The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Araraume, Uzodinma, others urge tribunal to nullify Ihedioha’s election

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Ifeanyi Ararume;  Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA) on Sunday adopted their written addresses asking the court to nullify the election of Emeka Ihedioha as Imo State Governor.

    The candidates and their parties approached the tribunal to challenge Ihedioha’s victory in the March 9 governorship election.

    According to the petitioners, Section 179 of the Constitution says a winner must have the highest number of votes and also obtain the constitutional one quarter of the votes in at least two-thirds of the 27 local government areas of the state, a condition Ihedioha failed to meet.

    At the adoption of their final addresses on Sunday, the petitioners said there were glaring evidences that Ihedioha did not win the March 9 election.

    Araraume, in challenging the outcome of the election, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ihedioha winner in error because he didn’t meet the constitutional requirements.

    Read Also: Aide outlines Ihedioha’s accomplishments in first 100 days

    He asked for an order to void the Certificate of Return issued to Ihedioha – on the grounds that there were massive irregularities in the election. He also averred, through his lawyers – Awa Kalu (SAN), Ahmed Raji (SAN), K.C Nwufo (SAN) and I. K Bawa (SAN) – that all the scores and votes from Ehime Mbano local government area and 17 others were unlawful.

    According to him, there was unexplained change of electoral officers at the last minute by INEC, and massive hijacking and diversion of electoral materials.

    Araraume and APGA asked the tribunal to nullify and set aside the March 9 election for being invalid and not complying with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 and the 1999 Constitution.

    Uzodinma asked the tribunal to declare him winner of the election after accusing INEC of excluding APC results in 388 polling units.

    The results, he said, were declared at the polling units but were not collated at the ward levels.

    According to him the results at the polling unit were in form EC8A and were issued to the petitioner’s agent but were omitted by INEC during the declaration of general results.

    He said if the results were added by the tribunal, he would defeat Ihedioha with over 40,000 votes.

    Nwosu asked the tribunal to order a rerun between him and Ihedioha because the governor lacked the 2/3 spread in the state to be declared winner. He also argued that INEC failed to order a rerun in 258 polling units where results were said to have been cancelled by INEC.

    But Ihedioha’s lawyer Onyechi Ikpeazu; INEC’s lawyer Eke Ejelam and PDP’s lawyer Ken Njemanze asked the panel to dismiss the petitions and uphold Ihedioha’s victory.

    Uzodinma’s lawyer Olusola Oke said the code of Tribunal made it illegal for the tribunal to sit on a Sunday. He asked the tribunal to adopt Sunday as a sitting day as to legalise the day’s proceedings; the tribunal immediately adopted Sunday as a sitting day.

    Oke, therefore, urged the tribunal to declare his client winner of the election.

    Tribunal chairman Michael Adewara said the date of the judgments would be communicated to the parties.

  • Arrest order: Okorocha seeks Onyeaguocha’s sanction

    Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has urged his successor, Emeka Ihedioha, to sanction the Secretary to the State Government, Uche Onyeaguocha, for giving an illegal order  for his arrest.

    Governor Ihedioha denied declaring the former governor wanted after many groups condemned the order.

    A statement by Okorocha’s media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, reads: “Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha was quoted as saying he never ordered the arrest of his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha. This denial, which has been reported in the media, was part of a statement issued by his media aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu, on September 7.

    “We hail the governor for the denial, having known that the arrest order was uncivilised, disgraceful and embarrassing to the state and every enlightened society, though it came somewhat late; several weeks after the incident happened, thus making it appear belated or an afterthought.

    Read Also: Imo: Fresh moves to resolve Ihedioha, Okorocha feud

    “However, the governor could also add fibre to the denial by sanctioning the Secretary to the State Government, Uche Onyeaguocha, who gave the order. When a senior government official in the capacity of Secretary to the State Government makes such disturbing pronouncement, the conclusion is that he has spoken on behalf of the governor and the government; the governor’s long silence is not golden.

    “If the governor stops at the denial only, the public would still view it like the partial demolition of Akachi Tower which the government also denied authorising, but has failed to arrest those who demolished the edifice 24 hours after his inauguration.

    “Senator Okorocha is a peaceful man and that was why, throughput his eight years as governor, he never witch-hunted anybody, including those who made themselves his arch opponents.”

  • No division in Bayelsa PDP, says Diri

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has debunked rumours of rift in the party.

