By Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

Edo State High Court 4, Benin has nullified the illegal removal of the elected Chairman of Esan West Local Government Council, Patrick Aguinede of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The court, presided over by Justice D.I. Okungbowa, on Friday declared Aguinede the valid and duly-elected chairman of the LG council.

The trial judge declared as null and void the purported removal of Aguinede as the council’s helmsman by Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and directed the LG chief to immediately resume office.

Justice Okungbowa held that Edo governor and the government failed to comply with the provisions of Sections 20 and 21 of Edo State Local Government Law 2000 (as amended), while also failing to consult members of Edo State House of Assembly on the grounds of removal of Aguinede, as provided by law, before suspending the APC chieftain.

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The trial judge also held that since the purported suspension was void in law, every other action predicated on it was invalid, thereby awarding N200,000 as cost in favour of Aguinede.

Reacting on behalf of the council chief, his lawyer, Famous Osawaru, of the law firm of Ehiogie West-Idahosa, described the judgment as courageous, strengthening democracy and promoting the rule of law.

Our Reporter

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered the sack of the Kogi State House of Assembly member representing Ibaji Constituency of Kogi, Atule Egbunu, on the grounds of unlawful nomination by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that Daniel Enefola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should take Egbunu’s seat.

Enefola polled 4, 564 votes in the December 5, 2020 State House of Assembly by-election as against the 8,515 votes declared for Egbunu by the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC).

Joseph Enemona who had contested the APC ticket with Egbunu instituted the suit against the party and four others.

Enemona challenged the legality of the September 3, 2020 primary election conducted by his party.

He averred that his party unlawfully excluded six other aspirants from the primary election and also did not allow delegates to vote during the exercise.

The plaintiff also said that while the law stipulated that the primary election be conducted at the party secretariat in Onyedega, APC officials allegedly conducted the purported primary election in a mall.

He further contended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not given 21 days’ notice before the purported primary election and as required by Section 85 of Electoral Act, 2010.

The plaintiff argued that while the APC guidelines stipulated direct primary election, the APC officials manipulated the guidelines and purportedly used indirect system to pick Egbunu.

Read Also: JUST IN: Court reinstates Edo council boss

He demanded that the nomination of Egbunu be voided and another primary election be conducted.

Justice Ekwo, after reviewing submissions by parties in the matter, agreed that the APC did not conduct a primary election known to law.

The judge held that while seven aspirants were to participate in the primary election, the party unlawfully maneuvered the system and made the participation for a single candidate.

He also held that the APC violated the law by conducting the purported primary election outside the party secretariat as required by law.

Ekwo also faulted the purported substitution done between Matthew Oguche and Atule Egbunu on the grounds that Oguche was not one of the legitimate aspirants during the election.

The judge, therefore, declared the APC primary election illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional and subsequently set it aside.

Justice Ekwo said that since the time for primary and nomination had lapsed, the candidate who came second in the December 5, 2020 by-election should be inaugurated as the lawmaker for Ibaji Constituency.

Agency Reporter

Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said on Friday that President Muhammadu Buhari made the best choices in the recent appointment of Service Chiefs.

The Minister told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the choice of appointment of service chiefs is the exclusive right of the President who has information about their competences and capabilities.

“Based on available information at our disposal, the President has made the best choices,” he said.

“These men are not new to the theatres of conflict. Almost all of them have served in one capacity or the other in the theatre.

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“Having served in the theatres of conflict, it will make their jobs easier.

“They are not starting afresh and we hope that they will take off from where their predecessors stopped,” he said.

The minister asked Nigerians to give the new service chiefs the support that they need to embark on their new journey.

He also thanked the former service chiefs for their contributions to fighting insecurity in the country.

By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

Outgoing Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibot Ekwe-Ibas, on Friday hinted his successor, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, on the presence of corrupt personnel in the Nigerian Navy, who “mindlessly subvert the system at every opportunity”.

Ibas, who spoke at the official handing over ceremony at the Navy Headquarters in Abuja, noted that these crops of personnel bring disrepute to the Service through their unethical behaviour.

He said that the activities of these bad eggs in the Nigerian Navy often mar the efforts of the Service in the prosecution of infractions.

Ibas however warned personnel engaging in criminal conducts to promptly make a turnaround and reclaim traction.

According to the retired CNS, who took time to highlight his achievements in office, “I must at this juncture spare a few words for the bad eggs among us. Like any other organization, the Service has its own fair share. I refer to all those who mindlessly subvert the system at every opportunity.

“Our experiences in their treachery of connivance with some criminal elements, complicity in crime commission, negligent performance of duty permitting aggravation of cases in some instances, the disrepute to the institution of the Nigerian Navy in their less than professional conduct through alleged unethical behaviors, marring otherwise lauded efforts of our prosecution of infractions, were very sad and regrettable commentary in an otherwise glowing, commendable and exemplary service from you all.

