Home Blog Page 2381

Invasion Of Justice Odili’s Residence: NBA Outraged, Vows Action

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Olumide Akpata

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) has vowed to get to the root and fish out those behind the invasion of the residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Peter-Odili on Friday evening.

The NBA, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Olumide Akpata, on Saturday, expressed shock and sadness that the incident was a dent on Judiciary independence and a set back to Nigeria’s democracy.

“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) received with grave concern the news of the unlawful siege on the Abuja residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, last night by officers of one or more of the Nigerian security agencies.

“Almost 24 hours later, information concerning the basis of the siege remains hazy and the subject of speculation, apart from reports that the invasion was pursuant to a search warrant issued by a Magistrate Court in Abuja, which search warrant has now been revoked.

“The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation under whose office the team that purportedly carried out the raid is allegedly domiciled has also denounced the team, which suggests the inference that the residence of the second most senior Judicial officer in Nigeria was raided by rogue security agencies.

“The grave implications of this possibility leave a lot to be desired. When viewed in the context of a similar raid on the premises of Supreme Court Justices in 2016, the rationale of which was never fully explained or indeed justified, the NBA interprets last night’s incident as an orchestrated affront on the Judiciary, designed to intimidate and ridicule the Judiciary.

“The NBA will no longer allow this to continue. In case the law enforcement agencies have not learnt their lessons, events like this do nothing but erode the independence of sacred democratic institutions like the Judiciary, undermine the rule of law in Nigeria, and set the country back in the quest to instil confidence in citizens of Nigeria, Nigerian

businesses, and foreign investors that Nigeria operates a democracy with an independent Judiciary.

“I have spoken with My Lord, Peter-Odili, JSC, and I am happy to report that she is alive and well. Beyond that however, it is my pledge to Nigerians that the NBA will get to the root of this matter.

“To be clear, last night’s event is an affront on the Judiciary and grossly undermines the democracy that we profess to practise.

“In line with the aims and objectives of the NBA which include the protection and defence of the independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law in Nigeria, we will be convening an emergency meeting of the NBA National Executive Committee solely to discuss this issue and take a definitive stand on behalf of the NBA.

“I will also lead a delegation to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar

Malami, SAN and the relevant heads of security agencies to seek further clarification on the circumstances of this incident.

“Thereafter, the NBA will ensure that all those responsible for this unfortunate incident are brought to book.

“We must do all that is required to safeguard the independence of our Judiciary and indeed protect our hard-won democracy.”

Justice Peter-Odili’s home was invaded on Friday evening by Security agents who, purportedly went to execute a search warrant. The Magistrate who granted  the search warrant has since revoked it, saying he was misled into signing it.

Malami has denied complicity and ordered a probe into the incident which has outraged the Nation and embarrassed Nigeria before the internationally community.

Both the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC, have also denied carrying out any such raid. The Police has, however, remained silent on the raid.

Secondus Says Invasion of Justice Odili’s Home A National Embarrassment

By
The Source
-
0
Uche Secondus

Prince Uche Secondus, the suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as huge embarrassment and an insult on the Judiciary,t he invasion of the home of Justice Mary Peter-Odili of the Supreme Court Of Nigeria

Prince Secondus said that  nothing can explain the embarrassing act of the security operatives on a woman who has put in much in the service of her fatherland.

He said that relevant authorities should come clean on what informed such ignoble  and dishonourable behavior and render unreserved apology to the Justice and the Judiciary.

“It’s our responsibility as a democratic nation to ensure the continued sanctity of the judiciary as a critical component of democracy”

Prince Secondus frowned at the frequent harassment of the Judiciary by this administration pointing out that it does not tell well on our democratic credentials and the respect for the doctrine of separation of power.

Prince Secondus also noted that the development calls for more diligence on the part of Judicial officers in responding to search warrant requests from overzealous officials of the executive.

Breach Of Contract: Ekiti Govt Drags Benin Electricity Coy To Court

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Benin Electricity Distribution Plc - BEDC

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State has dragged the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC) for alleged breach of contract.

