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Tag: Governor of Kogi state

  • Court orders Kogi, others to release judiciary workers’ pay arrears

    Succor seems imminent for thousands of unpaid court workers in Kogi State as the National Industrial Court of Nigerian (NICN) in Abuja has ordered Governor Yahaya Bello and others to release forthwith funds due to the state’s judiciary, which were withheld since July 2018.

    Justice Edith Agbakoba, in a judgment, also ordered the state’s Chief Judge and other heads of courts in the state to immediately begin payment of salaries, allowances and emoluments owed to court workers on their receipt of funds from the executive arm of government.

    The judgment is on a suit filed by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) against the Kogi State governor and eight others.

    The others are the Attorney-General, Kogi State, Commissioner for Finance, Accountant-General, Auditor-General, the Chief Judge, the Grand Kadi, President, Customary Court of Appeal and the Judicial Service Commission.

    The plaintiff said its members in Kogi State have not been paid since July 2018, owing to the failure of the state government to release funds due to the judiciary from the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the state, from which salaries and other payments are made to court workers.

    Justice Agbakoba, in the judgment delivered on June 3, 2019, a copy of which The Nation sighted in Abuja yesterday, declared as a violation of sections 121(3) of the Constitution and 5 of the Kogi State Public Finance (Judiciary Special Provisions) Laws No. 6 of 1991 the failure of the first to fifth defendants to release to heads of courts’ funds due to the judiciary from which the salaries, allowances and other payments are to be made.

    Read Also: Bello, Audu, Dichie and struggle for Kogi APC ticket

    The first to fifth defendants are the governor, the Attorney-General, Finance Commissioner, Accountant-General and Auditor-General.

    Justice Agbakoba held that the first to fifth lacked the power to withhold court workers’ salaries and other entitlements which are payable from any amount standing to the credit of the Kogi State Judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.

    The judge, particularly ordered: “he 1st – 5th defendants are hereby directed to pay forthwith, the arrears of salaries, allowances and emoluments of the members of the claimant from the N1, 529, 885, 261.92 being eight months accumulated arrears standing to the credit of the said Judiciary from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State and payable directly to the heads of the courts from which salaries and emoluments of the members of the claimant ought to be paid for the past eight  months since July 2018 to February 2019.

    “The 1st – 5th defendants whether acting by themselves, their agents, privies or servants, are by a perpetual injunction order of this court hereby restrained from continuing to withhold the monthly salaries, allowances and emoluments payable from subventions or amounts standing to the credit of Kogi State Judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the State and payable directly to the heads of the courts concerned in line with the provision of section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended).”

    Listed as the sixth to ninth defendants are the Chief Judge, the Grand Kadi, the President, Customary Court of Appeal and the Judicial Service Commission.

  • Senators in rowdy session

    Senators yesterday took partisan positions on the involvement of the military in the yet-to-be concluded general elections.

    They were close to exchanging blows in the chamber over alleged militarisation of the process.

    Another issue that pitted the lawmakers against one another was an alleged inconsistent application of electoral laws by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Tempers rose. Discordant and acrimonious voices became the order in the hallowed chamber, which was sharply divided along party lines, with All Progressives Congress (APC) senators squaring up to their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts, for a possible offensive.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki came to the rescue to no avail. The lawmakers shouted and threw punches into the air.

    The row was sparked by a motion on “The militarisation of the Nigerian electoral process and the inconsistent application of electoral laws by the INEC”.

    It was sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) with senators Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North), Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South), Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East), Clifford Ordia (Edo Central), Ahmed Ogembe (Kogi Central), Biodum Olujimi (Ekiti South) and Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central) as co-sponsors.

    Melaye claimed that the ADC to the Governor of Kogi State “mounted a roadblock with over 200 security agents, some of who were fake” on the eve of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    Many PDP members, he said, were denied access into Kogi State.

    According to him, a former governor of the state, Idris Wada, was forced to return to Abuja when his security aides were arrested.