“I urge this band of undedicated personnel to please make a turnaround promptly and reclaim traction to a fulfilled and successful career.

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“I am still hopeful that you would, after pondering on this, reconsider your disposition, choose the path of honour, in clear appreciation of the essence of service to your fatherland.”

Reliving the milestone of the Service in the last five years, Ibas said: “Today, we have come a full circle, but this occasion will be too brief to conduct a full post mortem or take adequate stock. I can therefore only make a nominal attempt at review.

“But what is sure is that we proceeded with a singleness of purpose to address the subversive and ruinous activities in our domain.

”The menacing scenario at sea from the spike in piracy and sea robbery, proliferation of illegal refinery, brazen theft of crude oil, mindless destruction of critical infrastructure for oil and gas, reckless violent crimes such as kidnapping, hijack and attack on security forces and many more activated in us new concepts.”

Meanwhile in his brief remarks, the new Chief of Naval Staff, Gambo, solicited the support of officers and personnel.

He promised to take the Service to an enviable height.

By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja 

The new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor, on Friday took over the command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria as the 17th Chief of Defence Staff, with a charge to ensure that Nigeria remains one united country.

Outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, who gave the charge during his official handover at the Defence Headquarters, urged Irabor to give his best to ensure that “Nigeria remains one peaceful, indivisible country.”

Highlighting the achievements of the military in the last five years, the outgoing CDS recalled that “at the inception of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Boko Haram terrorist group held sway in parts of the Northeast Nigeria, where the sect occupied 20 out of the 26 local government areas in Borno State.

“Our immediate challenge on assumption of office was to flush out the Boko Haram and restore Nigeria’s sovereignty over these occupied territories.

”Gratefully, with the support of the political leadership and indeed all Nigerians, the armed forces of Nigeria, under my leadership, was able to reclaim all territories that were then under the control of Boko Haram.”

He continued: ”While the terrorism/insurgency by Boko Haram remain a security issue the country is grappling with, the armed forces is equally engaged in assisting the government in addressing other security issues in line with our constitutional roles.

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“It gladdens my heart that the incoming Chief of Defence Staff is very familiar with these security challenges, having previously served as Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Commander Multinational Joint Task Force and, above all, the immediate past Chief of Training and Operations at the Defence Headquarters.

“There couldn’t have been a better choice of a seasoned senior officer who will hit the ground running as the Chief of Defence Staff.

“I must state that while the Armed Forces of Nigeria, under my leadership, grappled with some operational and logistics challenges, the DHQ has made some modest achievements aimed at improving operational capacity, logistics and welfare needs of officers and men serving in the Defence Headquarters.

“In terms of organisation, some directorates of the DHQ were upgraded to departments to make them more impactful. Some of these are the former Directorate of Civil-Military Affairs, which has been upgraded to a department to scale up our non-kinetic operation.”

Olonisakin added: “I am confident that General Irabor will lead the Armed Forces of Nigeria to build on what we have been able to achieve in the past five and a half years and take the Armed Forces of Nigeria to much greater heights.

”I urge you to continue to give your best to ensure that Nigeria remains one peaceful, indivisible country.”

Irabor, in his remarks, solicited the support of Nigerians to tackle the current security challenges, adding: “We are all aware of the security landscape and should join hands to take security to all the nooks of the country.”

He promised to give the right leadership that will inspire the armed forces.

By Sanni Onogu and Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of the newly appointed Service Chiefs to the Senate for consideration and approval.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

Omoworare said the transmission of the names was done in line with Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A. 20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

He said that the information was contained in Buhari’s letter to the Senate President Ahmad Lawan dated 27th January, 2021.

He said that Buhari’s letter was meant to dispel insinuations that the President intends to bypass the National Assembly in the appointment of the Service Chiefs.

Omoworare said: “Contrary to fears expressed in some quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari has “bypassed” the National Assembly in the process of the appointment of the Service Chiefs and that he has no intention of seeking consideration and confirmation of their appointment, Mr. President, upon nomination for appointment, sought confirmation of the Senate for the appointment of Major General Lucky Irabor, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao as Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff respectively, vide his aforementioned letter.

”It is on record that this same procedure was adopted when the immediate past Service Chiefs were appointed.

”Upon announcement of the appointment of the then Service Chiefs – Major General Abayomi Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Ibok-Efe Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice-Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff), Mr. President had written the 8th Senate on 14th July 2015 for confirmation.