In a writ of summons, Ekiti State is seeking among others: “A declaration that the BEDC is in breach of the Agreement for the construction and connection of One Unit of 300 KVA 11/0.415KV Transformer for Oja Oba Modern Market at old Garage, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State awarded and paid for by the Government of Ekiti State.

“The Government is also seeking a declaration that the failure of the BEDC to execute the project had brought untold hardship frustration, inconvenience, loss of income and economic loss to the Government of Ekiti State and in particular the over five hundred owners of the shops in the Facility.

“The Government also asked the high court for an order directing BEDC to pay the Government of Ekiti State (General) Damages in the sum of Two Hundred Million Naira (N200,000,000.00) for the breach of contract and an order directing the payment of 10 percent interest per annum until the judgement sum is fully liquidated.”

The Writ of Summons was issued by the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice and personally signed by the State Attorney General, Olawale Fapohunda.

The ultra modern Oja Oba market, Ado Ekiti was officially opened for business early this year. Shop owners in the facility have expressed disappointment at the inability of BEDC to connect the market to the electricity grid.

Officials of the State Government have at various times appealed to BEDC to salvage the situation with a view to enabling economic activity commence at the facility.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

I Have No Hand In Invasion Of Supreme Court Justice’s Residence – Malami, Orders Probe

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has exonorated himself from the reported invasion of the residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Peter-Odili, by security operatives.

He, also, ordered a probe into the circumstances surrounding the raid of the Justice’s home.

A statement by his Special Assistant, Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, on Saturday, said the clarification became imperative in view of the media hype and the dimension the story had taken.

“It is important to set the record straight that as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, Malami will not stoop too low to be associated with an apparent in-elegant and nasty court process on the strength of which the purported search warrant was procured.

“The media reports on the issue depict too untidy process that could never emanate from the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

“The general public needs to know that there was nothing called Joint Panel Recovery Under the Ministry of Justice in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and by extension the entire Federal Ministry of Justice.

“What the Ministry has is the Inter-ministerial Committee on Assets Recovery and its mandate does not include sting operations.

“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has since reached out to the relevant authorities for an intensified wider investigation on the matter for necessary actions leading to the prosecution of anyone involved in the matter in view of the fact that the only names on record from the process filed in Court are a purported police officer who claimed to be “O/C Assets Recovery Team” and one Aliyu Umar a deponent in the affidavit.

“The claim of the Chief Magistrate as reported by a section of the media to the effect that he was being misled by office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice into the issuance of the search warrant is equally forwarded to the relevant investigation agencies to ascertain veracity or otherwise of the purported association of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and which officer, if any in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is associated with such claimed misrepresentation.”

Justice Peter-Odili’s house was embarrassingly invaded by security agents who claimed they were there to execute a search warrant.

The action has since caused a national outrage and embarrassment.

Nigeria Army Kills Four Gunmen In Anambra, Recovers Weapons

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Army has announced the killing of four persons in Anambra state in two separate operations on Friday.

A statement by the director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, “Troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army conducting Exercise Golden Dawn, killed four unknown gunmen in a fierce encounter at Nnobi Junction, Idemili South Local Government Area on Friday 29 October 2021.

“This followed the assailants’ armed attack on personnel of security agencies deployed at Ekwulobia Round About in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, during which troops swiftly mobilised to the scene and subsequently embarked on pursuit of the criminals along Nnewi – Nnobi road.

“Troops made contact with the fleeing gunmen and engaged them in a fire fight, neutralizing four of the criminals.”

According to a Press Release, the four gunmen were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and ESN.

The troops also recovered two AK-47 Rifles, one GALIL Ace 5.56 x 45 Iwi Gun, one Avofeng Hand held radio and one Black Highlander jeep.

Sadly, a personnel of one of the security agencies paid the supreme price.

In a separate operation, troops foiled another attack by IPOB/ESN gunmen at Umunze Checkpoint, in Orumba South Local Government Area.

