Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

THE Igo Aguma-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has rejected the Court of Appeal’s judgment which set aside the High Court decision which declared Aguma chairman of the caretaker committee.

The Appeal Court in Abuja  set aside the June 2020 judgment of Justice George Omereji of the State High Court, Port Harcourt, that affirmed Aguma as chairman of the caretaker committee.

It also affirmed Isaac Abbot Ogbobula as chairman of the caretaker committee.

The faction appointed Aguma’s deputy, Ben Chioma, to act temporarily as committee chairman pending the completion of its appeal at the Supreme Court.

A statement by Aguma’s media adviser, Livingstone Wechie, described the judgment as unacceptable. He said the party would appeal at the Supreme Court.

According to Wechie, the court erred in its decision to rule on the matter that was already a subject of appeal at the Supreme.

He said: “We have always known this fact and, it is undisputable that the case, being a pre-election matter, has been challenged at the Supreme Court.

“Being a pre-election matter therefore, the Appeal Court had no jurisdiction to hear the APC appeal ab initio. The appeal was filed in July as an afterthought by the National Caretaker Committee, after the Adams Oshiomhole-led Committee which accepted the judgment and communicated same to Aguma on June 23 had been dissolved in defiance to the National Executive Committee (NEC) directive.

“The 1999 Constitution as amended makes it clear that pre-election matters are to be filed within 14 days. The APC appeal is clearly over a month after the judgment was given and as such the Appeal Court had no jurisdiction to hear it in the first instance.

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“This is our case. In fact the Supreme Court has been asked in the earlier appeal by Ogbobula to determine whether this is a pre-election matter. In line with judicial procedures, there is an Affidavit of Facts before the Appeal Court in respect of the appeals pending at the Supreme Court but the Appeal Court in its wisdom chose to go ahead anyways….”

“This judgment is strange and shall be further tested at the Supreme Court because as the bonafide leadership of the APC in Rivers State, we shall not allow our party be denied justice because the law is trite and in our favour.”

Chioma urged party members to remain calm and wait for the decision of the apex court. He, however, said APC must be on the ballot for the local government elections.

He said: “We have been briefed on the Court of Appeal judgment and I urge party faithful in to remain calm and resolute as we have already instructed our lawyers to appeal the judgment at the Supreme Court while we continue with our preparations for the 2021 local government elections. APC must be on the ballot and there is no going back.”

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka 

Retirees in Anambra State have threatened to go on hunger strike if the state fails to pay their gratuities.

According to them, the government owes them four years’ arrears. They lamented that the situation was killing them slowly.

Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Anthony Ugozor said the retirees would meet early next year to take a decision on the matter.

He said: “We don’t know what again to do. We are longer in active service and so the government is treating our matter with levity because it knows we can no longer embark on industrial dispute.

“We may consider hunger strike after our meeting. The only problem we may have is whether it will be detrimental to our health at our age. But members will decide that at our meeting.

“I got my December pension before Christmas. We thank Governor Willie Obiano for that; he pays pension regularly

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“But pension is not all that we need. We are dying in piecemeal; the governor should pay our gratuities. That was what I said a few days ago that attracted unfair comments against me from government’s officials.  “They were not comfortable with my comment but what I said was the truth. There are arrears of four years of gratuities because payment stopped in 2017. No retiree from 2017,2018,2019,2020 has gotten gratuity.

“Harmonisation of pension has not been done since 2010, despite the fact that we’re contacting with government. We’ve been discussing with them; writing to them; even at official state functions, I would include such demands in my official addresses.

“Paying pension as and when due will not stop me from talking about other entitlements of pensioners which the governor is not paying…”

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

A militant group, the 21st Century Youths of the Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (21st CYNDAC), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the property of Government Ekpemupolo (AKA) Tompolo and unfreeze his accounts.

A statement yesterday by the Coordinator, Izon Ebi, said the appeal became necessary to avoid another round of unrest and agitations in the Niger Delta.

The 21st CYNDAC said it was disheartening and provocative for the EFCC to disobey a court order which discharged and acquitted Tompolo of wrongdoings.

It said the unjust treatment was the height of oppression taken too far on one of the illustrious, beloved and most respected leaders of the Niger Delta.

Read Also: ‘Release Tompolo’s assets’ 

The statement reads: “We call on President Buhari to intervene to show that he means well for the Niger Delta and its people as promised in the just-concluded roundtable between governors, traditional rulers and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“After 30 days of this appeal, we shall mobilise youths and women to occupy Tompolo’s properties to enable the workers resume so they can fend for their families.

“The peace in the creeks of the Niger Delta can be greatly attributed to Tompolo’s efforts and commitment to maintain peace. Therefore, the onus lies on the Federal Government to do the needful.”

By Chris Njoku, Owerri

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has promised not to owe workers, pensioners or local government workers their salaries, pensions or entitlements.

He said he made a covenant with God to sincerely serve the people, and would be committed to the promise throughout his tenure.

Uzodimma spoke during the Christmas Day Mass at his home Church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area.

The governor recalled events that brought him into politics, the governorship election, and reclaiming of his mandate at the Supreme Court. He noted that ‘the people of Omuma have many reasons to be grateful to God for making one of their own the governor’.

Uzodimma said his desire to govern Imo was predicated on ‘the will of God’, insisting that he has never ventured into anything without first seeking God’s direction, the reason he was able to overcome the challenges towards becoming governor.

The governor also said contrary to perception, he discovered that the problem of Imo is more with the civil service system than the politicians. He regretted that massive corruption was the order of the day in the civil service when he assumed office.

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Governor Uzodimma said relying on automation, 43,000 workers and 21,000 pensioners had gotten their salaries and pensions up to date. He maintained that those who have not been paid have issues with accurate bio-data or those receiving double salaries or pensions.

The governor challenged those claiming to be owed to approach the data centre with their pension identification number and relevant details so their status will be revealed and payment effected.

He also promised to publish, by January 2, 2020, details of all workers and pensioners who have passed the automation process and have been receiving their entitlements till date so that those still in doubt will know how serious the government is with the automation.

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned against intimidation of judges saying the judiciary must assert itself for the country to make progress.

The governor said it was worrisome that in some situations, the judges felt too intimidated to discharge their constitutional duties.

Wike according to a statement signed at the weekend by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke shortly after swearing-in two new High Court judges and a Permanent Secretary at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The two new judges are Justice Ben-Whyte Opufaa and Justice Gbasam Okogbule while the new Permanent Secretary is, Sir Dagogo Abere.

The governor said because of fear, some judges instigates petition against themselves in an attempt to avoid handling some perceived sensitive matters.

Wike urged judges to be firm and bear in mind their oaths of office.

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He further advised judges to resist attempt to foist the culture of using cost of transport by lawyers and parties in court as a basis for transfer of a matter from one state to another.

He said: “This country cannot move forward if the judiciary does not come out to say we must be firm to do our work.”

The governor observed that the issue of independence of the judiciary had been narrowed to the ability of the judiciary to control its capital fund and overhead.

But Wike noted that the judiciary could have all the money in the world and still not be independent.

“What should be of importance to judicial officers is whether they are given the necessary liberty to discharge there constitutional duties in accordance to the law,” he said.

He advised the two newly sworn in judges to use their energy to advance the course of justice and refuse to be intimidated.

“Whatever you believe that is right do it. It doesn’t matter who is involved. Don’t be intimidated by the federal government,” he said.

Wike directed the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zaccheus Adangor (SAN) to expeditiously issue the two judges the Certificate of Occupancy of their official residence.

He said: “It will be proper for us to know how many more judges they will appoint by next year so we will be able to build houses for them now and keep it ready.”