The Presidency has responded sharply to recent remarks by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing him of not listening to the people.

Mohammed made the statements during a conversation with Sheikh Sani Jingir, the National Chairman of the Ulama Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah, while discussing the state of the nation.

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“We are not on good terms with him (Tinubu) because our brothers and sisters are suffering. Even we, the governors, are suffering. Aside from his policies, he does not listen to us,” Mohammed said, highlighting that the northern region has been particularly affected by the president’s policies.

He also expressed concern that the proposed tax reforms would further exacerbate poverty in the region.

In response, the presidency issued a statement on Friday through President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare.

The statement sharply criticized the governor’s remarks, labeling them as “irresponsible politics.”

“Governor Bala should face governance and stop using President Tinubu to burnish his vanishing image. Governor Bala is playing irresponsible politics.

“Rather, he should occupy himself with dealing with the many problems of his state. Ambition is made of sterner stuff,” the statement read.

The Presidency reiterated that President Tinubu is focused on reviving the economy and fulfilling the promises made during the 2023 election.

“President Tinubu is focused on revamping the economy, and he is working to turn the economic fortunes of the country around. He has a four-year mandate to deliver on his promises,” Dare stated, emphasizing that Nigerians will soon see the benefits of the administration’s reforms.

Further defending the president’s leadership, the statement stressed that President Tinubu is committed to collaborating with state leaders and other stakeholders to improve the country’s overall well-being.

“The focus of this government is on how to build stronger collaborations with sub-nationals and other critical stakeholders on matters that affect the lives of Nigerians,” it read.

The Presidency also countered Governor Mohammed’s claim that Tinubu is not a “listening leader,” asserting that the president values the institutions of state and is open to engagement.

“President Tinubu is a listening leader and also a leader who firmly believes in the institutions of state,” the statement stated.

Addressing the concerns over the proposed tax reform bills, the Presidency advised those with strong objections to utilize the legislative process, urging dialogue through the National Assembly.

In a pointed critique of Governor Mohammed’s leadership in Bauchi State, the statement questioned the governor’s effectiveness in addressing the pressing issues facing his people: “How well are the people of his state, who still rank as most impoverished among Nigerians, faring under his leadership? How well has he, as Governor, used the increased resources at his disposal to improve the quality of life of his people?”

The Presidency concluded by reminding the governor of his duty to the people of Bauchi, asserting that “constant blustering and playing irresponsible politics will not relieve him of his duty to the people of Bauchi State his leadership has impoverished.”

The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully recovered $52.88 million in assets linked to a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the United States of America.

The announcement was made by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, during a formal asset agreement signing ceremony held in Abuja on Friday.

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According to Fagbemi, $50 million of the recovered funds will be allocated to rural electrification projects through the World Bank, while the remaining $2 million will be used by the International Institute of Justice to strengthen the justice system and combat corruption.

“This asset return marks a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between Nigeria and the United States to combat corruption and uphold the rule of law,” Fagbemi stated.

He also highlighted the recovery as a testament to President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing corruption and promoting transparency.

Richard Mills, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of proper monitoring and utilization of the recovered funds.

He urged the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the resources are effectively deployed for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has annulled the judgment delivered by the Kano High Court in the legal battle between Ado Bayero and Mohammed Sanusi over the Kano Emirate.

In a ruling on Friday, a three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Mustapha ordered a fresh hearing, citing a breach of the appellants’ right to fair hearing.

The appellate court described the judgment of the lower court, delivered on July 15, 2024, as a “nullity.”

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It ruled that Bayero was unfairly denied the opportunity to present his case because he was not served a hearing notice by the Kano High Court.

Similarly, the court noted that Sanusi was also not given the opportunity to submit his grievances before the judgment was issued.

“The Kano High Court acted unfairly by proceeding without serving Bayero a hearing notice, thereby denying him the opportunity to present his case,” Justice Mustapha stated.

He emphasized that “all courts are bound to ensure justice by giving all parties equal opportunities to present their cases.”

The appellate panel was scathing in its assessment of the lower court’s handling of the case, describing its judgment as “shoddy” and its proceedings as “a travesty of justice.”

The Court of Appeal further addressed the issue of Bayero’s legal representation.

It highlighted that after Bayero’s lawyer withdrew from the case on July 4, 2024, the lower court continued proceedings without properly notifying Bayero or granting him the opportunity to arrange for new legal counsel.

The appellate court ruled that this failure invalidated all subsequent proceedings, declaring them “a nullity.”

“Instead of properly notifying the appellant, the lower court continued the hearing, declaring such action a nullity of the entire proceedings that took place on that day,” the court stated.

Based on these findings, the Court of Appeal directed the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court to reassign the case to a different judge for an expedited hearing.

The panel also noted that since the issue of fair hearing had been resolved, there was no need to address other matters raised in the appeal, as “fair hearing supersedes all other considerations.”