GOVERNOR LALONG VOWS TO SIGN DEATH WARRANT FOR CONVICTED KIDNAPPERS AS HE SWEARS IN PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL & 5 JUDGES.

 Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has vowed to sign the death warrant for anyone convicted for kidnapping in the State.

Governor Lalong stated this on Friday 29th January 2021 when he swore in the substantive President of the Customary Court of Appeal Bar. Sati Patrick Dapit and five judges of the State high court and Customary Court of Appeal at the Government House Rayfield Jos.

At the event witnessed by the President Court of Appeal Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Lalong who described as worrisome the incidences of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the State frowned at the situation where suspected kidnappers who are arrested are not prosecuted as and when due and in some cases released without charge.

He said “This situation perhaps emboldens the continuous onslaught on the citizens by kidnappers. While we are addressing the issue with the police relating to arrest, investigation and prosecution, I want to appeal to our Judges to be very firm in trying such Cases when brought before them as Kidnapping is fast becoming an Industry with no one immune from the menace. As Governor, I have promised to sign the Death Warrant in respect of anyone convicted of kidnapping which is giving our people sleepless nights, driving away prospective Investors and further impoverishing our people. Many of them are forced to pay ransoms to secure the release of loved ones which is making people afraid to pursue their legitimate businesses including farming”.

To the new Judges, the Governor charged them to be faithful to their oath of office and consider their appointments as a call to serve God and humanity which should make them work faithfully and diligently.

 “I advise you to be mindful of the attempts to compromise your integrity and impartiality by people who will approach you with tempting proposals of all sorts. As those who have the rare privilege to determine the fate of people that appear before you, be careful not to abuse this precious trust. In as much as you have this privilege, you should also realise that you are not above reproach and can be held responsible for your actions by both man and God.  Therefore, I advise you to strive to write your name in Gold by abiding to the ethos of your professional calling at all times during your career” he said.

Lalong also used the opportunity to debunk the insinuation that his administration is not paying attention to the judiciary, a claim that he said is unfounded as his government has done so much for the judicial arm since coming to office despite the paucity of funds.

Lalong listed some of the interventions to the judiciary to include: Construction of the new High Court Headquarters Complex; settlement of inherited 2 years arrears of Judge’s entitlements for 2013 and 2014; approval for training of Judicial Officers, particularly Judges within and outside the Country; approval for the Judiciary to recruit over 200 Staff including relevant support Staff; establishment of the State Account Allocation Committee (SAAC) which lays the ground work for the implementation of financial autonomy; as well as payment of all accrued arrears of housing allowances of superior Court Judges, on account of which some Judges took the State Government to court among others.

This he said vindicates him and as such, the insinuations out there suggesting that he does not care about the welfare of Judges or is denying them their entitlements are incorrect and should be discountenanced.

As a member of the revered Legal Profession, the Governor re-assured the judiciary of his personal commitment to the welfare and well-being of Judges and all Judicial Staff despite the major challenge of lean financial resources of the State worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recession.

Responding on behalf of the new judges sworn in, the President, Customary Court of appeal Justice Sati Patrick Dapit said they will do their best to live up to the oath of their office and the ethics of the legal profession for the interest of the society.

The judges were later presented with their official cars.

The new judges sworn in are the new Judges namely, Hon. Justices Naankwat Dawat Shaseet; Buetnaan Mandy Dongban Bassi, (Plateau State High Court) Pauline Nanlep Njar, Edwin Sati Munlang, and Georgina Dashe (Customary Court of Appeal).

 

Dr. Makut Simon Macham

Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.

29th January 2021

GOV. LOLONG SWEARS IN PRESIDENT CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL AND NEW JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT/CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL

REMARKS BY H.E. RT. HON. (DR) SIMON BAKO LALONG, KSGG AT THE SWEARING IN OF THE PRESIDENT, PLATEAU STATE CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL AND NEW JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT/CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL HELD AT THE NEW GOVERNMENT HOUSE, LITTLE RAYFIELD JOS, 29TH JANUARY 2021.

