Headlines
New Court of Appeal division opens in Kano
By Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The president, Nigerian Courts of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa on Monday commissioned the 19th division of Court of Appeal in Kano with the aim of ensuring easy access to justice.
KANO FOCUS reports that Justice Abubakar Datti Yahya has been posted to serve as the presiding judge of the appellate court in Kano while justices Habib Adewale Abiru and A. A. Wambai would also sit on appeal in the new division.
Ms Bulkachuwa said the newly created division will curtail the frustrations that petitioners encounter while trying to exhaust their rights to appeal.
She added that “the division will reduce cost of appeal, minimize the frustrations occasioned by distance and make all the processes of filing appellate briefs easier and faster.”
It could be recalled that Mrs Bulkachuwa had on November 2019 approved the setting up of a new division of the appellate court in Kano.
A delegation of the appeal court, led by Justice Abdu Aboki, visited Kano to assess structures donated by the Kano State Government for the take-off of the court.
Mrs Bulkachuwa gave assurances that the expansion mission would continue until the court is satisfied that access to justice has been made a routine exercise.
In a remark Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said the move would enhance access to justice for people in the state, as more than half of the litigations at the appellate court in Kaduna were from Kano State.
Mr Ganduje said Kano deserves to have a division of the appeal court, especially as people were facing difficulties going to Kaduna for their cases.
He assured that Kano state government would give all necessary support to make sure the court conduct its activities better without any hindrance as the establishment would assist in the efficient dispensation of justice.
On his parts Kano state Chief Judge, Justice Nura Sagir, said appeals from Kano and Jigawa states form the bulk of all appeals received at the Kaduna division which previously served both states.
He noted that with the Kano division, distance has considerably minimized and the less privileged will find it easier to pursue their cases beyond the state high courts.
Nasiru Yusuf
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday grilled former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over allegations of abuse of office, diversion of public funds and fraudulent allocation of government properties to cronies.
KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, was first invited by the EFCC in September but failed to honour the invitation as reported by Channels TV.
An associate of the politician informed Channels Television that Kwankwanso may have been invited in relation to a petition by some retired employees of the Kano State Government.
The retired employees had told the EFCC that the former governor mismanaged pension remittances to the tune of N10 billion between 2011 and 2015, to fund a housing project for his cronies.
EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren did not comment on the interrogation of the former governor when contacted on Saturday.
Aminu Abdullahi
Crisis rocked Kano chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC), as Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and faction loyal to former governor of Kano and serving Senator Ibrahim Shekarau held parallel state congress.
KANO FOCUS reports that while Ganduje group held their congress at Sani Abacha stadium, faction loyal to Shekarau had their own at Janguza town, Tofa local government area.
Ganduje’s led group endorsed Abdullahi Abbas as state chairman of APC for a second term in a consensus arrangement, while the faction loyal to Shekarau announced Ahmadu Haruna Zago as newly elected chairman of APC in Kano state.
Reports shows that the security have earlier disrupted Shekarau’s camp congress at Sani Abacha youth centre and sealed the premises before they moved to Janguza where they held the election.
Below are some pictures of the parallel Congress.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje while voting at Sani Abacha stadium
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje with APC chieftains
Delegates at Sani Abacha stadium
Ballot box
Factional chairman of Kano APC Ahmadu Haruna Zago
Ahmadu Haruna Zago and Abdilkadir Jobe
APC factional congress at Janguza
Headlines
NCC moves to address poor network service at densely populated Kano markets – Prof Danbatta.
Nasiru Yusuf
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) Umar Garba Danbatta says the commission will address the poor network at Kantin Kwari, Sabongari Singer and Kurmi markets.
KANO FOCUS reports that Danbatta announced revealed this while responding to complaint raised by a participant at a two day stakeholders consultative meeting tagged ‘talk to the regulator’ organised by Nigerian Communications Commission in Kano.
The complainer noted that that there is poor telecommunications service in Kantin Kwari, Sabongari, Singer and Kurmi markets in Kano metropolitan area.
Danbatta responded that the commission will deploy investigative team to determine the nature of the problem and proffer solution.
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta
“We have the capacity to monitor the performance of MNOs, that is the most important thing. Because of this valid observation by our stakeholder, we are going to direct our searchlight in those areas where we think the quality of service needs to improve.
“And if it is necessary, we will send the investigative team what is the nature of the quality of service in such places with a view to improve the quality of the service,” Danbatta said.
The Executive Vice Chairman explained that the commission considers stakeholder feedback “as a critical component of our forward – looking regulatory model.”
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta with senior management staff of NCC
“Hence, the overarching objective of this forum is to get direct feedback from our licensees on how we, as a regulator, are meeting your expectations, and on areas where we can improve our regulatory service, particularly those that have to do with licensing.
“We also intend to use this forum to seek your support for the several initiatives that the commission has carefully developed in our quest to enhance market opportunities for all our licensees.”
Danbatta added that the commission will focus it’s energies for the next five years on five strategic pillars.
Participants
The pillars according to him include “organisational renewal for operational efficiency and regulatory excellence.
“Facilitate the provision of infrastructure for a digital economy which fosters national development.
“Improve quality service (QoS) for enhanced consumer quality of experience (QoE).
“Promote fair competition, inclusive growth, increased investment and innovative services as well facilitate strategic collaboration and partnership.”
Participants
He disclosed that the federal government has articulated a number of critical policy objectives for the sector such as those articulated in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), the Revised National Digital Identity Policy for SIM Registration among others.
He added that the instruments require the full and unalloyed commitment of all stakeholders to ensure their successful implementation, and the meeting in Kano would provide a veritable channel for licensees’ buy-in.
Participants
In his address the Director of Licensing and Authorisation Department, Mohammed Babajika, said the commission is further liberalising the telecoms industry by finalising the framework for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) and is currently reviewing existing regulations.
“The Commission is also finalising the Information Memorandum (IM) for 5G deployment, emerging trends like Internet of Things (loT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Over The Top (OTT) Services and Big Data Analytics, all aimed at initiating strategies to improve service delivery that is accessible and affordable.
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NCC moves to address poor network service at densely populated Kano markets – Prof Danbatta.
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