    He went on: “Some senators here and members of the House of Representatives were stopped from coming into Lokoja. I had to consult some celestial powers and that was how I got into Kogi State and my village through celestial powers.

    “This is not about PDP or APC. This is about Nigeria. Where is NPN? where is UPN? All these things will come and go. The Senate cannot look the other way while these things are ongoing. Lecturers and Youth Corps members were killed during the elections.”

    “It is pathetic that there is no national broadcast from the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. We must not have this kind of elections again in this country, Melaye concluded.

    The Kogi West senator prayed the Senate to:

    • condemn the “massive” use of military forces in the national electoral process;
    • urge the INEC to ensure the unrestricted and consistent application of all electoral laws without bias to a candidate or a party in all elections;
    • direct the Senate Committee on INEC to investigate all perceived inconsistent application of electoral laws by INEC in the 2019 elections; and
    • urge the President to give assent to the recent amendment to the Electoral Act to ensure a level playing field and adoption of equal standards in our national elections for a strong and peaceful democracy in Nigeria.

    Seconding the motion, Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan said the Senate has a role to ensure the provision of necessary legislative intervention.

    Read also: Post-election litigation: Bulkachuwa warns tribunal judges against misconduct

    Lawan said: “We are here to smoothen processes in all affairs of governance. The challenges of elections in Nigeria have been here with us.

    “We should consider those things we feel need the intervention of the Senate.

    ”I believe that our process remains a journey. Our electoral process needs a lot of refining and fine-tuning.

    “The executive is also concerned. Here, we have an opportunity to discuss with INEC what the challenges have been so that we can have an evaluation of the entire situation.

    “The ball is in our court. We should review what happened and see where legislative intervention is required. Then we will put it up before the executive.

    “When INEC postponed the election, we were concerned because it was becoming a trend that must be stopped.”

    Trouble started when Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi spoke about election rigging.

    Mrs Olujimi said: “What happened on the 23rd of February has been captured by Melaye. We are Nigerians and we are in Nigeria. For this country to favour us, we must speak truth to power.

    “Whoever is siding what happened during the elections because of partisanship, he or she is unfair to Nigeria.

    “That election was a sham. There was no way that election would have been an advancement of what we had in 2015. INEC was inconsistent. They used different methods in many places. They used EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) and Civil Defence (Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps) to rout people.

    “Someone, somewhere, has refused to give assent to the electoral amendment. During the elections, rigging was legalised. We need to look at that as a legislature.

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us. Being a member of a political party doesn’t make you more Nigerian. Nigeria has to move forward. APC must surrender itself to the processes in Nigeria.”

    Mrs. Olujimi’s attempt to reel out the shortcomings of the elections did not go down well with her colleagues, especially from the APC camp.

    Lawan took the floor and called for caution.

    The Yobe North senator said: “There is an established process already in place. Whoever has any grievances can explore the options that have been made available. I don’t think this issue should be permitted here.”

    He reminded the Senate that the motion was specific, stressing that extraneous issues should not be brought in.

    Fearing degeneration of the debate, Saraki said: “We have an opportunity to take this motion and find a solution. Those contributing should not deviate from the issue so that we don’t have a turbulent session. Let me restrict us.”

    Saraki’s plea for decorum failed as it appeared that the senators had made up their minds about the motion.

    Senator Mao Ohuabunwa said that the Senate should treat prayers of the motion dispassionately to ensure credible elections and a level-playing field.

    The Abia North senator said that it was commendable that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had set up a panel of enquiry on the role of the military

    The four prayers raised by Melaye created another round of rancour.

    APC senators appeared to have voted heavily against the prayers but Saraki overruled them to pave the way for the adoption of the prayers.

  • Kogi home to herdsmen – Bello

    Kogi home to herdsmen – Bello

    The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has assured Fulani herdsmen of his administration’s commitment to their welfare.

