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Tag: House of Assembly

  • Police speak on alleged siege on Ekiti Assembly complex

    The Ekiti State Police Command has allayed the fear of the people of the state on the alleged deployment of armed policemen to the House of Assembly complex Wednesday night.

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Caleb Ikechukwu, said there was nothing wrong with the alleged deployment which he described as a security matter.

    Read Also:Why we shut down ‎Ekiti Assembly – Speaker

    Ikechukwu said: “Anytime you see deployment of policemen it is to ensure the safety and security of that place and the people there.”

    The police spokesman who spoke in a telephone chat said there was no need for anybody to panic about the deployment of security men in the quest to ensure security of life and property except for those who have some form of crime to hide.

    Ikechukwu added: “Anytime you see us doing deployment, it’s for a reason, it is to ensure safety of that place at a given time. That means there must be information which we are working with and that shows how proactive the Nigeria Police Force is.”

    On the alleged letter seeking for police deployment, Ikechukwu said: “Are you now meddling into our internal affairs? Anybody that disclosed that information is disclosing secret information and that person should be arrested and prosecuted.”

  • Imo impeachment saga: Abuja moves to save Madumere

    Following protests against Imo State House of Assembly’s moves to impeach the State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, there are fresh moves by powerful forces in Imo and Abuja to frustrate the move, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    SINCE the Imo State House of Assembly formally served an impeachment notice to the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, on Tuesday this week, the battle of supremacy between his supporters and those of his principal, Governor Rochas Okorocha, has assumed a new dimension. Today, top officials of the Federal Government in Abuja, according to our sources, have intervened to frustrate the move and save the embattled deputy governor.

    The notice, in which the lawmakers accused the Deputy Governor of gross misconduct, was servQed on Madumere through substituted means (newspaper publications) in Owerri. It was signed by the Speaker, Acho Ihim and 13 other lawmakers, including Ugonna Ozuruigbo (Nwangele), Chinedu Offor (Onuimo), Ikechukwu Amuka (Ideato South ),  Lawrence Duruji (Ehime Mbano), Uche Ejiogu (Ihite Uboma), Henry Ezediaro (Oguta), Maxwell Odunze (Orlu), Lloyd Chukwuemeka (Owerri North), Chika Madumere (Nkwerre),  Uju Onwudiwe (Njaba),  Ngozi Obiefule (Isu), Victor Onyewuchi (Owerri west),  and Arthur Egwim (Ideato North).

    Months before the lawmakers’ latest action, alleged plan to remove the Deputy Governor over new calculations for the 2019 governorship race had dominated interest amongst observers of Imo State politics. It dates back to initial speculation that Okorocha had resolved to support his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him as against his deputy, Madumere, who many had over the years seen as Okorocha’s choice. The matter had generated so much tension until the governor finally made the declaration publicly.

    That declaration marked the final parting of ways between the two close associates as Madumere, citing the interest of his people, insisted on contesting for the governorship position on the ticket of APC, in spite of Okorocha’s decision.

    The initial negotiation: Senate or governorship?

    The Nation gathered that before the hitherto close associates finally parted ways, Okorocha had the burden of settling his political family, especially his deputy, who, we gathered, was the real coordinator of the political family since Okorocha came to power. Sources within the family confided that the issue of what to give Madumere was a very difficult subject even for Owelle. At a point, the source said, the governor toyed with the idea of settling Madumere with the Owerri Senatorial ticket, as a way of making way for Nwosu. “That idea did not work because Madumere with other important Owerri stakeholders and many others, who supported the deputy governor within the family, saw it as an unfair deal and so they probably advised Madumere not to accept the offer. This development deepened the crack as the governor viewed the attitude of the deputy and the concerned members of the family as a direct challenge to his authority as the leader,” he said.

    Considering the proximity of the impeachment saga to the failed settlement negotiations, it seems the result was the plan to cut the deputy governor to size through formal impeachment. But our source explained that some lawmakers vehemently opposed the idea, leading to the intrigues that preceded the service of the impeachment notice. It would be recalled that while the two sides were still denying any knowledge or plan to impeach Madumere, five lawmakers, known to be his supporters, were suspended in very controversial circumstances. After the first four lawmakers, were suspended, another one was finally suspended, bringing the number of pro-Madumere lawmakers suspended to five. At this stage, it became clear that the state House of Assembly was set to impeach the Deputy Governor.

    So, when on Tuesday, this week, the lawmakers served the impeachment notice to Madumere, in spite of the subsisting legal battles over the matter, a new round of intrigues and efforts to save the deputy governor commenced.

    Madumere’s response

    Madumere had since responded to the allegation in a statement signed by Uche Onwuchekwa, the Special Assistant/CPS to the Deputy Governor of Imo State. The statement reads: “The office of the Deputy Governor of Imo State has received the notice of gross misconduct circulating round the State and shared in various platforms on the social media signed by 13 members of Imo State House of Assembly that bothers on the following:

    1. Absence without official reason or permission duly obtained from office for a period of three (3) months.
    2. Failure to perform any of the constitutional function of Office of Deputy Governor of Imo State, including but not limited to:
    3. Failure/refusal to attend constitutionally mandated proceedings of the State Executive Council;
    4. Failure/refusal to attend constitutional mandated proceedings of the State Security Council.
    5. Refusal to attend, and to hold meetings with the Governor and Commissioners of the Government of Imo State for the governance of Imo State made compulsory by and under S.193 (2) of the 1999 Constitution
    6. Concealment of felonious conduct affecting the presentation of self as eligible candidate of Office of Deputy Governor, Imo State, having been convicted and imprisoned for theft in the United States of America.

    We hereby respond as follows:

    1. The first claim of absence is rather an old ploy of calling a dog a bad name to hang it. Fortunately, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere is an administrator per excellence who does not joke with his duties, especially his constitutional responsibilities. As such, he has never absconded from office the period so claimed. He is constitutionally saddled with the responsibilities of superintending Boundary Commission. By our records, the Deputy Governor of Imo State has never abdicated from such responsibility. Considering the period under review People of Umuoma of Ihitte-Uboma local government, Ihube of Okigwe local government among others can testify of the Deputy Governor’s sagacity in crises resolution with particular reference to April 11, April 16 2018.

