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Friday, December 6, 2019 EiE Nigeria Weekly Update

“We are in the majority. We have the power to actually make change happen. So what is our excuse? What will we tell our children – that we lay down and took whatever they hit us with?”- Chude Jideonwo(CEO, Joy Inc.)

 #FreeSowore - Update   

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, December 5th, ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to release Omoyele Sowore, within 24 hours and also awarded a N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) fine against the DSS over its delay to serve the defence counsel with requested documents in the ongoing trial of Sowore and Olawale Bakare.Sowore and Bakare were released yesterday, December 5th but re-arrested today, December 6th within the court premises.We condemn this disregard for the rule of law and demand that Sowore is released on bail as ordered by the court. His case has been adjourned to February 11 - 13, 2020.

 Another Ex-Governor Jailed   

A Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, on Thursday, sentenced a serving senator and ex-governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, to 12 years in prison for N7.65 billion fraud in a case that was filed in 2007.Justice Mohammed Idris delivered the sentence.Recall that former Taraba State Governor, Jolly Nyame and former Plateau State Governor, Joshua Dariye were sent to 14 years imprisonment in 2018. There are other high profile politicians whose corruption cases are in court. We hope justice will be served soon.

Before hearing of cases listed on Tuesday, December 3rd commenced, Justice Amobeda who seemed not to be happy about social media comments on Agba Jalingo's case ordered that from January 2020, everyone entering the court will not be allowed to enter with their phones.On Wednesday, November 13th, the defendants filed a motion to seek the leave of the court for the provision of an electronic verbatim recording device. Justice Amobeda has set aside Monday, December 9th to rule on the application.Journalism is not a crime!

 National Assembly Passes 2020 Budget!   

58 days after President Buhari presented the 2020 budget at N10.33 trillion, the National Assembly passed the budget of N10.59 trillion on Thursday, December 5th.

 #OOTC on Radio   

On #OOTCOgun, Ayomide Faloye of Youth Quake Hub discussed the role of social media in promoting good governance. Catch up on the conversation.You can follow the conversations on the #OfficeOfTheCitizen radio programs in 16 states.Never forget, the Office of the Citizen is the highest office in the land!Tweet at @EiENigeria using #OfficeOfTheCitizen to be a part of the conversation.

Tomorrow, December 7th, active citizens in Ekiti State will go to the polls to elect new council officials who will steer the affairs in 16 local government areas for the next three years. 

This Bill is bad. This Bill is why we need to make electronic voting compulsory in the National Assembly, so we see the enemies of free speech, the ones who want to clamp down on our freedoms. Read more. 

We will keep demanding until our girls are brought BACK & ALIVE!#EducationIsNotACrime #BringBackOurGirls #5YearsTooLongAbuja – Unity Fountain, Daily, 5 – 6pm

Lagos - Noon – 1pm

Have a great weekend!The EiE Nigeria Team