Author: The Nation

Some leaders and officers of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW) in the Southwest have asked the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICOlN) in Lagos to sack the union’s National President, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa.

They made the prayer before Justice Maureen Esowe in a suit filed by their lawyer, Mr. Adejare Kambi.

The first to sixth claimants are Chief Tajudeen Agbede, Alhaji Sulaiman Ibrahim, Chief Ariyo Adetula, Alhaji Ademola Adeoye, Alhaji Akeem Adeosun and Chief Clement Adekola.

Baruwa and the NURTW are the first and second defendants.

The claimants, in their April 12 originating summons, are seeking a declaration that the 1st Defendant has ceased to hold office as the President of the 2nd Defendant with effect from the dissolution of the Ogun State Council in 2020.

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“A declaration that the appointment of caretaker committees for the Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Osun chapters by the 1st Defendant single-handedly is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, not being the appropriate organ to run the affairs of the affected state councils.

“A declaration that the existence of the said caretaker committees for more than three months is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

“An order directing the National Working Committee to immediately and within two months of the judgment of this court, cause democratic elections to be held in each of the said state councils.

“A further order directing the said state councils to, pursuant to the provisions of the constitution cause the constitution of the Southwest Zonal Council.

are a tissue of lies, otiose gold digging and issues not related to this suit at all.

“The truth is that the claimants are former members of the 2nd Defendant whose tenure are spent and over in the last eight years, but are only bending backwards to destroy the institution that made them,” Asogwa averred.

When the matter came up yesterday for hearing of pending motions, Mr. Kembi appeared for the claimants, while Mr. Tolu Babaleye appeared for the defendants.

Following a consensus between the counsel, the judge adjourned for hearing.

“This matter is adjourned till June 15 for commencement of trial. Both parties are ordered to maintain peace until the matter is heard and determined,” Justice Esowe ruled.

The Bonga offshore oil spill case filed by concerned Niger Deltans against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the United Kingdom is  is still on, a group, Oil Spill victims Vanguard (OSPIVV), has said.

The group described a report, that the United Kingdom Supreme Court ruled that it was too late for Nigerian claimants to sue the oil multinational over the 2011 oil spill, as “misleading”.

OSPIVV, a group under the directorship of Prince Harrison Jalla, has been at the forefront of the Bonga oil spill case against oil multinational, Shell , for about a decade.

Reacting to the report of Shell’s win  in Warri, yesterday, the group’s Executive Director and lead claimant, said the claimants and people of the Niger Delta were “irked” by the report which was “without facts”.

Noting that Shell had not filed a defence since 2017, the group urged the people of the region to disregard the reort and await the final judgment.

Parts of the statement reads” “We want to state as follows: that the UK Bonga oil spill case in claim No. HT-2017-000383 and HT-2020-000143 is ongoing before Justice O’Farrel OBE, KC in the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales (King’s Bench Division) Technology and Construction Court.

“That it is true that one leg of the matter that has to do with continuing tort was appealed to the UK Supreme Court by the claimants.

“The subject matter of which the claimants are contending is that since Shell did not do any clean up of the Bonga oil spill of December 20th, 2011 that polluted their communities, that the damage is accruing and its ongoing till date as long as the crude oil remains on their land.

“But the Supreme Court disagreed with the claimants and ruled that the claimants can only be entitled to a one off damage claims within the limitation period of five to six years. The substantive matter remains and its ongoing before Justice O’Farrel. 

 “We state further that the report is misleading and the purpose for this rejoinder is to put the record straight. Shell couldn’t have won a case in which they deliberately refused to file a defence since 2017.

 “We want to assure our people of Niger Delta that they should disregard such misleading information, be calm and wait the final judgment which is imminent”.

The Foursquare Church has announced the appointment of Dr. Osaren Emokpae as the First National Leader and President of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent.

The announcement was contained in a statement  by Publicity Consultant, Mrs. Abiola Olayand of Mindshare Communications Limited.