The troops overwhelmed the attackers in the shootout that ensued, forcing them to take to their heels, abandoning, one Pump Action gun with nine cartridges, one dark blue Ford and four motorcycles, which the troops have recovered.

It added that “The Nigerian Army noted that the recent attacks are part of proscribed IPOB/ESN plan to instil fear into the public and sabotage forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election.

“Members the public should be reassured that the Nigerian Army, sister services and other security agencies will not relent in resolutely confronting all criminals intents against the citizenry and national interest.

“Law abiding citizens are enjoined to continue to go about their daily activities without any fear.

“They also encouraged the public to report any unusual activity observed across Anambra State to the nearest security post.”

Anambra: Why Buhari Rebuffed Emergency Rule, Settled for Transparent Polls

By
The Source
-
0
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

By Chidi Levi

A few days away from the Anambra gubernatorial election, The Source has reliably gathered that just as the Edo and Ondo elections, President Muhammadu Buhari has given stern warning to security agencies and Federal Government apparatchiks not to interfere in the exercise.

The President, the Magazine was informed, do not actually have a prefered candidate in the election even though he presented APC’s flag to the party’s candidate in the election.

“The much-touted “federal might” will not roar in Anambra.You can take this to the bank.

“The President does not only want a level playing field in Anambra, he also wants a free, fair and violent free election.Those hoping to ride to power on the crest of the so-called federal might will be utterly disappointed” , an Aso Rock insider confided in the magazine.

The Source was informed that some Aso Rock cabals sympathetic to one of the Anambra gubernatorial candidates were instrumental to the emergency rule kite flown by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN,early this month following a spike in insecurity in the state.

Said the source: “They did so hoping that the President will buy into it; they actually tried, albeit fruitlessly to get the President to make the declaration.

Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State
Gov. Obiano: Any pact with the presidency?

“If the President was interested in foisting a governor on Anambrarians, he would have declared a state of emergency in the state and use the instrumentality of government to have his way.

“Had emergency ruled been declared in Anambra, they would have simply influenced the posting of a pliant military administrator that will smoothen installation of their prefered candidate”

Recall that Anambra’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Nwachukwu Orji, recently enthused that “the election will be embarrassingly transparent”.This magazine gathered that feelers from the Presidency as to the President’s resolve to stay neutral hugely dictated the REC’s comment.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, it has been alleged that Governor Willie Obiano reached an understanding with the Presidency to the effect that Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, will defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC few months into his first term in office as governor.

This, it was further alleged, accounted for the President’s warning to his aides and security agencies against interference in the polls.

Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, COCSO, gave a flip to this allegation recently when it declared in a press conference that “the Presidency has privately endorsed the reform-minded former Central Bank of Nigeria governor who consolidated the Nigerian banking system between 2005 and 2010, earning him the world’s Central Bank of the Year award for two consecutive years.

“An internationally recognized economics Professor, Soludo is a member of the President Buhari Committee of Economic Advisers”

However, an aide to the Governor pooh-pooed the alleged pact describing the rumour as handiwork of idle minds. Said he: “Before His Excellency’s re-election in 2017, they also circulated a similar rumour that he would defect to APC after victory but did this happen? The truth of the matter is that our candidate, Professor Soludo, will win this election with a landslide. APGA does not need a pact of any sort to achieve victory because it is popular and well accepted in Anambra”

On November 6, 2021, the people of Anambra will file out to elect a sucessor to Governor Obiano who assumed office in 2014 and was re-elected for second term in 2017.

Keen watchers of Anambra politics predict victory for four candidates they describe as front runners namely Soludo of APGA, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Andy Uba of APC and Senator Ifeanyi Uba of the Young Progressive Party, YPP.

PDP Crisis: APC Carpets Melaye For Alleging APC’s Involvement

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Dino Melaye, a chieftain in the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has come under strong criticism over his allegations that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is behind his party’s recent travails, which led to legal battle between the embattled National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus and the party.

