I will unbundle Supreme Court, Keyamo promises Says Nigeria to have 6 regional apex courts Submits that constitution replete with mistakes, needs amendment Abuja attorney general of the federation, his Tunde Opalana, first priority assignment will be to restructure the Supreme Court. A ministerial nominee, Festus Keyamo said the Supreme Court will Keyamo (SAN) from Delta State said henceforth, operate on regional basis if President Muhammadu Buhari with one in each of the six geopolitical Iran demands appoints him minister of justice and Continued on page 3 El-Zakzaky’s release from Nigeria g 5 www.dailytimes.ng DailyTimesNGR dailytimesnigeria dailytimesngr SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2019 VOL. 3 NO. 1001 N100 Ministerial screening: Malami justifies El-Zakzaky, Dasuki’s continued detention Says their detention is in public interest Canvasses collaboration between executive and legislature throw sentiments into their continuous detention Tunde Opalana, Abuja which is in the interest of the nation at large. Substantiating his submission with Section 174 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), he said A minister -designate - Abubakar Malami the constitutional provisions creates room for (SAN) has justified the continued incarceration preference of public interest over private interest. of the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria Malami was responding to a question raised by (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El- Zakzaky and former the Senate minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki on the continuous detention of people against (rtd) among others being kept behind bars in order of courts for their bail. spite of court judgements ordering their release. Abaribe quoted exclusive rights of individual Malami, who was the immediate former Nigerians as entrenched in Sections 36 to 44 of Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the the constitution which he said are not being Federation, said such persons suffer continuous respected in the case of Dasuki and El-Zakzaky detention in the interest of the public. and others. Absolving the Federal Government of any Malami said: “I concede as argued by the wrong doing in detaining Dasuki and El-Zakzaky Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe against public outcry, Malami, who appeared (PDP Abia South) that a minister of justice and before the Senate screening of ministerial nominees on Friday, said Nigerians should not CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Confusion, g Imo uncovers intrigue trail 4 looted govt g 4 Justice Tsoho’s properties in swearing-in as warehouses own acting chief judge by Okorocha’s wife Teenage sex trade FG, OGP g 8 booms in Delta partner to as used condoms litter uncompleted reduce secrecy Amazing story of Mike Tyson’s g 4 in governance buildings marijuana empire g11 Daily Times Nigeria 2 Saturday, July 27, 2019 Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 27, 2019 READ MORE ON: www.dailytimes.ng 3 News ‘Malami justifies El-Zakzaky, PHOTO TIMES Dasuki’s continued detention’ Continued from page 1 detained at the instance of to repeat itself during the Federal Government on the current 9th National attorney general as stipulated alleged corrupt practices, Assembly, culture of deep- by sections 36, 37 and 39 of while El- Zakzaky alongside rooted collaboration between the constitution, supposed his wife were also being the two arms, has to be put in to protect the rights of any detained since December place. citizen from being violated 2015 on alleged treasonable “The culture of even by the state, but where offences. collaboration between such rights conflicts with Malami also advocated the two arms has to be public interest, the latter more collaboration between demonstrated right from overrides the former. the executive and legislature the stage of conception or “The office of the attorney at different parliamentary formulation of a bill, up to general has exclusive processing stages of bills the level of public hearing responsibility of upholding to avoid high turnover of and eventual passage. the public interest above bills not assented to by the “For example, the personal interest of President. Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) anybody”. He said: “Absence was fundamentally rejected He went further to cite the of collaboration and by the executive for lack of ruling of Supreme Court on cooperation between the this required collaboration Federal Government versus legislature and the executive, especially as regards the L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; Liberian President George Weah and Liberian Minister of Foreign Asari Dokubo where on the accounted for high rate interest of host community Affairs, Gbehzohngar Findley as President Buhari is decorated with The Grand Cordon of the Knighthood grounds of public interest, of bills rejection by the perceived by the executive of Venerable Order of the Pioneers,” Republic of Liberia’s highest national honour as part of Liberian 172nd the court refused him bail. Presidency from the last to have been compromised Independence Anniversary Celebration in Monrovia...on