Protocols

1.            This is yet another important day in the history of Plateau State and its judiciary as we inject more Judges into the Temple of Justice to enhance the administration of justice to the citizens.

2.            It therefore delights me to perform this crucial responsibility in swearing-in the substantive President of the Customary Court of Appeal Hon. Justice Sati Patrick Dapit who has been acting since July last year.

 

3.            Similarly, we are swearing in newly appointed Judges of the High Court and Customary Court of Appeal of Plateau State. These appointments are intended to respond to the inadequacy of Judicial Officers at these Courts.

4.            I congratulate the President of the Customary Court of Appeal and the new Judges namely, Hon. Justice Naankwat Dawat Shaseet; Buetnaan Mandy Dongban Bassi, (Plateau State High Court) Pauline Nanlep Njar, Edwin Sati Munlang, and Georgina Dashe (Customary Court of Appeal).

5.            It is a known fact that over time, our Courts have struggled with shortage of man-power and high case load which has greatly affected their ability to dispense with cases on time. In 2020 alone, three Judicial Officers retired, two at the Customary Court of Appeal and one at the High Court, thus creating vacancies apart from the already overburdened Courts.

 

 

6.            Such development necessitated the efforts to fill these vacancies by the National Judicial Council to enable the judiciary deal with the backlog of cases including those returned by the retired Judges of the various Courts.

7.            Today’s swearing in of these new judges is therefore a positive development as it will close the gap and improve access to Justice by all citizens and indeed all those who seek justice in Plateau State.

8.            Our administration is totally committed to the rule of law and in ensuring that the Judiciary operates in a manner that guarantees equity, Justice and fairness to the citizens of the State irrespective of their ethnic, economic, religious, political and other orientations. 

9.            I charge the new judges to ensure that they live up to their oath of office in dispensing justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. That is the only way we can sustain the fabric of our society which we have chosen to predicate on the Rule of Law with guarantee of equal treatment for citizens.

 

10.          Therefore, I advise you to be mindful of the attempts to compromise your integrity and impartiality by people who will approach you with tempting proposals of all sorts. As those who have the rare privilege to determine the fate of people that appear before you, be careful not to abuse this precious trust.

11.          In as much as you have this privilege, you should also realise that you are not above reproach and can be held responsible for your actions by both man and God.  Therefore, I advise you to strive to write your name in Gold by abiding to the ethos of your professional calling at all times during your career.

12.          Government is very much aware that even with the swearing-in of these new Judges of the High Court and the Customary Court of Appeal, the issue of insufficient number of Judges in our Courts is yet to be resolved. We shall continue to make conscious efforts to address the situation.

 

 

13.          As much as we expect Judicial Officers to do their best and be upright, it is our responsibility to ensure that we make them comfortable by providing at least the basic requirements for them to perform their functions.

14.          In this regard, despite dwindling resources available to Government on account of falling oil revenues and dwindling IGR occasioned by the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, we shall continue to do our best in providing office accommodation and other equipment that will facilitate smooth operations. The new Judges sworn in will receive keys to their official cars today.

15.          Despite the challenges which have delayed the completion of the new High Court Headquarters Complex, we are determined to complete the facility as soon as possible and by God’s grace before the end of our tenure. It is also our intention to give other Court Buildings in the State the much needed face-lift to improve the working conditions of Judges.

 

16.          As a member of the revered Legal Profession, I have always considered the welfare of Judges to be very paramount and have done my best to address issues in that area since assuming office. Shortly after coming to office, this administration settled 2 years arrears of Judge’s entitlements for 2013 and 2014 that were inherited from the immediate past administration alongside the  about 8 Months arrears of unpaid Civil Servants Salaries.

17.          Thereafter, in the face of excruciating paucity of funds, we have continued to within available resources, address the payment of other statutory allowances accruing to Judges of all Courts. As at today, all accrued arrears of housing allowances of superior Court Judges, on account of which some Judges took the State Government to court have  been paid.