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”Whilst the correspondence was read on the floor of the Senate on 28th July 2015, consideration and confirmation of the appointments was carried out at the Committee of the Whole on 4th August 2015

”It will be recalled that the National Assembly will only resume plenary sessions on 9th February 2021, when, hopefully, Mr. President’s communication for consideration and confirmation of the nominations for appointment of the Service Chiefs would be undertaken.

”Before this administration, confirmation of Service Chiefs were not sought and obtained from the National Assembly in consonance with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A. 20 LFN.

”We are aware that in Keyamo Vs. President & Ors, the Federal High Court set aside the Armed Forces Modification Order 2008 (purportedly made under Section 315 [2) of the Constitution) on 1st July 2013 and ruled  that the confirmation of the National Assembly must be sought for the appointment of Service Chiefs. We are in compliance with the spirit and letters of both the statute and case law.”

By Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

The House of Representatives has condemned the scuffle which broke out between participants from the host communities at the public hearing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) on Thursday.

Spokesperson of the House, Benjamin Kalu, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said the development was contemptuous and constituted a breach of the sanctity of the House.

Kalu said the 9th House of Representatives was predicated upon the tenet of nation-building as a joint task and their compliance with the due process of public hearings is a manifestation of their commitment to that tenet.

He said: “Public hearings are a critical aspect of law-making. They are an opportunity to invite views from critical stakeholders on legislative interventions and are not an opportunity for virulent altercations or physical combat.

“Therefore, the House will not hesitate to ensure the arrest and prosecution of any offender who perpetrates a similar occurrence in the future.

“Within the chambers of this great institution of democracy, and indeed in all parts of Nigeria, we must learn to deliberate and resolve our differences with the grace, dignity and mutual respect that democracy demands.

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‘The deliberation of the PIB is to provide legal backing and protection for the development of host communities and for the collective good of the nation; a balance of interest between stakeholders of the petroleum sector.

“Therefore, our ability to dissent peacefully and our ability to treat each other with dignity and respect even in the face of disagreement will play a key role in determining the success of one of the ideals for which this legislation is being considered; that grievance can be properly addressed without violence and chaos in our host communities.

“The House remains on track to pass the PIB by April 2021, mindful that the legislation will reinvigorate the petroleum industry and promote economic growth in the host communities and the nation at large.”

By Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

The people of Igangan in Oyo State appear not to be through yet with the embattled Sarkin Fulani of Oyo State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Saliu.

The natives, especially the youths, say they are exploring all options to challenge the legality and appropriateness of the appointment of Sarkin as traditional ruler of Fulanis in the Ibarapa area of the state.

The Convener, Igangan Development Advocates, Mr Oladokun Oladiran, told The Nation on Friday that having a Sarkin Fulani in the area was akin to having another king to rival the traditional ruler of the natives.

Oladiran said: “One thing I want to ask is why should the Fulani have Sarkin in the first place?

“If I am staying in the north, for instance, we can have groups and associations of Yoruba, but we cannot appoint Baale or king among us because a monarch must have land.

“A monarch must rule over people, not just land; that is the strategy. There can’t be a monarch without people and land. So when you appoint a monarch, a sarkin is a kind of monarch, a pseudo-monarch.

“When you appoint a monarch, you must assign them not just their people but you must get them land to rule over.

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“So, having sarkin in our land is like having a monarch. It means his people are not bound by our law. They report to their sarkin and not to our own monarch. It means they have autonomy and they can begin to do whatever they want to do.

“That is why we can say no carrying of arms but they can say no, they will carry arms because their sarkin has not ordered them not to carry arms.

“And so they come into our midst with arms and we cannot do anything about it. So, the idea of having a sarkin will have to be revisited.

“Although we don’t have the jurisdiction to say no, I don’t know the legal implications of that. We don’t have the jurisdiction, but if we can have it legally, we will fight it, but I don’t know the legal aspect of that.

“But one thing I want to say is that if this is looked into, if Igbo people are with us, the Ijaw people are with us, the Jukun are with us, they meet together and form family and bond together and meet together as unions to look after the interest of others without having a monarch, why should the Fulani have a monarch in our midst?

“For now, when there is a hot situation, the Yoruba people say that the sea cannot be boiling and you roll violently, what I will advise the stakeholders to look into is first of all, allow the storm to still. Decisions made during a stormy session can be wrong decisions at the end of the day.

“Allow the storm to be still, allow time, allow everything to cool down and then look for a strategic way forward. So, this rush to bring the sarkin back, this rush will only cause more storms.”

Reiterating that the people of the community have unanimously rejected the return of the Sarkin Fulani, Oladokun said the Governor can choose to keep the Sarkin  at the Government House, but the people of Igangan do not want him back.

“The governor mentioned that the Sarkin has been in Igangan for 50 years or thereabouts.

“The people of Ibarapa reject the return of Sarkin and will not accept him.”