The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • ‘Nigerian judiciary’s nobility fast eroding’  

    ‘Nigerian judiciary’s nobility fast eroding’  

    From Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

    Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has urged true lovers and practitioners of Law in Nigeria to launder the image of the profession.

    He said its nobility was fast eroding.

    Ewhrudjakpo spoke yesterday when a joint delegation of the Sagbama and Yenagoa branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the leadership of the Young Lawyers Forum, Sagbama Chapter, visited him at the Government House, Yenagoa.

    He lamented that the once highly respected legal profession was being denigrated by the unethical conduct of some of the practitioners.

    The deputy governor, who expressed concern about the brazen manner some lawyers were turning the  profession to media practice, noted that it was unethical for practitioners to discuss subjudicial cases on TV and other media platforms in their quest to achieve popularity.

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    He took a swipe at lawyers who encouraged their clients to disrespect court orders and judgments, instead of advising them to obey and appeal such court pronouncements.

    He said the judiciary was under trial, urging those who truly loved the profession to do everything within their reach to redeem its image as beacon of hope for the common man and defender of the rule of law.

    Addressing the Young Lawyers Forum led by Mr. Peres Agari, Ewhrudjakpo enjoined ‘freshers’ in the profession to be studious and make innovation, imaginativeness and smartness their watchword, to achieve success.

    He said: “When I was growing up, lawyers restrained themselves from talking about cases that were subjudice (in court). But today, we even discuss the merit and demerit of a case on television and on the pages of newspapers.

    “A lawyer going to TV or holding a news conference to talk about a subsisting court order and justifying why one arm of the government or the other will not obey the order, to me, that is taking patronage too far.”

    The NBA Yenagoa Chairman, Mr. Johnbull Somina, and his Sagbama counterpart, Mr. Igbomgbo Paraboma, acknowledged the support and cordial working relationship between the state government and the two branches of NBA in the state.

    Assuring the government of collaboration in maintaining peace, law and order in the state, Somina pleaded with the government to support both branches, attend and participate in the NBA Annual General Conference in Abuja.

    The pioneer NBA Chairman in Bayelsa State, Mr. Clinton Ayabowei, praised the deputy governor for his openness and approachable attitude to governance.

  • INEC witness contradicts self over result

    INEC witness contradicts self over result

    Abia State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia continued its hearing yesterday of the petition brought by Chief Ambrose Okechukwu Ahiwe, challenging the declaration of Mr. Alex Otti as winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) opened and closed its defence by calling one witness (DW1), Mr. Nkemjika Kelechi Okere, who served as INEC’s Electoral Officer for Obingwa Local Government.

    He adopted his written deposition and relied on same as his evidence, conceding that exhibit P188 before the court was the authentic result sheet for Obingwa Council.

    However, in a sudden twist and in the same breath, he denied that the same exhibit P188 (Obingwa LGA result) was ever rejected, taken to INEC headquarters in Abuja and declared after three days by the State Returning Officer, Prof Nnenna Otti.

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    Under cross-examination by the petitioner’s counsel, Mr. Nkemjika Kelechi Okere was reminded that Prof. Nnenna Otti brought a result from Abuja which was not signed by any party agent and declared same as Obingwa LGA result after three days. The witness, however, said it was not true. At that point, there was a loud murmuring in the court because the counsel’s submission is a known fact not only to ‘Abians’, but also to Nigerians as a whole and those present in court found it strange that an INEC official would attempt to deny that fact.

    Closing his defence, Mr. J. C. Nnodim, SAN, announced that INEC would no longer call any witness from the five earlier scheduled to be called.

    The tribunal adjourned till today for Alex Otti to open his defence.

  • Minister urges coastal area residents to relocate

    Minister urges coastal area residents to relocate

    The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, has urged those living in coastal areas to relocate to the hinterland, to avoid disaster. 

    He said he would meet the Minister of Water Resources to see how the government could find a permanent solution to the yearly flooding due to the opening of Lado Dam in Cameroon. 

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    The minister made this known yesterday while addressing reporters on his vision for the ministry. 

    He said: “ I think what is important is that our people in the riverine areas should know that during this period when the rain is at its peak, we must also find a way to get ourselves properly settled in the upland areas so that we avoid those calamitous situations, when flood sweeps away our belongings.” 

  • NDDC hires KPMG to entrench corporate governance

    NDDC hires KPMG to entrench corporate governance

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has signed a deal with KPMG, a multinational business management consultancy firm, to provide advisory services aimed at entrenching global best practices in corporate governance culture and other internal processes.

    Speaking yesterday during the contract signing at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the aim was to improve the commission’s perception locally and internationally.

    Ogbuku expressed excitement at the partnership describing it as the rebirth of the commission.