    Bello during an emergency state security stakeholders’ meeting at the government house, Lokoja, on Wednesday, said Kogi State will not follow suit in the enactment of anti-grazing laws, as others, including Benue State, saying herdsmen were welcome in any part of Kogi.

    He asserted that the herdsmen can call their kinsmen displaced in other places, to Kogi.

    One of the traditional rulers in attendance, Chief Ahmed Aku, who was earlier kidnapped by suspected herdsmen, had advised the governor to tow in the footstep of Benue and Ekiti governors.

    “I will not enact any law to stop Fulani herdsmen from coming to Kogi State. I will not be part of any law that will forbid them from carrying out their normal business in Kogi State.

    “Why don’t we develop a law that will make us live together harmoniously and tap from our different economic values? “The next ‘oil’ this country is rediscovering now is agriculture. So if you don’t want anybody to disrupt the farms, I beseech you to also allow the Fulani carry out their businesses,” said Bello.

    He directed the ministries to ensure that the Fulani were integrated into the traditional council area of all the local government areas of the state, saying, “There must, henceforth, be a representative of Fulani in the local traditional council.

    “This must also be replicated at the area traditional council, while the secretary to the State Government must see that a Fulani representative is present at the state council.

    “This will ensure that the Fulani are aware of, and are part of decision making in the state”.

  • Driver killed by unidentified soldier at Kogi-Abuja boundary

    There was a gridlock Friday along the Abuja-Lokoja highway following the killing of an articulated vehicle driver by an unidentified soldier.

    Vehicles coming from the north states and others heading to the south were held for almost five hours as a result of the accident as trailer drivers blocked the boundary road between Kogi and Abuja, in protest.

    Eyewitness account had it that the incident occurred before the Jamata bridge in Koton-Karfi local government, when a trailer conveying cows from the Abuja axis was stopped by the solders at the check point.

    Source further said that an argument between one of the soldiers and the driver resulted into fracas.

    The eyewitnesses said one of the solder shot at the driver, killing him instantly.

    The military men it was gathered evacuated the checkpoint with their vehicle and escaped to avoid attack by the drivers who later barricaded the road with their trailers.

    Meanwhile the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has described the incident as unfortunate.

    This was contained in press statement issued by the Director General, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo.

    It reads: “The unfortunate incident is being investigated by the relevant authorities. Let us all wait for the report of the investigations. But one thing is clear: The Kogi State Government will ensure protection of lives and property as every life is important.

    “We urge the people of the area to remain calm and not take the laws into their hands as government will get to the root of the matter.

    “Governor Yahaya Bello is committed to protecting the lives and property of all Kogites and commuters passing through the State”.

    The governor urged residents of Koton-karfe to refrain from jungle justice “as government has enough machinery for investigations and justice dispensation”.

  • Supreme Court upholds Yahaya Bello’s election

    Supreme Court upholds Yahaya Bello’s election

    Yahaya Bello remains the elected governor of Kogi state, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, bringing to an end all the acrimonies around the election last year.

    The court which held all the nation on tenterhooks, while awaiting the judgement dismissed all the appeals filed by all the parties against Bello’s election last year.

    It dismissed the appeal by James Faleke, the deputy governorship candidate of Abubakar Audu, who died before the election result was announced and who was substituted in the supplementary election by Bello.

    Faleke contended that Audu had won the election and there was no need for the supplementary election. He argued further that as the joint holder of Audu’s ticket, he should be declared the winner of the election.

    But the justices did not agree with him.

    His appeal was dismissed for lacking in merit. The justices affirmed the decisions of the lower courts.

    The court also dismissed former Governor Idris Wada’s case against Bello.

    Also dismissed were appeals filed by the ADC and the Labour Party.

    The justices said reasons for all the failed applications would be given on Friday, the 30th of September, 2016.

    There were five appeals in all against the Court of Appeal rulings which upheld the election of Governor Bello.

    Audu of the All Progressives Congress died before the final announcement of results election conducted on November 21, 2015 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The election was declared inconclusive.