    His Excellency also participated in one day retreat for Stakeholders in the management of Nigeria boundaries, which held in the Airforce Conference Center, Abuja on May 7, 2018 in the company of the Surveyor General of the State and the Principal Secretary to the Deputy Governor.

    1. A. Refusal to attend Constitutional mandated proceedings of the State Executive Council is also one of the allegations that cannot stand any administrative procedure. There are laid down procedures through which a Deputy Governor or any member of the executive Council can be invited for Executive council meeting. We hereby state that the Deputy Governor has never been invited for such meetings either through a memo or any official notices and thereby cannot stand against the deputy governor with the period in review.
    2. As stated above, the Deputy Governor can only attend a meeting he is officially invited to and he is no spirit to know when meetings are slated except he is duly informed.
    3. Refusal to attend, and to hold meetings with the Governor is to say the least another exercise in triviality as the Deputy Governor cannot force himself on the Governor, especially when he has been tagged a pariah in the Government circle. We state here that Governor Okorocha has never created such opportunity to meet with the Deputy Governor to discuss the programmes and activities of the Government other than the once we embarrassingly hear by the road side and other sources. To this extent, where the Deputy Governor’s inputs are needed, there are right procedures through which he could be reached either through his Principle Secretary and other principal officers or directly to the Deputy Governor.
    4. The most embarrassing, among the spurious allegations, is the annoying allegation of concealment of felonious conduct affecting the presentation of self as eligible candidate of office of Deputy Governor of Imo State. This is not only astonishing but an extreme show of lack of due diligence. The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, has never been convicted of any civil matter let alone theft.

    We are pained to state that two times the Deputy Governor had to go through the pains of losing his freedom in detention were all in the course of saving Owelle Rochas Okorocha from public disgrace. He rather had to carry Okorocha’s cross and bore his shame. It will be recalled that Prince Madumere shortly after Achike Udenwa’s victory at the polls in 1999 where he had to face contempt of Court for failure to make it to the court. He was in detention in the United States for about one month all because he was delayed by Governor Okorocha. To the glory of God, Prince Madumere was acquitted of any wrong doing.

    The second time he had to stoop that Governor Okorocha may be spared of the humiliation of getting incarcerated, Prince Madumere again yielded and was detained for almost two months on phony charges, which he also been absolved of all charges.”

    Fresh moves to save Madumere

    Soon after the ‘newspaper’ notice was published, supporters of the deputy governor took to the streets to formally protest the move and seek ways of stopping the impeachment. They took over the streets of Owerri as early as 6 am, singing various anti-Okorocha songs, even as they accused the governor of masterminding what they described as kangaroo charges against his deputy.

    They carried placards with various inscriptions such as, “Okorocha leave Madumere alone;” “Okorocha, must you foist your son-in-law on Imo people?”; “We are in a democracy not in ‘familiocracy;’” “We say no to Okorocha’s third term agenda;” “APC will not accept the imposition of family candidate;” “NWC, rise up before we lose Imo to PDP;” and “We appeal to President Buhari to intervene in Imo situation.”

    “Okorocha controls the House as his personal estate, without reference to the feelings and aspirations of the citizenry,” they said.

    They said Madumere was innocent of the charges levelled against him. It was the first formal effort to frustrate the move.

    Though the impeachment notice, titled, ‘Notice of gross misconduct,’ alleged that the deputy governor had “concealment of felonious conduct affecting the presentation of self as an eligible candidate of office of deputy governor, Imo State, having been convicted and imprisoned for theft in the United States of America,” among other charges, the protesters declared Madumere innocent, accusing the lawmakers of abandoning their legitimate duties to do the bidding of the governor. They also described the move against Madumere as a grave injustice, saying that the allegations were trumped up charges aimed at impeaching the deputy governor for daring to oppose Okorocha’s position to install his son-in-law as the next governor of the state.

    Not impressed by the demonstration, the House, during its Wednesday’s sitting, however ordered the Clerk, Chris Duru, to write the state Chief Judge, Paschal Nnadi, to probe the allegations and ascertain if the deputy governor was guilty of gross misconduct as contained in the petition signed by 13 members of the House.

    They also described the state House of Assembly as the worst Imo had ever had, calling it a mere rubber stamp in the hand of Okorocha.

    They also described the state House of Assembly as the worst Imo had ever had, calling it a mere rubber stamp in the hand of Okorocha.

    Aside the protesters in Owerri; Prince Madumere has received support from unlikely quarters. In Imo, most of the outstanding members of the opposition have openly spoken in support of the deputy governor, a development some observers describe as a signal that if the lawmakers succeeds in impeaching Madumere, there may be major alliance between the state APC and some major opposition parties and leaders to battle Okorocha.

    Senator Victor Umeh’s decision to add his voice to the growing opposition, according Chief Christian Uba, has further expanded Madumere’s support beyond Imo. But in Imo, prominent leaders like former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Zeek-Martins Nnadozie and former Governor Ikedi Ohakin are among prominent Imolites that had openly berated Okorocha and the House of Assembly over the impeachment moves. They described it as undemocratic.

    Ihedioha alleged that the impeachment process was masterminded by the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha. According to him, Okorocha’s interest in Madumere’s impeachment was because Madumere had expressed desire to contest the state governorship which was contrary to Okorocha’s preference for his in-law, Uche Nwosu. “This unfortunate development is particularly alarming and indeed worrisome to all the advocate and defenders of democracy and the rule of law.

    “It is therefore, incontrovertible that this move, being undertaken by Governor Okorocha and Imo House of Assembly is a colossal assault on all known democratic tenets, including freedom of choice, freedom of association and the right of an individual to aspire to any political position in the land.”

    A source close to the Imo State Government House, who confirmed the intervention of the presidency on Friday said it is certain that the planned impeachment has been stalled. “It cannot hold again. This is because the presidency has intervened. The presidency is of the view that the allegations against the deputy governor were not proved and so he cannot be impeached on the basis of such spurious allegations. They believe he is innocent. According to the them, ‘the man has not been found wanting, so why must he be impeached at this point, considering the likely implication of that action on the party’s fortunes in 2019.”

