An Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri, on Monday, 1st February, 2021, struck out the suit filed by Patrick Agukwe & two Others against the State PDP & 17 Others.
In Suit No. HOW/220/2020, the plaintiffs were asking for the nullification of Imo PDP State Congresses which were conducted in between March-August, 2020.
Their grouse was that their supporters were allegedly denied access to buy
nomination forms to participate in the PDP Ward Congresses held in Mach, 14th 2020 as it affects Oru East, Orlu and Orsu Federal Constituencies.
But delivering judgement the Hon. Justice E.F. Njemanze held that the grievances of the Plaintiffs were intra-party matters which the Court has no powers to delve into.
He said that the Courts in several cases, had held that Courts have no business adjudicating on matters relating to the internal management and leadership of a political party unless where a party goes against its own constitution.
In the instant case, the Court held that the Plaintiffs did not show from their Statement of Claim that there was any serious breach of the PDP Constitution in the conduct of the Congresses, rather they were disputing matters within the purview of the party to decide and determine.
Citing various provisions of the PDP Constitution, the Court found that it provided adequate remedies for any member who is aggrieved by the decision or action at any level of the party to appeal to the upper level of the party. The Court also cited the provisions of the PDP Constitution which states that parties must exhaust the internal mechanisms for dispute resolution before seeking remedies in our regular Courts.
The Court found that there was no where in the affidavit of the Plaintiffs where they adduced even the minutest evidence that they complied with the provisions of their own party constitution.
The Judge dismissed the suit as an attempt to jump the gun and held that the Court lacks jurisdiction to dabble into the internal affairs of political parties.
The Court struck out the suit and awarded cost of N20,000 against the Plaintiffs.
N Nnawuchi Esq. appeared for the PDP while C. K Okorie Esq. appeared for the Plaintiffs.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan is no pushover and has the credentials and experience for the office of the President, former Olusegun Obasanjo Obasanjo has said. Obasanjo spoke while defending himself of allegations that he ushered in weak successors. He also denied the allegation that he intentionally brought a sick Umaru Yar’Adua as his successor.
He however confirmed thathe knew that Yar’adua had had a kidney transplant, but that he had a clean bill of health when he, Yar’adua, succeed him.
Obasanjo spoke during a virtual interview with Academician and historian, Toyin Falola, in reaction to accusations by critics that he installed the late Umaru Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan as President and Vice-President, respectively, after his eight-year rule.
When asked whether he was aware that the late Yar’adua was sick before he supported his candidacy, Obasanjo said, “Let me tell you the story of Umaru Yar’adua. I knew he was ill and before I put him forward, I asked for his medical report which he sent to me and I sent it to one of the best doctors of our time and a good friend of mine who died only last year –Professor Akinkugbe.
“I said look at it because it is confidential and he said to me that from this report, this man has had a kidney transplant and it is successful, he is no longer under dialysis. And if you have a kidney transplant and it is successful, it is as good as if you didn’t have a kidney transplant at all. I accepted that and Umaru Yar’adua contested within the party and he contested within the country and came up.
“In the process of the campaign, I remember that he had to go for a medical checkup abroad and he was not around for a campaign here in Abeokuta. I called him because the rumour was that he had died. I called him on my telephone and put it on speaker. I said, ‘Umaru, are you dead or alive?’ and he said, ‘I am not dead, I am alive’.
“Within a couple of days, he came back and reported that he was checked up and he was well. That was the position of Umaru Yar’adua and if anybody in his right sense will think that what I have done in that position was not right, I leave him in the hands of God.”
Obasanjo further said the PDP needed a running mate for Yar’adua during the 2007 presidential campaign. He said the party agreed to produce a Vice-President from the South-South geopolitical zone, noting that former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, was a stronger choice than his then Bayelsa State counterpart, Goodluck Jonathan, but that Odili had a case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“Now, we needed a running mate for Yar’adua. There were two possibilities – the first possibility was Peter Odili. Peter Odili was a much stronger personality than Goodluck Jonathan but Peter Odili had an EFCC issue which made him to be dropped and once he was dropped, the next man was Goodluck Jonathan and Goodluck Jonathan had all going for him. He was not a strong character as Peter Odili, I will admit that, but he was not a pushover; he had been a deputy governor, he had been a governor and his state was doing fairly well.
