Author: The Nation

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the expulsion of a former Enugu Governor Sullivan Chime.

Also expelled is the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria(VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu;;a former Enugu Speaker  Eugene Odo, an aide to the Minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Flavour Eze, Mr. Joe Mmamel and Mr. Maduka Arum.

The party also suspended former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani and the Minister of foreign affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama.

The disciplinary actions were announced on Thursday by the Enugu Secretary of the party, Mr. Robert Ngwu.

He presented the report of a disciplinary committee.

He said the report was ratified by an enlarged State Executive Committee meeting.

The expelled and suspended party members were accused of anti-party activities.

They were alleged to have supported candidates of other political parties during the 2023 general elections.

Enugu APC chairman Chief Ugochukwu Agballah explained that the disciplinary actions taken would signal an end to crisis in the party in the state.

According to him:”These men had actually had the history of instigating crisis in the party. Their expulsion and suspension signal the end to crisis in the party.

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“The party suffered a rare case of moles who were here to disable and undermine this party. I can assure you that this decision was unanimous and I’m happy that the party leadership has done the needful.

“We’re going to rebuild this party to make it a credible alternative and platform for change in Enugu State”.

Reacting to the development, Mr. Flavour Eze, an aide to Onyeama, described the action as “rantings of a frail and sapped politician of yesteryears.”

Eze, who was the Enugu Media Director of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Independent Campaign Council (ICC), said that the gloatig of the state chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah has been APC’s albatross in Enugu state, stressing that the foundation members of the party in Enugu State were unfazed by Agballah’s recent unbridled verbal and media attacks on Onyeama; Former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani and other founding members of the party by the embattled State chairman.

He lampooned Agballah for struggling for the position of a Minister in a proposed government he worked against its victory and urged Nigerians to treat him with ignominy.

Eze, an APC leader in Udi local government area, said that it was such a pity that Agballah who claimed to be chairman of the party rather than engage in canvassing votes for the party, chose to engage in imaginary fisticuffs as smoke screen for his incompetence and corrupt management of the party in the state.

Eze added that Agballah in a coup d’etat dispersed meaniful members of the party and arrogated himself in selfish aggrandizement, trumped up acrimony and polarized the party in order for the real leaders of the party to give him way to conduct business with the party.

Eze alleged that Agballah made good his business and gave opposition parties in the state victory in exchange for porridge he bargained for and turned around to blame the founding leaders of the party for his incapacity.

Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai has thanked his Rivers counterpart Nyesom Wike, and Rivers for voting Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, saying Wike led his people to choose quality and unity over political sentiments.

el-Rufai, who spoke while inaugurating the Eneka-Igbo Etche Link Road constructed by Wike in Obio-Akpo Local Government Area, said it was the first time since 1999 that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed to get 25 per cent votes in Rivers.

Insisting that Wike provided the leadership that changed the voting pattern during the presidential election, El-Rufai said the country belongs to all citizens and that leaders must work together to make Nigeria an egalitarian and prosperous society.

He said the decision of the governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support power shift to the South was based on their belief for one Nigeria and enlightened self interest.

el-Rufai said: “I want on behalf of our President-Elect and our party to thank you and the good people of Rivers State for making the right choice in voting for Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.  

“It is the first time since 1999 that PDP was unable to get 25 per cent in Rivers. It shows that the people of Rivers can differentiate and they know when to vote for quality and they voted quality over political sentiment. We want to thank you for providing that leadership, governor Wike. 

“This country belongs to all of us and we have a duty to do all that it takes to make Nigeria an egalitarian, progressive and prosperous country. You have done a lot in Rivers to give every Nigerian living here a sense of belonging. We are grateful to you for that. 

“I want to assure you on behalf of the Northern APC governors that stood up and insisted that after eight years of Buhari power must shift to the South was an act not only of belief in one Nigeria but also en enlightened self interest. 

“This country has the potential to lead the African continent and indeed the black race but only when Nigerian leaders come together and do what is best for the majority of our people. This is what the northern APC governors stood for. 

“This is what we believe governor Wike stands for and this is part of the reason that I am here to extend our hand of fellowship to governor Nyesom Wike and the people of Rivers State for us to continue to work together as brothers and sisters to make Nigeria a better place for everyone no matter our religion, ethnicity, tribe or creed”.

el-Rufai charged Wike’s successor to toe the same path of not only building on Wike’s achievements but to also build bridges across the Niger.

“We are happy to be invited here and hope your successor will continue to build not only on your achievements on the ground but in maintaining that handshake across the River Niger with our own successors in Kaduna, Kano and other states in northern Nigeria”, he said.

el-Rufai commended Wike for his quality governance through his infrastructural transformation of Rivers and heavy investments in health, education and job creation.

He said: “Rivers is a blessed state in many ways and it is clear that under you the resources of this state are being used for the benefits of the people of the state. As you rightly pointed out we may be from different parties but we share many things in common. 

“We are Nigerians and we believe in Nigeria. We are governors and we belong to the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF). In our forum we try to learn from one another. We have a clear mechanism in which we draw lessons. For me it is important we visit Rivers State to see the lessons we can learn from your efforts on infrastructural transformation and human capital development. 

