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Tag: Anambra State

  • Osinbajo, Oshiomhole, others for APC summit in Anambra

    The Vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Adams Oshiomhole will be some of the big names to attend the party’s political summit in Anambra on May 1st.

    While the Vice president will declare the summit open, Oshiomhole will deliver the keynote address, with the former Senate president, Ken Nnamani to deliver one of the lectures on the day.

    This is part of the activities lined up by APC in the state, under the leadership of Chief Basil Ejidike among others, to re-position the party in Anambra state.

    The party has equally concluded arrangements to set up a committee on how to bring back some of the elders of the party, who had backed out as a result of neglect.

    Read Also: Osinbajo, Blair meet in Aso Villa

    Some of the elders of the party were, former Governor of the state, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Senator Ikechukwu Obiora, Chief Dr, Obinna Uzor among others.

    Before now, the party had set up a committee to investigate the abysmal performance of APC in Anambra State during the last elections of which the report was being awaited.

    Addressing reporters on Saturday at the Olde English Hotels in Awka, the Acting Chairman of the party in the State, Chief Basil Ejidike, flanked by all the executive members, said ‘enough is enough’

    He said the next target of APC was to win the Governorship election of Anambra State come 2022, adding that the party still had a lot of grounds to cover in the state.

    Other activities lined up by the party apart from the three day summit included, the tour of all the 21 local government areas in the state, visit to all the federal government projects in Anambra,verification of the party’s register among others.

    Ejidike, who admitted that the party had not reached it’s height in Anambra State, however, gave kudos to the members to giving their best, adding that the aim of the current moves was to take APC to where it belonged.

    He said another important thing starring the party in the face was putting up a committee to harmonise all the warring factions in the state, which would give the party the opportunity to take over the state completely.

    According to him, “our aim is to take over power in Anambra as soon as possible and our target is the next governorship election and we are saying enough is enough “Ejidike said

     

     

  • IFAD-VCDP trains 60 youths on farm management

    The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has trained 60 youths from three states on farm machinery management in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    The state Programme Officer, Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), IFAD, Mr Nnamdi Aguncha, stated this in Onitsha.

    VCDP is an intervention programme by IFAD for rice and cassava production.

    Aguncha said the youth, selected from Anambra, Ebonyi and Ogun states, converged on Awka for the training to boost rice and cassava production.

    “The workshop, which centered on practical demonstration of the various ways of using the simple farm implements is to reduce drudgery and to encourage youths to take up agriculture as a business.

    “We conducted a survey in 2018 where we discovered that the population of youths in agriculture under the VCDP was low.

    “So, we looked inward and discovered that farming was tedious for them; and so, we decided to introduce some machinery to attract and support them,” he said.

    He said the youth were being trained on use of equipment like threshers, power tillers, de-stoners, harvesters and manual/mechanical transplanters, among the 20 farm implements.

    “We intend to support them with these machineries to create jobs for them and to use the machines to render services that will lead to increased production of rice and cassava.

    “The trainees will step down the skills acquired to others when they returned to their base,” he said.

    He said IFAD-VCDP will support the youth with 70 per cent cost of any implement chosen by any group that had made available their 30 per cent matching grant.

    Aguncha expressed hope that the training and support would rekindle youths’ interest in agriculture.

     

  • SDP disowns Senatorial candidate in Anambra

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Anambra State has disowned its Senatorial candidate in the last general election for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Bar. Tony Chukwuelue.

    The party asked Chukwuelue to stop parading himself as a member of the party, insisting he was never a candidate of the SDP in the election.

    The party’s position followed the petition filed by Chukwuelue at the Election Petition Tribunal, Awka, against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Sen. Uche Ekwunife over unlawful exclusion of his party (SDP) logo on the ballot by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Addressing newsmen Tuesday in Awka, the party’s State Vice Chairman, Anambra Central, Angela Nnaneme, said the party would not to sit back and watch Chukwuelue blackmail and deceive the people of the zone with his frivolous and unwarranted petition.

    She said the party never registered Chukwuelue as a member nor conducted any primary election to elect him as the party’s flagbearer for the election.

    Nnaneme, flanked by the State Chairman, Chief Charles Ezeonyirimba and all the seven local government chairmen of the party in the senatorial district, accused Chukwuelue of desperation for power.

    While condemning his petition in its entirety, the party described it as a deliberate and vicious attempt to truncate the progress and development the election of Sen. Uche Ekwunife would bring to the senatorial district.

    Read Also: Polls: SDP sues INEC, Ekwunife over wrongful exclusion

    She said the party’s confidence was in the fact that the electoral umpire would neither include nor publish his name nor the party in the election.

    Nnaneme said, “Barr. Tony Chukwuelue was never a member of Social Democratic Party Anambra and as non-member, he cannot be a candidate of our party as our constitution provides.