“I don’t know what else anybody will say because the deputy president had to come from the South and we had agreed that it would come from the South-South,” the former military ruler said..
Obasanjo was Nigeria’s president between 1999 and 2007 under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party. He handed over power to Yar’adua, a two-term governor of Katsina State, who died in office as President, three years after he was elected in 2007.
Upon Yar’adua’s demise in May 2010, Jonathan, who was then his de5puty, was sworn in as president in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Many Nigerians have since criticised Obasanjo for bringing the late Yar’adua into office despite knowing his medical history. Obasanjo has also been censured for bringing Jonathan, whom some critics mischievously described as ‘weak’, into Aso Villa.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, expressed readiness To jail COVID-19 Protocols Violators for Six Months.
It was gathered that Lagos posted over 1,040 cases on Saturday, the highest single-day infections since the pandemic broke out in February 2020.
Governor Sanwo-Olu lamented that many people were still violating the COVID-19 protocols and vowed to act immediately.
“The State Government has observed with dismay the widespread flagrant disregard and non-adherence to guidelines and protocols aimed at stemming and curbing the tide of infection.
“We particularly note that some event centers have been operating their premises outside the acceptable parameters for operation/usage and continue to be recalcitrant in this regard.
“This is to sound a very serious note of warning that henceforth all those found culpable and in breach of the existing regulations and guidelines would be swiftly and decisively dealt with in full accordance with the provisions of the law,” he said.
“Furthermore, and in line with the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021 signed last week by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is hereby directed that no gathering of more than 50 persons shall hold in an enclosed space, except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50% capacity of the space.
“A breach of the provisions of the Presidential Regulations attracts upon summary conviction, a fine or six months imprisonment and or both. Our enforcement agencies have been appropriately tasked to ensure maximum compliance.
“All Lagosians are enjoined to continue to observe all laid down guidelines and protocols issued by both the state and federal governments for the effective containment and treatment of the novel corona virus disease,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu also reiterated that oxygen is free at all Lagos State-owned COVID-19 treatment centres.
He said considering that oxygen demand has spiked to between 300 and 400 cylinders per day across state-owned treatment facilities, the government was working hard to ensure that availability and supply.
“To this end, a second oxygen plant is under construction at the Gbagada General Hospital, and will come on-stream within the next seven days. It is expected that this will boost the in-house capacity and availability of oxygen across all State Government managed treatment centers,” he said.
There is outrage in some quarters over the dismissal of Omolola Olajide, a female Constable, from the Nigeria Police Force, NPF. She was sacked for being pregnant, unmarried, and within one year of her enlistment.
I don’t share in the outrage. The NPF is right. Olajide deserved her sack letter. Nobody should be emotional over a fate she brought upon herself.
Until her sack, Olajide was serving at the Iye Ekiti Police Division, Ekiti State, a State which First Lady, Bisi Fayemi, is a feminist and a gender specialist.
The Police say Olajide broke one of the rules guiding her enlistment. Unmarried, she dared get pregnant. Relying on section 127 of the Police Regulation, she was dismissed from Service. That section recommends punishment for the ‘sin’ Olajide committed.
Section 126 of the Police Regulation states that: “A married Police Woman who is pregnant may be granted maternity leave, while section 127 said an unmarried police woman who becomes pregnant shall be discharged from the Force and shall not be enlisted except with the approval of the IGP.” She was caught by Section 127.
Since her sack, reactions have been coming like claps of thunder. Not a few people are outraged over her dismissal. Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise, dubbed her sack discriminatory. She asked the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, to, also, sack all the unmarried male officers who impregnated their girlfriends. Others said the ex-Constable’s right of choice has been infringed upon. One person asked: “What if she decides to have all her kids out of wedlock? Another asked: “What if no man comes along to ask her hand in marriage? Will she force herself on a man”, or remain childless? All correct!