 

 

 

18.          In order to build the capacity of the Judiciary, we have always approved requests for training of Judicial Officers, particularly Judges within and outside the Country even in face of lean resources of Government. We hope to sustain this initiative so that our judges will keep abreast with contemporary developments in their profession.

19.          We are also mindful of the need for the judiciary to have a strong workforce which was why despite the fact that the State has not lifted the Ban on employment, Government granted approval for the Judiciary to recruit over 200 Staff including relevant support Staff.

20.          Because of the desire to see that the three arms of Government in Plateau State operate in a truly independent manner, we have already established the State Account Allocation Committee (SAAC) laying ground work for the implementation of financial autonomy.

 

 

21.          This we have done despite the fact that formal discussions on modalities for implementing Financial Autonomy at the Federal and State levels are yet to be concluded and the judiciary is being carried along in this process.

22.          It is important that I touch on some of these issues in order to reiterate the fact that this administration under my Leadership has deep respect and passion for the Judiciary which is my primary constituency as a Lawyer.

23.          Therefore, some of the insinuations out there suggesting that the Governor does not care about the welfare of Judges or is denying them their entitlements are incorrect and should be discountenanced.

24.          I want to re-assure the judiciary of my personal commitment to the welfare and well-being of our Judges and indeed all Judicial Staff. Despite the major challenge of lean financial resources of the State worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, Government is still very committed to addressing all obligations to this very important arm of Government. All outstanding allowances shall be paid as soon as resources are available.

25.          Let me also use this opportunity to touch on the issue of security which as you know remains the first priority of our administration. We have continued to pay attention to the security of lives and property by adopting various measures to foster peaceful coexistence and also deal with crime and criminality.

26.          The incidences of kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes in some parts of Plateau State have constituted a major concern for the government and our citizens in recent times. The Government is working hard with the security agencies and stakeholders to ensure that the ugly incidences are tackled.

27.          That is why last month, I signed into law the Anti-kidnapping, Land grabbing, Cultism and Violence-Related Matters Bill that was passed by the State House of Assembly. By that law, anyone convicted of kidnapping in Plateau State will be sentenced to death while cultism and other violent crimes attract various terms of imprisonment.

 

 

28.          When I met with stakeholders recently, concerns were raised about prosecution of suspects who are arrested for kidnapping. Some of them we understand do not get to be arraigned as and when due and even get released without charge despite evidence tendered to law enforcement agents. That perhaps emboldens the continuous onslaught on the citizens by kidnappers.

29.          While we are addressing the issue with the police relating to arrest, investigation and prosecution, I want to appeal to our Judges to be very firm in trying such Cases when brought before them as Kidnapping is fast becoming an Industry with no one immune from the menace.

30.          As Governor, I have promised to sign the Death Warrant in respect of anyone convicted of kidnapping which is giving our people sleepless nights, driving away prospective Investors and further impoverishing our people. Many of them are forced to pay ransoms to secure the release of loved ones which is making people afraid to pursue their legitimate businesses including farming.

31.          Finally, I commend the Plateau State Judicial Service Commission and the National Judicial Council for facilitating the confirmation of the appointment of President, Customary Court of Appeal Hon. Justice Sati Patrick Dapit and these new judges.

32.          To the new judges, I charge all of you to count this as a rare privilege to serve God and humanity. Do not abuse it or throw it away even if you are promised silver and gold. Like the Bible tells us, a good name is better than riches.

33.          Thank you and God bless Plateau state and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG,

Executive Governor, Plateau State.

29th  January 2021.

"APC is growing and deepening its acceptability among the people"- Gov. Lalong

TALKING POINTS FOR H.E. RT. HON. (DR) SIMON BAKO LALONG, KSGG AT THE PLATEAU STATE APC STAKEHOLDERS MEETING HELD AT ON 27TH JANUARY 2020.

PROTOCOLS

1. I welcome you to this family meeting of our great party, the All Progressives Congress in Plateau State.

2. Let me first wish us all a happy new year and pray that this year will be a great year for our State, our people and our great party the APC.

