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Tag: deputy

  • Court strikes out suit against Aregbesola, deputy

    Court strikes out suit against Aregbesola, deputy

    An Osun State High Court in Iwo has struck out a suit by Justice Olamide Folaranmi Oloyede of the State High Court, seeking to set aside the dismissal of her petition against Governor Rauf Aregbesola by the House of Assembly.

    Justice Moshood Adeigbe dismissed the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

    Justice Oloyede went to court to challenge the Assembly’s recommendation asking the Judicial Service Commission to recommend to the National Judicial Council that she should be sanctioned for judicial misconduct.

    The judge, in her petition, called for the impeachment of Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, for alleged corruption.

    She urged the lawmakers to examine and investigate the governor and his deputy over the allegations.

    On receipt of the petition, the Assembly set up an ad hoc/fact-finding committee with Speaker Najeem Salaam giving the committee one week to submit its report.

    The Assembly considered the report of the panel and dismissed Justice Oloyede’s petition and recommended sanctions against her.

    But the judge filed a motion on notice before the court. Her counsel, Lekan Ogunlesi, said his client was ready to challenge the illegality of the lawmakers’ action.

    Ogunlesi had listed the respondents to include the Speaker, the investigating committee Chairman, Adegboye Akintunde, six lawmakers and the Clerk.

    Also joined in the suit is the Osun Judicial Service Commission.

    Justice Oloyede also filed a motion ex-parte asking the court to grant her permission to institute a legal action against the lawmakers for their recommendation that she should be sanctioned by the NJC.

    In her application, she asked that the recommendations of the ad-hoc committee be quashed and that their actions be declared illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

    Before dismissing the suit, Justice Adeigbe reviewed Ogunlesi’s submission on the issue of fair hearing, observing that a party who was given the opportunity to be heard but chose not seize the opportunity cannot complain of not being given fair hearing.

    He stated that the contention of the respondent that she was denied fair hearing by the committee was not shown anywhere on Exhibit FA1, which is the proceedings of the ad-hoc committee.

    The defence counsel, Wale Afolabi, a former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, praised the court for the judgment, saying Justice Oloyede should not have petitioned the governor and his deputy since she is an employee of the state.

    Afolabi challenged Oloyede’s suit on the grounds that it is incompetent having violated the provision of order 40 rule 5(5) of the state high court rules, saying an act of parliament cannot be subjected to judicial review.

  • Oshiomhole, deputy clash over gun attack on convoy

    Oshiomhole, deputy clash over gun attack on convoy

    There is tension in Edo State over  Saturday’s gun attack on the convoy of Deputy Governor Pius Odubu during a visit to the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Auchi, headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area.

    Odubu yesterday relived the incident and called on the police to arrest the suspects he fingered in the attack. But Governor Adams Oshiomhole dismissed it all as “hasty”, saying “preliminary reports suggest that the fracas was caused by thugs loyal to the Odubu Campaign imported in two truck-loads to Auchi, who attacked other party loyalists not sold to the deputy governor’s aspiration”.

    Besides, Etsako West party leader Abubakar Akokhia dismissed the claim that Odubu was targeted.

    He alleged that the shooting might have been carried out by those in the deputy governor’s convoy.

    He said Odubu was not under any threat at any time during the shooting.

    At a news conference addressed by a member of the Odubu Campaign Organisation , the deputy governor called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute those who attacked him and members of his campaign organisation. He said he had identified “three principal suspects’’ behind the attack.

    He urged the police to immediately unearth them and their pay masters, and prosecute them for this felonious act.

    The former APC Minority Chief in the House of Representatives, Mr Samson Osagie, who spoke for the organisation, described the attack as “the height of naked display of cruelty, animosity, acrimony, intolerance, gross irresponsibility and man’s inhumanity to man’’.

    He said Odubu would not back down from pursuing his ambition to be governor, saying that “in democracy, it is only the people that have the right to choose their leaders”.

