues of offences, penalities for defaulters as well as enforcement by the agency.
He said that the review would also ensure that the regulators and regulated were placed on their toes for a seamless enforcement.
“I said that the issue of the environment is not to be treated with kids glove; because if it affects me; it affects you and then the environment,” he said.
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Appeal Court sets aside contempt proceedings against EFCC Chairman