3. The last time we met here, we had fruitful discussions and also fashioned out strategies on how to secure victory at the bye-election for the Southern Senatorial Seat.

4. To the glory of God, the commitment and hardwork of our party leadership and members, as well as the support of the electorate, the APC emerged victorious by defeating our opponents with a clear margin.

5. Let me therefore congratulate our brand new Senator, Distinguished Senator (Professor) Nora Dadu’ut on this well-deserved victory and for being the first woman from Plateau State and one of the few in the country to seat in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly.

6. I also thank and congratulate the party leadership led by Chief Letep Dabang and the Campaign Council led by Senator Victor Lar as well as all our party structure throughout the Southern Zone who mobilised our people to victory.

7. This is evidence that our party the APC is growing and deepening its acceptability among the people of Plateau State. We have to continue to build on this trajectory.

8.  As an APC led Government, our administration has continued to implement the blueprint of our party despite the harsh economic realities that came up as a result of the Corona virus pandemic and economic recession.

9. Our three point policy of peace security and good governance, infrastructural development and sustainable economic rebirth is very much on course.

10. We have continued to complete abandoned projects that we inherited as well as those we initiated across the State. These cut across health, education, security, infrastructure, social development and the economy. 

11. In health for instance, the abandoned hospitals in Riyom, Kanke, Mabudi are almost completed while ongoing ones including the Lalong Legacy Projects are at various stages of completion. We are building a Teaching Hospital in Shendam to serve the new faculty of health sciences soon to take off at the Plateau State University Bokkos.

12. Apart from establishing the Plateau Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, we recently recruited more health workers including doctors to ensure that our people get access to quality, affordable and timely healthcare.

13. The same is happening in the education sector where we are building and upgrading more schools both under the legacy projects, SUBEB and SDGs. Our tertiary institutions are also receiving attention as we are making them better. 

14. Apart from providing funds for on-going road projects, we recently re-awarded contracts for Tahoss/Ganawuri road, Mangu by-pass road, Shinkwan/Tunkus/ Shendam bye pass road as well as the rehabilitation of Kwande Byen-Byen Road.

15. In the area of security, we have commenced the implementation of the Community Policing with the training and deployment of the first batch of 592 constables. We have reinvigorated the Operation Rainbow and also provided more support to security agencies for better performance.

16. To address the ugly cases of kidnapping, land grabbing, cultism and other violent crimes, we passed and signed into law the bill that provides death sentence for anyone convicted of kidnapping in Plateau State. We are waiting to make an example and I am ready to sign the death warrant for anyone convicted.

17. We have equally pushed on with our human capital development initiative to train, empower and re-orientate our citizens towards entrepreneurship, job creation and independence. Thousands of youths and women have been trained and empowered by PLASMIDA with support from the ITF on various skills.

18. We have kept faith with the regular payment of salaries despite the economic crunch and have also gone ahead to implement the new minimum wage for workers. 

19. We are taking a bold and historic step to settle the issue of pension, gratuity, death benefits and other liabilities of our retired civil servants through a partnership with some financial institutions. This we hope to implement with the issuance of promissory notes to willing beneficiaries. Of course when the discussions are concluded, the initiative will be totally voluntary and there will be no compulsion.

20. I have taken time to highlight these among many of our achievements because of the propaganda by our detractors and the opposition who are bent on discrediting our good work. As members of the APC, it is our collective responsibility to project our achievements wherever we find ourselves.

21. As we set out to revalidate and register more members into our party, we should realise that it is our works that we speak for us and that our opponents will naturally stage their propaganda to try to dissuade people from registering. The people of Plateau State know where we took over from the PDP and the difference we have made. There is substantial peace and more visitors and investors are coming into the State.

22.  We have to consolidate on these gains and draw in more people into our party during this exercise. Let us not allow our individual interests and ambitions to interfere with the process as clear guidelines have been set out by the national leadership of our party for a smooth exercise. 