    “And for those who seek to spill blood on account of a mere party nomination exercise, the God of justice shall bring justice upon them,’’ he said.

    Osagie said eight persons including a Department of State Services (DSS) officer and a police Inspector in Odubu’s entourage were injured.

    “As we speak, six of them are currently at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital( UBTH) receiving treatment while the other two are still convalescing at a hospital in Auchi,’’ he said.

    Osagie gave the names of those injured as Patrick Amakiri, a DSS official, Inspector Agge Felix, the escort police commander attached to  Odubu, Zibiri Yakubu, Ogbeso Nice, Osabuohien Igiebor and Matthew Ajayi.

    Osagie said delegates were dispersed from receiving him at Fugar, Estako Central Local Government by an executive director to Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He did not name the executive director.

    He described the attacks as another attempt to intimidate, harass and put pressure on Dr. Odubu to quit the governorship race or be eliminated.

    “We wish to notify the National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee of the APC that they must pay proper attention to the happening in the Edo State chapter of the party as we move closer to the governorship election,” Osagie said, adding that the APC must be jealously protected for the party to retain its foothold in the South South zone.

    The state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Godwin Erhahon, also at the news conference, described the attack as “madness’’.

    “What happened yesterday (Saturday) in Auchi is absolute madness.

    “I want to appeal to APC supporters to remain calm and be friendly ahead of the elections proper.’’

    Police Commissioner Chris Ezike, who visited Odubu’s campaign secretariat, said although the command was yet to make any arrest, it had names of suspects.

    Ezike, who also condemned the attack, said all aspirants must be given a level playing field to campaign, noting that the command would not tolerate any act of violence from any quarters.

    He said the command had in the last eight months been mopping up firearms from those undesirable elements and would continue to do so ahead of the governorship election on September 10.

    CP Ezike who came into the secretariat at about 9.21am, went upstairs to meet with the deputy governor and left at about 9.24am.

    On the attack on Odubu which happened in the governor’s local government, Ezike said: “I have given a marching order that those involved be arrested. This thing happened in the day time; names have been mentioned and we are going after them.

    “The actors in this game should know that power belongs to God. It is our appeal that they conduct themselves and their supporters in a lawful manner. We will get to the bottom of the incident. Luckily, a few names have been mentioned, they are not ghost.”

    The APC chair in Estako West Local Government, Alhaji Abubakar Akokhia, said yesterday that the shooting  was carried out by his supporters.

    He said a warm reception was accorded Odubu, but it was the crowd outside and not party delegates that kept shouting “Odubu you don win, Odubu, na you we know”.

    Akokhia told reporters in Benin yesterday that there was no plan to kill the deputy governor in the locality.

    He said he was inside his office with Odubu when the shootings started outside.

    His words: “Before the deputy governor came, there were boys around. I asked them what they came for; they said they came to see the deputy governor and I told them they were not invited and that they were not delegates. They said they were Odubu’s supporters.”

    “There was not directive that we should not receive the deputy. Maybe it was the thugs he brought that did the shooting. When the deputy governor came, there was a crowd outside and they were shouting, “You don win, You don win”. Later, we heard them shooting.

    “Anybody that said the attack was directed at the deputy is a black liar. We were together inside my office. He was inside my office during the shooting.

    “Nobody planned to kill the deputy governor. We agreed to host him. Who is planning to kill him? He should reduce the number of his entourage. The cars that came with him were more than 20.”

  • Wike announces recovery of N1bn in staff verification

    Wike announces recovery of N1bn in staff verification

    The Rivers government has recovered about N1 billion in its ongoing staff verification, Gov. Nyesom Wike has said.

    Speaking at the first Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Business Luncheon in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Wike said the recovery was achieved through the thoroughness of the verification.

    Represented by his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry, the governor described the recovery as a good omen for the state, especially in the face of dwindling revenues.

    He said that the government had also reduced its overhead expenditure to about 40 per cent as a way of adapting to the prevailing economic reality.

