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Presidential Pardon – Between Law and Mortality

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By: Bello Galadi, 

The power of the President to grant pardon under Section 175(1), (2) & (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) is enormous. He can grant a complete pardon, substitute or remit the punishment, irrespective of the nature of the offence.In the legal sense, the President was right to have granted pardon to the 159 convicts including Taraba’s Jolly Nyame and Plateau’s Joshua Dariye, based on the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy which was approved by the Council of State on Friday, 15th April, 2022. In the moral sense, the President was wrong to have granted pardon to the 2 former governors. They are not entitled to the presidential pardon, because, they are the reason for our insecurity, abject poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, darkness and our confusion. They are responsible for the stagnation of the country- for over two decade, we are still talking about security, education, jobs, water, light and drugs when advanced democracies are discussing about technology. They are corrupt and have corrupted the system completely. They abused their offices and betrayed the trust of their people. They compromised our future, the future of our children, grand- children and great grand- children. They are supposed to be shamed not dignified with a presidential pardon.By granting them pardon, a cardinal element of ‘deterrence’ in criminal law is jettisoned. The pardoning will erode the confidence of our international partners in the fight against corruption; dampen the morale of the EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct, Police and other investigative and prosecutorial agencies in the country. As a former Prosecutor in the Zamfara State Ministry of Justice, I know that it takes uncommon commitment and dedication to secure a conviction in a court of law. We need to raise the morale of our investigators and prosecutors. Granting pardon to corrupt convicts will further corrupt the justice system. I believe, as corrupt as they are, the convicts might have attempted to bribe the investigators, prosecutors and even the Judges in the course of investigation or prosecution. Only few will withstand the temptation anymore.My question is: what is the position of the wealth they stole? Has it been recovered or not? If it is not recovered, it means they will enjoy their loot in the comfort of their homes. The whole essence is defeated. They must not be allowed to enjoy their loot. Another controversial aspect in the presidential pardon is the issue of whether the President had acted ultra vires- outside his powers. There are arguments that Dariye and Nyame were tried and convicted under the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.If those arguments are valid, then, it means the President had usurped the powers of the Governors of Taraba and Plateau States respectively, enshrined under Section 212(1) & (2) of the Constitution.The Attorney- general of the Federation Abubakar Malami, SAN is morally obligated to debunk those arguments as the Chief Legal Officer of the President, otherwise he should be prepared to advice the President to rescind the pardon, same been void ab initio. Galadi is a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Gusau Branch (covering Zamfara State) and President of Bello Galadi Foundation.He can be reached on:muhammadbel_law@yahoo.commuhammadbellaw80@gmail.com and twitter handle: @bello_galadi1

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ACF hails Gov. Yusuf 50% slash down of school fees, says the move is exemplary

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The Arewa Consultative Forum( ACF) has hail the 50% reduction of school fees for indigent students by the incumbent Governor, of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf as exemplary and worthy to emulate by other governor’s.

Gov. Yusuf has recently cut down 50% reduction in the registration fee for the 2023/2024 academic session for all Kano State indigenes studying regular courses at the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano, Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education, Kumbotso, Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta and other state owned tertiary institutions accross the state to cushion  the worsening economic situation people have been going through. 

While reacting to the governor’s initiative, the Chairman of the forum, Dr. Goni Farouk Umar  described the decision as both revolutionary and a hallmark of visionary leadership. 

He noted with delight the Kano State government’s resolve to restore its foreign scholarship programme designed to sponsor 1001 best graduates which demonstrates the government compassion that resulted in the payment of N700million registration fees for 700 Kano State students at the Bayero University Kano. 

The ACF leader noted that both the slashing of the fees in state owned institutions, and the off-setting of the BUK fees would go along way to ease the burden on parents and the students occasioned by the current economic hardship. 

Dr  Umar who describe education as power, and pivot in society’s advancement, prayed for the successful implementation of the government’s pro-poor education policies.

 He also appealed to all sections of the community to support educational development in all facets. 

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Nigeria’s President Tinubu say’s country’s pilgrim who return $80,000 to owner in Saudi is a pride of all.

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President of Nigeria, Mr  Ahmed Bola Tinubu will honour Zamfara pilgrim Hajiya A’ishatu ‘Yan Guru Nahuce who found $80,000 in Saudi Arabia during the last Hajj exercise and return the money to it’s rightful owner. Chairman Zamfara State Hajj Commission, Alhaji Musa Mallaha has revealed.

Mallaha disclosed that the president is overwhelmed by the act of honesty exhibited by the female pilgrim hence he directed the National Hajj Commission to organize a national press conference to interview the woman for record keeping while in Saudi.

When the directives was given by the president according to Mallaha, the woman was already airlifted back to Nigeria adding that arrangements are in top gear to ensure the presidential directives is implemented as soon as possible.

Mr. Mallaha who revealed that president Tinubu expressed delight and pointed out that Hajiya Nahuce has brought respect and honour to her country Nigeria said the commission’s preparation towards the national press conference in Nigeria now will include the State governor, Dauda Lawan keying into the activities.

Mallaha further said that her honesty is a pride to all Muslims accross the globe.

The woman during the last excise stumbled into the money while performing Tawaff at the Ka’abah, she said that she kick the bag of the money to a distance for fear of been trample upon if she bow down to pick it up because of the large crowd. An Arab Pilgrim who saw her action pick the bag and gave it to her thinking that it was hers.

Mrs. Nahuce who was sponsored to Hajj by her son’s revealed that it was her first trip to the holy land.

She further revealed in an interview that, she took the money to the officials of her local government Hajj commission and handed it over. The officials met Saudi Authorities and within few days the owner was found and the money was returned to him.

She commented that she was not aware of the magnitude of her action until she was back home to Nigeria where she understands that the news went viral before her arrival

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Nigerian Army neutralize 7 bandits, comb bush for others in Zamfara

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Nigerian Army neutralized seven Armed Bandits while several others flee with gunshots wounds in the late hours of Monday. 

The bandits in large number according to reliable source attempted to infiltrate and attack the troops at Kango Sabuwa. The gallant troops of Sector 1 Operation Hadarin Daji in conjunction with troops deployed at Forward Operating Base Wanke were steps ahead of them.

This was achieved by the troops in an ambush operation along the route suspected to be used by the Bandits.

The troops Shortly after the encounter proceeds in pursuit of other fleeing wounded bandits, recovered 1 Machine Gun, ammunition and 6 Motorcycles from the armed bandits.

The Commander Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji, Major General Godwin Mutkut commends the troops for their bravery and resilience in dealing with the Armed Bandits.

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