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Jubilation In Kaduna As Tribunal Upholds Ekene Adam Winner Of Reps Election

Published

2 years ago

August 22, 2023

The Gleamer

…. As Court awards 500,000 damage against the petitioner

…Ekene dedicates win to constituents

By: Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna

Supporters of the Labour Party, (LP) have stormed the streets in Kaduna state to celebrate the victory of Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams, following the judgement that upheld his election as the duly elected Member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, in the February 25th general election.

The Jubilation follows the dismissal of the suit filed by Hon. Yakubu Barde of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) demanding Ekene’s sack over an alleged certificate forgery.

The National Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna on Tuesday dismissed the petition brought by Barde on the ground that it lacks merit.

Justice F.A. Fiberesima while delivering judgment on the case on Tuesday, leading a three-man panel that heard the petition, dismissed the case and awarded N500,000 damages to Ekene for defamation of character by the petitioner.

According to her, forgery from the point of law is a criminal act, a very weighty allegation that must be proved beyond every reasonable doubt.

She noted that the tribunal was already in doubt because the petitioner could not prove the allegation on the ground that his claims lack merit and therefore discountenance.

The judge further stressed that despite the fact the petitioner tendered documents to support his claims, the respondent, Ekene Abubakar Adams also tendered his own document from the same schools and therefore the best way to have given the petitioner’s claim an edge was to present an eye witness.

Speaking with Journalists shortly after the event, Ekene said “I feel normal. I was never agitated because I know the court will do the right thing. The victory is for the people and that is why you see celebration ongoing everywhere.

“We have been up and doing and so we will continue to serve the people as we have promised. I, therefore, called on the aggrieved members to come and join hands with me so we can build our dear constituency together.”

Reacting to the judgement, Counsel to the respondent, Muhammed M. Sani said the judgement was highly educative, adding that justice has prevailed at last.

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Nigeria’s Civil Service to Achieve Full Digital Operations by 2025-Walson-Jack

Published

8 hours ago

June 12, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, has announced that Nigeria’s civil service will fully transition to a paperless system by December 31, 2025. This marks a major milestone in the Federal Government’s ongoing public sector reforms.

Speaking on Wednesday at the press conference for the 2025 International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, Walson-Jack emphasized that the shift to digital operations is aimed at modernizing administrative processes, enhancing efficiency, and promoting transparency across all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

“This administration is committed to modernizing the civil service. The full adoption of digital work processes by the end of 2025 will eliminate manual file movement, reduce delays, and improve service delivery to citizens,” she stated.

The paperless initiative is anchored on the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system, which has already been successfully piloted in several MDAs. The full rollout will include digital record-keeping, electronic memo systems, and workflow automation.

To ensure a smooth and sustainable transition, Walson-Jack noted that extensive training and capacity-building programs are being implemented for civil servants. She added that the initiative will also help reduce operational costs and support the government’s environmental sustainability goals.

Stakeholders at the conference praised the announcement, describing it as a bold and necessary step toward building a smarter and more responsive public service.

In her remarks on the 2025 Civil Service Week, Mrs. Walson-Jack highlighted a series of events designed to celebrate excellence and strengthen the service’s reform agenda.

“The 2025 Civil Service Week, a significant event in our calendar, will feature a series of spiritually enriching, intellectually engaging, and socially rewarding activities. These are designed to celebrate excellence in public service, reflect on reforms, and promote a unified vision for a stronger civil service,” she said.

Key events include the commissioning of the remodelled reception area at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, a Special Juma’at Prayer at the National Mosque, and a Thanksgiving Service at the Family Worship Centre in Wuye. Other highlights include a study tour of the Federal Civil Service and Abuja by Heads of Civil Service from the states, a welcome cocktail for ICSC speakers, wellness activities, a social get-together for civil servants, and a two-day International Civil Service Conference (ICSC). The week will culminate in a Rewards and Recognition Awards Ceremony.

“The Study Tour for the State Heads of Service will provide a valuable platform for exchanging reform ideas and sharing innovative strategies, thereby deepening federal-state collaboration in advancing the quality and integrity of public administration,” she added.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Service Policies and Strategies Office, Dr. Deborah Odoh, reiterated the shared vision for a modern and effective civil service.

“Our vision is to build a world-class civil service, and I must appreciate the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for her exemplary leadership. Since assuming office in August, she has not just led from the front but propelled us into a new era of reform and excellence.”

“There are a number of incredible new initiatives that have been introduced—many of which you are already part of and familiar with. We are grateful to God as we celebrate this year’s Civil Service Week. Our collective desire is to continue making meaningful progress so that, together, we can achieve the Nigeria of our dreams,” Odoh concluded.

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