    Wike further said that efforts were being made to enable the government to generate enough funds to address infrastructural challenges.

    “We are working to generate internal funds so that we can effectively tackle infrastructural challenges in the areas of roads, hospitals and schools.

    “Such move is in keeping with our promises of ensuring adequate social services and good governance for the people of the state,’’ he said.

    Earlier, the President of the chamber, Dr Emi Membere-Otaji, described the country’s economy as ‘over stressed’ due to over dependence on oil.

    Membere-Otaji said that there was need for governments at all levels to carry out massive investor-enlightenment to open up alternative areas of the economy.

    “The over-dependence on oil and gas has taken the nation backward and left the citizenry impoverished.

    “The time to act is now; the citizenry and the investing public must have the enabling environment to venture into other investible areas,” he said.

  • Sealed property not mine, says ex-Lagos deputy governor

    Sealed property not mine, says ex-Lagos deputy governor

    Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has refuted claims of an Ikoyi, Lagos property, which some publications recently said belongs to her.

    In a statement yesterday, she said: “I am not the owner of the property on the said location and neither do I have any link whatsoever with the property.

    “The publication was done maliciously and in bad taste; the authors could have simply contacted me or The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to confirm the veracity of the claim that I am the owner of the building before going ahead to publish it.”

    She condemned the publications for not getting its facts right, saying: “It is indeed a smack of journalistic laziness that the ownership of a building could be foisted on me simply because its owner named it ‘Adejoke Court’ as if I am the only Adejoke in the world.”

    Aside publishing the disclaimer, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire said that the “false publication” had caused her “undue embarrassment”, adding that she would be taking legal actions.

    “I have also instructed my lawyers to commence legal actions against all those involved in the defamation of my hard earned reputation and integrity,” said an advertorial she signed.

  • Honour for Imo deputy governor

    Honour for Imo deputy governor

    Mbieri Unions Federated (MUF), Lagos Branch has held a reception for the Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere.

    The sleepy Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, was agog when members of the Lagos branch of Mbieri Unions Federated honoured the Deputy Governor of Imo State Prince Eze Madumere.

    The occasion, tagged Nwa Otuoke Day, also coincided with the group’s end-of-the-year party.

    It was also an opportunity  for them to raise funds for its proposed hall and invest Chief Chigozie Ononiwu as the union’s patron.

    The Igbo women, who came out in their numbers, wore uniformed George wrappers and blouses to grace the occasion.

    As is in the tradition among the Igbo, there was the breaking of kola nuts, which were passed round for everyone to get a piece of it.

    President of the Lagos  branch of the union, Mr. Ignatius Ewurum, welcomed his guests. He expressed delight that the union has served as a platform for re-engineering socio-cultural heritage of its people and for   promoting their unity and progress, particularly for those  in Lagos.

    Chairman of the occasion, Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo, urged the indigenes of Imo State to support Prince Madumere and other government officials in their effort to save the land, adding: “Charity begins at home”.

    Highlights of the ceremony was the conferment of an award on Prince Madumere and installation of the group’s patron. There was also a fundraiser for the association’s proposed hall.

  • Amnesty: Don’t extend immunity to Senate President, deputy

    The anti-corruption crusade by President Muhammadu Buhari is at risk if the immunity clause is extended to the Senate President and his deputy, Legal dviser at Amnesty International, London, Kolawole Olaniyan, has said.

    He urged the President to move swiftly to dissuade members of the eighth National Assembly from taking forward the immunity initiative if his vision “to be remembered as a Nigerian president who fought corruption to a standstill” is to be effectively realised.

    Olaniyan, who gave the advice in a statement issued last week in London and titled, “Why Buhari can’t be tight-lipped over immunity proposal by the 8thNational Assembly” argued that it amounted to double standard for the lawmakers to make laws to regulate others while tearing up the constitution to be free of regulation themselves.

    Olaniyan,  who noted that the immunity initiative is coming on the heels of the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who is facing a 13 count charge of false assets declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, argued that the proposal by the Senate is against United Nations (UN) convention on corruption and of which Nigeria is a signatory.

