Category: South East

The Speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru and 16 other lawmakers have challenged the hearing of their defection suit before the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo had fixed March 8 for judgment in a suit, praying the court to sack Governor David Umahi and lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Nwifuru and his colleagues, in November 2020, defected from the PDP, alongside the governor, for APC.

Reacting, the PDP filed a suit before Justice Ekwo, urging the court to declare the lawmakers’ seats vacant on account of alleged violation of Nigeria’s constitutional provision that forbids defection without justifiable reasons.

The party also filed a separate suit to challenge Umahi’s defection.

Governor Umahi had attributed his defection to the “injustice” done by the PDP to the south-eastern region of the country.

NAN reports that, in an originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/920/2021, the PDP is praying the court to make a declaration that by defecting from the party on which the speaker and his colleagues were sponsored and elected as members of the Ebonyi House of Assembly, they have resigned or deemed to have resigned from office.

But, in their preliminary objection, the lawmakers, through their lawyer, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, contested the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

Ume argued that since the defendants, comprising the lawmakers and the APC as well as the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) “are desirous of this suit being transferred to the Federal High Court” in Abakiliki, Ebonyi, on the ground that “all the parties either work or reside” in the state.

According to him, the hearing of this suit in Abuja will cause great inconvenience as well as occasion great financial loss to the defendants.

Mr Ume had argued in court papers filed on Jan. 26.

Citing civil procedure rules in the application filed on Jan. 26, the lawyer said, “By virtue of Section 22(1) of the Federal High Court Act, this court has the power to transfer a suit to any other judge of the court.”

He further contended that, “By virtue of Order 2 Rule 1(3) of the Federal High Court (civil procedure) Rules 2019, a suit should be commenced and determined in the judicial division in which the defendant resides or carries on substantial part of his business or in which the cause of action arose.”

Also, a commissioner in Ebonyi, Joseph Ekumankama, in an affidavit in support of a motion on notice, questioning the court’s jurisdiction in Abuja to hear and determine the suit, said the defendants had filed several requests seeking the transfer of the suit to Abakiliki division of the FHC but to no avail.

Ekumankama referred to the Jan. 19 proceedings of the presiding judge, Ekwo, where he “lumped the hearing and determination of the applicants’ motion on notice and all their other applications questioning the various aspects of the jurisdiction of the Court.

He argued further that the defendants’ applications touched on both the “territorial, cause of action and constitutional jurisdiction of the court.”

Also, the deponent recalled the filing of a similar suit by the PDP and one Fred Udeogu on July 26, 2021, in which they challenged the defendants’ defection to the APC.

Ekumankama said the Chief Judge of the FHC, John Tsoho, in September 2021, transferred the said suit to the Abakiliki judicial division of the court.

According to him, the cumulative effect of the refusal and failure to have transferred this suit as was done in the plaintiff’s earlier suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/729/2021, is an act of discrimination.

In the affidavit dated Jan. 25, the Ebonyi commissioner noted that “these founded lack of confidence” by the defendants in “this proceeding is certainly vitiating this Hon Court of its inherent and absolute authority jurisdiction over the 2nd to 20th defendants/applicants.”

He pointed out that it would “occasion a miscarriage of justice for the court to determine the issue of transfer of this suit as well as the judgment on the merit or otherwise of the suit simultaneously, instead the ruling should be on a different day well separated from the day for hearing in  the main suit.”

Similarly, the defendants’ lead counsel argued that Umahi was sworn-in by the Ebonyi cheif judge and not by the chief judge of the FHC, therefore, his removal from office could only be pursued through the state House of Assembly and High Court.

NAN reports that the governor and his deputy had approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking interpretation of some constitutional issues arising from the suit filed by the PDP.

The applicants in their motion urged the appellate court to restore the powers of the state high courts.

They argued that only courts clothed with the exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of a member of the house of assembly of a state, a governor or deputy governor has ceased or become vacant

Abia State Government at the weekend began the demolition of a popular beef meat market in Aba.

Also affected is a mini market popularly called Ahia Udele, which shares the same location with the meat and cow markets.

The popular meat and cow markets, jointly known as Waterside Abattoir in Aba North Local Government, located on the Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway, is the biggest cow and meat market in Aba metropolis, with indigenes of Akwa Ibom and Rivers border communities coming to buy cow and beef from the market.

Our reporters gathered that the demolition started on Friday night, less than 24 hours after a quit notice to the traders by the government.

The demolition, which left many shop owners with tears, lasted throughout the weekend.

The traders said they were forced to leave their homes to see if they could salvage anything from their shops that were demolished by earth-moving machines that were brought in by the government.

The action came on the heels of an accident that claimed the lives of residents and shop owners last Friday at Ahia Udele.

The government, who had advised the traders and butchers to relocate to the Good Morning Market and another abattoir in Ukwa West Local Government, said that the closure of the Waterside Abattoir and Ahia Udele Market was permanent.

Commissioner for Trade and Investment Chief John Okiyi Kalu told the traders that the closure of the markets, as directed by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, was aimed at safeguarding lives and preserving public health.

