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Tag: Dakuku Peterside

  • NIMASA to build new offices in Eastern Ports

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Tuesday says it will soon build new offices in Port Harcourt, Onne and Warri to decongest offices in its eastern operational zone.

    Dr Dakuku Peterside, Director-General of NIMASA, made this known when he visited offices of the agency in Port Harcourt, Onne and Warri ports.

    According to Peterside, the Board of Directors has approved the buildings because the welfare of staff was paramount to the agency.

    The Chairman of the board, retired Maj-Gen. Jonathan Garba urged the staff to be more committed to their duties.

    “In spite of the challenges you face, I am happy you still work very hard to generate revenue.

    “But I urge you to work harder to justify the confidence the government has in you.

    “Besides, staff will be trained because training is very important for NIMASA staff to meet international best practices,’’ Garba said.

    Garba assured of yearly promotion for those who were due, and urged the workers to commit themselves to their duties.

    The Director, Eastern Zone of NIMASA, Mr Hassan Yakub appealed for adequate budgetary provisions and strict implementation.

    Yakub called for improvement of facilities in some out-stations like Bonny, Brass and Eket, and for regular training on vessel boarding and provision of insurance cover for staff.

  • Odili’s suit against Peterside: Court grants plea for defense  

    Odili’s suit against Peterside: Court grants plea for defense  

    …Court adjourns to November 29

    Justice Adama Iyayi – Lamikanra of Rivers State High Court 1 has granted the plea by the defendant’s lawyer for an opportunity to defend his client in spite of their absence throughout the court proceeding on the matter which was to enter into hearing Thursday.

    In a suit No. PHC/801/2016 which is before Justice Lamikanra who is also the Chief Judge of Rivers State, the former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Odili is seeking for N6 billion damages against Dakuku Peterside, the governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2015 general election for defamation.

    It was alleged that the defendant after Wike’s Supreme Court victory, alleging that Wike, during his victory thanksgiving service stated that Odili helped him to secure the Supreme Court victory.

    But Odili said what Dakuku said was false and malicious, as Wike never made such inference but that Dakuku twisted and misrepresented what Wike said.

    On October 11, 2016 during one of the proceedings on the matter, Justice Lamikanra was worried that both the defendant and his lawyers were not appearing in court and decided to adjourn for hearing on October 27, 2016.

    But at the court Thursday both the lawyers to the complainant and that of defendant were in court, Dr. Odili was also in court, though Peterside was absent.

    The lead counsel to the defendant Mr. Rowland Otaru, (SAN)  who apologized for their absence in the previous court proceeding pleaded with the Judge for an opportunity to fully enter into the matter to defend his client, adding that as a N6billion suit, the court should oblige them the chance for defense.

    Otaru said: “The defendant has been putting appearance and want an opportunity to defend their action in the exercise of court description. He has been allowed to do so. We are coming back 29th of November for the continuation of the case for cross examination.

    The lead counsel to the complainant, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who was disappointed last time that the defendant has abandoned the case said he is happy that they have started coming to court.

    Agabi said:  well, it went as it ought to be. Court has obliged them to come back for defense that is okay, I am happy that the defendant is coming forward to justify himself, if he has any justification.”

    Justice Lamikanra, having granted the plea of the defendant to defense his client on the matter, adjourned the case to November 29, 2016.

     

  • Odili vs Dakuku: Court adjourns hearing of suit to October 27

    Odili vs Dakuku: Court adjourns hearing of suit to October 27

    Justice Adama Iyayi – Lamikanra of Rivers State High Court 1 Tuesday adjourned the hearing in the suit filed by the former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili against the governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2015,  Dakuku Peterside to October 27, 2016.

    In a suit No. PHC/801/2016 which is before Justice Lamikanra who is also the Chief Judge of Rivers State, the former governor Dr. Odili is seeking for N6 billion damages against Dakuku for defamation which resulted from a statement allegedly  made by the defendant during  the press conference in the state.

    It was alleged that the defendant after Wike’s Supreme Court victory, alleging that Wike, during his victory thanksgiving service stated that Odili helped him to secure the Supreme Court victory.

    But Odili said what Dakuku said was false and malicious, as Wike never made such inference but that Dakuku twisted and misrepresented what Wike said.