Friday. Sambo Dasuki has since Assembly. through provisions of the December 2015 been “For such scenario not bills.” I will unbundle Supreme Court, Keyamo promises Continued from page 1 amendment of the 31 not attempted to amend the justices. I will make a holistic provision. zones of the country, restructuring of the Supreme Also, during the screening lamenting that the apex court Court and unbundling of the exercise, a constitutional issue is the busiest in the world court,” he asserted. was raised by the senator and is over-burdened with Keyamo, who commended representing Bayelsa West, frivolous cases that are below the 7th National Assembly for Sen. Lawrence Ewrujakpor, the standard of the highest passing the Administration who noted that the Senate has court in the judicial system of of Criminal Justice Act breached Section 121 of the any nation. which provides for prison Senate Standing Rule and Part The spokesperson of decongestion in the country, 2 of the 5th Schedule of the 1999 the Buhari/ Osinbajo lamented that only a few Constitution (as amended) in Presidential Campaign states in the country have screening nominees without Fourth from left is Ibrahim Magu, Ag. Chairman, EFCC; Dr. Joe Abah, Country Director, DAI; Olanipekun Council highlighted his plan replicated the provision in proper asset declaration. Olukoyede, Secretary to the EFCC and Esther Adegunle from DAI.; 1st right from left is Dr. Aminu for a holistic reformation of their judicial system, adding Ewrujakpor said nominees Gusau, Director Organisational Support; Tony Amokeodo, SA (Media) to the Chairman, EFCC and Tony the nation’s judicial system that “it is unfortunate, are constitutionally requested Orilade, Ag. Spokesperson, EFCC. while fielding questions from that the provisions are not to have declared their assets senators on Friday during complied with by states. State before been screened for the screening of ministerial governments must amend appointment into public nominees. their criminal procedure acts.” offices. Keyamo said the Supreme The nominee picked holes He said: “Mr. President, I Court in Abuja will in the 1999 Constitution (as noticed that this trend was handle cases bordering on amended) as being replete not followed since we started constitutional, political and with mistakes that impact this screening exercise. This election jurisdiction while the negatively on the judicial is a breach of our rule and court at regional level will system, submitting that a that of the provision of the handle other classes of cases. handful of provisions of constitution.” He as well faulted the the constitution need to be The senator said glossing decision of cases before the amended. over this important Supreme Court as presently Keyamo specifically constitutional provision is constituted by just seven out called for a review of the not in tandem with the anti- of the 21 justices on the bench, constitutional powers granted corruption campaign of the describing such as scandalous. the attorney general at the incumbent administration of Keyamo frowned at federation and state levels, President Buhari. L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Transcorp Power Limited, Mr. Kalyana Sundaram; President/CEO, the provision of the court particularly the provision “This call is not to witch - Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc,, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo; Managing Director/ establishment that makes the that says the discretion of the hunt anybody, but to satisfy CEO, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mrs Owen Omogiafo; and Executive Director, Business Development remaining 14 justices indolent attorney general cannot be constitutional provisions. and Legal Services, Mr. Christopher Ezeafulukwe, during the Transcorp Half Year Analyst Parley and involuntary acceptance of questioned. It could be ascribed to held in Lagos...on Tuesday the verdict of the ruling seven He said: “Let us amend the the hurried nature of the judges without power to raise constitution to make power assignment. I am happy that objections. of the director of public the Senate has taken note. We “If the President assigns me prosecution. It should be have not lost any ground, we the portfolio of the attorney subjected to review.” can make amends,” he added general, the first thing I will When asked by Senator Dino The Senate President do is to reform the judiciary Melaye on the usurpation noted the point of order. with my cardinal reformation of the power of the Code Meanwhile, the Senate principle, namely to of Conduct Bureau by the on Friday screened seven decongest the Supreme Court, Presidential Committee on nominees, bringing to 31 to decongest the prisons and Recovery of Public Properties the number of ministers- to decongest courts across the headed by Okono Obla, he designates so far screened. country. agreed that there is a conflict of Screened on Friday were “As an attorney general of roles, but blamed the inability Abubakar Malami from the federation, I will decongest of the legislature to amend the Kebbi State, Sen. Hadi Sirika the Supreme Court which provision. from Katsina State, Dr. Osagie is the busiest in the world.