The Supreme Court has overridden the pardon granted by President Bola Tinubu to an Abuja-based house wife, Maryam Sanda, who was in 2020 sentenced to death by hanging for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute.

President Tinubu had reduced Sanda’s sentence to 12 years imprisonment on compassionate ground.

But in a judgment a on Friday, the Supreme Court, in a split decision of four-to-one, affirmed the death sentence handed Sanda by the Court of Appeal, Abuja which upheld the decision of a HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sentencing her to death by hanging.

The Apex Court resolved all the issues raised in the appeal she filed against her and dismissed the appeal for being without merit.

Court orders woman accused of killing husband to enter defence
Justice Moore Adumein held in the lead judgment, which he personally delivered, that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt as required, adding that the Court of Appeal was right to have affirmed the judgement of the trial court.

Justice Adumein held that it was wrong for the Executive to seek to exercise its power of pardon over a case of culpable homicide, in respect of which an appeal was pending.

….Inter-ministerial panel to fix payment delay

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the payment of N1.5 trillion owed to local contractors.

He raised a multi-ministerial panel to provide a permanent funding solution during yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the President was ‘visibly upset’ about the situation.

Onanuga said: “He made it very clear he was not happy and wants a one-stop solution.

“The President expressed grave displeasure about the fact that contractors are being owed.”

According to him, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, briefed the Council on the magnitude of outstanding obligations, prompting the President’s directive to constitute a multi-ministerial team to clear the backlog and come up with a funding plan.

Members of the committee are: Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Budget and Economic Planning Minister Atiku Bagudu, Works Minister Dave Umahi, Education Minister Olatunji Alausa, Housing Minister Ahmed Dangiwa and Marine and Blue Economy Minister Gboyega Oyetola.

Others are the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation Tanimu Yakubu, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji.

Onanuga added: “All of them are expected to sit down, develop a plan as a committee, and then go to the President to tell him the solution they have found in allocating funds to pay contractors.”

He explained that the President was determined to “find the money and fix the problem,” even hinting that the government could borrow to settle verified obligations if necessary.

The development followed weeks of pressure from contractors, who have repeatedly protested delays in payment of certified arrears.

In September, the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) claimed during demonstrations in Abuja and at the National Assembly that more than N4 trillion was outstanding for 2024 capital projects.

The Ministry of Works had previously acknowledged a significant backlog and launched a verification exercise in January last year to account for roughly N1.5 trillion in unpaid federal highway contracts.

The issue has been further complicated by overlapping budget cycles, with 2024 capital components rolling into 2025.

Last month, the National Assembly approved an additional N1.15 trillion in domestic borrowing to help cover a widened 2025 deficit.

The government also tapped into the international markets with a $2.35 billion Eurobond to bolster its financing needs.

Also on December 3, members of the AICAN got an audience with Edun on the second day of their protest at the Ministry of Finance.

The protesters demanded payment for the contracts they executed for the Federal Government in 2024.

Also yesterday, Umahi expressed the Federal Government’s resolve to engage reputable indigenous contractors in the execution of critical infrastructural projects.

He dropped the hint during an inspection of the reconstruction of the Abuja-Keffi Highway.

The minister expressed satisfaction over the quality of the works on the road, which was awarded for reconstruction in October to JRB Construction Company Limited, an indigenous contractor.

The Abuja-Keffi dual carriageway project is a critical infrastructure development that aims to improve road connectivity and reduce travel time to Nasarawa State where most of the federal civil servants working in Abuja reside.

The project is expected to be completed in March.

The minister said: “This is the kind of organisation that will grow this country. Be assured that Mr. President is aware of what you are doing. And you are going to be paid to the last kobo.”

Umahi reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering indigenous companies.

He added: “We will continue to support and empower indigenous companies that have the capacity to deliver high-standard projects and contribute to the growth and development of the country.

“The recognition of JRB Construction Company Limited is a testament to the company’s exceptional performance and commitment to delivering high-standard projects.

“The company’s reputation as one of the top indigenous construction companies in Nigeria has been reinforced, and it is expected to continue to play a critical role in the development of infrastructure in the country.”

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appealed to governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2026 election for unity and consensus-building ahead of the party’s primary on December 13.

