The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra

  • Why we review Anambra Civil Procedure Rules, by Umeadi

    Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter N.C Umeadi, has said the state Rules of Court have become obsolete, hence the urgent need for their review.

    Justice Umeadi, who stated this while speaking at the just concluded two-day summit, organised by the state Judiciary for the review of the court rules, said: “The rules of courts have become obsolete, which necessitated the setting up of various review committees to look into them and come up with draft documents that would be subjected to public  scrutiny before being adopted as rules of procedure for all courts in the state.”

    The Chief Judge listed the rules to be reviewed to include the High Court Rules (2006), Anambra State Magistrate Court Rules (1991) and the Rules Establishing the Anambra State Multi-Door Court House.

    He said the review followed  the recommendations of the various committees set up to review these laws. “The dynamism of the law does not allow its rules of practice to be latent,” Umeadi said.

    He explained that participants at the summit had the opportunity to make comments and suggestions in areas they do not agree with the recommendations of the committees “all of which will be reflected in the final draft that would ultimately become the rules of procedure for courts in Anambra State”.

    Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano said the synergy between the Executive and Judicial arm of government in the state has led to many landmark changes in the system of justice administration as well as the working condition of judicial officers in the state.

    The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, appreciated the Chief Judge, for kick-starting the process that has led to a total overhaul of the rules governing civil procedure of various cadres of courts in the area.

    The  two-day public summit urged stakeholders in the justice sector to evolve acceptable rules of proceedings that would ensure the efficient and effective functioning of courts in the area.

    Participants, cutting across all public strata, from the bar, academia, stakeholders and other groups in the state justice system engaged in robust debate on what seemed like a clause-by-clause consideration of the proposed new set rules of courts.

    Some of the key areas that engaged their attention were issues of enhanced court fees, summary trials, granting of adjournments, probate matters, preliminary objections, pre-trial conferences, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, enforcement of  ADR awards, use of modern technology  in litigation process etc.

    One of the resource persons, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Arthur Obi-Okafor, made a strong case for synergy between the regular courts and the multi-door courts, to ensure that judicial officers at various levels are bound to enforce the ADR decisions reached at the Multi-Door Court House.

    Chief Obi-Okafor advocated for the inclusion of a clause in the new high court rules that will “empower judges to enforce the outcome of proceedings of multi-door court house, insofar as the multi-door court proceedings conform to the acceptable rules of conduct”.

    Addressing newsmen at the end of the summit, Planning Committee Chairman, Justice Ngozi Oyeka, assured that all the views expressed by members of the public would be collated and put into a working document that would form part of the new rules for civil proceedings in the state.

  • FEC approves N14.7 billion new ECOWAS travel certificates

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N14.7 billion, to be funded by the contractor, for new Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  travel certificates.
    The new certificate will now carry security features like the picture and fingerprints of the holder.
    The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting.
    According to him, the current certificate has no security features and could be easily forged by anybody.
    Noting that the new project is for the security of the Nigerian borders, he said that the agreement for the contract would be signed at a later date.
    “To make it easier for Nigeria, the project will incorporate her National Identity Number (NIN). It is hoped that the new cards will help safeguard Nigeria’s borders,” he said.

    Read Also: FEC approves N12.6b for Immigration Service new data centre, others

    Stressing that the contract is for ten years, he said that 13 million cards would have been produced within the period.
    The Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Hassan said that N3.48 billion was approved for furnishing of three Federal Secretariat complex in Anambra, Zamfara and Bayelsa states.
    “It is the duty of the Federal Ministry Power, Works and Housing to provide decent accommodation for federal agencies and other offices in various states of the federation to make their workings easier and more comfortable for better results.
    “So these three complexes have been completed and ready for commission before the end of the year.” he said
    He also said that the council approved the rehabilitation of some broken down bridges in the north east region that were destroyed by insurgents at the cost of N813,458,132.
    “The first is on the road between Maiduguri, Dikwa and Gamboru. The second is at the famous Limankara, there is a bridge there that links Maiduguri to Dama, Goza, Hong and Yola.”
    He also said that the bridge in Gombe State will cost of N304 million, adding that the total cost for rehabilitation of the bridges is N813,458,132.
    The contractor, he said is the Army Corps of Engineers that have a limited liability company, Sappers Engineering Limited.
    On why the project was given to Sappers Engineering, he said, that no civil contractor will want to go there because of the insecurity situation in the area.