She said Emokpae, who is also the Executive Counsellor of Foursquare Nigeria;  Founding Pastor, Foursquare Gospel Church Macedonia Assembly, Dallas, USA and Chairman, Wilson Badejo Foundation, has assumed duty to oversee the Foursquare mission in Trinidad and surrounding Islands of that country.

The statement reads: “We are pleased to announce the assumption of duty of Dr. Osaren Emokpae (The Executive Counsellor of Foursquare Nigeria, Founding Pastor Foursquare Gospel Church Macedonia Assembly Dallas USA and Chairman Wilson Badejo foundation) as the New National Leader and President Foursquare Gospel Church- Macedonia Call, Trinidad & Tobago.

“Dr. Emokpae in that position oversees the Foursquare Work in Trinidad and surrounding Islands of that country.”

Pastor Samuel Olubode was also appointed National Secretary/Diaspora Coordinator West Indies while Pastor Turnel Hendrickson was appointed Director of Home Mission, Foursquare Gospel church, Trinidad and Tobago, the statement said.

At the church’s 9th International Missions Conference, which will hold between May 12 and 14, at Port of Spain and Chaquanas, Trinidad and Tobago respectively,  the Nigerian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Abubakar Ibrahim and his Deputy Udo Onyi and Emokpae, have been penciled down as speakers at the conference.

“Key Speakers at the 9th International Missions Conference are Rev. Dr. Olu Farombi General Overseer emeritus of Foursquare Nigeria and Rev. Dr. Richard Oloidi, Founding Pastor of Riverdale Foursquare church Atlanta USA,” the statement added.

• El-Rufai meets Southern Kaduna leaders over killings

From AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab has confirmed that 14 out of the over 40 worshippers kidnapped in a church last Sunday, have regained freedom.

This is just as locals raised alarm that bandits fleeing from military onslaught in Zamfara state, were sighted about a kilometer away from Birnin Gwari local government headquarters.

Hayab in a terse message to journalists yesterday said: “Yes, some of them are back home but 14 are still with the bandits.

“A woman with her child  returned after they abandoned her in the bush.”

Meanwhile, Kaduna State Police Command has assured of its readiness to protect inhabitants of Birnin Gwari against the fleeing bandits sighted in the area.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mohammed Jalige, said they would protect lives and property of the villagers, adding that the fleeing bandits would not be allowed to terrorise them.

In an interview with journalists earlier, a Birnin-Gwari Emirate Chief, Alhaji Zubairu Abdurra’uf, said fear had gripped the people over the regular sight of fleeing terrorists in nearby communities.

He said: “Yes, there were reports by the locals that they are in the vast forest of Birnin-Gwari, particularly Kudaru forest and the terrorists are closing in, on the  Birnin-Gwari main town.

“This is because right now the Government Science Secondary School  Birnin-Gwari which was renamed Jibril Mai Gwari Science Secondary school just near the field base of the Army, was closed down for one week because of the fear of attacks by the terrorists.

“So the situation is taking a dangerous dimension because as we said earlier, farmers till now, cannot access their farms because of the activities of terrorists.

“From Birnin-Gwari town on your way to Kaduna, the terrorists have now closed in, they are less than a kilometer to the main town. They are less than a kilometer because they have passed a place called Unguwan Shekarau.

“The terrorists were seen visibly around the Health Technology, a private, Community Health Technology in Birnin-Gwari and also, they were seen visibly around the Low Cost housing area which is along Birnin-Gwari Kaduna highway.

“The Low Cost is just a kilometer from Birnin-Gwari or less than a kilometer. So that is the situation. When you go to the Eastern part of Birnin-Gwari; the terrorists are there, all over.

“Some of them that infiltrated neighbouring villages in Katsina State, they also infiltrated villages in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“Just last week in Tabanni there was a clash between the terrorists and the communities, some killed.

“Also if you go to the Western part of Birnin-Gwari, Randagi, Kakangi and other areas, all the people are on high alert because the locals there are trying to defend themselves from these terrorists. That’s the situation.”