Melaye had made this remark on National Television, while making an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Melaye had said, “PDP is not in a dilemma. My party is solid. There is no fear, no agitation. The agitation is rather from the APC, which is part of those orchestrating what we are saying.

“I want to tell you that we are not perturbed.” he said. “There is calmness in the PDP, all our programs and preparation towards the convention is ongoing.”

However, APC Stalwart,  Hon. Olu Ogunbanjo, has criticized Melaye, saying he is a rabble rouser, that wants to be noticed.

The former lawmaker in the House of Representatives said Melaye may have forgotten that the PDP’s Conflict Resolution Mechanism has broken down since Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike  assumed the opposition leader of the PDP.

He said the APC shouldn’t be dragged into the PDP crisis, because they are the architect of their problems and they should address their issues and stop apportioning blame.

Melaye, a former member of the APC, that cross carpeted to the PDP also said he had no plans of returning to the ruling party.

“No reasonable human being will go back to his vomit,” he said. “The APC is a disaster. For every human being, there is a journey of life. You will definitely pass through your Egypt to the land of Canaan. So I pass through Egypt, and that is APC; but I am in Canaan and I am comfortable and enjoying my stay.”

2023: Buhari Debunks Third Term Rumour, Swears By The Quran

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0
President Muhammadu Buhari

By James Orji

President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that he will not embark on a futile exercise of a Third Term in office, also known as tenure elongation.

Buhari, who swept to power in 2015 is only allowed by the Constitution to serve a two term of four years which will end by May 29, 2023.

In spite of this legal provision, there are suggestions in some quarters that the army General-turned-politician is nursing a third term.

In 2019, Charles Enya, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Ebonyi state, filed a suit, seeking the amendment of the constitution to allow Buhari get another term in office.

Enya, who served as organising secretary to Buhari during the 2019 general election, filed the suit (FHC/AI/CS/90/19) before a federal high court in Abakiliki, the state capital. seeking to compel Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, as well as the national assembly, to remove constitutional clauses hindering elected presidents and governors from seeking a third term in office., describing the two-term tenure limit for presidents and governors as “discriminator”.

But the president has warned those that may want to embark on such exercise to desist as he’s not poised to remain in office beyond 2023.

Buhari spoke at a meeting in Makkah with a select group of Nigerians resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he just ended a visit.

According to him, “I swore by the Holy Qur’an that I will serve in accordance with the constitution and leave when my time is up. No “Tazarce’’ (tenure extension). I don’t want anybody to start talking about and campaigning for unconstitutional extension. I will not accept that.”

Meanwhile, President Buhari has thrown his weight behind the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct election electronically, noting that the introduction of the card reader and electronic register was a saving grace for him, after he unsuccessfully took a shot at the presidency, three times before he eventually won in 2015.

“After the third so-called defeat, I said, ‘God Dey’. My opponents laughed at me but God answered my prayers by bringing in technology. At that point, nobody can steal their votes or buy them,” he said..

President Buhari, who ended his visit to the Kingdom with the Friday Prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah said he will continue to abide by the constitution in all its ramifications and he will at all times supervise and deal with his ministers on same basis, saying that “eighteen months or so of my time left, whatever I can do to improve the life of Nigerians, I will do it for the country.”

Judges Harassment: Police Raids Abuja Home Of Supreme Court Justice, Mary odili

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0
Justice Mary Odili attack on her Abuja residence

By James Orji

There appears no end to the harassment of judges in the country under the President Muhamamdu Buhari administration, following the raid on Friday, on the Abuja home of Honourable Justice Mary Odili, a justice of the Supreme Court, by security operatives led by officials of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF  Odili is the wife of a former Governor of Rivers state, Peter Odili

The former governor has been on the watchlist of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and recently had his international passport returned to him by the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIM following a court order to that effect.

It was learnt that the security operatives involved in the operation came with a search warrant and were made up of soldiers and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF

The Source magazine has yet to ascertain why the search was conducted as Justice Odili has not been accused of any offence, neither is she under the investigation of  anti-graft agencies. But, sources said the search may not be unconnected with the problem that her husband is having with the EFCC.