The President made the appeal when he met with the aspirants at the State House, Abuja, on Monday night.

The Osun State governorship aspirants who attended the meeting with the President include former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

Also in attendance at the meeting were the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Chairman of the Progressive Governors, Hope Uzodimma; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

President Tinubu, who praised all the aspirants for their contributions to the APC in Osun State, urged them to close ranks and support the consensus candidate the party will present for the governorship election in the state. He also advised them to avoid the internal bickering and disunity that caused the party to lose the last election in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party.

While harping on the importance of party supremacy, President Tinubu charged the aspirants to allow it to prevail in choosing the flagbearer, noting that only the party can benefit from it when it wins elections.

“You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the candidate of our party wins the next election in Osun State. You must strengthen the bonds of unity, party supremacy and collective responsibility. I have absolute confidence in your ability to deliver victory to our party in Osun State. You have my support and that of the National leadership of APC to win the coming election,” President Tinubu assured.

At the end of the meeting, a joint statement was issued in which the aspirants and the leaders committed to support the candidate who would emerge at the primary.

Here is the statement signed by all the aspirants and the APC leaders: “We, the undersigned aspirants for the 2025 Osun State Governorship Election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having met and deliberated in the presence of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and in the spirit of unity, discipline, and loyalty to our great party, hereby declare as follows:

That we affirm and uphold the supremacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in guiding and determining the most appropriate process for selecting the party’s flag bearer for the 2025 Governorship Election in Osun State.

That we unanimously agree to abide by the party’s decision to nominate a consensus candidate for affirmation at the APC Primary Election scheduled for Saturday, 13th December 2025.

That we accept the outcome of the party-led nomination process in good faith, and pledge our total support to the candidate so nominated and affirmed.

That we commit ourselves to peace, unity, and cohesion within the APC, and pledge not to engage in any act, public or private, that may undermine the integrity of the process or the standing of the party.

That we will work collectively and individually to ensure the success of the APC at the polls and the consolidation of good governance in Osun State.

“We make this declaration voluntarily, in absolute loyalty to our great party, and in recognition of the guidance provided by Mr President and the National Chairman in the overriding interest of the progress and stability of Osun State”.

The Supreme Court has overridden the pardon granted by President Bola Tinubu to an Abuja-based house wife, Maryam Sanda, who was in 2020 sentenced to death by hanging for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute.

President Tinubu had reduced Sanda’s sentence to 12 years imprisonment on compassionate ground.

But in a judgment a on Friday, the Supreme Court, in a split decision of four-to-one, affirmed the death sentence handed Sanda by the Court of Appeal, Abuja which upheld the decision of a HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sentencing her to death by hanging.

The Apex Court resolved all the issues raised in the appeal she filed against her and dismissed the appeal for being without merit.

Court orders woman accused of killing husband to enter defence
Justice Moore Adumein held in the lead judgment, which he personally delivered, that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt as required, adding that the Court of Appeal was right to have affirmed the judgement of the trial court.

Justice Adumein held that it was wrong for the Executive to seek to exercise its power of pardon over a case of culpable homicide, in respect of which an appeal was pending.

….Inter-ministerial panel to fix payment delay

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the payment of N1.5 trillion owed to local contractors.

He raised a multi-ministerial panel to provide a permanent funding solution during yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the President was ‘visibly upset’ about the situation.

Onanuga said: “He made it very clear he was not happy and wants a one-stop solution.

“The President expressed grave displeasure about the fact that contractors are being owed.”

According to him, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, briefed the Council on the magnitude of outstanding obligations, prompting the President’s directive to constitute a multi-ministerial team to clear the backlog and come up with a funding plan.

Members of the committee are: Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Budget and Economic Planning Minister Atiku Bagudu, Works Minister Dave Umahi, Education Minister Olatunji Alausa, Housing Minister Ahmed Dangiwa and Marine and Blue Economy Minister Gboyega Oyetola.

Others are the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation Tanimu Yakubu, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji.

Onanuga added: “All of them are expected to sit down, develop a plan as a committee, and then go to the President to tell him the solution they have found in allocating funds to pay contractors.”

He explained that the President was determined to “find the money and fix the problem,” even hinting that the government could borrow to settle verified obligations if necessary.

The development followed weeks of pressure from contractors, who have repeatedly protested delays in payment of certified arrears.