Okiyi, who, yesterday, expressed government pains and sympathy to the traders over the accident that claimed four lives, said the governor had directed the ministry to ensure that the medical bills of injured persons were settled by the government.

He highlighted the efforts made by the government to relocate the market because of the safety concerns raised by agencies, with a new Abattoir under construction at Omumauzor in Ukwa West Local Government

The commissioner, who was joined by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Sir Michael Egwu and directors, told the traders that the closure was permanent and advised those concerned to ensure that they moved out their items before the close of business today.

He said Ikpeazu had directed the executives of Good Morning Market to allow displaced traders from Ahia Udele to take up vacant shops in the market without demanding rent from them for at least three months, to make them settle with ease and continue their businesses with minimal or no challenge.

Okiyi directed the director of Commerce in the ministry and the chairman of Good Morning Market Committee to supervise the allocation of spaces and smooth resettlement of the displaced traders and report to him thereafter.

On the movement of cattle market to the Omumauzor facility, he assured the traders that the ministry was grading the road to the location, while the governor had directed the Ministry of Works to begin reconstruction of the road, using rigid pavement technology

The traders thanked the government for the swift response to the distress calls when the auto crash occurred last Thursday and assured the Ikpeazu administration that they would partner it to ensure seamless relocation and resettlement of concerned traders.

Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has hailed the Army for its “consistency in maintaining security” of lives and property in the state.

He gave the commendation in an address at the 103 Battalion 2021 West African Social Activities (WASA), held at the weekend at Battalion Parade Ground, Awkunanaw Barracks, Enugu.

The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Ortuanya, congratulated the Battalion for a successful operational year (of 2021).

He also appreciated the Army for assembling and displaying the rich cultural heritage of the nation through cuisines and beautiful dance steps of ethnic nationalities within the barracks.

“As a government, we will continue to partner and support the Army in their quest to provide security and peace for our people.

“As you are aware, it is the constitutional duty of every government to provide security for its people. Enugu State Government is committed to that,” he said.

The governor also appreciated officers and soldiers of the Battalion for their sacrifice to sustain security in 2021.

He said: “I want to call on 103 Battalion to continue to provide security for our people.”

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, praised officers and soldiers of the Battalion for a successful operational year and the successes the battalion achieved.

Lagbaja, represented by the Division’s Deputy Chief of Staff (Training), Col. Mustapha Jimoh, said that in 2021, the Division and by extension the Battalion carried out renovation of accommodation facilities for soldiers.

He said this was made possible by the visionary and continuous support of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, to the Division and the Battalion.

He noted that WASA was meant to showcase the rich cultures of diverse barrack communities and afford officers, soldiers, their families and friends an opportunity to interact in a conducive social atmosphere.

“The Division carried out scheduled programmes and training operations in time in 2021 with outstanding success.

“In 2021, through Exercise Golden Dawn, the Division and indeed the Army was able to checkmate and contain activities of armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists and other forms of criminality in the Division’s Area of Responsibility.

“We thank the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, for his support to the Division and its battalions for all its activities in 2021,” he said.

Speaking, the Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Lt.-Col. Victor Tagwoi, thanked the COAS and the GOC for their “tremendous support” leading to the overall success of the battalion in 2021.

“I will also want to appreciate the efforts of the Battalion’s officers and soldiers in 2021; while urging them to redouble their efforts in 2022,” he said.

The event featured presentation of awards to six soldiers who distinguished themselves in operational training and duties within the Battalion in 2021; presentation of souvenirs as well as a tug of war between NYSC corps members and soldiers’ wives.

Other highlights included: band display, the symbolic ‘beating of retreat’ and lighting of bonfire by the governor.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has empowered additional 1,500 ex-agitators with training to enable them access single-digit interest loans offered by the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).

The training, conducted at designated centres in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states at the weekend, was in continuation of a programme for NIRSAL loans, which PAP began last November.

The initiative was part of PAP’s efforts to raise the economic prospects of Niger Delta people by attracting financial support for small and medium scale enterprises.

Speaking at the training programme in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, the Interim Administrator, PAP, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), said the focus was to facilitate and enhance single digit interest loans for entrepreneurs in the region.

Dikio, represented by the Head of Reintegration, Mr. Alfred Kemepado, said that the training would help the beneficiaries to grow their businesses and mitigate risks.

Dikio, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Neotaobase Egbe, admonished the beneficiaries to judiciously use the loans to become successful entrepreneurs, warning that diverting the facility would create more hardship for them and further plunge the region into poverty.

At the Yenagoa and Port Harcourt centres, Dikio, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Projects, Mr. Godwin Ekpo, asked the beneficiaries to form cooperatives and focus on agriculture.

He said: “The facilitators were very engaging and it just gives us hope and we are hopeful that once we are done with these set and we go into the next batches, the subsequent things we will do with these people will yield result.

“We have asked them to form cooperatives, look at the agriculture value chain, production, processing, packaging and logistics end to see where they fit in.

“A lot of them have shown interest and I am hoping that maybe by tomorrow they will form themselves into clusters in the value chain of products.

“What we are saying to everybody that cares to listen is that the Niger Delta is ready for development. Come back to the Niger Delta, come back and invest here. We are ready to receive you and we are ready to support you.”