    According to him, the transparent and credible primaries which produced him as the party’s candidate proved doomsday prophets, who earlier predicted implosion in the party, wrong.

    He added that the transparent process made it easy for other aspirants to concede defeat and so promising to work for the party’s success in the November 16 governorship election.

    Diri described the primaries as the most transparent in the history of the state, saying after the exercise, his co-contestants either called him on telephone or came in person to express their loyalty to the party.

    The senator, who knelt to thank party faithful for believing in him, urged them to be united in ensuring victory for PDP at the general election.

    He said: “There is no dispute at all because Bayelsa PDP is one. I also thank my co-contestants. That morning when the results were announced they came one by one to congratulate me. We had 21 aspirants in one state contesting the same position. People concluded that the Bayelsa PDP was going to implode, and would never come together again. But today we are more united than before. The doom they foresaw was never in Bayelsa. Bayelsa is transparent, peaceful, credible, and open for the world.

    Read Also: Bayelsa: Dickson drubs Jonathan in battle for PDP’s governorship ticket

    “We are still one family; those not here have called me and the governor to say they would work for the party. I am humbled. If all of you stand by me, and with God on our side, we will win this election.”

    PDP Chairman Cleopas Moses said the governorship election was between the PDP and other ‘small parties that are making noise’.

    He said: “The primary is the most transparent in the history of our state. I congratulate the others for accepting the results. The party is proud of you. We ask you to support the candidate so that we can win the election and carry the restoration agenda to the next level of prosperity.

    “We have restored. This is the time for enjoyment. That is what the incoming government shall do. Go to every ward and ensure the PDP is delivered in the next election”.

    Some other aspirants, including the Secretary to the State Government, Kemela Okara, who attended the reception at the Peace Park in Yenagoa, hailed the primaries and declared their loyalty to the party.

  • PDP governors seek probe of Umahi’s home raid

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has condemned the invasion of the Abuja residence of Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi.

    In a statement on Sunday by the Chairman and Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, the forum described the raid as an attack on democracy.

    “It is assault on the sensibility and integrity of Ebonyi people, and an affront on their fundamental rights, the forum of PDP governors, millions of PDP members and all Nigerians,” Dickson said.

    Read Also: Anger over Umahi’s home raid

    The governors said the raid was already generating anger, and so called on the Inspector General of Police (IG), Idris Adamu, to investigate it. According to the forum, the investigation was important since the invaders were alleged to be security operatives, while the police denied such an operation.

    The statement reads: “We are worried that the police authorities have denied the foreknowledge of the operation. The fact that the police high command, including the Office of the Inspector General of Police, have distanced themselves from the invasion makes it a suspicious operation.

    “We, therefore, urge the IG to probe the raid. This should be carried out immediately to unveil the circumstances and people behind the action.”

    The governors also called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to ensure protection of lives and property.

  • NDDC and wailing governors

    The Niger Delta Development Commission always makes news. When it is silent, it roars. When it roars, the roof comes down. When an ant enters, an earthquakes rumbles around the region. So, no wonder that when an appointment is made, some hail while others wail.

    It is amazing that of all groups, it is a supposedly hefty group that is shedding tears and pleading over the new set of appointees, that include the well-known Bernard Okumagba as the managing director, Otobong Ndem as executive director projects and Maxwell Okoh as executive director finance and administration.

    The governors that include Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Godwin Obaseki rose against the appointees. We can understand faceless groups like the Niger Delta Youth Council that gives its nod to the Buhari picks or the Western Ijaw Consultative Assembly that frowns against them.

    But for governors? This is a first. One, it is a decision for the APC government. What is the business of the PDP governors to say who the APC governors appoint to a board. They had lost their chance during the last elections when the people gave the vote to the APC. When Goodluck Jonathan was in office, the PDP had the prerogative to pick who should lead the board or any board anywhere in the country. That is the democratic way.

    It was amazing that the only APC governor in the midst of these dissenters, Obaseki, showed how out of sync he was with his party. He is a governor and that makes him a henchman, at least on paper, in the ruling party. If his influence failed, at least he should not join a band of anti-party howlers against his party head. That he has exposed his lack of grip on his party in his own region. It is a show of political naivety.

    Now the governors spoke about consultations. The question is, who did they consult before making some of their key appointments into local governments, cabinets, and even agencies in their states. Governors are the last set of people in this democracy to mention the word consultation because they act as monarchs. Is it true that they are simply unhappy just as an APC spokesman, Ntufam Eta, described them as only interested in ensuring that their family members, cronies and stooges are appointed to strategic positions to the detriment of the generality of Nigerians”? the governors are not the only Nigerians who may be guilty of this, but it is bad that they have set up themselves for such charges.