    He said: “Today for me is a groundbreaking moment just like I consider it the rebirth of the NDDC. NDDC has gone through different stages of turmoil and NDDC has also over the years been called all sorts of names just as if NDDC has not been a serious organisation.”

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    visory services for governance, it is going to launch NDDC into the international level of acceptance”.

    Ogbuku,  however, said moving forward, the commission would no longer be seen as a launch pad for political activities.

    He said: “By trying to take this step it means we want to be internally regulated, we want to create standard, we want to strengthen the institution so that whatever we leave behind it will be difficult for anyone to upturn, so that NDDC should be known for standard just the way some other firms are. So that NDDC would not be seen as a launching pad for political activities anymore just as it is being perceived.

    “So these internal regulations, which KPMG is going to provide for us, we are going to follow it strictly, because as part of the agreement we are signing with them, compliance is also involved.”

    In his remarks, the Lead Partner and Head, Governance Processes, KPMG, Tolu Odukale, said with the partnership, the NDDC would be repositioned to engender the growth and development of the Niger Delta people and Nigerians at large.

    He said: “In accepting to work with the NDDC, we considered the importance of the objectives of the NDDC as being key to the sustainable development of the Niger Delta and for us this is quite critical as the development of the people of the Niger Delta also contributes to the development of Nigeria. Therefore this formed a great consideration in us supporting you in this regard.

    “And when we look at the importance of governance, we cannot underscore how critical it is to be successful in the execution of projects.

    “To mention a few of the key reasons and benefits of having good governance in organisations, we would mention things like boosting investors’ confidence, enhancing stakeholders’ trust, improving risk management, long term sustainability of the activities of the organisation, improving accountability, innovation and growth, regulatory compliance and enhancing regulatory compliance, as well as managing conflict resolution. “Indeed by embarking on this journey, we are convinced that NDDC is being positioned to be at the fulcrum of growth and development for the Niger Delta and we are promising that we will be bringing in all our skills and experience having worked with a number of private and public enterprises as well as supporting regulators, also in coming up with codes that creates a standard for similar organisations. All these we would be bringing to the table to help the management of NDDC to achieve it’s objectives.”

  • UNICAL replaces suspended Law faculty dean

    UNICAL replaces suspended Law faculty dean

    • VC assures NBA of transparent investigation

    Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Florence Obi, has approved the appointment of Dr. Rose Ugbe as the Acting Dean, Faculty of Law.

    A statement by the Registrar, Mr. Gabriel Egbe, said Ugbe would replace Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the former dean, who was suspended on August 17, following allegations bordering on highhandedness.

    A seven-man panel has been set up to look into the allegations.

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    The statement indicated that Ugbe’s appointment took effect from August 22, and will run till a substantive dean is elected.

    It said Ugbe would take up the responsibilities and duties associated with the office and also oversee the faculty’s academic programmes.

    Prof. Obi has assured the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that the ongoing investigation of Prof. Ndifon will be transparent and devoid of bias.

    She gave the assurance yesterday in Calabar when officials of the NBA, led by the first National Vice President, Mrs. Rose Bala, visited her.

  • Okorie why INEC can’t conduct poll to replace Umahi

    Okorie why INEC can’t conduct poll to replace Umahi

    The Labour Party (LP) senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Mr. Linus Okorie, has said it is illegal for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to plan or think of conducting a fresh election for the zone, when the matter of the 2023 general election is still pending in court.

    Okorie participated in the February 25, 2023 National Assembly Election, losing to David Umahi.

    He had sued Umahi and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),  for allegedly rigging, manipulating and perpetrating other irregularities in the election.

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    Okorie, who spoke in Abakaliki, was reacting to rumours that INEC is purportedly planning to conduct a fresh election to replace former Governor Umahi, who resigned his position in the Senate to become the Minister of Works.

    Okorie, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, who represented Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency, described such rumoured fresh election for Ebonyi South by INEC as illegal.

    He said: “Today, the tribunal is sitting to adopt the final addresses of the parties. After today, they (tribunal) will reserve judgment. That may be next week.”

    He continued: “If that judgment is given, if the court decides that it was Umahi who won that election, then two things will happen; if nobody goes to Court of Appeal to challenge it, INEC will fix a date for a new election in which case, anybody can participate, but if the court didn’t rule that way, INEC can do nothing.

  • Tribunal reserves judgment in alleged certificate forgery by Reps member

    Tribunal reserves judgment in alleged certificate forgery by Reps member

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has reserved judgment in the case between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Warri federal constituency seat.

    The petitioner, Ekpoto-Ekpoto Emmanuel, urged the tribunal to nullify the declaration of Thomas Ereyitomi by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the election.

    Joined in the petition are 1st respondent (INEC), 2nd respondent (PDP) and 3rd respondent (Thomas Ereyitomi).

    He said the election that produced Ereyitomi was fraught with irregularities and also accused him of forging his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results.