  • Anambra monarchs hail Ewi’s appointment as Ojukwu Varsity’s chancellor

    Traditional rulers in Anambra State have said the appointment of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, as Chancellor of Chukuemeka Odimegwu Ojuku University (COOU) is worthwhile.

    They said the monarch deserved the postion, considering his efforts at ensuring peaceful coexistence and the development of education in the country.

    The Anambra monarchs joined the university community to receive Oba Adejugbe, his wife, Eyesorun Bosede Adejugbe, Ewi-in-Council and members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Ekiti State for the sixth convocation of the institution.

    They noted that the Ekiti paramount ruler had distinguished himself through various achievements while he was Chancellor at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) and, currently, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

    The Ezeuzu of Awka, the Anambra State capital, Obi Nwosu Gibson and the Igwe of Okalakulu Kingdom, Dr Kelly, expressed confidence in the ability of the new chancellor to always support the effort of the university management at raising the institution to a global standard.

    Oba Adejugbe urged the stakeholders to assist the government’s efforts at reviving the Education sector in the country.

    He sought the cooperation of Anambra residents to achieve the mission and the vision of the university.

    Oba Adejugbe will be officially installed as the COOU chancellor on Saturday and receive an honorary award as Doctor of Letters (DLitt).

    Also, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has congratulated Oba Adejugbe on his installation as the chancellor of COOU and the award of DLitt in his honour.

    The governor said the appointment of the monarch was due to his efforts at building the younger generation and ensuring a united Nigeria.

    He added that his choice was widely accepted by the people yearning for quality education with good leadership.

    Also, the National President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr John Nnia Nwodo; COOU’s Vice Chancellor Prof Greg Nwakoby and the traditional ruler of Ukpor Kingdom, Igwe Felix Onyimadu, described the Ewi as a detribalised leader who would always support the success of all, irrespective of tribal, religious or political affiliations.

  • Buhari assures of credible elections

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday again gave assurances of his determination to lay a foundation for free, fair and credible elections in the country.

    He was responding to a speech by a delegation of Imams and senior Islamic scholars from the 36 states of the federation at the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, a number of measures put in place have seen the gradual improvement of elections, as in Edo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States from what he described as “dismal and unacceptable levels witnessed in Rivers and Kogi States.”

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “What I want to assure Nigerians is that I will continue to pressure the Police and other agencies to do their best to ensure a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections.”

    On the issue of security raised by the religious group, President Buhari said he will continue to nudge security agencies to find lasting solutions, stressing however, the need for community and religious leaders to play a part in identifying criminals in their midst.

    Read Also: Buhari pledges more employment opportunities for citizens

    He thanked the Muslim religious leaders for recognizing the various achievements of the administration especially, in dealing with security, fighting corruption and progress in agriculture.

    “I am not satisfied with the reporting of agriculture.  Millions of our citizens have returned to the farms with many leaving white collar jobs for opportunities in agriculture,” he noted.

    The leader of the delegation, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, who is the Secretary General of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam, had lavishly praised the President’s achievements in key areas of his campaign in 2015 namely, security, corruption and the economy.

    “So far, so good, government has gone a long way in meeting its promises.” he stated

  • Police nab teenager with human parts 

    The Police in Anambra have arrested a 19-year-old boy Sunday Onwe allegedly caught with fresh human parts at Awka.

    Onwe, a native of Mgbo in Ohauku, Ebonyi State, was arrested around 11:30am by policemen attached to B Division after a fresh penis, fingers and blood were seen with him.

    It was gathered that the suspect confessed that he and two others at large had kidnapped their young victim at a borehole in Ekwashe village, Ebonyi State.

    They allegedly took the unnamed victim to Umuziaka village where they slaughtered him in the bush and thereafter, removed his private parts and other parts they needed.

    It was gathered that they threw the child’s remains inside Ebenyi River in Ebonyi State before Onwe moved to Awka with the dismembered parts for reasons yet unknown.

    According to the police, Onwe named his accomplices as Blessing and Emeka, both men currently at large.

    Police spokesman Haruna Mohammed, a Superintendent (SP) said the deceased’s fingers and fresh blood were inside a container.

    “The exhibits were deposited at Apex Hospital morgue for preservation. The case has been transferred to State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (SCIID) for discreet investigation while efforts are being intensified to apprehend fleeing accomplices,” said Mohammed.