    The appointments have happened. They should live with it.

  • 10,000 Police Job: PSC distances self from invitation for medicals

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has distanced itself from the notice on Nigeria Police website: http://recruitment.npf.gov.ng. inviting candidates who applied for Constable positions  into the Nigeria Police Force for medical screening.

    There has been back and forth argument in the past few weeks on whose responsibility it is to recruit personnel into the Force.

    A source in the Commission revealed to The Nation that the Police leadership was also trying to add names of those who were not qualified

    The source also explained that the Police leadership was attempting to hijack the whole recruitment process after the Chairman of the Commission; Alhaji Musiliu Smith refused to do the bidding of the Police leadership.

    The Police leadership however released a list of candidates shortlisted for medical screening but the Commission asked candidates to ignore the list published by the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force on its website.

    The Commission also stated that it would meet and decide the fate of candidates.

    Read Also: Police recruitment: successful candidates begin screening Sept. 9

    In what looked like compliance from a directive, the Police leadership also withdrew the list it initially released on the website but in what appeared like a twist, the list resurfaced on its website on Sunday.

    The FCT Police Command, in a statement in Abuja by its spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah also invited candidates for medical screening.

    The statement reads:  “The FCT Police Command wishes to inform the public and successful candidates who participated in the last police recruitment examination, that Medical Examination for shortlisted candidates from FCT has been scheduled for 9th September 2019 at 7:00am.

    “The shortlisted candidates are to report at the Zone 7 Headquarters of Nigeria Police Force, Wuse Zone 3 for the Medical Examination.

    “Candidates are to appear in white shorts and vest. They are expected to report at the venue with their online print-out form and two passport photographs.”

    The statement also asked candidates to check their names on the Nigeria Police Force recruitment site: http://recruitment.npf.gov.ng.

    When The Nation visited the website, it saw similar information contained in the statement by the FCT Police Command.

    The website also stated that candidates who fail to appear for the screening would be disqualified.

    “Any candidate who fails to show up for medical examination in the aforementioned period indicated against their States will be automatically disqualified.”

    When The Nation contacted a source in the Commission to know it’s position as regards the latest development, he said: “We are not part of this arrangement.  We are distancing ourself from it and we hope to seek judicial interpretation on this in order for things to be clear to Nigerians.”

  • Businessman ‘Young Shall Grow’ sues Amuwo Odofin Council

    Lagos businessman Chief Vincent Obianodo (The Young Shall Grow) has taken the Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Valentine Buraimoh, to court for the illegal and forceful seizure of a parcel of land belonging to his company, ‘Vinee Oil Nigeria Limited.’

    He complained that the local government authorities illegally trespassed on the land at Second Avenue, Opposite Old NEPA Office, a stone throw from 22 Road junction, FESTAC Town.

    In the suit, the 73 -year-old transporter is praying the Lagos State High Court, Lagos Division, for an interlocutory injunction retraining further action on the land by the council, pending the determination of the case.

    He is also seeking N100 million damages for the alleged trespass.

    Crisis had broken out between the prominent businessman and the council, following the alleged illegal seizure of the land near Agboju Market, and its conversion into the proposed ‘Ope-Oluwa Market’ by the council.

    Obianodo, who is still recuperating from the gun shots he received from suspected kidnappers in Lagos, urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the House of Assembly to prevail on the council chairman to stop the illegal acquisition of his land.

    Read Also: ‘Amuwo Odofin constituency ‘ll benefit from my stewardship’

    His counsel, Kennedy Okwara, said the council trespassed on the land in violation of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law (2016), which forbids forceful takeover of another person’s property.

    He recalled that, following the acquisition of the expansive FESTAC/Amuwo Odofin land from Oluwa, Alado, Alamuwo and Onitire families in 1976, the land was vested in the Federal Housing Authority, which allocated it to Chief Obianodo in 1992.

    Okwara stressed: “As a registered petroleum, oil and associated products’ dealership company, upon application, our client was formally allotted the parcel in 1992 by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), and following its acceptance of the offer of allocation and compliance with all stipulated conditions, it was let into exclusive and undisturbed possession thereof.”

    The lawyer said the allotted parcel, which was overgrown by wild bushes, marshy, water lodges and unattractive asset, was sand filled at the cost of N10 million between 1995 and 1996.