23. As stakeholders, we must show good conduct and lead by example to deny out opponents any window of distraction.

24. I wish to draw our attention to the ravaging impact of Covid 19 particularly in this second wave. As at today, we have lost about 53 people to the disease in Plateau State including VIPs. Myself, the Party Chairman and many of us seated here are victims who were lucky to survive. 

25. Let us please talk to our followers to observe the protocols and also show an example to them. The rate of infection is growing and we cannot afford another lockdown.

26. Finally, I wish to commend some of our members who got appointed into various positions at the Federal and pray that more of those appointments will come. 

27. Thank you and God bless Plateau State and our great party, the APC.

Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG

Executive Governor, Plateau State.

27th January 2021.

THE MAN DIKET SATSO PLANG

One of the utmost ingredients of democratic system is that it gives the opportunity for people to determine their own affairs through qualitative representation and 2023 is providing us with yet another opportunity to choose credible leaders and one of such leaders is DIKET SATSO PLANG.

HON. DIKET SATSO PLANG is an astute politician and a gentleman who has attained prominence through sheer dent of hard work, resilience and forthrightness.

Diket Plang accomplishment in all ramifications are well deserved ones, looking at his past records and the monumental achievements within and outside the public life are commendable, his sternly immense attainment, unquestionable character and the uncommon passion for good governance he exhibited in his previous assignments have earned him the confidence of the people.

He is a gentleman of inestimable ingenuousness as he blends with both the high and the low in the society without selectivity. It is this unchanged resourceful spirit in him that steered him to continued seeking ways of serving humanity wherever he found himself.

Hon Diket Plang accomplishment as a member Plateau state House of Assembly representing Pankshin North Constituency, he has exhibited uncommon representation thereby engraving his name on the annals of Plateau politics. His resilience passion on youth and community development is colossal.

Hon Diket Plang hails from Takkas Fer District of Pankshin Local Government Area and was born on 12^th November, 1966.

The young Diket has traversed in life through absolute vigor of steadfastness’, assurance and optimism for a better future; he meandered through challenging terrains and harrowing rough edges of life to reach a limelight.

In order to prepare him to face the reality of this modern-day era, his parents sent him to LGED Primary School, Takkas in 1974 where he obtained his First school Leaving certificate in 1982 he then proceeded to the prestigious Boys Secondary Gindiri from 1980 to 1985 were he was drilled and molded in character and knowledge, having obtained his GCE and been equipped with the spirit of GOSA’s “light and Truth” he was ready to confront the academic world with alacrity and dexterity.

Gaining admission to study Applied Physic at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University of Technology, Bauchi was a dream come true for him and a delight for his parents and community; for to them Diket represent a potential future assured generation.

In order to catch up with the trend in the 21 century of academic opportunities in 2013 to 215 he enrolled into the National Open University for Post Graduate Diploma Criminology and Peace Studies. As a man of resilient and unrelenting who always utilized any opportunity available to him, he is currently studying Post Graduate Diploma in Mining Engineering at the Nigerian Institutes of Mining and Geosciences Jos.

DIKET SATSO PLANG has consistently left an indelible marked in the sand of time where ever he found himself, he was the Head Boy of the Boys Secondary School Gindiri 1984/85 session, at the same time he was the President of the Fellowship of Christians Students, at ATBU he was the treasurer of the Plateau State Student Association 1989 to 1991 and Chairman Gindiri Old Students Association ATBU Branch.

The young astute DIKET SATSO PLANG early days when he graduated where indeed full of activity, in the spirit of paying back as an appreciation and not forgetting where he started; his first point of called was to offer himself to teach Mathematics and Physic at Boys Secondary School Gindiri in 1989, and then left to Alhassan Secondary School Sherada Kano, he later came back and taught at Lankuk Memorial Secondary School Pankshin and Government Secondary School Fer in 1993. During his National Youths Service Corp he was posted to Army Day Secondary School Bukavu Barrack Kano.