  • Man nabbed with human parts in Awka

    A 19-year-old man, Sunday Owo, was on Thursday apprehended with fresh human parts at a healing home in Awka, Anambra.
    Owo was caught the genital organs, fingers and blood-filled bottle of a child suspected to have been killed by the man.

    The suspect, who was apprehended at the instance of the Proprietor of the healing home, Mrs Ifeanyichukwu Ilonzo, told newsmen that he hailed from Ohaukwu in Ebonyi.

    He said he was asked by one Blessing to get the human parts and bring them to a natural healing home in Awka for money ritual.

    He said that he paid Blessing N50, 000 for connecting him to the healing home.

    Owo confessed that the victim whose parts he had was about four years and that he killed him in a stream in his town and threw the head and other parts into the stream.

    “She brought me here two days ago and said that madam instructed her to tell me to bring these body parts that I will have money.

    “Her name is Blessing; she is also from Ebonyi state, but she said we can’t get these parts here, so we went back to Ebonyi state where I got it and brought it here.

    “I don’t know where blessing is now. I paid her N50, 000 for linking me up,” he said.

    Read Also:One killed, six injured in Awka auto crash in front of Govt. House

    But, Ilonzo, owner of Centre for Psychic Healing and Administration (CEPHA), Awka, said that she invited the media and the police on seeing such strange thing.

    “I and my staff were on ward-round after morning prayers when we saw the man with the human parts. He said he was looking for me as he had brought the items.

    “When the content of the black bag was opened, l instructed my staff not to let him go and invited security agencies and the media to witness what we saw.

    “One Blessing Eze had come for healing of fibroid and l gave her prescription after which she left but had not returned.

    “Eze’s consultation card bears Ifite-Awka as her address. This is some of the suspected frame-ups by people who wish to undo me.

    “I had witnessed such attempts in the past, including failed efforts to take my life,’’ she said.

    Ilonzo urged the Police to identify the owners of the child that was murdered and the Blessing working as his accomplice, saying that human life was sacred.

    The police at the scene arrested the man, and the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra command, SP Mohammed Haruna, said that investigation in the matter had commenced

    NAN

  • FRSC inaugurates Ember Months safety campaign in Anambra

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday inaugurated the 2018 Ember Months Road Safety awareness in Anambra.

    The campaign, with the theme, “Safe Driving, Save Lives’’, held at TRACAS Park, UNIZIK Junction, on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

    The Corps Commander in Anambra, Mr Sunday Ajayi, said the Ember months campaign was part of the activities to bring awareness on the implications of traffic infractions to the people.

    Ajayi said the last quarter of the year was always characterised with high vehicular traffic and warned motorists against speeding, dangerous overtaking, overloading, route violation and use of mobile phones while driving.

    He said all hands should be on deck as road safety was a shared responsibility and called on all to adhere to road traffic safety rules.

    “The rate of road traffic crashes is high and it calls for urgent step to deal with the menace, however, records have shown progressive reduction in road traffic crashes in Anambra,’’ he said.

    On the event, Mr Marcel Obijiofor, Commissioner for Works in Anambra, said good road infrastructure was crucial to safety on the road.

    Obijiofor said dilapidated state roads in Anambra were getting attention as Gov. Willie Obiano had directed their repairs in the next two weeks.

    The commissioner called on the Federal Government to repair federal roads in the state as the state did not have enough funds to take care of them.

    He said the Amawbia to Umunya stretch of the Enugu-Onitsha highway was now nearly impassible and urged the Federal Government to fix it and other federal roads.

    Read Also:36 die in road accident in Ondo state – FRSC

    “His Excellency has directed that all state roads should be repaired in the next two weeks, we have been doing palliative works on federal roads but we don’t have enough money.

    “So, we are urging the Federal Government to refund Anambra the money it spent on federal projects in the state worth about N42 billion, just as we continue to partner with FRSC to keep the roads in the state safe,’’ he said.

    In his message, the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, warned that the weather condition was changing and that motorists should ensure that their headlamps were good for clear visibility.

    Oyeyemi, represented by Mr Kehinde Adeleye, Zonal Commanding Officer, RS5 Benin, said that during the ember months, enforcement would go alongside enlightenment.

    The FRSC boss said no fewer than 1,602 persons died in 2,805 crashes involving 20,196 road users between September and December 2017.

    Declaring the event open, Gov. Willie Obiano said his administration would do all that was possible to keep the roads and the state safe for the residents at all times.