But the Police in the state has stood its ground. They are quoting Police rules and regulations.The PRO of the State Command, funny guy, said “It is embarrassing that an unmarried Policewoman got pregnant!
“Embarrassing? I disagree. It was a choice she deliberately made.
Omolola Olajide
I find Okei-Odumakin’s reaction the most amusing.
She asked the IGP to line-up his bachelor-officers who made women pregnant and sack them. Where’s the proof? Men are lucky. They eat, clean their mouths, and look prim and proper.. Women have no such luck. All the evidences are on parade.
On the surface, I agree with those who scream discrimination. But it is deeper than that.
For the records, there are many discriminations against women in the NPF. From converting some of the most beautiful of the other ranks to “tea servers”, (Abuja chop, senior officers jokingly(?) refer to them during recruitment), no female Police Officer, no matter how qualified, and capable, has been considered for the office of the IGP. None has ever been appointed DIG Operations. Currently, there is no female DIG and, so, none in the Police Management Team.
At the lower cadre, their ranks are prefixed by their gender. So, you get to hear: “Woman Sergeant, “Woman Inspector, Woman ASP.” Such prefix is not applicable to their male counterparts.
Policewomen are not allowed to wear earrings, not even studs. Most times, when they wear even light make-up, it could be a crime. And there are worse.
For example, they are required to serve for a certain number of years before they are allowed to get married. Even then, they are required to write applications, and get permission/approval, before getting married. Quite a number of them have been taken advantage of by a few randy bosses, just so their marriage applications would be approved. Their male counterparts don’t go through that ordeal. Nobody queries them even if they decide to marry two women at the same time, with a chain of side kicks to boot!
In October, 2019, a Lawyer, Mrs Funmi Falana, went to court and secured victory for Policewomen. The Court declared that application/permission before marriage is illegal. I cannot, now, confirm if it has been scrapped or not. But in September 2020, it was part of the amended Police Act, signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, in the instant case involving ex-Constable Olajide, I beg to differ. Unfortunate as it is, the Police was right to sack her.
What’s her story?
The young lady enlisted into the Police Force as a Constable in April, 2020.
Money was spent to train her in the Police College. So was time. She was recruited to work. But what did she do?
Under one year, she became pregnant. At the time she was sacked, she was six months pregnant. Meaning that she got pregnant, almost, as soon as she was enlisted. The first three months of pregnancy may not have have been easy for her.She would have been off and on to the office. At eight month, she would be of no use in the office. At, almost, nine months, she would be asking for maternity leave. She would then be away for three months, observing maternity leave. Thereafter, she would work “half day” for another three months or so.
What time did she have to do the job for which was recruited? Was she recruited to get pregnant under one year and, then, be on leave for most of the time? How has she justified the money and time spent to train her as a Policewoman.
It is Olajide’s type, her behaviour, that make Police Authorities reluctant to recruit nearly as many females as their male counterparts into the NPF. During Police recruitment, they beg to, please, recruit few women. Make it 80/20, they would plead.
During my first tenure on the Police Service Commission, PSC, I made a lot of trouble during recruitments, insisting on, at least, 70/30 – 70 per cent for men, and 30 for women. The standard arguement then was: “Hon. Commissioner, please, help us, they will not go on operations.” When I counter that, with examples, they will say: “They will not go on night duty.” I counter that too. But a couple of experiences, thereafter, made me give up.
Mohammed Adamu, Inspector General of Police
The PSC decided, in agreement with the IGP, to screen and interview, for promotion to the officer cadre, other ranks who had improved themselves educationally, while in service. I was impressed to see many females. During the selection interview at Enugu, I was shocked when most of the women were always, almost, on permanent maternity leave. Some had four children within six years. That, in addition to stealing Police time to go to school.
Going to school while in service is one of the problems within the Force. Of course, police personnel should be encouraged to improve themselves academically, but there are rules guiding that. You apply, and proceed only when it is approved by the IGP. It has been abused.