    The re-run held on December 5, 2015 saw the emergence of Bello who became the torch bearer of the party after the death of Audu.

    Alhaji Wada, who contested the election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and Mr. Faleke had approached the Supreme Court in August challenging Mr. Bello’s victory at the Court of Appeal.

    The appellate court had upheld an earlier judgement in June by the Kogi State Governorship Election Tribunal, which gave victory to the governor.

    The tribunal in the judgment read by its chairman, Justice Halima Mohammed said Mr. Faleke’s petition lacked merit and therefore threw it out.

    The tribunal further held that the fact that INEC declared the first election inconclusive meant no winner had emerged.

    It also said that all votes belonged to political parties and not the candidate who contested on their platforms.

    It said Mr. Faleke had no locus standi to challenge Mr. Bello’s nomination by the APC to replace Mr. Audu as he (Audu) was not the governor-elect.

     

  • Kogi crisis: Reps summon Bello, CoAS

    Kogi crisis: Reps summon Bello, CoAS

    The House Representatives has summoned the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai for what it called “acts of illegality carried out in the state.”

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion raised under matters of public importance entitled: “Urgent Need to Stop Illegality and Impunity in Kogi State”, sponsored by Emeka Ujam (PDP-Enugu).

    Ujam while presenting the motion at plenary said that on June 3, masked men attacked the residential quarters of the Kogi assembly in “an attempt to assassinate Momoh and 14 of his loyalists. ”

    According to him, on the same day, armed military men suspected to be officers from the Army Records Lokoja, along with security details of the Governor also went to the House of Assembly and displaced police men stationed at the complex.

    Members were not happy that the Kogi Governor disobeyed both the resolutions of the House and a court ruling asking that he reinstates Jimoh Momoh, the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

    Also, the Governor has allegedly refused to send his budget to the House, despite the ruling of the Federal High Court Abuja and the sitting of the Jimoh group at plenary.

    Ali Isa (PDP-Gombe) while making his contribution said the Governor has shown contempt for the rule of law. According to him, Bello has committed impeachable offences and the House ought to commence impeachment proceedings against him.

    The House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila insisted that the House should take action on the issue, adding that this time whatever decision the House takes should be fully implemented.

    According to him, only the President enjoys the sole authority of approving military operations and the use of soldiers in the invasion of the state assembly and the quarters of the lawmakers amounted to usurping the role of the President and Commander- In-Chief of the Armed Forces.

    He said: “We have constituted Committees headed by Pally (Iriase) and by me. We adopted their reports. It is time for us to draw the line and we must draw the line today,” he said.

    Leo Ogor, House Minority Leader, while supporting the motion noted that the National Assembly has the powers under Sections 89 of the 1999 Constitution to invite anyone in Nigeria when investigating issues of national importance.  It had become necessary, he said, to invite the Kogi Governor to ascertain, “why the law hasn’t been respected”.

    After it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker Yakubu Dogara and supported by majority of the members, the motion was subsequently referred to the ad hoc committee on the crisis headed by the Leaser of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Recall that the House had first intervened in the Kogi crisis on the 9th of March after the impeachment of the Kogi assembly, Speaker Momoh Lawal Jimoh.

    Subsequently, a report by the Hon. Pally Iriase headed investigative committee was adopted and the House took over the functions of the state assembly.

    Sequel to the directive of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to the IGP, to disregard the directive of the National Assembly, a committee headed by Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, was also inaugurated.

  • Bello sworn in as Kogi governor

    Bello sworn in as Kogi governor

    Alhaji Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was Wednesday sworn-in as fourth executive governor of Kogi State.

    The oath of office was administered on him at exactly 12noon by the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.

    On hand at the inauguration was the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and some members of the National Executive Council of the party.

    Others include representative of Senate President. Senator Kabiru Gaya, Governor Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa) and his Benue State counterpart. Samuel Orton.