    Obiano, represented by Mr Harry Udu, the Head of Civil Service in the state, said safe roads was within the security architecture of the state and promised to enable FRSC succeed.

    He urged drivers to be careful and ensure that innocent people did not suffer for their recklessness.

  • Female banker, man drowned in Anambra flood

    Two persons got drowned in a flash flood in Oduke Obosi layout, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state on Sunday.

    The deceased, a female banker and a middle aged, yet to be identified man, got drowned following heavy down pour which also submerged over 20 buildings in the area.

    The female deceased, Mrs Oluchi Okafor, a widow with six children from Ebonyi state, was said to be returning from market when she died.

    Reacting, Chairman of the Oduke Layout landlords Association, Chief Nicholas Okechukwu, attributed the cause of the death to the state government inability to fix the Igwe Nwakobi road.

    He said, “We have been suffering from this flood menace for years, it is not a new thing, you can see that over 20 homes were submerged.

    “The contractor handling this road said government has not paid him to continue work on the road.”

    Confirming the incident, the State Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, said the corpses of the deceased were deposited at St. Edward morgue for autopsy after being certified dead by a medical doctor.

    He said, “Following the distress, Police Patrol Team attached to Obosi Division led by the DPO SP. Usman Ibrahim visited the scene and rushed the victims to Unity Hospital Obosi.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that victims were suspected to have been drowned and carried away by heavy downpour on the 3/11/2018 at about 6:30pm from the area heavily ravaged by flood/erosion as a result of the downpour within the same locality.

    “The female body was later identified as Mrs Oluchi Nwafor ‘f’, Staff of First Bank Ochanja branch, Onitsha while effort is ongoing to establish identity of the male victim.”

    He said Police Patrol teams have been deployed to the affected areas to save lives and prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation, adding that the case was being investigated.

  • Flood kills 20-year-old in Anambra

    Ifejika Umuiza, a 20-year-old boy from Ogbetiti village in Odekpe community, Ogbaru, Anambra has been reported killed by flood.

    Arinzechukwu Awogu, the Transition Committee chairman of Ogbaru Council Area disclosed this in Awka on Tuesday.

    Awogu said Ifejika drowned in the receding flood which swept him into a nearby deep pond near their compound in Ochuche Umuodu, in Ogbetiti Village in the Odekpe Community, where they lived.

    The council boss said he, alongside other appointees of government, had visited and commiserated with the family over the unfortunate incident.

    He regretted the number of lives so far lost to flood in the council area

    Awogu said the total number of deaths in Ogbaru since the flood disaster hit the area had risen to 11.

    “Ifejika got drowned just a few metres away from his family house as the receding flood at the back of their home swept him deep into a nearby pond.

    “The incident happened at Ochuche Umuodu.

    “Ifejika’s death brings the total number of deaths recorded since the 2018 flood disaster started in Ogbaru LGA to 11,” he said.

  • PDP will bounce back in Anambra, says chairman

    Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State. He spoke to reporters in Awka, the state capital, on preparations for next year’s general elections at the state and federal levels. NWANOSIKE ONU was there.

    THE PDP has not been able to regain power in Anambra State because of internal wrangling resulting from imposition of candidates. What your assessment of the primary?

    From the outset, when we started preparations for our party primary, we set out to ensure that internal democracy is brought to bear in all our activities. We made it clear to all our aspirants that their chances of becoming a candidate will depend on the delegates and the party followership within their respective constituencies. We started to demonstrate this resolve by ensuring that the election of delegates was done in a manner that was satisfactory to every member. During the primary, we made sure that we informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is the body constitutionally-empowered to supervise the conduct of the exercise. We informed INEC about the time and venue of the primary, the Returning Officers, and, all the Committees that came from the national headquarters of our party to conduct the primary. We also made sure that there were INEC officials in all the venues of our primaries to monitor the process. So, I’m confident that for the first time, there was no parallel primaries in Anambra State during the exercise. All the primary for each of the constituencies, either the  House of Assembly, the House of Representatives or the Senate, were held in one designated venue in each constituency. At the end of the day, the outcome of all the primaries has been adjudged as very transparent by even the aspirants themselves. Those who lost in the primary have even pledged to support those who won.

    How would you rate the chances of the PDP in Anambra State in 2019, given that APGA enjoys incumbency and the APC is the party in control at the centre?

