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Parliamentary approval delayed to 2014 Provisional agreement between the EU Council, Commission and Parliament was reached back in July 2013 on the draft text of three new EU public procurement directives but these draft directives are still awaitin...

A quick update on the progress of the new Directives. It is anticipated they will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 28 March 2014, meaning that they will then come into force on 17 April 2014. Following the Directives com...

This article examines an alternative to the two predominant purchase price mechanisms used in M&A transactions in South Africa. When applied correctly, it leads to an expedited determination of the final purchase price and allows for flexibility...

Coronavirus piles more pressure and strain on the automotive sector, disruption supply chains, factory closures and restructuring The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak has now been labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). COVID-19 ...

Sell-side reluctance to accept delegation of reporting under the Securities Financing Transaction Regulation (“SFTR”) is causing a headache for buy-side firms.  If buy-side firms are unable to establish delegation arrangements they ...

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On 15 March 2020, following the announcement by President Ramaphosa regarding South Africa’s precautionary measures that must be put in place to prevent the contraction and spread of COVID-19, South Africans came face to face with the stark re...

The litigation in City Inn (Jersey) Ltd v Ten Trinity Square Ltd, between rival hoteliers next to the Tower of London, concerned restrictive covenants imposed by the Port of London Authority (PLA). The parties asked the court to decide whether the c...

In Re Alisha House, the Lands Tribunal discharged a restrictive covenant preventing a developer from using land for residential development in circumstances where: the developer had entered into the restrictive covenant with the local authority r...

How important is public procurement to the public sector? Many contracting bodies incur more expenditure each year on externally provided works, services and supplies than they do on their own workforce, but focus typicall...

This week, an Advocate General gave a landmark opinion that the VAT exemption for the management of certain special investment funds can apply to property management, as well as to other fund management services. The opinion represents a completely ...

Yesterday the government has announced new legislation which will permit the sentencing remarks of High Court and senior judges in certain criminal cases to be filmed and broadcast to the public. This will include judges passing sentence on high pro...

On 4 March 2020, the European Commission adopted its eagerly awaited European Climate Law proposal which will enshrine into EU legislation the European Union’s commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (the “2050 Ob...

A document seen by SaharaReporters has exposed how serving and retired Nigerian judges are illegally preparing ways for their children and relatives to take over the country’s judicial system in future.

According to the document put together by Open Bar Initiative, out of the 33 names recently recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari by the National Judiciary Council for appointment as judges in the Federal Capital Territory High Court, only 11 met the criteria set out in the employment guideline of the council.

The NJC had on April 26, 2020 approved the appointment of 33 judges for the FCT High Court.

SaharaReporters gathered that 22 out of the 33 candidates presented to President Buhari made the list only because they were related to serving senior members of the judiciary or close aides and members of the NJC. 

Also, states that already have judges in the FCT High Court were reconsidered and given slots while no one was considered qualified for appointment in Ebonyi, a state that has no existing judge.

Section 255 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), pegged qualification for becoming a judge in the High Court of the FCT to a minimum of 10 years qualification as a legal practitioner. 

Also Rule 4 of the NJC appointment of judges’ procedure, indicated only four classes of lawyers, who are qualified to apply and be recommended to be appointed as judges of a high court.

These are legal practitioners in private practice, legal practitioners in public service, who are legal officers, chief registrar of a court, and chief magistrates.

Those listed in the document seen by SaharaReporters among the 33 nominees to be considered as judges by President Buhari but, who are not qualified include Njideka K. Nwosu-Iheme, a Grade 1 Magistrate, who is the daughter of Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court and daughter-in-law to Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal, Agashieze Cyprian Odinaka, a Deputy Director at FCTA whose sister is the Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, Fatima Abubakar Aliyu, a judiciary worker, who is the daughter of immediate-past President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Bulkachuwa, Kanyip Rosemary Indinya, a senior magistrate at FCT and wife of the President of the National Industrial Court and sister of a member of the National Judicial Council.

Others are Mimi Anne Katsina Alu-Apena, a senior magistrate and daughter of late Kastina Alu, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Enenche Eleojo, Assistant Director at FCT High Court and Personal Assistant to the Chief Judge, FCT High Court, Madugu Mohammed Alhaji, Josephine Obanor Enobie, Kayode Agunloye, Nwabulu Ngozika Chineze and Abubakar Babashani, who are senior staff of the FCT High Court but have not attained the rank of chief registrar as stipulated by the constitution.

The list also includes one one Aliyu Halilu Ahmed, a Deputy Chief Registrar from Adamawa State judiciary, who has not attained the rank of a chief registrar.

The rest are Aminu Muhammad Abdullahi, Nwecheonwu Chinyere Elewe, Ibrahim Mohammed, Sadia Mu’azu Mayana, Aliyu Yunusa Shafa, Mohammed Zubairu, Binta Dogonyaro, Christopher Opeyemi Oba and Hafsat Lawan Abba-Aliyu, all magistrates from the FCT judiciary, who are not up to the rank of a chief magistrate as stipulated in Rule 4 of the NJC appointment of judges procedure.