    At the court Tuesday, counsel to the complainant include, Joseph Ogwu, Donald Atuegu,  Akinola Afolabi and Mr. Kanu Agabi(SAN), who is the lead counsel but the defendant and his counsels were absent at the court.

    The court which started its proceedings by 9:07 am Tuesday adopted the witness statement of the complaint after his lead counsel examines the document.

    The counsel to the complaint Mr. Agabi told the judge that there was proof of service on Dakuku.

    In the absent of the defendant, Justice Lamikanra adjourned hearing on the suit to 27th of October 2016.

    Speaking to the press after the adjournment, the lead counsel to the complainant, Mr. Agabi said, “We sued for libel. And we called our first witness. And we have adjourned for cross examination to 27 October. We felt defamed by their (defendant) publication and we are here to vindicate ourselves.

    “You could see that the defendants were not in court but they have been served, they have been properly served. The court would not have proceedings otherwise. “

  • NIMASA to implement Cabotage Act – Peterside

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said the agency is determined to ensure that the Cabotage Act is implemented to the letter.

    The Head, Corporate Communications Team of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka stated this in a statement released in Lagos, Monday.

    THE News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Cabotage Act is also known as the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003.

    According to the statement, the director-general said this when he received the leadership of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association led by the National President, Mr. Matthew Alalade at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

    Peterside said proper regulation of the Cabotage Act was instrumental to the development of the maritime sector, adding that Nigerians must always be encouraged to be key players in the sector.

    He said the issue of waivers’ abuse would be checked.

    “We have not realised the full potential of the Cabotage Act but we have moved a step ahead.

    “Just to be sure that we are committed to the full implementation of the Cabotage Act, issues relating to waiver abuse are currently being dealt with accordingly,’’ Peterside said.

  • Nigeria backs regional initiative to fight piracy

    The Federal Government has expressed support for regional initiative geared toward eliminating the scourge of piracy and maritime crimes, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea

    The Head, Corporate Communication, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Hajia Lami Tumaka, said this in a statement in Lagos Wednesday.

    According to the statement, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, made the remark at the ongoing International Maritime Organisation (IMO)/Maritime Organisation for West and Central Africa (MOWCA) sponsored integrated Sub-regional Coast Guard summit in Brussels, Belgium.

    Peterside, who is the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the meeting, said Nigeria’s position was premised on the fact that crime at sea, especially in the Gulf of Guinea was almost always trans-national.

    He said a regional integrated approach was most suited for checking the menace.

    Addressing delegates at the conference, Peterside said Nigeria with the longest coastline in the continent was mostly affected by the activities of criminals.

    “If the continent and maritime actors do not rise up to tackle piracy, it will affect commerce which is the driver of growth and by extension hamper development,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the NIMASA DG as saying at the forum.

  • Dakuku, Umana, Emerhor promise victory in future polls

    The 2015 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidates in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Gombe have promised not to rest on their oars until they return their states to the party.

    The candidates – Umana Okon Umana (Akwa Ibom), Dakuku Peterside (Rivers), O’tega Emerhor (Delta) and Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) made the promise in Abuja, while addressing State House Correspondents after consulting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The quartet said they were undaunted by verdicts of the Supreme Court which affirmed the elections of their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponents.

    Umana said his party was still reviewing the judgment, adding that there were two concurrent verdicts at the tribunal and Appeal Court which ordered a rerun.

    Peterside also said he had placed the Supreme Court verdict behind him and was focusing on the rerun polls in the three Senatorial, 12 House of Representatives and 22 State Assembly seats in the state.

    He said all his party was asking for was a level playing field by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies.

    “Now we are going for elections and we believe that INEC will be impartial and that the security agencies will provide a conducive atmosphere for people to cast votes and the votes of the people will count.’’

  • Tension in Akwa Ibom as Supreme Court delivers judgment Wednesday

    Tension in Akwa Ibom as Supreme Court delivers judgment Wednesday

    There was anxiety yesterday in the political camps of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State ahead of tomorrow’s Supreme Court verdict on the governorship election appeal between Governor Udom Emmanuel of the PDP and Umana Umana of the APC.

    The Supreme Court fixed tomorrow for hearing in the appeal. Based on the current trend with appeal cases in other states, the apex court is expected to deliver judgement on the same day.