Meanwhile, Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday held a closed door meeting with critical stakeholders drawn from Atyap, Fulani, and Hausa communities, all of Atyap chiefdom over Zango Kataf killings and violence in the entire southern Kaduna.

• Rocket launchers, AK-47 rifles, charms recovered

The Police in Anambra State said it killed five suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Commissioner of Police (CP), Echeng Echeng, disclosed this yesterday in a statement, adding that the suspects were killed during gun battle with joint security forces at Akwaihedi, a border town between Imo and Anambra states.

He said two rocket launchers, four Ak47 rifles, one automatic pump action, four magazines, eight live ammunition, police berets, charms and other incriminating items were recovered from the deceased.

The statement signed by CP Echeng read: “By 3pm today (yesterday) joint security forces in a village, Akwaihedi, Nnewi South, a border town between Imo and Anambra state, accosted a deadly gang of five operating on motorbikes suspected to be members of IPOB and ESN, who were en route to Anambra for a planned attack/operation.

“The operatives engaged the assailants, neutralised five of the gang members, and recovered two rocket launchers, four Ak47 rifles, one automatic pump action, four magazines, eight live ammunition, police berets, charms and other incriminating items.”

Echeng said battle against insurgents in the state would be sustained until stability was fully restored.

He said: “There were some major positive developments on May 10, following credible information to the Police Command from residents of Anambra. We have identified some of their criminal hideouts/camps.

“The police operatives attached to Rapid Response Squad, Akwuzu, while in an attempt to rescue two of the kidnapped victims, stormed a camp at ifite, Ogbunike, Oyi LGA, neutralised two of the armed men, recovered a black Lexus SUV with a lot of police and military uniforms.”

Mother of former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha will be buried on June 16 at Ihedioha’s Family Compound, Aronta, Mbutu-Mbaise Local Government.

The family of the late Nze B.M.G. Ihedioha announced in a statement yesterday that their beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and matriarch of the Ihedioha Family, Dame Dorothy Nsonma Ihedioha (Nee Okereke), will be laid to rest on June 16.

Dame Ihedioha transited to glory in Abuja on April 20, 2023 at the age of 90.

According to a statement signed by Emeka Ihedioha, on behalf of the family, there will be a Service of Songs in her honour at St James’ Anglican Church, 39, Haile Selassie Street, Asokoro, Abuja on June 6 at 5pm. Another Service of Songs will hold in Mbaise, Imo State on June 15 at Ihedioha’s Family Compound, Aronta, Mbutu-Mbaise, at 5pm.

The funeral service will take place on June 16 at St Peters Anglican Church, Mbutu-Mbaise at 11am, while internment follows at the family compound.

“The family appreciates the prayers, condolence messages, visits and support from relatives, friends, well-wishers and associates at this moment of grief.

“While we mourn this irreparable loss, we are consoled by the life she lived and thank the Almighty God for her enduring legacies and the blessing of a place in His bosom,” the statement said.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has inaugurated the Directorate on Erosion and Flood Control.

The directorate, headed by a surveyor, Mr. Omusco W. Omusco, is in response to the perennial flood devastation and the impact of coastal erosion in the state.

The body is charged with the responsibility of proffering solutions to the twin natural disasters.

Diri, inaugurating the members yesterday at the Government House, Yenagoa, said the impact of erosion and annual flooding on the socio-economic lives of ‘Bayelsans’ necessitated the establishment of the directorate.

He urged the members to put in their best and write their names in the history of the state.

Diri also advised ‘Bayelsans’ to collectively work towards the control of flooding and erosion due to their negative consequences.

Omusco, assured the governor that they would give their best to achieve the purpose for setting up of the body.

Other members are Daniel Ebi, the secretary; Prof. Edmond Allison-Oguru; Yerite Quickpenny; Waritimi Amos; Ebifuro Odubo; Kingsley Oyinke; Very Rev. Peter Ikuli and two technical advisers.

Diri has announced the designation of land along the newly-completed 10.2km dual carriageway, from the Ecumenical Centre at Igbogene to Onopa, as a development planning area.