    Asked if the PDP and APGA leaders in Imo and Anambra states, who are also against the move are working with the presidency on this matter, the source said: “No! They can’t be working together but it is just that what is not justifiably cannot be justified. The Imo PDP and APGA leaders opposing Okorocha on this matter simply see an opportunity to get at him ahead of the 2019 elections. This is what the APC leaders from Abuja may have seen and have therefore decided to intervene,” he said.

    The source however revealed that it is not the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee of APC that is intervening now to stop the impeachment. According to him, “The new National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has so far shown no interest in resolving the matter. He has not made any concrete move to intervene. The people working hard now to stop the matter and save Madumere from the impeachment move are directly from the presidency. I am not allowed to name them. But they are the ones that are concerned to save APC in Imo. They have said that the House should not continue with the impeachment since the Chief Judge has not constituted the required committee and since there seem to be no justifiable reason to commence the process.”

  • “Opposition parties no longer viable in Ondo State”

    From his University days at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife, Osun State, where he studied Microbiology, Egunjobi Adeyinka Kamoru, popularly called Sileto, has carved a niche for himself as a leader. He is aspiring to represent Akoko Northeast state constituency at the Ondo State House of Assembly. He says Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, has nailed the coffins of opposition parties in Ondo with his performance in office. He spoke with Taiwo Alimi.

    WHAT are your thoughts on the last All Progressives Congress (APC) Convention?

    I would start from the state congress which was held last month. We had a peaceful Congress which further cemented All Progressives Congress (APC) strongholds in Ondo State. All party members came out in solidarity with the governor and the elections were conducted in a peaceful manner. Governor Akeredolu once again made bold his promise to unify all members because the emergence of Ade Adetimehin as the substantive chairman in the state was largely the true desire of party members.

    The governor allowed the popular will of the people to carry the day and I believe that is the essence of democracy. Adetimehin, who had been in acting capacity since 2016, got overwhelming votes on the day. And in aligning with aspiration of the governor, our chairman, Adetimehin has set about making sure there is sanity and discipline in the state chapter of the party and he has been talking with aggrieved members to ensure that APC is the only viable party in Ondo State.

    I make bold to say at this junction that all other parties in the state are dead. Dead not in the manner of not been alive, but in the sense that they are no longer viable opposition because the present administration of Akeredolu has been building bridges by aligning and reconciling his people to his aspirations and bring to his people the dividend of democracy. You can in-fact say APC is the only party in Ondo State.

    In my constituency, he has achieved wonderful feats in the area of road construction, by flaging off the dualization Ikare township road. There is a huge mountain in my community that governments before him have not been able to do anything about. He has taken it upon himself to bring down the hill and at the moment construction is on-going there. He is delivering the dividend of democracy to grassroots.

    How do you see the party a the national level?

    At the national level, the party has also exhibited the progressive spirit by electing a true progressive in the person of Adam Oshiomhole, who I have admired since he was a labour leader. His achievement in Edo State is still fresh and the manner with which he emerged national chairman is commendable because every member of the party unanimously gave him their mandate. This is a sign of unity in the party and the right way to go.

    In what areas do you think you would like to make a difference given the opportunity to represent Akoko north east?

    My people are agrarian in nature. They are into large and small scale farming and we are talking here about cash crops such as cocoa farming, kolanut and palm tree plantation. A good number of them are farmers. They also grow crop of different kinds and that is one aspect that I would like to use my office if given the opportunity to give a helping hand.  Our women will be empowered to help in the expansion of their businesses by organising them into cooperatives  and giving them revolving loan with little or no interest to help in stimulating there businesses. Also, my people don’t joke with education and I intend to encourage them the more, support and sponsor bill that will make education accessible to all irrespective of one’s social or economic class.

    What are your thoughts on the leadership of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu?

    It is evident that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has turned a lot of things around since becoming governor of Ondo State. In the area of infrastructure, he has touched the life of many people in different local government area including Ikare Akoko. He is the best thing to happen to Akoko people. The projects, spread across the three senatorial districts, is a proof of the governor’s promise to the people not to leave any part of the state untouched in his developmental strides. It is also a distant departure from the past when leaders concentrated projects in particular sections of the state, and leave other parts to suffer.

    Governor Akeredolu has brought peace and tranquillity in Ondo state and I can conveniently say that our state is poised to become the leading investment destination in no distant time.  The good people of our state, from the civil servant to the artisan and the common man on the street  recognises his good works and  are happy and ready to support him.   All you need to do to appreciate Gov. Akeredolu is to move round the state to see what Akeredolu’ s administration had done so far and is still doing.

    Realistically, do you stand a chance especially with the incumbent also in the race?

    I have a very good chance. In terms of popularity, I am the leading, the most loved and most trusted amongst the lots. I represent the totality of what my people want as their legislator. I am accessible, credible, humble and loyal to the yearnings and aspirations of my people. I have been interacting with the leaders and the good people of my constituency and they are happy to support me, because in me they saw the fulfilment of their hope and I am somebody they believed in. However, one thing is sure, it is God that ordains.

    The governor is people oriented and he has allowed internal democracy to strive under his leadership. And that is why we have little or no quarrels and less fight in the party. He has allowed the people’s choice to emerge as party executive at all level from the ward to the state chairman and given what is on ground now, I have a good chance of emerging as my party flag bearer in Akoko north east. Like I said before, Akeredolu was the choice of the people and that is why APC won in Ondo state and his administration is peaceful.

    How close are you to your local government Council?

    I am close to my local government, the party executive and even to the Chairman of Akoko North East Local Government, Rafiu Eniayewu. I am inspired too by the great work he’s doing. I am aware of his grassroots programmes that have touched the lives of my people, like vaccination against killer’s diseases prevalent amongst infant and children such as measles, diphtheria, polio among others, which he provided for children in the local council in conjunction with the state and federal government. I also commend him for the peace and orderliness in the local government area.

  • Imo: Ripples over plot to impeach Deputy Governor

    Fresh revelations and recent developments in Imo State House of Assembly have renewed fear that the alleged plot to impeach the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, may be true after all, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    SINCE the Imo State House of Assembly suspended four of its members during its first plenary after the face-off at the National Convention by the two opposing factions in the state, the allegation that Governor Rochas Okorocha has instructed his men to impeach his estranged Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, has again taken the centre stage in the politics of the state ahead 2019.

