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Tag: Ekweremadu

  • Ekweremadu blames Jonathan for abortive constitution amendment

    Ekweremadu blames Jonathan for abortive constitution amendment

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan for the failure of the fourth constitution review to sail through.

     There are also indications that the National Assembly may remove the power of the President to assent to constitution amendment for it to become law.

     Ekweremadu, who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, spoke at the opening of the committee’s retreat in Lagos.

     He noted that although the National Assembly was informed the former President Jonathan assented to the last constitution amendment (Fourth Alteration Bill), it was a rude shock to them to receive a letter from him stating clearly that he was returning the Bill.

    Ekweremadu noted that when the Bill was returned, Jonathan failed to attach the original Bill being returned.

     He said, “Although the National Assembly reliably gathered that former President Goodluck Jonathan assented to the Fourth Alteration Bill, we were surprised to get a letter from the President stating clearly that he was returning the Bill, but failing to attach the original Bill being returned.

     “The National Assembly was dragged to the Supreme Court by the Attorney-General of the Federation to prevent us from overriding the presidential veto.

     ”The Supreme Court later asked us to meet and resolve our differences out of court, which we did and returned the Bill to the Presidency for approval, but only for it to renege on signing the Bill before the expiration of President’s tenure.

     ”While we carried on with all patriotic considerations, little did we know they were buying time.

     ”So, it can be clearly seen that the inability of the Fourth Alteration to become part of our constitution was not in any way the fault of the National Assembly. The rest is history.”

      He added that in keeping with the matching orders issued by the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the inauguration of this committee, the committee planned to conclude the present constitution amendment exercise by December 2016.

     On the need for the exercise, Ekweremadu noted that no constitution anywhere in the world is cast in iron, “for constitutions are made for the good of the citizens, not citizens for the constitutions.”

     He said it has always been a tradition to retouch or overhaul or even change a constitution entirely to reflect new imperatives and serve the nation better.

     Efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution, he said, have been informed by agitations for its amendment, which started almost immediately after the birth of the current democratic dispensation.

  • Police reopen alleged forgery case against Ekweremadu, others

    Police reopen alleged forgery case against Ekweremadu, others

    The police authorities have re-opened the case of alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules by presiding officers of the Seventh Senate and other individuals.

    The invitation letter, dated June 6, and signed by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, James Caulcrick, directed the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and immediate past President of the Senate, David Mark to appear for interaction.

    Also invited are the former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa; Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang; and the committee clerk, Dr. Nma Ogozy.

    The letter, entitled “first reminder”, made reference to an earlier one written by the Police to the officers on July 1, 2015 on the same subject matter.

    The police letter read, “I refer to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police’s letter No. CR:3000/X/FHQ/ABJ/VOL. 186/98 dated 1st July, 2015 requesting the under-listed officials of the seventh Senate to report to the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department for the purpose of conducting investigation on the above subject matter: Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Majority Leader of the Senate, Clerk of the National Assembly, Clerk of the Senate, Chairman, Business and Rules; Secretary, Business and Rules.

    “As at the time of writing this letter, none of the officials in the above seventh Senate list honoured the invitation to respond to the allegations, except the clerks of the National Assembly and the Senate.

    “Consequent upon the above, you are kindly requested to inform the listed officials yet to respond to report to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department on 9th June, 2016 for the purpose of further investigation on the matter.

    “While hoping that you will accord this request the urgent attention it deserves, please accept the warm regards of the Inspector-General of Police”.

    Uche Anichukwu and Paul Mumeh, media aides to Ekweremadu and Mark, yesterday denied any knowledge of the letters of invitation.

    The Senate rules were allegedly forged to alter the pattern of electing presiding officers at the inauguration of the eight Senate on June 9, 2015.

    Rules on nomination for committee chairmanship were also alleged to have been tampered with by the effected lawmakers.

  • Police reopen forgery case against Ekweremadu, others

    Police reopen forgery case against Ekweremadu, others

    The police authorities have re-opened the case of alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules by presiding officers of the Seventh Senate and other individuals.

    The invitation letter, dated June 6, 2016 and signed by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, James Caulcrick, directed the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and immediate past President of the Senate, David Mark, to appear for interaction.