He said the action was to enable the government plan and control development that would be in tandem with urban planning and to forestall haphazard development in Bayelsa, the capital.

The governor explained that he was empowered by the Land Use Act of 2004 and the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Law 2015 to make the proclamation, which takes immediate effect.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdulsalam, has hailed Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri for supporting the troops posted to the state.

He made the commendation yesterday when he led officers of the division to visit  Diri at the Government House, Yenagoa.

Abdulsalam said of the four states under the division, he visited Bayelsa first because of Diri’s assistance to the Army.

He said: “The 6 Division has Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom states as part of its area of responsibility (AoR). However, of these four states, of course, I am paying this courtesy visit to the governor.

“This is not by coincidence; it is because the Army has enjoyed cooperation and assistance from your government. This is well known and documented. Our troops deployed in Bayelsa State have reported not once, not twice, constantly about the cooperation they enjoy from Bayelsa State Government.”

pecially in providing accommodation for them.

He added: “So, I am just pleading with His Excellency in his normal and usual magnanimity to continue to assist us, especially in terms of accommodation for our troops. Most of the soldiers are now living in town and they only come to the barracks in the morning to work, which is not well in terms of how we operate.

“We are mindful of the fact that to build a house in Bayelsa is not the same with building house in my village in Kano. If I want to build a house in Kano, if we start digging maybe before the next two, three hours, we will have the foundation ready.

But here I know the challenges and I know the cost implication.”

Governor Diri promised to assist the Army in providing accommodation for soldiers, to enable them perform their duties.

He thanked the Army for the support rendered during the burial of his father and commended the GOC for attending the funeral.

Said he: “Let me appreciate you for being part of the funeral rites of my late father. We are happy to receive you here because security is our number one priority. This is why our state is relatively peaceful.”

Diri advised the Army to be professional and neutral during the forthcoming governorship election.

A group of women rights activists has protested alleged unwholesome widowhood practice of forcing widows to drink the water used in washing the deceased in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government of Anambra State.

The protesters stormed the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court sitting at the Chief Magistrates’ Court, Awka with placards bearing inscriptions such as: “Stop Violence Against Women and Girls in Anambra State”, “Ogbaru Men and Women, Allow our Widows Some Peace”, “Stop All Obnoxious Laws and Harmful Widowhood Practices in Anambra State”, among others

Addressing reporters yesterday, the Chairperson of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) in the state, Hope Okoye, described the demonstration as the only way to make the women’s voices heard.

“The peaceful demonstration is a call on the Ogbaru communities to review the obnoxious traditions and expunge all forms of harmful practices against women and widows.

A suspect, an indigene of Atani in ?gbaru Local Government, who forced a widow, Mrs. Patricia Eligbue, to drink the water used in washing her husband’s body, has been arraigned on a five-count charge at the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, Awka.

When the charges were read to the defendant, Mr. Albert Eligbue, a brother-in-law to the widow, he pleaded not guilty.

Presiding Chief Magistrate Genevieve Osakwe said: “Since the offence is a bailable one, the court will consider bail application for the defendant.”

The defendant was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 and must provide reliable surety, in the like sum, who must be a traditional ruler of Atani, the Onowu or the President-General of Atani community, with two recent passport photographs, and valid means of identification, among other requirements.

Eligbue was remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Awka, and case adjourned till June 7 for hearing.

Activities at the four campuses of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) were crippled yesterday, as workers embarked on indefinite strike.

The University Joint Action Committee locked the entrance gates to the campuses and placed an inscription on them, telling workers, students and visitors that they were on strike.

The students and workers, who came to school, turned back and returned to their homes.

A strike monitoring committee was on hand to ensure compliance.

The Joint Action Committees of Trade Union (JACTU) said the decision was taken to press home their demand for improvement of workers’ welfare.

The Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University (SSANU), EBSU chapter, Elias Odigbo, called on the state government to pay the workers their salaries and arrears.

He urged the government to give financial backing to their promotions.