    It would be recalled that both Okorocha and Madumere had, in the past, formally denied any knowledge of moves to impeach Madumere.

    The denials notwithstanding, there were signs that something must happen as the robust relationship between Okorocha and Madumere continues to deteriorate.  So, before the open disagreement at the convention, the intrigues that trailed the congresses in the state and the courteous utterances of the leading figures in the face-off had created a very complex situation as it became rather difficult to describe the extent of the crack in the governor and his deputy’s personal and official relationships. At a point, some observers concluded that Okorocha’s camp may have given up in the battle for the control of Imo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), especially because of the victories recorded by the allied forces against the governor’s camp at the state congresses. But informed observers could not help but note that Governor Okorocha’s resolve to stop the re-election of Senator Hope Uzodimma as the National Organising Secretary of APC was expressed without mincing words.

    So, as APC moved to Abuja for its National Convention on 23rd June, 2018, both observers and party members were curious to see how the power game in Imo APC will proceed. At the beginning, everything seemed to be under control. But trouble started after a group loyal to Okorocha stormed the Imo delegates’ pavillion.

    According to insider reports, members of the group on arrival at the pavilion, asked delegates loyal to Madumere, the deputy governor, to vacate their seats. At this stage, it became clear that the battle was not ended. As would be expected, the order was resisted, leading to open fisticuffs while President Muhammadu Buhari was making a speech.

    Impeachment plot rebounds

    Fresh developments in Imo confirm that the open fight in Abuja was just a preamble to the actual power game that will ultimately unfold in Imo. The Imo battle did not wait long to unfold for as soon as the state lawmakers resumed after the convention, the hallowed chamber witnessed open flexing of muscle as the House promptly impeached four members identified as supporters of Madumere. The Nation observed that the political landscape of the Southeast state has not remained the same since then.

    In fact, since the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Acho Ihim, announced the suspension of the four lawmakers at the Assembly’s first plenary after the party’s National Convention, tongues have been wagging mainly because the affected lawmakers are known supporters of the Deputy Governor, Madumere. As a result, analysts have linked the development to the plot to impeach the deputy governor as quickly as possible.

    The lawmakers suspended are Uche Oguike, representing Ikeduru State Constituency; Ifeanyi Nnataraonye, representing Imo Deputy Governor’s local government, Mbaitoli; Nzeruo John Nkenna of Oru East and Chiji Collins, representing Isiala Mbano Constituency.

    The motion on which the suspension was predicated was raised on the floor of the Assembly, with the title: “Motion for Investigation of un-parliamentary Conduct of Four House members.” It reads in part: “…Whereas a number of members of Imo State House of Assembly have continual unabated to conduct themselves in ways and manner capable of eroding the co-operate image and sanity of Imo parliament and the state

    Be it resolved by this House that Hon. Chiji Collins, Hon. Uche Oguwike, Hon. Ifeanyi Nnataronye and Hon. Nkenna Nzeruo be immediately subjected to the Disciplinary and Ethic Committee of this Honourable House

    Be it further resolved that 4 (four) Honourable members be forthwith suspended till the report of the said Committee is received and resolved by this house.”

    Besides the suddenness of the motion suspending the lawmakers, its timing, immediately after the open confrontation at the national convention, critics of the Speaker’s decision to accept the pleadings of the motion, and his implementation of it immediately argued that the motion “did not state in clear terms the offences of the lawmakers” to warrant immediate suspension.

    Reacting to his suspension, one of the affected lawmakers, Nkenna John Nzeruo, who represents Oru East, described it as “witch-hunting.”  The lawmaker who spoke to The Nation on Friday, described the impeachment as witch-hunting,” even as he explained that he was speaking from his hiding place as, according to him, there have been threats on his life since he first came out to condemn his suspension. According to him, “I had to speak out because the people that suspended me and the other three colleagues did no tell the world our offences. They only said we were suspended because of unparliamentary conduct. I find that phrase ambiguous; a proof that there are hidden reasons for the illegal action.   As a lawmaker, I have not been found wanting in the discharge of my legislative functions neither have I faced a disciplinary committee for whatever reason.

    “The only crimes I committed are : That I gave heed to my people, whose mandate I represent, not to participate in any oath taking for the sum of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000) to protect my integrity before God and my people.

    Another is that I refused to go to the press to attack, abuse and assassinate the characters of Senator Hope Uzodimma as instructed even when he is my brother, constituent and also a BoT member of same party (APC).

    Another offence is my refusal to join the band wagon of the Ugwumba Movement (Agburu) supporting a particular governorship aspirant in Imo State.

    Finally, I may have offended some people because I wore the uniform provided by and for the Southeast members of the party (APC) for the just concluded National Convention of the party in Abuja.

    How these become an unparliamentary conduct is yet to be proved,” he said.

    Confirming the allegation that some lawmakers were asked, by some forces, to take oath, the lawmaker told The Nation, “I was asked to take oath of allegiance, oath of total support, but I refused to do that. That was my second offence. The third offence is because they saw me at the National Convention associating with the state APC. So, this suspension is simply the outcome of the APC National Convention of 23rd June, 2018, at Eagle Square, Abuja.

    I have also been reliably informed that other forms of attack are being programmed against me.”

    How the plan to settle matter failed in the House

    After announcing the suspension of the lawmakers, the Speaker had set up a committee headed by Hon. Lawman Duruji to investigate the matter, submit its report on July 5 2018 in order to help Assembly to resolve it internally. But investigation by The Nation during the week shows that that committee could not do anything tangible until the expiration of the time given it to conclude its work.

    Nzeruo told The Nation that until Friday, a day after the expiration of the time, neither him nor any other lawmaker affected in the suspension were invited by the committee to answer to any allegation. “Today is Friday and in spite of the fact that the committee was expected to conclude its work yesterday (Thursday), none of us has been invited to answer to any charge. Instead, the House adjourned until 24th of August without saying a word about the suspension. Because of that, we are going to the court to sue the Imo State House of Assembly and the Speaker of the House, who pronounced the suspension.”