    Anambrarians and Nigerians at large have come to appreciate the PDP this time around. What happened during the APGA and APC primaries was a sham; it was a charade! It was a day-light robbery where people came to the centres where the primaries were supposed to take place and those who emerged as delegates were jettisoned for some other names. At the end of the day, even where an election was said to have been conducted, the outcome would be unmotivated both the delegates and other party members. You can find out from the INEC, if any of its officials monitored the primary of any of those political parties in Anambra State. Even the security agencies will certainly confirm to you that the primaries of both the APGA and APC in Anambra State were a sham; that there was no internal democracy in what transpired in those two political parties during their primaries.  I’m sure that both INEC and the security agencies will testify to the fact that transparency and that internal democracy prevailed during the PDP primary; we got it right. As it was also clearly seen, the APC national convention was a sham.

    What is your reaction to the choice of former Governor Peter Obi as the running mate to your presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar?

    In fact, that action is the most reasonable decision by our presidential candidate, former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar, and the PDP national hierarchy. The Southeast has been very supportive of the PDP family. You reward people for their efforts; you don’t reward them for their inability to do what is right. So, the choice of Mr. Peter Obi by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as his running mate for 2019 general elections, is a reward to the people Anambra State and, indeed, the entire Southeast for their support to the PDP. We all know that the arrow head of the PDP formation was the late former Vice President Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme. He hailed from Anambra State. So, by this gesture of the PDP presidential candidate in picking someone from Anambra State as its presidential running mate, the PDP has deemed it fit to say “ Thank you, Dr. Alex Ekwueme “. It shows that the PDP has really realised the major role he played in the party’s formation and that his contributions helped in making it the largest political party in Africa. Besides, Mr. Peter Obi has excellent antecedents. He is a focused person and a great manager of wealth. We all saw what he did when he was governor of Anambra State for eight years. Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is someone who is greatly endowed with what it takes to give good governance to Nigeria, so as to bring the country out of the current socio- economic and political quagmire the APC government has thrown it into, given the experiences he had gained when he was Vice President. Again, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is great wealth creator. And Mr. Peter Obi has a deep insight into the economy of this country. So, I view Atiku-Obi presidency as the best thing that can happen to the people of this country at time it is in a mess.

    What will give PDP an edge in Anambra State over other political parties at the election?

    We allowed internal democracy to prevail during our primary. Other political parties, especially the APGA and the APC, did the opposite. They allowed godfathers to hijack their primaries and imposed candidates on their parties. Again, the PDP had been in the affairs of this country until the APC took over after the 2015 general elections and our people have now tasted the two parties and they have seen the difference. They have seen that the APC is a party that promises but denies its promises. But the PDP keeps its promises. That the PDP was able to keep this country together showed that leadership in this country can be done in a detribalised manner. The PDP had shown that no matter whose ox is gored, whether a person is in your party or not, if he or she goes against the laws of this country he or she will be brought to face the law. The PDP had shown that the economy of this country is sustainable. All these have been lost since the APC took over the running of affairs of this country in 2015. We have been telling Anambrarians in particular and Nigerians in general to give the PDP a chance once more and, you will find that, all the current hydra-headed problems facing the country in all spheres of life will become a thing of the past.

    Given the overwhelming victory of APGA in the last governorship election, what gives you the hope that PDP will win in Anambra next year’s general elections?

    The outcome of the last governorship election is not a good indices for predicting the possible outcome of the coming general election in the state. Politics is local. What made APGA and its candidate, Governor Willie Obiano, achieve that 21-over-21 victory in that governorship election have come and gone. I can bet you that the same thing will not apply in the forthcoming general elections. I can assure you that Anambrarians are going to look at the various candidates who are contesting elections for the state House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate and vote for the candidates and the party that can attract democracy dividends to them. They know that anybody who gets to the National Assembly on the platform of the APC will not have much say at that forum. When you are unable to speak, how can you be able to bring democracy dividends to your people? Anambrarians appreciate the fact that where they have a better opportunity now is in the PDP. So, they are going to cast their votes for only the PDP candidates for the state House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Again, let me remind you that one of the major factors that influenced that governorship election was the quest by the people of Anambra South senatorial district to produce the governor as soon as possible. And because they had this fear that since our party’s candidate, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, might want to go for a second term, since he will be serving his first term if voted for and that he may want to go for a second term, after completing first term, they decided to support the APGA candidate, because they knew that he may go for another tenure. So, the people of Anambra South saw supporting the APGA candidate as the fastest way for them to produce governor, based on rotational considerations.