The trend now is: Almost half of them, without permission, are in school. When you ask, they say they are on “permanent night.” Meaning that they attend classes during the day, and go to work at night. But they are no machines. Even machines are serviced. They are human beings. Truth is, they get tired after classes, and sleep off at night while on duty.
This, automatically, affects the performance of the Police. When almost 40 per cent of them are in school, and on “permanent night”, it means only about 60 per cent carry the Police burden.
The others steal Police time, manage to avoid being transferred, go to school, and get paid. That’s cheating.
But back to Olajide. I am not going to be emotional about her situation. I am not going to be swayed because I am a woman. I am not going to call her an embarrassment like the PRO, Ekiti Police Command did. I will just say that she was reckless. It was irresponsible of her to get pregnant less than one year after enlistment. She was not prepared for a career in the NPF. Perhaps, she enlisted, like some others do now, for want of what to do. Having done that, she lacked the discipline to keep it. I offer some prayers for her.
I pray the man responsible for her pregnancy stands by her. I pray the attraction was not her uniform. Having lost it, I hope he does not do an Usain Bolt.
Finally, if those condemning the Police action do not anger the Police authorities the more, perhaps, just perhaps, the IGP could pardon her, take her back after she has weaned her baby, and send her on a refresher course.
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has strongly demanded the removal of two top information managers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over their “continued misinformation of Nigerians and for turning Nigeria into a laughing stock in the international sphere.”
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, on Sunday, the umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in the country said “the Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed and a Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, are two major liabilities that have contributed to the poor image of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.”
“President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government would have been perceived in a better light without the duo.
“To most Nigerians, the Minister of Information represents a face of misinformation, just like the Presidential Adviser, Garba Shehu, and their responses or reactions to national issues have continued to put the Government’s sincerity in doubt.
“For instance, when did the Minister of Information realise that Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index is unreliable?
“The Minister has been working very hard, albeit unsuccessfully, to discredit the current corruption rating of Nigeria among the most corrupt in the world.
“However, the CNPP recalls that as an opposition spokesman, the Minister had at no time doubted the TI CPI on Nigeria.
“Less than eight years ago, Lai Muhammed described Nigeria’s low corruption rating as a reflection of harvest of corruption scandals under then President Goodluck Jonathan administration, which he claimed was attested to by TI.
“He once urged then President Jonathan to “wake from his slumber and face the reality that corruption is fast eating deep into the soul of Nigeria”, based on low corruption rating.
“How come the Minister of Information is busy trying to discredit an organization he had always hailed as opposition spokesman?
“Nearly five years after, Lai Muhammed, declared that insurgents have been technically defeated, the President Buhari administration has not been able to proactively stopped Boko Haram insurgents, rather, new phases of terrorism like banditry and killer headers activities took a turn for the worse.
“Just like the perception of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration on security has changed, with renewed hope since the sack of the former Service Chiefs, we urge President Buhari to give his administration a fresh breath by firing the two top information managers”, the CNPP said.
Parents of pupils in private primary and secondary schools in Ondo state have cried out to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to bail them out from greedy Ministry officials, Proprietors and Book Publishers.
One of the parents, Segun Odidi, in a letter to the Governor exposed how Proprietors and Ministry of Education officials collude with Publishers to milk parents of their hard earned money.
In the letter, Odidi claimed that they do this through changing of school curriculum every session which leads to change of textbooks randomly.
“Sir, it becomes imperative to bring to your notice urgently through this means the unwholesome practice of School owners and publishers under the supervision of Ministry of Education.
“Your Excellency, you will recall with nostalgia when people of your generation were growing up during our primary and secondary school days, the Ministry of Education always set curriculum for the primary and post primary schools, regulating their activities vis a vis the teaching mode, and most especially books to be bought by parents for the pupils/ Students.
“Once a parent bought text books for their children, those children coming behind will also have the opportunity to make use of the same thereby reducing the burden on parents buying different books every term or session as the case may be.
“The practice now is so arbitrary, bad and place unnecessary financial burdens on the parents, a situation where a child cannot inherit text books from his elder brother.