    “Barrister Tony Chukwuelue in his desperation to get power joined one Dr. Webster Okonkwo who was former SDP state Deputy Chairman but voluntarily resigned his position from SDP in his letter dated July 31, 2018.

    “The said Dr. Webster Okonkwo after he had resigned his position as the state Deputy Chairman, to the surprise of the Social Democratic Party in Anambra state declared himself the chairman of Social Democratic Party Anambra state and started parading Barr. Tony Chukwuelue and others as candidates for the 2019 general elections.

    She attributed the delay in making the party’s stance known weeks after election to the time it took to get an order after approaching the court to stop the alleged illegal actions of Okonkwo.

    She said, “On Thursday, the 14th day of February, 2019, the court granted an injunction in the motion No: A/2032M/2018 restraining the said Dr. Webster Okonkwo from parading himself as the state chairman of Social Democratic Party and also restrained INEC from recognizing the list of names of candidates emanated from the said Dr. Webster Okonkwo which Barr. Tony Chukwuelue is one of the candidates.”

     

  • Obiano canvasses flag carrier status for Air Peace

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) have congratulated Air Peace on the delivery of its third Boeing 777 aircraft.

    Obiano urged the Federal Government to Air Peace with a flag carrier status.

    Obiano, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba, described Air Peace as Nigeria’s fastest growing and most ambitious airline in history.

    He said: “This is a more pragmatic step to take than the rumoured current attempt in some quarters to make the President Muhammadu Buhari administration establish a state-owned airline, despite the terrible record of Nigeria Airways and the government’s wise suspension of it last September.

    “There is no way any state-owned or promoted airline can enhance Nigeria’s reputation in the world that Air Peace is not doing, and will continue to do with greater efficiency and results.”

    Read also: Air Peace gets third B 777

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) said the airline’s third Boeing 777 aircraft would transform the experience of the travelling public.

    A March 28 congratulatory letter by NUATE president, Ben Nnabue addressed to Air Peace Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen Onyema, reads: “We believe that this new vessel will usher in a luxury experience to the travelling public as safety is already guaranteed.”

    Air Peace has so far acquired four Boeing 777 aircraft, three of which have been delivered. Since it commenced operations in 2014, the carrier has increased its fleet size to a total of about 37 aircraft.

  • GTBank, Innoson rift over alleged court judgement deepens

    The Guaranty Trust Bank Plc yesterday reacted to the alleged enforcement of a judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, at one of its branches in Anambra State.

    The bank, in a statement, said that the judgment, allegedly in issue, is one against the account of the Nigerian Customs and Excise Board domiciled with GTBank and not against GTBank as an entity.

    It said that GTBank as a law-abiding corporate citizen is taking all necessary legal steps to address this situation and ensure that no illegal or fraudulent execution is carried out.

    Innoson Nigeria Limited had at the weekend said it has obtained a writ of Fifa from the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, against GTB to effect the judgment given by the Federal High Court in Ibadan and upheld by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    This was made known in a statement by Cornel Osigwe, the Head of Corporate Communication of Innoson Nigeria Limited.

    Writ of FiFa (Writ of Fieri Facias) is a leave of court to execute a judgment obtained by a judgment creditor in a legal action for debt or damages by levying on the property of the judgment debtor.

    Also, in 2014, the Federal High Court in Ibadan ordered GTB by way of Garnishee order absolute to pay N2.4 billion to Innoson with a 22 per cent interest, per annum, on the judgment sum until the final liquidation of the judgment debt.

    However, GTB appealed the decision up to the Supreme Court.

    But, according to Innosson, the Supreme Court on February 27, 2019, dismissed GTB’s appeal and upheld the decision of both Federal High Court and the Appeal Court.

    Read also: GTBank dominates CBN e-payments awards

    The statement reads: “The Chairman of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, has through a Writ of FiFa taken over Guaranty Trust Bank PLC for and on behalf of Innoson Nigeria Ltd as a result of the bank’s indebtedness to Innoson Nigeria Ltd. In a landmark decision on February 27th 2019, the Supreme Court of Nigeria dismissed GTB’s appeal — SC. 694/2014 — against the judgment of Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division.

    “The Court of Appeal, Ibadan division had in its decision of 6th February 2014 dismissed GTB’s appeal against the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division.

    “Thus, the Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division which ordered GTB by way of Garnishee order absolute — to pay N2.4 billion to Innoson with a 22 per cent interest, per annum, on the judgment sum until the final liquidation of the judgment debt. Rather than obey the judgment of the Court of Appeal, GTB approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision.