    Ekeme Ohwovoriole (SAN), counsel for the 3rd respondent, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lack of merit. 

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    Counsel for PDP, Robinson Ariyo, in his final written address, aligned with the submission of the counsel for the 3rd respondent.

    They argued that the petition was incompetent and inconsistent in material facts, and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition.

    Ohwovoriole argued that the petitioner failed to tender copies of Forms EC8A (II) to be compared with the original copy.

    He further argued that the petitioner could not establish the allegation of over-voting as the BVAS report from the inspection in each polling unit where the alleged malpractice occurred did not support the petitioner’s case.

    Ariyo, in his final written address, argued that since the institution that issued the certificate did not issue a disclaimer, the case should be dismissed.

    Oghenero Okoro, counsel for the petitioner, said the petition was not contradictory.

    According to him, what Section 6611 of the 1999 Constitution as amended seeks to penalise is integrity, and that if the 3rd respondent must sit in the National Assembly to make laws, he must be like Caesar’s wife and be above board.

    Okoro argued that the petition did not plead that an election did not take place, but instead pleaded that an election known to law did not take place in Warri South Local Government.

    He urged the tribunal to “discountenance all the preliminary objections and hold that the 3rd respondents was not qualified for infracting against Section 6611(I) of the 1999 Constitution and declare the petitioner winner.”

    But the three-man panel headed by Justice Catherine Ogunsola held that ”judgment is hereby reserved. Notices of the judgment day will be served on the parties involved.”

  • Mbah: we’re winning war against insecurity

    Mbah: we’re winning war against insecurity

    Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded so far in the fight against insecurity.

    He said Enugu was open and safe for business.

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    The governor said Enugu had kicked illegal sit-at-home out of the state, adding that the state’s security initiative, the Distress Response Squad (DRS) and its complementary Command and Control Centre would further secure the state when fully launched soon.

    Mbah spoke yesterday when he received the new Commissioner of Police (CP), Kanayo Uzuegbu, who was on familiarisation and working visits to the Government House, Enugu.

    The new CP unveiled the pilot scheme of the government’s DRS initiative, warning criminals to repent or they would meet their Waterloo.

  • Abia rolls out activities to mark 32nd anniversary

    Abia rolls out activities to mark 32nd anniversary

    Abia government has rolled out plans to mark the state’s 32nd creation anniversary, with a call on the citizens to cue into the new Abia agenda of Governor Alex Otti, to reset the state.

    Speaking at a news briefing yesterday as part of activities to mark Abia at 32, at the Cabinet Office, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Kenneth Kalu, said the theme of the event is “Abia: Hitting The Reset Button”. According to him, as Abia celebrates, there is need for value reorientation. He said the government was creating a better Abia where things would work for everyone, including health care, education, functional infrastructure, among others.  The SSG said as part of a week-long event to mark the 32nd anniversary of the state, Abia governor’s wife, Mrs. Priscilia Otti, will today and tomorrow visit and distribute materials to the less privileged and orphanage homes across the three senatorial zones. He said on Friday, there would be Jumat prayers in the mosques and a novelty football match between members of the state Executive Council and members of the House of Assembly, while a special anniversary sanitation exercise takes place on Saturday between 7am and 10am.

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    “Also, free comprehensive medical outreaches will take place at hospitals in the three senatorial zones, which will be announced later, while in the evening, there will be musical concerts for youths.” Prof. Kalu, who said there would be a statewide broadcast by the governor on Sunday, added that there would be an inter-denominational church service at Dominion City, Event Centre, Umuahia.  He said there would be special anniversary state Executive Council meeting on August 28, adding that the climax would be on August 29 with a special anniversary lecture to be delivered by the former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesiri and unveiling of Abia State Orientation Agency at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

  • ‘NDDC must adopt collaboration in  budgeting’

    ‘NDDC must adopt collaboration in  budgeting’

    Stakeholders have called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to entrench collaboration and partnership in the development of Niger Delta by holding quarterly Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) forum for the stages of its budgeting.

    A statement signed by the commission’s Corporate Affairs Director, Pius Ughakpoteni, said the resolutions were contained in a communique issued at the end of a two-day PSD Forum, 2024 Budget of Reconstruction Conference, held in Akwa Ibom State.

    The stakeholders stressed the importance of the PSD forum in the budgetary process.

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    The statement said: “The forum is aimed at eliminating duplications and institutional suspicions in the development process; reducing the incidence of working at cross purposes as well as reducing wastage of scarce resources allocated for regional development initiatives by all stakeholders.”

     The stakeholders resolved that the NDDC should focus on projects that would benefit the people of the region.

    They hailed the executive management of the NDDC for resuscitating the PSD Forum, which was last held in 2016 and advised the commission to maintain a timeline for the payment of contractors.