The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) says it has rescued another set of 13 trafficked girls from Ghana.

A statement on Friday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NIDCOM spokesperson, said this brings the total number of girls repatriated to the country over the past five months to 163.

Balogun said the girls were lured to Ghana under the false promises of employment, but were later forced into exploitative situations and bound by an oath of secrecy.

He said the girls are aged between 19 to 30, and from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna and Rivers states.

Balogun said the rescue operation was as a result of the combined and coordinated efforts of the Ghanaian anti-human trafficking police, the Rescue Live Foundation International, and NIDO Ghana.

The girls were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration.

Speaking on the latest efforts, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chair of NIDCOM, reiterated the commission’s commitment to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora.

Akinboye Akinsola, NiDCOM representative, who accompanied the ladies back to Nigeria, said these set of ladies surrendered themselves willingly, having heard of the earlier operation conducted in Kpone Katamanso and Tema.

Valentine Okike Uzo, senior special assistant to governor of Ebonyi state, said efforts are in place to ensure a proper rehabilitation for victims from the state.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended G. C. Aguma, judge of a state high court in Rivers, for alleged judicial misconduct.

The council also suspended A. O. Nwabunike, Anambra state high court judge, for the same offence.

According to a statement by the council on Friday, both chief judges are barred from performing judicial functions for a period of one year without pay and would be placed on a watch-list for two years thereafter.

The council said the decision was reached at its 107th meeting chaired by Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), on November 13 and 14.

“The Council’s findings revealed that Hon. Justice G. C. Aguma, committed acts of misconduct by aiding a litigant who obtained a judgment at the FCT high court, Abuja, and filed a garnishee against judgment debtors in Bori Division of the high court, Rivers state,” the statement reads.

“The council finds that justice Aguma failed to raise any query as to why the garnishee proceedings were brought to his court in Bori for a money judgment that could effectively be enforced in Abuja.

“That the judgment was delivered on 15 July 2020, at the high court of the FCT, while the certificate of judgment was registered at Bori division of the high court of Rivers state on 16 July 2020.

“The council further finds that the speed with which the Hon. justice Aguma took and granted the order absolute against the judgment debtors showed that he had an interest, especially as he failed to take into consideration the stay of execution of the judgment granted in favour of the judgement debtors by the Bwari High Court, which had been brought to his attention.

“On the part of Hon. Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra state, the Council found him to have breached the provision of Rule 3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.

“He also failed to adhere to the principle of stare decisis from his different interpretation of the word “aspirant” and abused his judicial powers by granting ex parte orders without a Motion on Notice filed along with the originating summons.”

Chukwuemeka Chikeka was recommended to the governor of Imo for compulsory retirement with effect from October 27 2021, “while all salaries and allowance received in excess by His Lordship from 27 October 2021 till date should be refunded to the Council,” the statement added.

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has extended the time for Yahaya Bello, former Kogi governor, to respond to the public summons issued against him.

On October 3, Maryanne Anenih, presiding judge, ordered Bello to appear before the court on October 24 for arraignment on a 16-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello was however absent at the court session on October 24.

The court had then adjourned to November 14 for Bello to respond to the summons.

However, the former governor did not show up in court on Thursday.

Jamiu Agoro, counsel for the EFCC, said the order of the court issued on October 3 had not elapsed since the commission effected service on October 18.

Consequently, Agoro prayed the court for an adjournment and an extension of time for Bello to appear.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November 2024, my lord,” he said.

The EFCC also told the court that Bello’s co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, two officials of the Kogi state government, have been granted administrative bail.

Counsel for the 2nd and 3rd defendants confirmed the administrative bail of their clients. They also did not oppose the request for adjournment and extension of time.

After listening to all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and extension of time.

The judge also ordered that hearing notice should be served on Bello at his last known address and should be pasted on conspicuous places around the court.

The charge against the defendants borders on alleged criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110,446,470,089, contrary to sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap.89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under section 312 of the same law.