But the EFCC said in a statement that it did not carry out the operation.

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to claims in a section of the media that operatives of the Commission today, October 29, 2021 stormed the Maitama, Abuja home of a Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili, purportedly to execute a search,” Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, said in a statement.

“The Commission by this statement wishes to inform the public that the report is false as it did not carry out any operation at the home of Justice Odili.

“If there was any such operation as claimed by the media, it was not carried out by the EFCC. The Commission enjoins the public to discountenance the report,” the anti-graft agency said.

This is not the first time security operatives have ransacked home of judges since President Buhari came to power in 2015.

In 2017, the Department of State Service, DSS conducted multiple raids on residences of judges in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Gombe, Kano, Enugu and Sokoto.

Judges whose homes were raided at the time include Adeniyi Ademola, and Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja as well as Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro of the Supreme Court.

Also, the Kano home of a high court judge, Kabiru Auta, was raided along with another residence in Enugu belonging to the Chief Judge of the state, A. I. Umezulike.

‘Impunity Must Be Resisted, Am Appealing The Ruling’ – Secondus

By
The Source
-
0
Uche Secondus

The suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has reacted to the ruling of which dismissed his suit seeking an injunction to stop the PDP National Convention scheduled for October 30 and 31 in Abuja.

He called it impunity, saying such impunity must stop.

He, also, said he would appeal the ruling.

Secondus had gone on appeal to stop the Convention based on the fact that his tenure as Chairman would expire in December. But threeHigh Courts, two in Rivers State, and one in Cross River State, suspended him from office.

He insists he is the only one, as the legal Chairman, empowered by the PDP constitution to conduct the Convention which will usher in a new Executive.

The Court of Appeal Port Harcourt Division, however, knocked him off. The Court refused to grant him any such injunction.

In a statement signed on his behalf by his Media Adviser, Ike Abonyi, Secondus said: ” The issue is not about Secondus but about the sanctity of our party conduct and core Democratic principles of justice and rule of law not only in PDP but in our democracy. No impunity must be condoned.”

Following is the full text of the statement.

“I have just been briefed of the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt dismissing my motion to halt the National Convention of the party. I respect the position of the court even though I disagree totally with it.

“Even as the substantive case is still  pending at the Court of Appeal, I have instructed my lawyers to study the ruling with a view to appealing it immediately as no abuse of the constitution of our dear party should be allowed to stand.

“The issue is not about Prince Uche Secondus but about the sanctity of our party constitution and core democratic principles of justice and rule of law not only in PDP but in our democracy. No impunity must be condoned.

“I will, therefore, wish to emphasis the fact that I did not take the party to court and would not have done that. As a foundation member of this party who has served at various levels, State Chairman, Chairman of state Chairmen, National Organizing Secretary, Deputy National Chairman, Acting National Chairman and now National Chairman, am very much abreast with the workings of the party.

“I have been a witness to how much harm litigations have done to our party in the past and as a result I have been a strong advocate against settling issues in courts.

“This was why I resisted and rejected entreaties of those who wanted me to go to court  to halt these forces when it was obvious that they were determined to disrupt my leadership and truncate my tenure in office with the sole objective of hijacking the party for their selfish ulterior motives.

“To allow this travesty to stand is to reduce our beloved party to a level where anybody can wake up over night and remove officers against the proscribed  constitutional process and the National Chairman for that matter. And purporting to use the judiciary through an experte order to legitimize same.

“As a major practitioner in our democracy, I am duty bound to protect and defend the sanctity of the provisions of our constitution of which am the custodian.

I wish to, therefore  at this juncture thank and appreciate leaders and other stakeholders of our party who have called in to express their concerns on this matter and appeal for the understanding of all.

“If those who orchestrated and fostered this avoidable crisis had listened to wise counsel of party leaders and elders who advised the withdrawal of  cases, this situation would have been avoidable. I wish the party well as always.

“Thanks and God bless.”

1...2,3802,3812,382...3,073Page 2,381 of 3,073