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Abuja Conference Centre Now “Bola Ahmed Tinubu ICC”
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike said the International Conference Centre was named after President Bola Tinubu because he showed leadership by giving a marching order that led to rehabilitation of the centre.
Wike affirmed this Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the rehabilitated centre by the President, stating that state of the centre was a major international embarrassment for Nigeria when Tinubu inaugurated the ECOWAS Parliament last year.
He noted that the rehabilitation carried out in eight months would not have been possible without Tinubu’s leadership.
He said: “You are not the only president who has been here. So many presidents have come and nobody has said this is not what Nigeria needs. But because of your leadership, you gave a marching order, stating that this is not the quality to show that Nigeria is a giant of Africa.
“Today this Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre can match any order international conference centre. But what I want to appeal, Mr. President, because I know pressure will come, how do we sustain this? I want to let everybody know whether you’re a ministry, whether you’re an agency, you want to use this, you have to pay something. You have to pay. That’s the only way it can be sustained.
“Nothing like, my brother, my sister is going to have a wedding. If you want to use a place like this, such a beautiful place, then you must drop something. This was being handled before by a politician and he killed the place. And when we tried to do what, the politician had to go to court to stop us from carrying out this action. So, if you’re not the kind of person, we would not have done this work. Pressure came left, right, and centre, and you said, ‘go ahead and rehabilitate that place’. We thank God for showing that leadership”.
In his remarks, President Tinubu said he was honoured to reopen the International Conference Centre as part of the country’s determined efforts to change the way things were done, and to reflect Nigerians as people of quality, character, determination and great spirit.
He exhorted the FCT Minister as a transformational leader who also reflects that Nigerian collective spirit.
“Don’t pay attention to the busybodies and bystanders. Whatever they say, continue to do your good work. You are a transformational leader, you have the foresight, the vision and the determination to succeed. Thank you very much.
“When I attended the conference of ECOWAS Parliament here, it was a very dirty, disorganised, uninhabitable environment. Aside from the side-talk I had with the Senate President, I turned to Wike and said this conference centre is not reflecting who we are. Have we sunk this low? He said no but bear with us, we will do whatever we can do to transform the place. You won’t come back to find it in a dilapidated state and today I am very happy.
“Whatever might be wrong today is a sign of the good thing that we are correcting, we are reflecting, renewing our hope and believing in ourselves in what we can do, what we can be – a great nation on earth,” Tinubu said.
The President described modern infrastructure as the backbone of a thriving economy in an inclusive and progressive society.
He added the International Conference Centre was part of the country’s larger vision to become a hub for regional diplomacy, continental trade discussions, global partnership and well outlined goals that reflect ‘Nigeria First’.
Thisdaylive.com
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Naija News reports that Justice had earlier convicted Kanu on all seven counts levelled against him by the Federal Government.
The judge sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment for count 1, 2, 4,5, and 6.
He also sentenced Kanu to 20 years forcount 3 without option of fine.
The Judge sentenced Kanu to five years in prison on count seven without option of fine.
Justice Omotosho ruled that he should not be kept in Kuje prison. He forfeited Nnamdi Kanu’s radio transmitter and barred him from access to social media.
More are still coming
The Federal Government has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to impose the death sentence on the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, following his conviction on all seven terrorism counts.
The request was made on Thursday by the FG’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), shortly after Justice James Omotosho found Kanu guilty of all charges preferred against him.
Awomolo, addressing the court after the verdict, argued that the severity of Kanu’s actions merited the maximum penalty under the law.
The senior lawyer insisted that Kanu committed “many illegalities” and should not be treated with leniency.
Awomolo further reminded the court that four of the seven counts on which Kanu was convicted carry the death sentence under Nigeria’s terrorism laws.
He urged Justice Omotosho to take this into account in determining the appropriate punishment.
“It will not be considered justice that he is isolated and punished lightly in a country where we have Boko Haram, ISWAP, Lakurawa, et cetera,” he argued.
According to the prosecution, Kanu’s actions were as destabilising as those of other violent groups and should be treated with equal seriousness.
Awomolo also urged the judge to ensure that Kanu is kept in a secure correctional facility pending the court’s final pronouncement on sentencing.
He stressed the need to prevent any disruptions or security breaches involving the IPOB leader while the sentencing process is underway.
Kanu was earlier found guilty of inciting violence, ordering attacks on security personnel, calling for killings, and issuing threats capable of terrorising the public, all captured in broadcasts tendered as evidence by the prosecution.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has delivered his ruling in the case between the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and the Federal Government.
Naija News reports that the judgement was given in Nnamdi Kanu’s absence after the judge had ordered security operatives to kick him out of the court over his unruly behaviour.
Nnamdi Kanu had earlier stated that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja does not have the jurisdiction to try him.
The separatist, who has been in custody since 2021, faced seven terrorism-related charges bordering on alleged incitement, running an unlawful group, and acts threatening national security.
The IPOB leader contended that the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, under which he is being prosecuted, has been repealed.
He urged the court to strike out the charges, describing them as “disclosing no offence known to law” and therefore invalid.
Kanu also requested that the court nullify the “purported plea of not guilty” entered on his behalf, claiming it was obtained through deception and contrary to a Supreme Court ruling.
He further asked the court to set aside all subsequent proceedings and order his immediate release.
“My contention is very simple: this court lacks jurisdiction to try me,” he said.
Delivering ruling on Thursday, Justice Omotosho ruled that the court has the authority to preside over the Nnamdi Kanu case.
The judge also stated that the matter of extradition has been settled by the Supreme Court, and he ruled against Kanu in this regard.
On the issue of fairness in the hearing for Nnmadi Kanu, Omotosho ruled against the IPOB leader, stating that the court ensured he received a fair hearing.
On the defendant not entering his defence, Justice Omotosho said: “I begged the defendant passionately to enter his defence, but he remained obsolete. That shows that he chose to rest his case on the prosecution. Which is a gamble and a risky action.”
The court found Nnamdi Kanu guilty and convicted him of count 1 in the charges filed against him by the federal government.
The Judge said: “The court will rely on the uncontroverted evidence of the prosecution. This court, therefore, finds that the prosecution has discharged Count 1 beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, the defendant (Kanu) is hereby convicted in respect of Count 1.”
More judgement is being read and this report will be updated as it comes in…….
BREAKING: Court Sentences Nnamdi Kanu To Life Imprisonment
Just In: FG Urges Court To Impose Death Sentence On Nnamdi Kanu
Court Finally Delivers Judgement In Nnamdi Kanu’s Terrorism Case
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