In September, the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) claimed during demonstrations in Abuja and at the National Assembly that more than N4 trillion was outstanding for 2024 capital projects.

The Ministry of Works had previously acknowledged a significant backlog and launched a verification exercise in January last year to account for roughly N1.5 trillion in unpaid federal highway contracts.

The issue has been further complicated by overlapping budget cycles, with 2024 capital components rolling into 2025.

Last month, the National Assembly approved an additional N1.15 trillion in domestic borrowing to help cover a widened 2025 deficit.

The government also tapped into the international markets with a $2.35 billion Eurobond to bolster its financing needs.

Also on December 3, members of the AICAN got an audience with Edun on the second day of their protest at the Ministry of Finance.

The protesters demanded payment for the contracts they executed for the Federal Government in 2024.

Also yesterday, Umahi expressed the Federal Government’s resolve to engage reputable indigenous contractors in the execution of critical infrastructural projects.

He dropped the hint during an inspection of the reconstruction of the Abuja-Keffi Highway.

The minister expressed satisfaction over the quality of the works on the road, which was awarded for reconstruction in October to JRB Construction Company Limited, an indigenous contractor.

The Abuja-Keffi dual carriageway project is a critical infrastructure development that aims to improve road connectivity and reduce travel time to Nasarawa State where most of the federal civil servants working in Abuja reside.

The project is expected to be completed in March.

The minister said: “This is the kind of organisation that will grow this country. Be assured that Mr. President is aware of what you are doing. And you are going to be paid to the last kobo.”

Umahi reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering indigenous companies.

He added: “We will continue to support and empower indigenous companies that have the capacity to deliver high-standard projects and contribute to the growth and development of the country.

“The recognition of JRB Construction Company Limited is a testament to the company’s exceptional performance and commitment to delivering high-standard projects.

“The company’s reputation as one of the top indigenous construction companies in Nigeria has been reinforced, and it is expected to continue to play a critical role in the development of infrastructure in the country.”

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appealed to governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2026 election for unity and consensus-building ahead of the party’s primary on December 13.

The President made the appeal when he met with the aspirants at the State House, Abuja, on Monday night.

The Osun State governorship aspirants who attended the meeting with the President include former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

Also in attendance at the meeting were the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Chairman of the Progressive Governors, Hope Uzodimma; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

President Tinubu, who praised all the aspirants for their contributions to the APC in Osun State, urged them to close ranks and support the consensus candidate the party will present for the governorship election in the state. He also advised them to avoid the internal bickering and disunity that caused the party to lose the last election in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party.

While harping on the importance of party supremacy, President Tinubu charged the aspirants to allow it to prevail in choosing the flagbearer, noting that only the party can benefit from it when it wins elections.

“You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the candidate of our party wins the next election in Osun State. You must strengthen the bonds of unity, party supremacy and collective responsibility. I have absolute confidence in your ability to deliver victory to our party in Osun State. You have my support and that of the National leadership of APC to win the coming election,” President Tinubu assured.

At the end of the meeting, a joint statement was issued in which the aspirants and the leaders committed to support the candidate who would emerge at the primary.

Here is the statement signed by all the aspirants and the APC leaders: “We, the undersigned aspirants for the 2025 Osun State Governorship Election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having met and deliberated in the presence of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and in the spirit of unity, discipline, and loyalty to our great party, hereby declare as follows:

That we affirm and uphold the supremacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in guiding and determining the most appropriate process for selecting the party’s flag bearer for the 2025 Governorship Election in Osun State.

That we unanimously agree to abide by the party’s decision to nominate a consensus candidate for affirmation at the APC Primary Election scheduled for Saturday, 13th December 2025.

That we accept the outcome of the party-led nomination process in good faith, and pledge our total support to the candidate so nominated and affirmed.

That we commit ourselves to peace, unity, and cohesion within the APC, and pledge not to engage in any act, public or private, that may undermine the integrity of the process or the standing of the party.

That we will work collectively and individually to ensure the success of the APC at the polls and the consolidation of good governance in Osun State.

“We make this declaration voluntarily, in absolute loyalty to our great party, and in recognition of the guidance provided by Mr President and the National Chairman in the overriding interest of the progress and stability of Osun State”.