    Also invited are the former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa; Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang and the committee clerk, Dr. Nma Ogozy.

    The letter, titled “first reminder,” made reference to an earlier one written by the police to the officers on July 1, 2015 on the same subject matter.

    The police letter reads, “I refer to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police’s letter No. CR:3000/X/FHQ/ABJ/VOL. 186/98 dated 1st July, 2015 requesting the under-listed officials of the seventh Senate to report to the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department for the purpose of conducting investigation on the above subject matter: Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Majority Leader of the Senate, Clerk of the National Assembly, Clerk of the Senate, Chairman, Business and Rules; Secretary, Business and Rules.

    “As at the time of writing this letter, none of the officials in the above seventh Senate list honoured the invitation to respond to the allegations, except the clerks of the National Assembly and the Senate.

    “Consequent upon the above, you are kindly requested to inform the listed officials yet to respond to report to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department on 9th June, 2016 for the purpose of further investigation on the matter.

    “While hoping that you will accord this request the urgent attention it deserves, please accept the warm regards of the Inspector-General of Police.”

    Uche Anichukwu and Paul Mumeh, media aides to Ekweremadu and Mark respectively, denied any knowledge of the letter when they were contacted by journalists on Thursday.

    The Senate rules were allegedly forged to alter the pattern of electing presiding officers at the inauguration of the eight Senate on June 9, 2015.

    Rules on nomination for committee chairmanship were also allegedly tampered with by the effected lawmakers.

     

  • Judge in cases against  Nyako, Saraki, Ekweremadu, others dies

    Judge in cases against  Nyako, Saraki, Ekweremadu, others dies

    The number of judges of the Federal High Court dropped by one yesterday with the death of Justice Steven Evoh Chukwu of the court’s Abuja division.

    The judge, who was said to have died early yesterday in an hospital in Garki, Abuja, had been reportedly sick for about a month now.

    Although the court’s management failed to issue a formal statement about judge’s death yesterday, many officials of the court confirmed the development.

    When The Nation visited the deceased judge’s courtroom, Court 9, located on the 4th floor of the courthouse, the officials wore mournful look. The court had not sat for sometime now.

    Before his death, Justice Chukwu was handling major cases like the trial of former Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako and his two children; the trial of former officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Sani Lulu, Taiwo Ogunjobi and others.

    The judge was also handling the case instituted by five Senators led by Abu Ibrahim, seeking to void the election that produced Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy President.

    Born on August 24, 1964 in Afikpo North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Justice Chukwu was appointed a judge of the Federal High Court on January 3, 2008.

    Before then, he did his one year National Youth Service at Chief Omoniyepe Chambers, 27 Hospital Road Akure,Ondo State between September 18,1988 – September 17, 1989.

    He was Legal Adviser- Karisto Industrial Systems, Km Aba/Enugu Express Road Aba; Associates Counsel, Prince Chika C. Ezerioha and Associates, Orulu Chambers. 118 Ikot Ekpene Road,Aba (between  1982 – 1992) and. Principal Solicitor in  Mezie Ehugbo Chambers, 100 Jubilee Road Aba (between 1992 -2006).

    The late judge attended Ehugbo Central School,Ekoli Edda,Afikpo South First School Leaving Certificate (1971 -1977) and Government Secondary School, Okposi Ohaozara L.G.A Ebonyi State (WASC) 1977 – 1982.

    He attended Imo State University where he studied Law between (1983 and 1987) and the Nigerian Law School between 1987 -1988.

  • No faction but contending interests in PDP, says Ekweremadu

    No faction but contending interests in PDP, says Ekweremadu

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday denied that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is factionalised.

    He admitted, however, that there are “contending interests” in the party.

    Ekweremadu spoke at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where he attended the national convention.

    Ekweremadu, who was in the company of Caretaker Chairman Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said “what exists within the PDP are only contending interests, which is normal in any political family”.

    He said: “For the purpose of clarification, there are no factions within the PDP family as I speak. What we have are contending interests. Such is common in any party. Yes, there were some disagreements, but the good thing is that we have not allowed such disagreements to degenerate into a major crisis that would warrant factions.