    Tension in the land:

    Following the power show, there is tension in Imo, especially amongst APC members in the two factions. One of the suspended lawmakers, Nzeruo for example, told The Nation that since he reacted to his suspension, there have been threats to his person, a development that has made him to go into hiding. “I have been into hiding since then because of threatening calls and suspicious movements in my compound. The atmosphere is not good at all,” he said.

    Impeachment stalled

    Even as the suspended lawmakers head to the court, we gathered that the impeachment move may have been stalled following two unresolved issues. A source close to the Assembly told The Nation that some lawmakers were not happy because the sponsor of the impeachment move has not fulfilled his part of the bargain. Another issue, the source said, has to do with the fact that the lawmakers are not comfortable with the position of the State Chief Judge on the issue. Some of them said the he may not accept the plan or the way it is being carried out.  For now the tension continuous to build up..

  • Ikpeazu takes sickle cell awareness advocacy to lawmakers

    Abia state governor’s wife  Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu is known for her health advocacy. On sickle cell anaemia, she was not content to merely talk about it. She took the campaign to the state House of Assembly where she urged the lawmakers to be ambassadors for their various constituencies to ensure awareness about the ailment.

    Mrs Ikpeazu who led a large coalition of pressure groups, civil society organisations, NGOs and prominent women of the state to the House of Assembly, asked for speedy passage of several stagnated bills whose non-passage impede protection for the rights of women and children.

    She said that the bills, which had been stagnated for several years without any legislative action on them, include a bill for a law to prohibit all forms of violence, a bill for a law to abolish harmful and obnoxious widowhood practices and a bill designed to provide equal rights for men, women, and special persons, among others.

    The Abia First Lady noted that her NGO the Vicar Hope Foundation, and other members of the coalition including the International Federation of Women Lawyers, widows association, have contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of women, children and other vulnerable persons.

    Mrs Ikpeazu said, “A large percentage of women and children are experiencing physical, emotional, verbal, economic and sexual abuse in their homes and families but could not speak out because of the stigma associated with such incidents”.

    She named some action taken by her NGO to include provisions of housing for indigent, abused widows; the creation of clusters for local women traders who work collectively to improve the economic status and income.

    The Abia First Lady said, “We have also empowered our women with information and knowledge that will result in awareness of their rights, how to personally ask for it and to protect it without sounding rude”.

    “This we have done by collaborating with ministries, NGOs, the women groups and the individual women here present, to organise annual training sessions, seminars, and workshops on rights of women and the girl child where we get resource persons to speak to the women about their legal and socio economic rights”.

    Mrs Ikpeazu however thanked the House of Assembly for the speedy passage of the Law that encourages genotype and blood group testing, saying it will reduce cases of the deadly sickle cell disease.

    It is worthy to note that the house of Assembly few days ago passed the Law for the Identification of Blood Group and Genotype, thereby giving teeth to a campaign by Vicar Hope Foundation and the state health agencies to reduce the prevalence of the Sickle cell disease.

    Receiving the delegation, the speaker Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu and members of the house of assembly assured the wife of the governor that they will give adequate attention to the requests she had brought to them on behalf of the coalition.

    Kalu expressed pleasant surprise that the coalition came to express gratitude for the work done by the House and assured that as representatives of the people, they will always hold the duties of making good laws sacrosanct.

    The Abia speaker commended the wife of the governor and her group for what she has been doing through her NGO and other organizations, stressing that what she has been doing has given Abia women and children voice as well as hope for a better tomorrow.

    He also commended her for her support for the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, “Without your motherly support and care for our dear governor, the much he has been able to achieve would not have taken place, please keep doing the good works”.

    Kalu said that the state legislative arm has been working with the governor to enable him realize one of his main five pillars of his administration which is health, “Which has made us to pass bills on education and health for the good of our people”.

    He said, “Madam it is pertinent for you and your group to know that we have passed the genotype bill into law just like you said earlier in your speech and we want to assure you that we will surely look into the issue that brought here with dispatch”.

    Kalu noted that the members of the state house of assembly are ready to partner with her to ensure that the fight against sickle cell is taken to all the nooks and crannies of the state to help in the reduction of the spread of the disease.

    The speaker frowned at the way women and girl child are being treated in the state which he said tends to undermine the dignity of women in the state and assured that it will be corrected through various bills that are before them.

    A former Judge of the state High Court, Justice Eunice Aguomba, and a Second Republic lawmaker, in the old Imo State, Lady Victoria Akanwa emphasised the need to provide the right kind of society for women and the girl-child to thrive.

  • Buhari signs bill granting autonomy to state Assembly, judiciary

    President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Constitution 4th Alteration Bill into law

    Briefing State House correspondents on Friday, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, said the new law grants financial autonomy and independence to Houses of Assembly and judiciary in the states.

    He said: “The funds due to the judiciary are now to be paid directly to the judiciary of those states, no more through the governors.

    “And the funds standing in the credit of the Houses of Assembly in the states are now to be paid directly to the Houses of Assembly of the states for the benefit of the legislators and the management of the Houses of Assembly.”

  • Broken bridge brings Imo lawmakers to rural community

    The agony of a farming community in Imo State following its damaged bridge has forced members of the state House of Assembly to the bridge site, promising to bring the community’s pain to an end. OKODILI NDIDI reports

    The sight of lawmakers visiting rustic communities as a group is rare. They usually debate issues in their hallowed chambers, sometimes fight one another, and collect their salaries and allowances and go home.

    In Imo State things seem to be changing. Members of the state House of Assembly have set foot on Amaruru, a farming community in Orsu Local Government Area of the state, thanks to their broken bridge, the settlement’s only access to other communities, and more importantly to Nnewi, Anambra State’s commercial town, where the farmers sell most of their produce.

    Amaruru is cut off from other parts of the state and beyond because their link bridge is no more. It gave way under the weight of heavy-duty vehicles.

    The long bridge believed to have been constructed over 60 years ago through communal effort, finally caved in, after several years of disrepair. The bridge, according to the villagers, has been giving signs of imminent collapse, but all efforts to get the requisite authorities to intervene, were all abortive.

    Nze Cornel Isiuzo, a farmer, narrated that all adults in the community are made to pay monthly levies with which the bridge is maintained, adding that even though it is old, it has continued to serve the people until heavy-duty vehicles conveying petroleum products and cement, among other articles, started using the bridge to bypass a failed portion of the major road.