“It is my pleasure to be here. I am happy that I came after the elections so that no political connotations will be attributed to this visit. The elections are over and the elected leaders have the duty to serve the people”.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the winding up of Anyiam Osigwe Group Limited following its inability to pay its alleged debt of N750million owed to First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc since November 2006.

Justice Ayokunle Faji granted the order in its March 31, 2023 judgment in suit FHC/L/CP/925/14 between FBN as Petitioner and Anyiam Osigwe Group as Respondent.

Dr ‘Kemi Pinheiro SAN, represented FBN while E. I. Maduabuchi was for the Respondent.

The bank’s prayer, as canvassed by Dr. Pinheiro, was that Anyiam Osigwe Group be wound up pursuant to the Company’s and Allied Matters Act 

At the commencement of proceedings, the court analysed the facts of the case and the arguments in respect of same.

Justice Faji addressed the sole issue distilled for determination in the Petitioner’s final written address dated 16th of February, 2022.

The judge agreed with Pinheiro that the Respindent failed to furnish any satisfactory evidence to show that the unliquidated debt was still being disputed, as argued by the Respondent.

Justice Faji discountenanced the Anyiam Osigwe Group’s contention that the debt was the subject of another suit marked LD/1798/09.

The judge noted that there was nothing in the said suit that could amount to a dispute about the debt, as the suit had been struck out and remained unlisted,

Furthermore, the court discountenanced the Anyiam Osigwe Group’s contention that it was solvent and able to pay its debt

It held that the bank had proved and satisfied the court that the Respondent was unable to pay its debt pursuant to Section 408(d) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004 (being the law at the time of transaction leading rise to the dispute).

Justice Faji held: “In the instant case, the respondent (Anyiam Osigwe Group) has not said that it has paid the entire sum due. It has not even shown that it has paid the principal sum of N750,000,000. It has only alleged paying N230,000,000.

“Even though a court should not hastily grant a winding up order, where there are strong grounds for doing so, particularly where the dispute as to the debt is not on substantial grounds, the Court will grant a winding up order. So it is in this case. 

“This Petition has immense merit and ought to and is hereby granted in its entirety.”

Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has approved the extension of the close of application on its recruitment portal by a week to enable applicants having challenges submitting their applications take advantage of the additional days to complete the process. 

Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on Thursday.

Babafemi said the online application portal was opened on Sunday 12th March and originally scheduled to close on Saturday 8th April, but with the one week extension, the portal will remain open till midnight of Monday 17th April. 

He said this will enable applicants who are yet to complete their application process to do so and those interested but yet to sign up to also take advantage of the extra days to fill their application on the portal. 

END

Adamawa Commissioner of Police CP Afolabi Adeniyi has warned the state Resident Electoral Commisser (REC), Hudu Yunusa, against utterances cable of inciting public chaos.

The CP gave the warning after the REC alleged threat to his life following the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaration of the March 18 governorship election inconclusive. 

A rerun election has been scheduled for April 15.

The REC on Tuesday told newsmen at his residence in Bauchi, where he has been after the initial governorship election, that his life was in danger over the inability of the Adamawa police bos to assure of his safety.

In a statement on Thursday, the Police commissioner said he never told the REC that his safety was not guaranteed.

The statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Suleiman Nguroje, assured the Police have deployed enough assets to provide tight security.

“The command’s deployment was massive and highly commendable, as political thugs across the state were warned and denied access to the collation centre. The CP re-emphasised that the presence of police and other security agents is firm determination of the command in creating a secure environment for the electoral process,” the police command stated.

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It emphasised that such intensified security measure is “a further manifestation of the Inspector-General of police (IGP)’s determination to ensure conducive atmosphere and assist in monitoring INEC materials, prevent any attempt to invade INEC premises, coordinate timely response to distress calls and to clamp down on any threat on the electoral process.”

The impact of water scarcity within Minna and Bosso metropolis took a sad note on Wednesday when two girls were crushed and an elderly woman injured by a water tanker in Dusten Kura Gwari area in Minna, Niger state.

The girls were on a queue to fetch water brought to the area by the tanker to address the acute shortage the community has been facing in recent times.

The Nation learnt the tanker, which was painted blue and white, was hired for by a good Samaritan to reduce the hardship caused by water shortage.

The situation has been worsened by lack of power supply and dry weather, making all wells and some boreholes to dry up.

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Eyewitnesses said that the girls were crushed when one of the drivers reversed with the victims directly behind the tanker.

The girls said to be between 10-12 years died instantly 

Eyewitnesses were reported to have grabbed the underage boys without driving license. 

They seized the tanker, asking the drivers to call the state water board or the owner.

It took the intervention of the police to get the boys out of the community alive and the truck in one piece. 

 Niger State Water and Sewage Corporation (NISWASEC) distanced itself from the ownership of the tanker. 

The Public Relations Manager of the agency, Zainab Yunusa who confirmed the incident, said that the tanker was just painted in the color of the state government but does not belong to the Agency.