    “Instead, what happened in Port-Harcourt at the weekend further confirms PDP’s capacity to resolve issues in favour of laid down precepts and in the overall interest of our great party and nation.

    “I am sure what happened in Port-Harcourt remains a disappointment for those who were expectant of major crisis and factions in the PDP because we emerged from the convention more determined to change the change, to save our economy, reposition the electoral process, and make life more bearable for the suffering masses of Nigeria again.”

  • How to prevent tyranny in democracy, by Ekweremadu

    How to prevent tyranny in democracy, by Ekweremadu

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has identified strict adherence to the rule of law as the only way to prevent tyranny and oppression in a democracy.

    A statement by his media aide Uche Anichukwu, said Ekweremadu spoke in Enugu at a public lecture in honour of the late Prof. G.O.S Amadi, organised by the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria and the Prof. G.O.S Amadi Foundation. He spoke on “Strengthening the Foundations of Rule of Law in Nigeria”.

    He stressed that the rule of law was indispensable in any society that craves for justice, equity, and fairness.

    Noting that the foundation of the rule of law in Nigeria was the 1999 constitution, as amended, Ekweremadu added that to make the foundation stronger, Nigerians have a duty and a role to play.

    His words: “Those who think the strengthening of the rule of law is not their business are only playing the dangerous game of the cockerel, which refused to attend a meeting of the animal kingdom, claiming it was not his business. But, sadly for him, it was agreed at the meeting that his lineage would be used as sacrifice to the gods. The cock and his kindred are yet to recover from that “I-don’t-care” attitude. Maintaining the rule of law is, therefore, everybody’s business.

    “We all must be ready and willing to live by the spirit and letters of our laws. Much of our problems are not about the laws themselves, but about our disrespect for them. Indeed, a major difference between us and the developed world is that while we choose which rules, laws, or court judgments to obey or not to obey, they command obedience to their laws through strict enforcement that does not respect persons. We need to imbibe that attitude and culture in order to strengthen the foundations of the rule of law in Nigeria”.

    Senator Ekweremadu called on leaders to lead by example, insisting that it was one sure way to entrench the rule of law in Nigeria.

    “On leading by example, the words of Justice Louis D. Brandeis in Olmstead v. United States are instructive. In his dissenting opinion, he stated: ‘Our Government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the Government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto him; it invites anarchy’”.

    “It is very clear, therefore, that impunity and lawlessness are contagious. If those at the helms of leadership have no respect for the rule of law, their subordinates are not likely to respect the rule of law also. If they, by any means, show that the law is meant to catch their opponents and perceived enemies alone, they have unwittingly licensed their purported friends to scorn the rules and break the laws. And certainly, as a leader, you cannot choose which law or court verdict to obey or which to disobey”, he added.

    Chairman of the event and Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi described Senator Ekweremadu as “an icon” and a worthy alumnus of the UNN. He emphasised the need for strict adherence to the process of arraignment, noting that there is nothing like “Holden Charge” under the Nigerian legal system.

    “The process of arraignment is a strict part of the law. If you don’t observe it, then everything you have done would have been rendered null and void”, he said.

     

     

  • Ekweremadu: Enugu herdsmen’s attack‘ll be Nigeria’s last

    Ekweremadu: Enugu herdsmen’s attack‘ll be Nigeria’s last

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday said the recent attack on Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State by suspected Fulani herdsmen will be the last of such attacks in any part of then country.

    Ekweremadu, who led other members of the National Assembly from Enugu State to the area, described the damage done to the community as devastating.

    Announcing a donation of a transformer to the community, the senator assured that “this will bring an end to what herdsmen are doing”.

    He also announced a donation of N2 million to rebuild the two churches the herdsmen allegedly torched during the attack.

    Ekweremadu visited the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Enugu, where some of the injured were receiving treatment.

    The senator expressed shock over the casualties recorded during the attack.

    He said: “This will bring an end to what herdsmen are doing in Nigeria. We shall do our best to ensure that it doesn’t happen again, whether here or elsewhere.

    “NEMA (the National Emergency Management Agency) will also visit here tomorrow (Monday) with materials. In the meantime, the National Assembly caucus in our state is donating N2 million to help you start the rebuilding process.