SaharaReporters also gathered that one Olufola Olufolashade Oshin did not participate in the processes leading up to selection, interview or obtaining recommendation from a Chief Judge of a state but her name was inserted into the final list transmitted to President Buhari at the instigation of some senior judicial officers believed to be top members of the Supreme Court.

Reacting to the development, Open Bar Initiative said, “The suggestion that judicial service in Nigeria is an inheritance transmitted from parents to children is not supported by the constitution or any other instrument under Nigerian law. 

“This is an abuse of the constitution by those who must nominate judges for appointment.”

Co-convener of Open Bar Initiative and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, while reacting to the situation, said, “These are not just unqualified nominees, they are bad nominees because only bad people will want to become judges through smuggling. They will make bad judges, we should resist them and their sponsors.”

Voicing his displeasure on Twitter, a user with the handle @AbdulMahmud01, said, “Have you seen the list of newly appointed FCT judges approved by NJC? It is a parade of children of former CJN, retired Supreme Court justices and judges. NJC is simply put: a corrupt council of corrupt interests.”

Another user, @KennyAdazie, while sharing her thoughts on the issue, said, “The only people that can take back Nigeria are the youth. 

“If we don’t come out to stop this madness, the charade will continue. When they strategically place their own, they pave way for #impunities and come 2023, there is nothing you can do! The reason our legal system is in ruins.”

The Rivers State Government has asked it's Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to auction all vehicles that were impounded for violating the state’s lockdown directive.

Paulinus Nsirim, the state's Commissioner for Information and Communications, in a statement on Thursday, said interested Nigerians should check selected Nigerian newspapers in order to place their bids.

The statement reads, “Government will deal decisively with the residents of these areas if they are found to default again. 

“Anyone parading exemption letters except the one issued by the governor is doing so at his or her own risk as such permits are invalid.

“The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice has been directed to auction all vehicles that violated the lockdown order.

“Members of the public who are interested to buy the auctioned vehicles are to watch out for details in The Sun, The Nation and Vanguard Newspapers.”

The Nigerian Civil Society Organisations have recommended modalities that would ensure citizens’ participation in the conduct of the proposed virtual public hearing on the controversial Infectious Diseases Bill.

The group said that public scrutiny of the bill can only be achieved through a broad-based engagements of stakeholders. 

In a statement jointly signed by 69 civil organisations on Thursday in Abuja, the groups stated that any legislative process that does not guarantee active and free participation of the people would fail and not be accepted.  

The statement noted that the proposed public hearing, which would be held via video conferencing be scheduled to hold between two to three days and representatives of organizations be allowed to make presentation for five-10 minutes.

The rights group also asked the lawmakers to provide information on the committee responsible for the coordination of the hearing.

According to the statement, "The committee responsible for organising these activities should conduct citizen outreach and share this information widely with the public through diverse media platforms. 

"This is critical to ensure broad awareness and participation and enhance legislative transparency" 

They said the virtual public hearing on the bill must be comprehensive, and conform with the dictates of the constitution. 

Eversheds Sutherland advises Glennmont on the sale of a minority stake in 211MW Finnish wind project Eversheds Sutherland has advised Glennmont Partners on its agreed sale of a 15% minority stake in Project Piiparinmäki, a 211.4MW wind farm, to...

By Anu Anwar HONOLULU (November 1, 2019)—Originally announced by Chairman Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims to bolster China’s connectivity with the world. While the name Belt and Road Initiative implies two routes—a maritime road through the Indian Ocean and a land belt across Central Asia—in reality, BRI projects encompass multiple, interconnected global networks. The BRI combines old and new projects, covers an extended geographic region, and includes efforts to strengthen infrastructure development, investment, and cultural ties.

This is a summary only. Click the title for the full article, or visit www.EastWestCenter.org/Research-Wire for more.

By Boy Lüthje HONOLULU (6 April 2020)—The development of electric and self-driving vehicles is bringing on a massive restructuring of the global automotive industry. Emerging forms of new and shared mobility undermine the very model of private car ownership that has underpinned the automotive industry since the days of Henry Ford.

This is a summary only. Click the title for the full article, or visit www.EastWestCenter.org/Research-Wire for more.

In order to help in the fight against COVID-19, the European Commission has adopted a Decision, addressed to the Member States, which allows for tax authorities across Europe to offer import tax reliefs to importers of personal protective equipment ...

In

Court of Appeal upholds single collective bargaining unit for only 1.2% of employees in an otherwise non-unionised employer In a significant development for employers, particularly those without recognised trade unions and those with dispersed busin...

On 31 July 2014, the Council of the European Union (the “Council’) adopted Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 which implements Council Decision 2014/512/CFSP...

Only 148 out of 607 samples of the returning almajiris have so far been tested, and 40 are already positive.

The post Coronavirus: 24 more almajiris, two health workers test positive in Jigawa appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

The Cross River border taskforce had earlier intercepted and sent back five trucks with goods and almajiri children.