“What happens to the previous practice where curriculum is constant and gives room for younger ones to make use of the textbooks earlier used by the elderly ones?.
“What is the interest of the Proprietors of Schools and the Ministry of Education,the supervisory body?
“Why are they changing curriculum each passing session to the extent that those very good old practice that reduces burden on parents has been discarded?
“We want you to call the Ministry of Education, schools and publishers to order, the idea of changing curriculum, changing textbooks every session/ term is not acceptable.
“Let the curriculum be constant, let’s reduce the stress and financial burden on parents, let’s go back to the old practice where younger child can make use of the books used by the elder brother when he gets to the particular class or level.
“We plead with you to use your good office to cause an Education summit to take place in the State and I can assure you, the pulse of the parents/ Guardian will be felt.”
However in reaction, the Commissioner for Education, Mr Femi Agagu, stated that the practice was strange to him.
“This is very strange to me. I learnt there was something like that before I became Commissioner and we have since stopped it. At least, I have not approved any change since I came on board.
“If anybody is doing it, then it will be illegal. I have asked for investigation on the matter. We even stopped Principals who were helping Publishers to sell books and insisted that parents should buy books from bookshops of their choice.”
Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, the new face of Yoruba warriors, is set to make a kill. He may be up for grabs by other States, outside his home State of Oyo.
The Governor Dapo Abiodun-led Ogun State Government has called on him for help in dealing with security challenges in the State.
Remmy Hazzan, Special Adviser on Public Communications to Ogun State Governor, said that the Yoruba Rights Activist, is welcome in the State to curb insecurity, most especially in curtailing the invasion by Fulani Herdsmen of some Local Communities of the State.
Hazzan said, “Anybody who is hoping to help us with the security situation is welcome. Not only Sunday Igboho, whoever has what it takes to help us get security right is welcome in Ogun State.”
Monarchs and residents of villages in Yewa North Local Government Area, Ogun State had lamented that they were brutalised by soldiers who escorted herdsmen to graze in their communities, and have been terrorising them for months.
Igboho had earlier issued a seven-day quit notice to herdsmen accused of similar crimes in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State and enforced same. He had said he and his supporters would storm Ogun and other South-West States if permitted. Ogun seem to have given him that permission.
When asked if the state Government was ready for the ‘visit’ by Igboho, Hazzan said any stakeholders who would help the security architecture of the state was welcome.
Hazzan, however, stressed that Igboho “would be welcome for consultation”.
He also added that though Igboho is not constitutionally empowered to issue quit notices, but the helpless security situation of Ibarapaland warranted the move by the activist.
The Governor’s aide said there was the need for restructuring so that State Governments can take full control of the security situation in their respective states.
Hazzan refuted claims that his principal —the Governor— is not doing enough to secure lives and property in the state.
According to him, Governor Abiodun is engaging widely with stakeholders including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, traditional rulers and other persons to ensure peace and tranquility in the state.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has described a suit instituted against the confirmation of the Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua, as the substantive Chief Judge of the State as one borne out of mischief and malice.
One Mr Brown Amadi, who says he is an Imo State tax payer, had joined the Imo State Judicial Commission, Imo State Governor, Attorney General, House of Assembly and Hon. Justice Agugua in a suit he instituted against the National Judicial Council, NJC, challenging the suitability of Agugua as Imo State’s substantive Chief Judge.
Amadi based his opposition to Agugua’s appointment on the fact he wrote a petition against her to the NJC which has not been considered. He asked the court to establish if the NJC can recommend Agugua as a suitable person for appointment as Imo CJ, in view of the provision of section 158 of the 1999 constitution.
Amadi, therefore, asked the Court to restrain the NJC from recommending Agugua as the CJ, arguing that his fundamental right to fair hearing will be breached if Agugua is made the substantive CJ without first hearing his petition.
But the defendants, in their preliminary objections queried the legal right of the plaintiff in the appointment of a CJ. They argued that being a tax payer does not, and cannot confer on Amadi the legal right to hold the Governor and institutions to ransom in the discharge of their official,constitutional duties.