    Isiuzo, who said he was barely nine years when the bridge was constructed, lamented that the community union may not be able to raise the required amount of money to fix the bridge on time, adding, “It is a big challenge as it is, we are trapped, we can’t take our farm produce to the market and most of our women trade at the Nnewi market and now they cannot cross the bridge”.

    Speaking further, he said, “The entire community is at a loss over how to go about it because we have written several letters to the state government but nothing tangible came out of it. Now that the bridge has finally collapsed, we hope the state government will come to our aid”.

    Another community leader, Chief Stanley Ukammor described the collapse of the bridge as a major disaster. He noted that it has exposed the villagers to untold hardship as all economic activities have nosedived in the last two weeks since the unfortunate incident.

    He said, “We do not know how to go about it and the money needed to fix it or build another bridge is enormous and beyond the capacity of the villagers, who are mostly peasant farmers and retirees. We are appealing to the state governor Rochas Okorocha to order immediate palliative repairs on the bridge to free us from the current plight”.

    He also lamented that the community is facing another imminent danger of flooding as the Orashi River is already overflowing its banks since the collapse of the bridge.

    He said, “We are also confronted by another challenge that need to be quickly addressed, the Orashi River is overflowing the banks and the implication is that our farmlands will be flooded and our entire crops will be destroyed. Something need to be done and urgently too”.

    But there seems to be a ray of hope for Amaruru community as the Imo State House of Assembly adjourned sitting last week Thursday presided to visit the site of the collapsed bridge to have on-the-spot assessment of the level of damage on the ancient bridge.

    Led by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo who presided over the plenary, the lawmakers, who embarked on the visit based on the motion sponsored by the member representing Orsu State Constituency, Mr. Francis Uche Agabige, assured the people the attention of the state government will be drawn to the plight of the people, adding that urgent steps will be taken to address the issue.

    Agabige, while underlining the importance of the broken bridge to the community, noted, “It was the closest link to Anambra for people who do business in Nnewi, the commercial city. So it is of high economic importance to the people”.

    An engineer in the Ministry of Works, Godwin Ihegboro, said that the Ministry has visited the site for evaluation and assessment.

    Savouring the visit of the lawmakers is not enough. Amaruru residents are expecting action, which the lawmakers promised.

     

  • House appraises activities of Neighbourhood Corps

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the management of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) to brief it on its activities. The corps was established on March 27, last year after the law which was passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly was signed into law by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The bill which became law was sponsored by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

    The Corps, which Obasa said was a step towards state police, clocked one year recently and the lawmakers, at plenary on April 3 did an evaluation of the activities and operations of the agency.

    The debate was prompted by the Speaker.

    Obasa called on the Acting Chairman of the Security Committee, Hon. Tunde Braimoh to give an evaluation of the performance of LNSC one year after. He reiterated that the Neighbourhood Safety Corps is a step towards state police, adding that there was need for the state to get it right so that agitation for state police would rational.

    Opinion, however, differed sharply among lawmakers over the performance of LNSC. While some lawmakers said LNSC has performed well, majority disagreed, saying it has performed abysmally.

    Giving his appraisal, Braimoh said the agency is still battling with teething problems as it has been trailed with “so many petitions, protests and insinuations even by members of the Corps.

    He complained about issues bordering on non-regularisation of personnel of the agency and non-payment of salaries for upward of eleven months.

    “Some of the personnel are alleged to be parading fake certificates from higher institutions; inadequate protection for personnel and need for more equipment to serve better”.

    Braimoh, however, said the agency’s personnel have been able to establish some rapport with critical stakeholders in security across the state such as Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Committees (CDCs) and also a working relationship with the police.

    He also said they have been instrumental to the arrest of some armed robbery gangs, tackling of the Badoo menace in Ikorodu where they arrested some members of the gang and also smashed a gang of notorious terrorists also at Ikorodu.

    Hon. Setonji David (Badagry 2), however, disagreed with Braimoh, saying the “Neighbourhood Corps has performed abysmally. Despite the efforts put in by the House in passing the bill into law, it has turned out to be working against our intentions.

    “Their mode of operation is very unprofessional, the personnel have no skills in security matters, qualified and known hands or professionals in security matters were disengaged. We need to look into the law and review it”, David said.

    Agreeing with David, Hon. Bisi Yusuf said there were shocking revelations about the agency during interactions with its official during budget defence.

    “We need to call the management to know what is happening within the agency. There were shocking revelations at the appropriation meeting with them. There is inefficiency in the system as a result of seeming incompetence on the part the management”, Yusuf said.

    Hon. Rotimi Olowo suggested the setting up of an ad-hoc committee to look into the totality of the agency’s operation.

    The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni also said: “There is no proper structure; training is not up to date, what is their training schedule? There is no administrative structure for optimal performance; the officers are visible but not effective and no insurance policy for the corps”. He, however, advised that they should be paid their salaries.

    The Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade said: “There is no doubt that the agency may have some shortcomings. Without proper remuneration, its members can compromise which will be dangerous as a security outfit.

    “However, the establishment of the Corps has created very good impact on security situations and has assisted in bursting crimes in the state, especially in Ikorodu axis. It has assisted in information gathering during Badoo menace. We should look at the hindrances and find solution to them”, Agunbiade advised.

    Rounding off the debate, Obasa said: “The Neighbourhood Corps is a step towards state police and we don’t want to fail. If we can’t manage it then we cannot make case for state police. We need to improve and perfect what they are doing. Other states have emulated us but we must give the agency the necessary support to ensure they perfect their act and succeed.”

    After the debate the House resolved to invite the management of the agency to brief it on its operations, activities and challenges.

    On April 12, the chairman of LNSC retired former police commissioner in Lagos State; Mr. Israel Ajao led other members of the management team to the House in response to the invitation.

    Making his presentation, Ajao debunked the information in the public domain that salaries of members of staff have not been paid, saying contrary to that information “salaries of members of staff have been paid up to date”.

    He said the agency has performed well within a short time in the areas of training, inauguration and operations, adding that they work with the police, complement their efforts and assist them with information either to prevent crimes or arrest criminals.