In order explore more horizon to developed himself to better the life of his people, he continued to explore all opportunities available to him, in 1996 he got employment and was posted as the Stationed Manager Kabo Air Limited, Aminu Kano international Airport and Jeddah International Airport, Royal Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia.

As a gentleman of greater potential in 1997 to 1998 he was branch manager Unity Life and Fire Insurance Lagos and in 1998 to 2002 he was Educational Sales Representative North-West while working for West African Book Publishers limited Lagos.

Diket Plang tranquility in a moment of upheaval and travail knows no bound, a meeting with him could be highly interesting; at least, he could entertain any discussion on any subject matter under the sun with a gentlemanly mien. But not when the discussion veers towards the issue of community or rural development. However, if by any chances this issues crops up one is likely to witness a change of countenance, a blend of gloom and the desire to be given the opportunity to help in whatsoever ways; for his desires has always been we must do something to help.   

It was this blazing desire that push him to join politics and contest for councillorship position in 1996 and was expressly returned elected by the people of Fer Ward; since then; like a mustard seed he continued to grow from strength to strength and “Diket Plang” becomes a household name and a references point when people are talking about “dividend of democracy”.

Indeed a gold fish has no hidden place, Diket Plang accomplishment did not go unnoticed as he was appointed Chairman Pankshin Local Government Council in 2002 and in 2003 he was appointed Personal Assistant (PA) to the Executive Governor of Plateau State His Excellency, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye. When it was time to appoint a credible person to oversee NAPEP activities in the state in 2004, President Olusegun Obasanjo found a worthy coordinator in the person of Diket Plang and when appointed he diligently serve as NAPEP coordinator until 2007 when he was appointed as Commissioner of the Plateau State Executive Council.

From 2008 to 2011 he was appointed as Special Adviser on inter-governmental affairs to the Plateau state government.

Diket Plang once again in 2011 tested his popularity and acceptability he contested and was elected as member Plateau State House of Assembly Representing Pankshin North. Because of his credible contributions and soundness he was appointed House Committee Chairman on Information and was member several other committees such as Education, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Youth and Sport, Welfare and Appropriation.

Diket Plang is a recipient of several merit awards and recognitions from some reputable and notable organizations and institutions; such as Holy Cross Church Pankshin for his outstanding contribution to the development of Pankshin 2013, PADA-outstanding projects all over Pankshin District in 2013, POSA award for the up liftmen of Government Secondary School Pankshin 2013,  SUG Plateau state students Union most outstanding Legislator of the year 2012, MOFOYE award of Excellency-outstanding contribution to Health, Education and Environment to the people, Nigerian Society of Engineers Jos Branch Distinguished award for infrastructural Development on the Plateau among others.

Hon. Diket credentials in politics are colossal, he has been an advocator of community development; this principle makes him to participate in various developmental associations and groups where ever he found himself. His contact with diverse group of people across the world, country, and states has exposed him to the realities in the rural areas as regards to developmental initiatives. This humble and industrious statesman and politician, has consistently utilized all opportunities available to him to impact on people around him. The experience he acquired makes him to believe that the essence of life is to render service to humanity to the best of his capability, overtime this has been his guiding principles, and where ever he found himself he upholds a close contact with the people.

Diket Plang is very much aware of the significance of politics as the key to the socio-economic-political liberation of the people; hence, his decision to enthusiastically partake by seeking elective political office.

Diket Plang is a team player, community mobiliser and a philanthropist with these sterling qualities and credentials trailing him, the Senate shall be his stepping stone, and he remains the best choice.

 

As 2023 approaches our society is in a insatiable search of a front-runner with demonstrated track records of humanity, philanthropist, leader who is selfless and would sacrifice all it takes to alleviates the suffering of the people, a trail blazer who would be the forthright vocal voice of the masses, a leaders who is conscientious, hardworking and patriotic and above all a leader who is a friend to all and a team player, a companion, a calmed humbled and a gentleman- such a trail blazer is DIKET SATSO PLANG.