    “However, in a ruling delivered by Honourable Olabode Rhodes-Vivour JSC on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, the Lord Justices of the Supreme Court (JSC) dismissed GTB’s appeal and thus affirmed the concurrent judgment of both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division which ordered GTB by way of Garnishee order absolute — to pay N2.4billion to Innoson with a 22 per cent interest, per annum, on the judgment until the final liquidation of the judgment.

    “The judgment debt of N2.4 billion has an accrued interest as at today of about N6,717,909,849.96 which results to about N8.8 billion.

    “Based on the Supreme Court’s decision of 27th February 2019, the counsel to Innoson, Prof McCarthy Mbadugha, had approached the Federal High Court, Awka Division, for leave to enforce the judgment having obtained certificates of judgment from the Ibadan Division of the Federal High Court.

    “Having obtained the requisite leave, the Federal High Court issued the necessary process for levying execution — the Writ of Fifa.”

    The automobile company and GTB had been in a long legal battle over alleged indiscriminate charges on Innoson’s account with the bank.

    GTB later claimed that Innoson fraudulently brought in vehicle parts with forged documents. However, the automobile company denied this allegation, saying the allegation was an effort to defect from the real issue of indebtedness against the firm.

    “We have taken over GTBank in Awka and Nnewi,” Osigwe subsequently announced, adding that “other branches are coming soon.”

  • We won’t destabilize Anambra Assembly – PDP lawmaker

    A member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Onyebuchi Offor, has assured the readiness of his party to work with the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to stabilize the house.

    The lawmaker who was the only member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the outgoing legislative year, expressed joy over the increase in the number of party members.

    The PDP won six seats, while the rest 26 seats in the state House of Assembly were taken by APGA.

    Speaking to newsmen in Awka on Saturday, Offor, reelected to represent Ekwusigo constituency, promised to join hands with his party members and those from APGA to checkmate the executive arm of government.

    Read Also: Anambra community votes N2m for youth empowerment

    He said, “I’m happy I’ve gotten brothers. In my first tenure, I was a lone voice in the wilderness. I don’t have any supporter. Even if I had any, I don’t know where they belong.

    “But today, I now have five more able men who will join me not to destablise the house, but to make sure we checkmate the assembly.

    “We’re not coming to fight anybody. Anambra House of Assembly is not a military barrack. We’ll checkmate the executive so the right thing will be done.”

    The thanked his constituency for reelecting him, promising to reciprocate the gesture through quality and robust representation.

    Also speaking, the member representing Anambra East constituency, Obinna Emenaka, said he was grateful at the confidence reposed on him by people of his constituency.

    Emenaka, third time member of the state legislature, attributed his reelection to quality leadership, promising to redouble efforts in achieving success in the legislative business.

    “I assure my constituents of quality representation and effective motions and bills that would better their lives,” he said.

  • Another banker primed to become governor

    THERE seems to be no end in sight to the trend of bank executives aspiring to high political offices, particularly governorship. The latest from the grapevine is that the Managing Director of a commercial bank well rooted in Anambra state,  has been primed to succeed the governor of the State, Willie Obiano. If that becomes the reality, the MD would be following in the footsteps of Obiano, who himself was an executive director in Fidelity Bank before he became the governor of Anambra State.

    Before him also, there had been cases of prominent bankers occupying high political offices or aspiring to them. One of them is the current governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, who until his election was an executive director in Zenith International Bank. The current governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, was also a top banker with Zenith while Femi Pedro, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, had previously functioned as the chief executive officer of First Atlantic Bank, later FinBank before it was acquired by FCMB.

    Besides, Fola Adeola, the pioneer managing director of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), was running mate to former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, when the latter ran as the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the 2007 elections.

    Read also: Obiano committed to paying N30,000 wage

    It would seem that bankers are getting tired of spending their entire lives counting money. And in the case of this ambitious MD, he is counting on his chummy relationship with Obiano to realise his governorship ambition. Only recently, the MD attended a public function with the governor where he donated a handsome amount, which some people quickly interpreted as investment in the governorship

    But the governorship election in Anambra State is still three years away and anything can happen before then. For now, the MD can only pray that his investment matures well.

  • Provost hails TETFund’s support

    The Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State, Dr Tessy Okoli, has praised the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for supporting tertiary institutions with infrastructure and training.

    She said TETFund interventions have helped to bridge the funding gap and reposition many institutions, including FCET Umunze.

    The Provost said this after the matriculation of 2,000 students of the College recently.

    “One of the cornerstones of FCET Umunze is capacity building, academic staff training and development. With TETFund sponsorship, many academic staff of our college are pursuing higher degrees in both local and foreign universities. The entire cost of their academic programme is funded by TETFund. This has helped our college so much. We have more than 50 doctorate degree holders in various fields, who invest their knowledge in the quality of teaching in the college,” she said.

    However, the Provost called for help to improve the college’s access roads and facilities.  She said the dilapidated state the access road to the college had become a cause for worry and appealed to the Federal Government and the Anambra State government for help.