    “We have made several arrests of robbers, from whom we recover guns and ammunition even without carrying arms. We also arrested cultists, fraudsters and murderers,” he said.

    Ajao said there was no delay in salary payment, and that the batches 1 and 2 that began work on April 1, last year, have been paid till date.

    He said some people, who claimed to have undergone training but had not been paid were liars as, according to him, they had not been given employment letters or deployed to anywhere.

    “Anybody you see without the LNSC uniform is not working for the agency yet. I can’t send people out to go and tackle criminals without uniform.

    “The LNSC is like a company that’s oversubscribed. It has become so successful that almost everybody is interested in working for it.

    “You can’t just say you have done training for three days and you are now a neighbourhood corps. There is a procedure after training; you must be verified, there are conditions for eligibility after three days training.

     

     

     

     

     

    “I don’t know why some people are peddling rumours instead of coming to find out the truth. How will you be working without uniform? You have not been cleared, given a letter of appointment,” he said.

    Responding to questions from lawmakers, Ajao, who commended the House for its interests in community safety, said Governor Ambode gave the agency permission to appoint 5,700 people at inception and that the agency was given days to train the applicants for batches 1 and 2 in 2017 and post the officers to all the 57 council areas.

    He said the corps bridges the gap areas where police did not cover, adding that 171 patrol vehicles and 4000 bicycles were given to LNSC to ensure grassroots policing.

    Ajao, a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, said the agency had four cardinal goals which were representation, participation, accountability and eye visibility policing, saying all the employed have been trained on these four key goals as they go to their beats.

    The chairman stressed that the first challenge of the corps when it started operation was dismantling Badoo cult in Ikorodu whose activities were at its height then.

    According to him, he got orders from the Governor to meet with traditional rulers, religious leaders and artisans and others such as police on the way forward until the issue was resolved.

    “We worked day and night to address grassroots insecurity; we are not resting on our oars. We have met and are still meeting with all community stakeholders such as Community Development Areas (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs), who have been calling us to give us intelligent information.

    “We have been clamping down on people in possession of items that aggravate crimes in the society, rather than crimes increase in Lagos, it is reducing with a lot of advocacies being carried out,” he said.

    Speaking on the challenges and problems confronting the corps, Ajao said lives of its operatives had been endangered as many had been wounded and injured by criminals in the course of their operations simply because they don’t carry arms.

    “We have so many challenges, which are not logistics, but criminals who take advantage of absence of arms to attack our men and injuring them while one has been killed.

    “If we don’t do something about this, it will cause discouragement. However, we have started re-orientation of our men so that they will not be discouraged as police who carry arms also suffer injuries,” he said.

  • How Ganduje saved Kano Speaker from impeachment

    Sunday Oguntola reports on the huge political horse trading that led to the resolution of a leadership crisis at the Kano State House of Assembly last week. Additional report by Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

    AS G24 lawmakers walked into the Kano Government House last Tuesday night, the last thing on their minds was reconciliation with the faction loyal to Speaker Yusuf Atta. As far as they were concerned, the Speaker and other principal officers of the House of Assembly were as good as gone.

    They knew they had the upper hands. They were not only in the majority but also clearly more clinical and strategic. The Speaker and his principal officers looked helpless, completely down and out. But as it turned out, they were banking on a last-minute intervention from Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to pull through.

    The intervention came but it was almost too late. Investigations revealed that the governor decided to wade into the leadership crisis that rocked the Assembly because of the massive political implications. Sources close to his camp said he knew the collateral damages the crisis would cause might be too far-reaching and difficult to manage.

    The governor, it was learnt, was bothered his political adversaries might capitalise on the crisis to alter control of the state politics. It was this fear as well as the suspicion that the crisis was triggered off in the first place by political hawks that made the governor step into the messy situation, our correspondent reliably gathered.

    The gathering storms

    Led by former Speaker Kabiru Rurum, members of the G24 faction accused Atta of alleged financial embezzlement, incompetence, localisation of activities of the House and not carrying the members along.

    They vowed only impeachment of the Speaker would save the House from disgrace. Rurum, who handed over to Atta in July 2007, is a veteran in political warfare with mass followership in the House. They were unconfirmed reports he was plotting to return as Speaker of the Assembly.

    He was believed to have realised Atta is a political lightweight that can easily be thrown away with the massive support he (Rurum) enjoys from other lawmakers. He led the faction on Tuesday morning to the Assembly Complex where the sack of Chief Whip of the House, Labaran Madari, representing Warawa Constituency and the Deputy Majority Leader, Muhammad Butu-butu, representing Rimin Gado/Tofa constituency was announced.

    The declaration came amid sealing of the complex by Police operatives acting to forestall breakdown of law and order. Sources in the know confirmed the ‘sacks’ jostled Atta and his camp. “It made them realise the G24 opposition faction meant business and was bent on having its way,” a lawmaker, who craved anonymity confirmed last Friday.

    Sensing it was losing out, the Speaker reportedly ran to the Government House to seek intervention of the governor, who was said to have also become uncomfortable with the dangerous dimension the crisis was assuming. The crisis, impeccable sources said, originated from the just-concluded ward congresses in Kano where most of the lawmakers lost out.

    More than 80 percent of the Assembly members were said to have failed in their bid to retain control of political structures in their constituencies, leading to insinuation that the Speaker was responsible for the development. Members who lost out alleged the Speaker was working with political forces to forestall their return to the House.

    While some of them believed the Speaker was in league with Ganduje to cut them to sizes, others were said to be working with the assumption that their alleged closeness to former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso could have been responsible for the loss of control at the congresses.

    Kwankwaso and Ganduje have been locked in a perpetual control for political power in the state with the former governor alleged to be working towards leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    As the sentiments settled among members on the losing side, it was learnt they became more determined to hit Atta and Ganduje where it would cost them more by effecting a change in the Assembly leadership. The governor was initially reported to be indifferent to the crisis until strategists in his camp explained the implications to him.

    The battle for compromise

    It was based on this that he summoned a meeting with the warring factions to broker peace last Tuesday night. At least two sources at the meeting confirmed it was as stormy as tough. “Everyone was edgy and felt justified in his position. Nobody was ready to shift grounds or concede anything,” one of them stressed.