    “Extending rather than limiting immunity from prosecution for corruption involving parliamentarians is a licence to impunity and lawbreaking, which clearly isn’t compatible with good governance.

    “Parliamentarians promoting and granting immunity to themselves can only serve to launder the rule of the powerful rather than the rule of law. And it’s patently inconsistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party. The convention in fact requires Nigeria to achieve “appropriate balance between any immunities” and to “ensure effective investigation, prosecution and adjudication of corruption offences”.

    He explained  that part of making laws for good governance of the country is to serve the desire of victims of corruption for accountability, for justice, for dignity, and stressed that the members of the 8th National Assembly will be fulfilling their constitutional role by addressing as a central priority, the situation of victims of corruption including clearing the way through public hearings and progressive legislation that can provide legal standing and access to effective remedies for victims of corruption.

    “It is not by clinging to whatever will shield them from their perceived political foes that members of the 8th National Assembly will better perform their law-making role. And it doesn’t have to be at the expense of the fight against corruption. After all, there is always the judiciary and due process of law to take care of any perceived abuse of anti-corruption laws by the authorities.

    “If only members of the 8th National Assembly can grasp the thinnest slice of what victims of corruption experience they will re-think their proposal to grant their leaders immunity from prosecution for corruption.

    “As a law-making body whose primary duty it is to make laws for good governance, its purpose ought to be to rid the country of impunity for those who will commit high level official corruption, with a philosophy that doesn’t recognise immunity or give leeway to the most powerful or influential.

    “The 1999 Constitution (as amended) recognises the role of the National Assembly to “make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the Federation.” This suggests that when it comes to issue of corruption, members of the 8th National Assembly should worry less about their own interest and more about the citizens who are the real victims of corruption”, he posited.

    Olaniyan contended,  “what the National Assembly is doing is patently at odds with the ‘anti-corruption agenda’ of President Muhammadu Buhari and the ‘political change’ that Nigerians voted for. This is like taking Nigeria back to the middle ages. And it clearly undermines the rule of law as it portrays the lawmakers as being above the law”.

    Olaniyan argued that the immunity initiative looks like a revenge job, and one for self-aggrandisement stressing, “this is undoubtedly a low period in public esteem for our ‘lawmakers.’

    He emphasised that the success of President Muhammadu Buhari’s proclaimed fight against corruption hinges not only on his ‘integrity record’ or members of his cabinet but also the collective involvement of all branches of government, in particular the National Assembly and the judiciary

     

     

  • Umahi locks out deputy, SSG for lateness

    •Governor suspends officials’ salaries

    Ebonyi State Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Bernard Odoh, were at the weekend, locked out of a meeting for lateness.

    They were later allowed entry after about 15 minutes.

    Governor Dave Umahi also suspended the October salaries of some government officials for lateness.

    They include the 13 local government caretaker committee chairmen, the 64 Development center coordinators, and some principal officers in the Governor’s Office.

    Others are commissioners, personal assistants, senior special assistants, special advisers and other government functionaries.

    Governor Umahi said those affected would forfeit their September overhead.

    The officials came late to the debate on government’s anti-corruption crusade and its Internally Generated Revenue drive, held at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Center, Abakaliki.

    Speaking after the debate, Umahi regretted the increase in exam miracle centers, calling for the arrest and prosecution of proprietors of such centers.

    He directed that all miracle centers be shut by the Ministry of Education.

  • Shettima stops birthday greetings to honour deputy

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has urged his friends, political associates and others planning to congratulate him on his 49th birthday to shelve advertisements.

    The governor said he took the decision to honour his deputy, Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha, who died about three weeks ago, and victims of Boko Haram attacks.

    A statement yesterday in Maiduguri, the state capital, by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, said: “Mr Shettima has strongly appealed to his political appointees, political associates in the All Progressives Congress (APC), foreign and local contractors having dealings with the state, kinsmen, former colleagues in the Banking sector as well as friends in different parts of the country not to place any advertisement in newspapers, magazines, on television, in radio, online and social media platforms to congratulate him.

