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We Are Still Detaining Dasuki, El-Zakzaky in the Interest of the Public – Malami
The immediate past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Friday justified the continued detention of high-profile individuals despite court orders which granted them bail.
The Federal Government had in the last four years refused to obey the court orders that granted bail to the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and a former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd), both of whom were arrested in 2015.
President Muhammadu Buhari had while speaking at the 2018 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Abuja, in August 2018 said the rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest.
But Malami, while being screened by the Senate as a ministerial nominee on Friday said Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) made provisions for the public interest to take preference to private interest.
He said the high-profile individuals remained in detention in public interest.
He said, “I concede as argued by the Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), that a Minister of Justice and Attorney General as stipulated by sections 36, 37 and 39 of the constitution, is supposed to protect the rights of any citizen from being violated even by the state, but where such rights conflict with the public interest, the latter overrides the former.
“The Office of the AGF has exclusive responsibility to uphold the public interest above personal interest of anybody.”
He explained further by citing the ruling of Supreme Court in Federal Government vs Asari Dokubo where on the grounds of public interest, the court refused him bail.
While Dasuki had been in detention at the instance of the Federal Government since December 2015 on alleged corrupt practices, El-Zakzaky and his wife had been detained by the Department of State Services since December 2015 for alleged treasonable offences.
Malami told the lawmakers that there should be deep-rooted collaboration between the executive and the legislature for bills passed by the latter to enjoy the assent of the executive.
He said, “The absence of collaboration and cooperation between the legislature and the executive accounted for high rate of bills rejection by the Presidency from the last (National) Assembly. For such not to repeat itself during the current ninth National Assembly, the culture of deep-rooted collaboration between the two arms of government has to be put in place.
“The culture of collaboration between the two arms has to be demonstrated right from the stage of conception or formulation of a bill to the level of public hearing and eventual passage.”
He pointed out that the rejection of the Petroleum Industry Bill by the President in the Eighth Assembly was because of some self-serving provisions that would empower individuals and compromise the interest of the host communities.
He said, “The public interest element of the role of the President requires that the public interest should be factored more than individual interest; that was fundamentally the reason among others it was not assented to by the President at the time it was transmitted.”
Malami, while addressing the Senate at the committee of the whole, chaired by the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan, enjoined the ninth Assembly to involve all parties to a bill from its conception till it’s transmitted to the President for assent.
Expressing his reservation about the volume of rejected bills by the executive, Lawan said it cost the nation and the legislature huge resources to pass a bill and transmit same to the President for assent.
He, however, urged senators who are joining the executive to canvass more support for presidential assent to the bills from the National Assembly.
The Punch
The Federal government has signed a $328.8 million contract with a Chinese firm – China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) – to rehabilitate and expand Nigeria’s electricity transmission network under Phase 1 of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
The agreement covers Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) for the development of 330kV and 132kV transmission lines across the country, aimed at improving grid reliability and reducing stranded generation capacity.
The project will be coordinated by FGN Power Company, a special purpose vehicle established by the federal government to oversee implementation of the PPI.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, speaking at the contract signing ceremony in Abuja, said the agreement would cover 544 kilometres of transmission lines with a load capacity of 7,140 megawatts, spanning both brownfield and greenfield sites.
He explained that these critical infrastructure projects would act as the main arteries for delivering increased power from midstream transmission directly to homes, businesses, and industries, helping to strengthen the country’s economy.
The minister described it as a vital step toward resolving persistent bottlenecks in Nigeria’s power value chain.
He emphasized that enhancing the transmission network is essential to ensure that generated electricity is delivered efficiently to end-users.
He noted that the signing of the agreement demonstrated the federal government’s commitment, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to providing stable and reliable electricity to Nigerians.
The Managing Director of FGN Power Company, Kenny Anuwe, described the partnership with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) as a strategic move to develop a robust transmission network capable of supporting increased generation capacity.
He explained that CMEC’s involvement complements the ongoing collaboration with Siemens Energy, which focuses on generation and high-voltage transmission technologies.
The Vice President of SINOMACH, Li Xiaoyu, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government for its trust in CMEC, adding that the project would play a significant role in improving electricity delivery across the country.
The Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas-led Rivers State Government has announced the appointment of Administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
The decision, approved by the Administrator also includes the reconstitution of some Boards of Agencies, Commissions, and Parastatals that had earlier been suspended.
According to the statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika, the appointments are to take effect from Monday, April 7, 2025.
The administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State include:
1. Mr Okroiyobi Animiete – Abua/Odual LGA
2. Mr Goodluck M. Ihenacho – Ahoada East LGA
3. Mr Promise Jacob – Ahoada West LGA
4. Dr Tamunotonye Peters – Akuku Toru LGA
5. Surveyor Atajit Francis – Andoni LGA
6. Barrister Ibiapuve Charles – Asari Toru LGA
7. Mr Kingsley N. Banigo – Bonny LGA
8. Dr Sokari Ibifuro Francis – Degema LGA
9. Dr Gloria Obo Dibiah – Eleme LGA
10. Barr Franklin P. Ajinwon – Emohua LGA
11. Dr Onyemachi S. Nwankwor – Etche LGA
12. Prof. Gospel G. Kpee – Gokana LGA
13. Mr Isaiah Christian Nobuawu – Ikwerre LGA
14. Dr Barinedum Nwibere – Khana LGA
15. Dr Clifford Ndu Walter – Obio Akpor LGA
16. Dr Chukwuma Aje – Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA
17. Eliel Owubokiri – Ogu/Bolo LGA
18. Mr Thompson Isodiki – Okrika LGA
19. Manager Ikechi Wala – Omuma LGA
20. Mr Fred Apiafi – Opobo /Nkoro LGA
21. Eletuuo Ihianacho – Oyigbo LGA
22. Dr Sam Kalagbor – Port Harcourt LGA
23. Mr Nuka O. S. Gbipah – Tai LGA
The following have also been appointed as Chairman and members of the Rivers State Electoral Commission:
1. Dr Micheal Ekpai Odey – Chairman
2. Mr Lezaasi Lenee Torbira – Member
3. Prof Author Nwafor – Member
4. Prof Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha – Member
5. Prof Joyce Akaninwor – Member
6. Dr Olive A. Bruce – Member
7. .Prof Chidi Halliday – Member
This followed the judgment of the apex court, which declared the LG election conducted in the state on October 5, 2024, as invalid.
This development comes just hours after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt scheduled April 14, 2025, to hear a suit filed by human rights lawyer, Courage Nsirimovu of Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative.
Nsirimovu is seeking to halt the appointment of LG Administrators in the state.
Justice Adamu Mohammed, presiding over the matter did not issue an explicit restraining order, instead directed that the Administrator of Rivers State be put on notice to appear and show cause why the request to stop the appointments should not be granted.
“I am of the view that it will serve the interest of justice to order the application to put the respondent on notice to appear and show cause why the application (to stop the appointment administrators in the 23 LGAs) should not be granted,” the judge stated.
Channels TV
Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, has vowed that those who financed the attacks against Tesla will go to prison.
Last month, multiple Tesla vehicles were set ablaze in Las Vegas.
Musk condemned the act, calling it an “evil attack.”
Eventually, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced charges against three people responsible for setting Tesla properties on fire in Las Vegas.
Bondi described the violent attacks on Tesla property as “nothing short of domestic terrorism.”
However, several weeks after the incident, Musk revealed in a tweet on X that those who financed the attacks against Tesla will go to jail.
“Those who financed the attacks against Tesla will go to prison,” Musk tweeted on Tuesday.