    “The Anambra State Governor, Dr Willie Obiano, did palliative work on the road before the last general election. During the last Convocation, Governor Obiano promised to reconstruct the road and provide a 32-seater Coaster bus to the College. We pray that the amiable Governor, who is also a Fellow of this College, would fulfil these promises,” she said.

    Read also: TETFund partners U.S on scholarships for academics

    She further appealed to other philanthropists in Anambra State and the entire southeast, including senators, federal and state lawmakers, educationists, captains of industry and corporate organisations to take up legacy projects in this college and immortalise their names.

    “Such supports like building projects, landscaping of the main campus, donation of vehicles, institution of academic prizes and awards, landscaping of the Main Campus of the College, or donation of learning facilities, would be appreciated,” she stated.

    Since her appointment as the first Provost to be selected internally, Dr Okoli said she regarded it as opportunity to explore the huge potentials in the institution, and as well address the peculiar challenges crippling the system.

    “I have seen the glittering prospects, the glowing promises and daunting challenges of this college. I want to assure you that this administration would bring all the factors to the table to chart a way forward for this college,” she said.

    The Provost promised that the college would continue to provide unhindered access to tertiary education for students seeking admission into NCE and degree programmes. According to her, thousands of students seeking admission into universities every year are often turned down because of the limited carrying capacity of these institutions.

    “With the degree programme hosted in our college, we offer opportunities to countless students to achieve their dream. This college will continue to play a leading role in increasing access to tertiary education for millions of Nigerian students,” she stated.

    Okoli said the college would not neglect her core mandate, which is the NCE. According to her, as over 1000 students were admitted into the NCE programme for the new academic session.

    While administering the matriculation oath, the Registrar, Sir Augustine Udensi, urged the students to abide by the rules and regulations of the institution.

  • Umeadi is UNN visiting professor of law

    Chief Judge Emeritus of Anambra State, Justice Peter Nnanna Chukwudi Umeadi, has been appointed visiting
    professor of law at the University of Nigeria (UNN) Enugu campus.

    The appointment letter signed by UNN Registrar, Dr. Chris C. Igbokwe, reads in part: “The Vice-Chancellor has approved that you be offered appointment as a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus for one year with effect from the day you assume duty.

    “The appointment is subject to the provision of the University of Nigeria Act and any statues made thereunto, and to the Regulations Governing Conditions of Service of Senior Staff (CONUASS 1—7) as approved by the Governing Council from time to time.”

    Umeadi, a former member of the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal in 2007, was appointed Chairman of the Tribunal out of turn.

    He presided over the panel and the lot fell on him to write the judgment. He wrote the unanimous judgment, which he read on March 20, 2008, barely 18 days after he became chairman of the Edo State Election Tribunal No. 1.

    That landmark judgment in Oshiomhole vs. Osunbor set out many first time legal principles. Among them is that where irrefutable proof of rigging, non-compliance with election guidelines and proven electoral violence leading to cancellation of invalid votes, the remaining valid votes would be used to compute the results and the winner should emerge from there.

    The Edo precedent was followed in Aregbesola vs Oyinlola in Osun State.  It was affirmed by the Court of Appeal in INEC vs Oshiomhole (2009) 4 NWLR (pt.1132) 607.

    Umeadi is a Senior Honorary Fellow of The SomPang Sucharitkul Centre for Advanced International Legal Studies, Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, Califonia, United States.

    A life Bencher, his focus at the UNN Faculty of Law would be the conflict of laws, company law, family law and alternative disputes resolution (ADR).

  • Mobile policeman rapes ATM user at gun point

    A mobile policeman in Anambra State, has been detained for allegedly defiling a 35-year-old lady in the premises of one of the new generation banks.

    The victim (name withheld) was said to have gone to make some transactions at the bank’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in the night when the incident occurred.

    Confirming the report, Commissioner of police, Rabiu Ladodo, said the command was still investigating the matter.

    He said the command would make the report public after investigation being handled by the state Criminal investigation Department CID, Awka.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect, employed as a security guard to the bank, had approached the victim, demanding to have sexual intercourse with her.

    An employee of the bank, who pleaded anonymity, said the victim had initially refused the request until she was threatened with a gun by the suspect.

    According to the source: “With her life threatened, and nobody around to rescue her, she submitted and he had his way”

    The source further revealed that the victim stormed the bank the following day with some policemen who arrested the suspect.

    Ladodo said: “Soon after the police received complaint of the alleged rape from the victim, operatives were dispatched and the suspect was quickly arrested and placed under detention.”

    But he said that preliminary investigation was yet to establish whether the victim was raped during the incident.

    Ladodo however assured that the suspect would face necessary punishment if found guilty.