    “The restriction is to respect the memory of too many Borno residents killed by Boko Haram insurgents in recent and previous attacks as well as the utmost need to honour the  Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Mustapha, who died on August 15, less than three weeks ago.”

    The statement called for the people’s understanding and conveyed Shettima’s apologies for the inconveniences the directives may have caused them.

    It noted that the governor contacted some of his friends and associates he suspected were planning to place advertisements in the media.

    The statement urged “those willing to place adverts in the media to channel the funds to private organisations in Abuja and Maiduguri, especially those seeking funds to support …internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by insurgency attacks in Borno and other parts of the northeast”.

    It appealed to them to pray for the return of peace in Borno and other parts of Nigeria.

    The statement noted that it was not the first time Shettima was making such a decision.

    It added: “Governor Shettima had refused to allow any birthday party from taking place since becoming a governor in 2011, maintaining that he would only celebrate birthday, if necessary at all, when peace is completely restored in all parts of Borno State, with affected residents fully rehabilitated and reintegrated into reconstructed communities.

    “It could be recalled that in 2014, Governor Shettima had, as reported in the media, rejected a birthday bash by a group of his friends from Lagos and Abuja, who wanted the party as a surprise to mark the governor’s 48th birthday. The governor got wind of the plan, called the organisers to cancel the party the day it was to take place. He explained that it would be insensitive of him as governor of Borno to be partying while the residents were being killed as result of serial attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, who destroyed dozens of communities, rendering over 1.5 million internally displaced, besides forcing others to take refuge in neighbouring countries.”

     

  • I’ve lost a confidant, says Oyo deputy governor

    Oyo State Deputy Governor Moses Alake Adeyemo has said the death of the Borno State Deputy Governor, Zannah Mustapha, has robbed him of a confidant and a brother.

    Adeyemo, in his condolence message to the government and people of Borno State, expressed sadness at the passage of Zannah. He described the incident “as a tragic loss.”

    The deputy governor urged the bereaved family to seek solace that the deceased lived a good life and died in the service of his people.

    His words: “He was a personal friend, a complete gentleman and a devoted servant-leader. The deputy governor would be missed by all.”

  • Kano Assembly Speaker, deputy emerge

    •Pledge to work with executive

    Kabiru Alasan Rurum from Rano Constituency has emerged as the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly.  Hamisu Ibrahim Cidari representing Makoda Constituency is deputy speaker.

    Rurum, 45, who took the oath of allegiance and oath of membership yesterday at the Assembly with other members, said he would operate an open-door policy that would ensure a vibrant House where members would contribute meaningfully on the floor for the betterment of the people.

    He pledged to fulfil the campaign promises made to the people.

    Said he: “I accept this honour and call to service with sincere appreciation. Each one of us is capable of leading this House. We thank Almighty Allah, who in his infinite wisdom has destined through you that my humble self will be the speaker of this honourable Assembly.”

    Rurum assured the executive and the judiciary of his commitment to work together with his colleagues as a family and team within the tenets, principles of democracy and rule of law in line with the oath of membership.

    His words: “I assure Kano people and our teeming supporters of our commitment to the fulfilment of the promises made during our campaign. As the representatives of the people, we shall be resolute and focused in delivering the dividends of democracy in the passage of sound resolutions. All these shall not be in vein.

    “High standard legislation shall be paramount in the affairs of the 8th legislature through the improvement of the general well-being of our people and will be targeted at all times towards the improvement of the welfare of our people, to ensure good governance.”

    He urged members to cooperate to achieve the desired goals.

    Cidari, the former deputy speaker of the 7th Assembly, has returned as the deputy speaker of the 8th Legislature. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, representing Fagge Constituency and Baffa Babba Dan Agundi emerged as the majority leader and deputy majority leader.