    Okwara lamented that around May 25, the council chairman, accompanied by his agents, security men, contractor, together with bulldozers, pay loaders, graders and other heavy equipment, supervised the destruction of the concrete structures on the land and the dispersal of indigent petty traders on the land.

    Decrying what he described as an “indiscriminate, reckless, irresponsible, mindless, criminal, trespassorial and illegal destruction,” he said the chairman resisted efforts to reach him and ignored the “stop work orders” and written cautions served on him by the FHA, which is the allocating and supervising federal agency in charge of Festac Town.

    Okwara urged Sanwo-Olu to prevail on the council chairman to desist from the “sustained provocative and illegal activities of the chairman,” thereby preventing the temptation to resort to self-help.

    He added: “We hereby implore you, as governor and chief security officer of Lagos State, to step in, not only to call the chairman of Amuwo Odofin Council to order, but also direct him to vacate our client’s parcel.”

    Also urging the House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, to wade into the crisis.

    Okwara said: “The council chairman has violated the Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016, which was conceived and midwifed into operations by the House under your leadership. We urge you to urgently intervene in this matter, investigate it and of found liable, the culprit should be subjected to punishment or penalty.”

    Efforts to get the reaction of the council chairman were unsuccessful as he did not respond to repeated phone calls to him.

  • APC Chieftain backs FG stance against killings in South Africa

    An APC Chieftain, Hon. Ayoola Lawal has commended the stance of the Federal government against the barbaric killings of Nigerians and other non-nationals in South Africa.

    In a statement made available to The Nation he said, “The barbaric killings of black non-nationals by South Africans seems to be becoming a norm and this cannot be tolerated further by any African nations again.

    “The recent attacks and killings of Nigerians and other African nationalities by the South Africans is highly condemnable and barbaric

    Read Also: Xenophobia: We won’t sever ties with S/Africa, says FG

    “I commend some of these popular African artistes, professional sportsmen and women for taking a stand against the recent spate of orchestrated attacks and killings in South Africa by condemning the violence”.

    He further called on the leadership of the African Union to urgently step up their game by sanctioning South Africa appropriately and ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to book.

    He however berated the organizers of the World Economic Forum for still kicking off its event in spite of the killings and massacre of other Africans in South Africa.

  • Man, 51, jailed for using expired ATM card to buy drinks and fried meat

    A 51-year old man, Ikidi Innocent, has been jailed by an Oredo Magistrate’s Court for using expired Union Bank ATM card to buy drinks and fried meat.

    Ikidi was said to have committed the offence on June 27, 2019.

    He was said to have tricked one Blessing John and Dorothy Amaka to buy meat and beer for his consumption.

    Ikidi was arraigned on three count charges of cheating and obtaining by false pretense.

    Read Also: Teenager jailed three months for stealing fowl

    He pleaded guilty to the charges.

    Police Prosecutor, Patrick Agbonifo, informed the court that the convict bought fried meat worth N1500, beer worth N9000, alcoholic drinks worth N3,730.

    Agbonifo said the offences were punishable under sections 516, 421 and 419 of the Criminal Code cap 48 Vol ii laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria now applicable in Edo State.

    Presiding Magistrate, Ivie Akhere, sentenced the accused to three months in prison without an option of fine.

  • Boy escapes from suspected ritualists in Ondo community

    A young boy suspected to be mentally challenged has allegedly escaped from suspected ritualists at Jubilee area of lkare Akoko, Akoko Northwest local government area of Ondo state.

    The unnamed boy was found opposite Lennon Jubilee High School where he was abandoned after being hacked with a matchet severally and abandoned in the pool of his blood littering the spot.

    The victim was said to have managed to escape up to Idi-mango, opposite St. Gregory Mega School before he became unconscious.

    It was learnt that Police in Ikare-Akoko discovered the young boy reeling in pains and quickly rushed him to an undisclosed hospital for emergency treatment, to sustain his life.

    Read Also: Police arrest ‘fake’ spiritualist for defrauding traders in Lagos, Ogun markets

    It would be recalled that two female lunatics were also killed last year along Ilepa road,while their private parts removed by suspected ritualists.

    Sources said Police were trailing the culprits to arrest them.

    Many shop owners in Jubilee and Idimango areas have reportedly closed their shops for fear of arrest.

    Attempts made by our correspondent to reach the Iare Divisional Police Officer (DPO),Chika Odeh,a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) failed.