Delivering judgement, the Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo agreed with the defendants. He said Amadi, absolutely, lacked every legal right to maintain such a suit before a court of record.
Ekwo: “The plaintiff failed to show how his personal right override those of the entire people of Imo State as being a tax payer is not enough to institute such an action.
“In a suit of this nature, plaintiff must establish that his personal interest and legal right are real and tangible in law and not personal aggrandizement as done in this matter.
“From the totality of the case of the plaintiff, he acted in bad faith with utter malice. He embarked on adventures without a cause.
His case is simply mischievous.
“I disagree with the plaintiff that his right to fair hearing will be breached unless his petition against Justice Agugua is treated first by the NJC.
“To allow the plaintiff to go ahead with this kind of suit will amount to an individual holding a statutory body into ransom.
“This case is liable to be struck out, and I, hereby, accordingly strike it out for lacking in merit and substance.”
The now decided suit has delayed the confirmation of Justice Agugua as the Imo CJ. But most stakeholders stood behind her, describing the plot to deny her of the position as injustice and mischief of the worst order.
Not a few people in the State, even in the Judiciary, allege that the Plaintiff, Amadi, is a front for a clique in the Imo Judiciary which wants to, always, have a stranglehold on the State’s Judiciary. The clique has, allegedly, gone to every extent to torpedo the confirmation of Agugua as the substantive Chief Judge of the State, flaunting all kinds of reasons, most of them frivolous.
When, finally, confirmed, Justice Agugua will be the first female to be appointed the Chief Judge of Imo State.
President Muhammadu Buhari has dropped his Aide-De-Camp, ADC, Col. ML Abubakar.
Abubakar has been with the President since his first term in office, 2015. Described as extremely loyal and dedicated, Abubakar has been with the President through tick and thin, the good and bad times.
But the President had to let go of him because he is billed for a promotion course with his Course mates.
In Abubakar’s place is Lt. Col. YM Dodo.
Until his appointment, Dodo was the Academy Adjutant at the Nigeria Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna.
Abubakar is not likely to go back to his former position after his course, as he is expected to be promoted to a new rank of Brigadier-General.
In that rank, he would have gone beyond being anybody’s ADC – not even that of the President of Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Prince Ned Nwoko, has blamed Religion for the population gap between the North and the Igbo.
While the Islamic religion encourages polygamy, the Christian religion abhors it, and preaches monogamy. The South-east is, predominantly, a Christian zone.
Nwoko, a polygamist, whose youngest wife is Nollywood Actress, Regina Daniels, spoke on the BBC Igbo service. He also said polygamy curbs prostitution.
Bemoaning the bad side of monogamy, and the population gap between the Igbo and the North, he said:
“You see the average Northerner marrying two, three, four women. They are helping the society because it is the economic downturn that has affected so many women who you see doing prostitution and all that. But the fallacy of it all is that Christianity does not allow that in the South and, yet, the average Southern man has 10 girlfriends.
“But even looking at that, looking at your population in Nigeria and what I will call economy of marriage,
as an Igbo man, with one wife, four children, a Northerner has four wives wives, with five children each. In the next 10 years, 20 years, imagine the population of the North.
“With you, an Igbo person, the population will be like one to five because of this disparity. The gap is getting bigger, and the Igbo will never catch up because of this self-imposed restriction.”
With Nigeria’s poor economy, population is still a big deal. It is the yardstick used for the distribution of many things, including the creation of Local Government Areas, States, and recruitment to Federal job.
For now, according to the last Census, the South-east has the least population in Nigeria.
This, however, could be attributable to two things.
One: Many South-easteners live outside their zones, and unlike the Northerners who usually go home to be counted during Census, the Igbo hardly do so. They are counted where they live.
Secondly, during the last Census, MASSOB ignorantly prevailed on a number of people in the South-east not to come out to be counted.
For the records, the South-east, also, has the least number of States – five – a situation that has, rightly, been described as gross injustice.