    Already, members of both parties have taken to the social media to express diverse opinions on what the outcome of the verdict could be.

    Those in the PDP are hoping that the verdict would not be different from what the Supreme Court justices delivered in the case between Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and APC’s Dakuku Peterside, which upheld Wike’s election.

    But those in APC hoped Umana would defeat Emmanuel, based on the facts and evidence before the court.

    It was learnt that the state’s Local Government and Chieftaincy Commissioner had started mobilising former political office holders ahead of the possible outcome of the verdict.

    Some text messages forwarded to the former chairmen was obtained by our reporter. One of them reads: “Chair, pls attend an urgent meeting with the Commissioner for Local Government, Victor Antai, as follows: Date February 1, 2016; Time – 1pm; Venue: Ministry of Local Government, Uyo. Please, come with all former caretaker/transition chairmen in your local government who are still members of the PDP. Thanks.”

    The agenda of the meeting, it was learnt, would dwell on the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal pending before the Supreme Court, whose verdict would be delivered tomorrow.

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  • Rivers tribunal ruling, deadly blow to impunity – APC

    The All Progressives Congress on Saturday described the verdict of the Rivers State governorship election petition tribunal that nullified the victory of Nyesom Wike in the April 11 governorship election in the state, as a deadly body blow to impunity and hooliganism.

    In a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC said the tribunal’s ruling has shown clearly that the era of impunity and hooliganism is over, and that the only way for elections to have legitimacy is for them to be free, fair and credible.

    ”What has come across from this judgment is that there is no shortcut to free, fair and credible elections. This is part of the wind of change that is blowing across the land and touching all arms of government under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    ”Elections are about the expression of the will of the people, and they must always be free to express themselves, irrespective of what some desperate politicians may feel,” the party stated.

    According to the APC, politicians, especially those seeking or occupying elective office, must realize that they can only derive their legitimacy from the people, and that unless they respect the wishes of the people, they will not go far.

    The party hailed its governorship candidate in Rivers, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, for his doggedness and strong conviction in the pursuit of his petition against the election of Wike that was not only marred by widespread violence and electoral malfeasance, but also acknowledged to be fraught with irregularities by local and international observers – and now by the judiciary.

     

  • Rivers tribunal sacks Wike

    Rivers tribunal sacks Wike

    The Rivers State governorship election petition tribunal has sacked the state’s governor, Nyesom Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The tribunal, in a judgment delivered in Abuja, upheld the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the April 11 election the state, Dakuku Peterside, challenging the declaration of Wike as winner of the election.

    The tribunal chairman, Justice Mohammed Ambrosa, in the judgment that lasted over two hours, held that the petitioners proved that the election that produced Wike “did not substantially comply with the Electoral Act.”

    The tribunal ordered a rerun election within 90 days.

     

     

     

     

  • Violence, material theft, marred Rivers guber poll – DSS

    Violence, material theft, marred Rivers guber poll – DSS

    Two senior officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and a member of the Action Alliance (AA) party said Saturday that the last governorship election in Rivers State was marred by violence, intimidation shooting and killings.

    The DSS officials, Benson Chukwuma and Godwin Mbah, who said they each led a team of DSS officials to monitor and provide security at the election, said although things began well at the inception of accreditation on April 11 , the electoral process was disrupted by hired hoodlums midway, thereby preventing proper voting and compilation of results.

    Kamuzu Omiete Blankson, who said he acted as the Collation Agent for his party (the AA), said the election was marred by violent sporadic shooting, burning of election materials and intimidation.

    The three gave evidence, upon being subpoenaed, at the hearing of the petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the election, Dakuku Peterside before the Rivers State governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja.

    They gave evidence in relation to the conduct of the election in Ogu-Bolu, Andoni and Asari-Toru Local Governments of the state.

    Respondents to the petitone are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate at the election, Nyesom Wike.

    Chukwuma, who testified as the petitioners’ 43rd witness and monitored in Ogu-Bolu LG, said the election was disrupted at a point following attack on election officials by hoodlums.

    “In ward 10, units 1, 3 and 5, they (hoodlums) removed original result sheets. It gradually spread to all the other wards. There was serious confusion in the place.

    “The police was helpless because the thugs were not afraid of them. I quickly contacted the military to come to the scene. At the sight of the military officers, the people (thugs) started retreating.”