    “We are going to ensure that roads here are given clear attention. After four years, the story of Uzo-Uwani will change.

    “I will also give you a transformer within the next three to four days.”

    In their separate speeches, Patrick Asadu and Dennis Agbo, representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South and Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal constituencies, chorused the need to prevent a recurrence.

    They noted that the attack on Nimbo would not be taken for granted.

    “They have been doing this and going free, but this attack on Nimbo will be the last. The people doing this are not just cattle rearers; they are terrorists, Boko Haram elements. We are not going to take it,” Asadu said.

    The parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nimbo, Rev. Patrick Obetta, narrated how God saved him from the invaders.

    The cleric told the delegation that 50 herdsmen invaded the church and vandalised it after several attempts to set it ablaze had failed.

    The traditional ruler, Igwe John Akor, said his community had been having harrowing experiences in the hands of Fulani herdsmen for decades.

    He said sad stories about Fulani herdsmen were regular in his domain.

    He urged Ekweremadu and his team to curb the menace so that the residents would enjoy some peace.

     

  • Enugu remains PDP stronghold – Ekweremadu

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, has said Enugu State will remain a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the challenges faced by the party.

    Ekweremadu made the declaration in Enugu on Saturday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the party in preparation for the PDP congresses in the state.

    He said the party has passed through several challenges for some time but will overcome them.

    “Enugu has always been a PDP state and will remain a PDP stronghold in the country,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Deputy Senate president as saying at the meeting.

    He, however, urged members of the party to comport themselves during the congresses beginning at the ward level, adding that everybody would be carried along.

    In his remarks, the former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, commended the state government for sustaining the party in the face of trials.

    Nwodo also commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on the action taken to address the April 25 invasion of Uzo-Uwani by herdsmen.

    He called for support and cooperation of all and sundry in taking the state to greater height.

  • Kudos for Ekweremadu at book launch

    Kudos for Ekweremadu at book launch

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu saw the need for change in the fight against corruption and impunity.

    The President, represented by Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this in Abuja at the presentation of the book: Who will Love my Country, by Ekweremadu

    He noted that “the author demonstrated that Nigerians can get the Nigeria of their dreams, if they put the nation first”.

    The President said: “We should start with the individual; if we change our ways, society will change for the better.

    “The author urged all tiers  to undertake programmes and policies to enhance the people’s living standards.

    “The budget is designed to bring our people out of poverty, enhance their living standards and bring smiles to their faces.

    ‘’The N500 billion social intervention fund was designed to, among others, create jobs for 500,000 unemployed graduates, provide loans for one million Nigerians, including market men and women as well as artisans to start up their business.

    “I hail the deputy Senate president for investing his time and energy to write the book, which is a wake up call and thought provoking.”

    Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), who chaired the event, said from the title, it’s easy to determine that Ekweremadu has set out on a journey of self-discovery.

     Ekweremadu urged Nigerians to show more love  by rising above tribe, ethnic, religious and political persuasions.

    He called on leaders to govern effectively and use power wisely, saying it’s the only way to safeguard the citizens’ interest.

    Ekweremadu noted that loving Nigeria entails revising attitudes, values, and how they treat one another, which “demands some sacrifice.”

  • Forgery: Court adjourns Saraki, Ekweremadu’s case to June 1

    Forgery: Court adjourns Saraki, Ekweremadu’s case to June 1

    The case challenging the emergence of Senators Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as Senate president and deputy president respectively has been adjourned to June 1.

    The Federal High Court Abuja adjourned the case following the absence of four out of the six defendants in court on Wednesday.

    At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Justice Stephen Chukwu adjourned the case when he heard that the four defendants were not served with hearing notice by the court bailiff, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Mamman Osuman (SAN), told Justice Chukwu that counsel to Ekweremadu, Mr. Patrick Ikweto, could not be located for the notice to be served on him.

    Osuman added that findings by his legal team and from the court bailiff indicated that Ikweto had relocated from his chambers in Wuse to an unknown destination.

    He said that although the court required counsel relocating office to notify courts where he had cases, Ikweto had not done so.

    The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to June 1 and ordered that fresh hearing notices be served on all parties.