The post COVID-19: Cross River taskforce intercepts, sends back trucks carrying almajiri children appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

Union representing more than 240 000 public sector employees also cited concerns regarding flouting of Covid-19 regulations

The Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago nation with one of the world's most congested capitals, has seen a rapid rise in coronavirus cases over the past few weeks.

Dayo Johnson – Akure All the unclaimed and unburied corpses in Ondo government morgues across the State would be given mass burial in the next one month. Health commissioner Dr. Wahab Adegbenro said this in a statement issued by his Press Office Abooluwa Famakinwa in Akure. Adegbenro has therefore called on relations of the deceased
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The post Unclaimed corpses in Ondo government morgues to be given mass burial — Akeredolu appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Lagos Government has announced the closure of Creek Road from Mr Biggs to Warehouse road junction in Apapa area of the State. The government on Friday explained that the closure was for construction by HITECH. The Ministry of Transportation, in a statement, by Bolanle Ogunlola, Head, Public Affairs Unit, said that the closure commenced […]

Lagos shuts Apapa roads, gives alternative routes

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, on Friday arrested 14 persons hidden in two trailers conveying cattle from Adamawa State to Port Harcourt, the State’s capital. Wike told reporters that the trailers were intercepted following a tip-off from well-meaning Nigerians, who told the State authorities that some Northerners were making their way into Port Harcourt. […]

COVID-19 lockdown: Rivers Govt arrests 14 persons, to auction 2 truckload of cows

Kano State Government has confirmed 65 new cases of coronavirus disease in the State. The Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, had on Friday announced 386 new cases of coronavirus disease in the country. Out of the 386 cases announced, Kano recorded 65. Confirming the development, the Kano State ministry of Health in a tweet […]

Kano Govt confirms 65 new cases of coronavirus, five deaths

No fewer than three health workers and four patients at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. DAILY POST learnt that the health workers include a doctor and two nurses. Reliable sources at the hospital told DAILY POST that the health workers possibly had contacts with a pregnant […]

COVID-19: Three health workers, four patients reportedly test positive at Ogun FMC

A frontline activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, has accused the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike of turning into a dictator. He listed some attributes of dictatorship being displayed by the Governor to include the arbitrary arrest of pilots and oil workers; the closure of State boundaries and now an executive order to auction all vehicles […]

COVID-19 lockdown: Gov. Wike becoming a dictator in Rivers – Senior lawyer, Adegboruwa

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has told the people of the State and the entire Nigerians to hold the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government responsible if COVID-19 escalates in the State. Wike said this in his statewide broadcast on Friday, adding that nobody should be surprised if the coronavirus cases in the State rise […]

COVID-19: Hold Buhari govt responsible if coronavirus escalates in Rivers – Wike cries out

It is not for nothing that it is said that two heads are better than one. Then Prof. Kimse Okoko modified it to ‘two good heads.’ I believe that Gov. Nyesom Wike should involve his entire cabinet members (as it appears he does not) in managing Covid-19 in Rivers State. If he does that, I […]

Senibo Chris Finebone: Way to go in fighting COVID-19 in Rivers State(1)

The Ondo State Government has given a month ultimatum for concern residents of the state to evacuate the corpses of their loved ones from morgues operated by the government for decent burial or risk being given mass burial. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, who disclosed this on Saturday, stated that the move […]

Mortuary congestion: Ondo threatens mass burial for corpses, gives 30-day ultimatum

BY EMEKA EJERE Governor Nyesom Wike, of Rivers State has accused the state’s deputy commissioner of police, DCP Adamu Abubakar of sabotaging the lockdown in the state by issuing illegal letters to companies after collecting money from them. Wike, who spoke in an interview on Thursday, said the deputy commissioner of Police released people he […]

The post Police collecting bribe, sabotaging lockdown in Rivers – Wike appeared first on Hallmarknews.

BY EMEKA EJERE Prof. Akin Abayomi,  the commissioner for health in Lagos State has refuted reports claiming that he tested positive for coronavirus. Prof Abayomi urged people of the state and Nigerians to disregard the reports which he described as fake and misleading. The commissioner, who made the clarification in a series of tweets, said […]

The post News that I tested positive for Covid-19 fake, misleading – Lagos health commissioner appeared first on Hallmarknews.

Adebayo Obajemu As part of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc’s continued efforts to support Federal, State and the Federal Capital Territory Governments in the fight to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, the company has expanded its food donation initiative to assist the vulnerable among the indigenes and residents of Abuja. The project which is themed “Food for our Communities […]

The post Julius Berger shares palliatives to Abuja Communities appeared first on Hallmarknews.

BUENOS AIRES: Electricity services have been restored to more than 50 percent of Argentina and Uruguay following a massive blackout that left around 48 million people without power on Sunday, authorities said.

…FG Urged To Involve Civil Society Groups  Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, has been applauded for the successes recorded in providing palliatives for Nigerians to cushion the socio-economic effects of the lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic. This is coming as the Federal Government has been urged to involve […]

The post Palliatives Distribution:  Minister of Humanitarian receives accolades appeared first on Nigerian Pilot News.

Final-year medical students across the country are afraid to return to hospitals to complete their in-service training as Covid-19 continues to rapidly spread.