    The governor, according to reports, decided to allow both factions vent their grievances. He realised it would be counterproductive to gag discussions or agitations on either sides, it was learnt. The meeting, which was reportedly on for over four hours, considered many issues affecting political temperature of the House.

    “The G24 faction was insistent the Speaker has been running a one-man show and inaccessible to members. The members believed the Speaker was too amenable to certain forces in the state. They also felt they needed some strategic influence in the House to coexist,” a source confided.

    The Speaker’s faction was said to have been disturbed by the alliance of Rurum with the G24 since he was privy to the emergence of Atta. The faction’s members believed Rurum, who was saved from impeachment in July 2017 over allegations of financial impropriety, was being ungrateful and overtly ambitious.

    After much haggling, the governor was said to have told the lawmakers to be prepared to cede grounds for their collective political destiny.

    Someone at the meeting said: “He told everyone if one of them goes down, everyone goes down. He said our political destinies are intertwined because at the end of the day, it is Kano Assembly that will bear the brunt.

    “So, it is better we all slow down on personal interests for collective peace. Besides, he said anything that will affect the political fortunes of APC in the state will ultimately hurt everyone.”

    The plea for collective political gains as against personal interests was said to have struck the right chord among the lawmakers who began to soften on their demands and high grounds. After much horse-trading, it was resolved some sensitive positions should be ceded to the G24 members.

    But the governor was said to have pleaded for the retention of the Speaker. His argument was to have two Speakers in less than two years will send the wrong signals to political watchers as well as portray the state as volatile. Besides, he said it will make people assume he is not in charge of political activities around him.

    The G-24 members were said to have insisted the Deputy Speaker, Engineer Hamisu Chidari, must give away with at least two other principal officers to give them a sense of belonging as a condition for peace in the Assembly, a demand the governor and speaker’s camp easily acceded to.

    To save face, Chidari, who has been in the House for 15 years, said he resigned for the sake of peace. According to him:“Being the longest serving lawmaker in the House, I decided to sacrifice my position so that we can have peace in the house.

    “I have been in the House for 15 years now. I served in different capacities as principal officer for 10 years and four years as chairman of business committee of the House.

    “So, when a meeting was summoned by the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and APC leadership, I stepped down from my position in order to broker peace between the two warring factions.

    “I thanked God for making my decision to yield a positive result. I am happy that the crisis is now over courtesy of my action.”

    It was on this basis Rurum announced the truce on Wednesday. He said his group has agreed to shelve their plan to impeach the Speaker after the governor’s intervention. According to him: “We wish to inform you that the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, as well as party leadership in the state, have waded into the crisis that engulfed our assembly.

    “They also ensured that the crisis ended in a no winner no vanquished state. As loyal legislators of this Honourable House, who respect the supremacy of the leadership of the Executive Governor and party leaders in our state, we wish to state that we are in agreement with the decision taken.”

    To prevent a change in the agreements reached, he further announced it was resolved: “1. That Yusuf Abdallah Ata (Fagge constituency) should remain as Speaker. 2. That Kabiru Rurum (Rano constituency) serve as Deputy Speaker.

    “3. That Mohammed Bello Butu-butu (RiminGado/Tofa constituency) serve as Majority leader. 4. That Bappa Babba Dan Agundi (Kano Municipal constituency) serve as Chief Whip. 5. That Sanusi Usman Bataiya (Albasu constituency) serve as Deputy Majority leader. 6. That Ayuba Labaran Durum (Kabo constituency) serve as Majority Whip.”

    The resolutions, according to feelers, is an intricate balancing act to ensure Ganduje retains support of the House as well as placate opposition lawmakers bent on aligning with political antagonists for a big hit.

    The sentiment among some lawmakers and party chieftains that Atta and Rurum might not be able to work together was disabused as the two reportedly hugged and vowed not to rock the boat.

    It was gathered Rurum promised to support Atta and the House to cooperate with Ganduje for the collective peace and development of Kano State.

    After the pulsating intervention meeting, G-24 members and the other faction emerged with smiling faces. But only the political initiates know so much have gone into arriving at a truce. On Thursday, the plenary session hitherto adjourned to June, resumed in a peaceful atmosphere.

    The session, which kicked off at about 11: 29 am saw in attendance members loyal to the Kwankwasiyya and Gandujiyya factions, including the only PDP representative, Hon. Abdullahi Muhammad Chiromawa, who said his participation in the crisis was to effect positive change in the House.

    Our correspondent observed the plenary session lasted for about an hour as members were seen exchanging pleasantries devoid of any rancour or ill-feelings among them.

    The speaker, while announcing the change, said: “I received information that a new Deputy Majority leader and the Chief Whip have been appointed to the House in persons of Hons Muhammad Bello Butu Butu and Hon. Baffa Dan-Agundi of Kano municipal constituency as the new Chief Whip, Hon. Sanusi  Bataitya to serve as Deputy Majority Leader and honorable Ayuba Labaran Durum to serve as Majority Whip.”

    In his acceptance speech, Rurum said: “I accept this position as the members of the assembly unanimously agreed. I will try my possible best to harmonise the house and I thank Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and all stakeholders who intervened.

    “Today, Thursday, marked 11 months since I stepped down as the Speaker of the House and am back as the Deputy Speaker and as expected of us, I would discharge my responsibilities without fear or favour and carry out my responsibilities as expected.”

  • Senate, Saraki fail in bid to stay judgment voiding Omo-Agege’s suspension

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday rejected an application filed by the Senate, seeking stay of execution of judgment voiding the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ruled that the application and the notice of appeal were wrongly directed.

    The judge noted that the application did show that it was targeted at the court’s judgment of May 10, declaring Omo-Agege’s suspension as unlawful.

    He said while the application sought a stay of execution of judgment on the matter, the May 10 judgment did not grant reliefs to the plaintiff but merely made consequential order under the omnibus prayer.

    The judge said: “An application that is desirous of the court’s exercise of its discretion must be an application that is genuine. And to be genuine, it must realistically target the actual decision that was reached by the court, and which enforcement is being asked to be stayed.

    “Looking at the ground of the application as well as the notice of appeal submitted to support the application, I am of the view that the ground and notice of appeal are targeted at a different decision of the court made on May 10, 2018.

    “The ground of the application as well as the notice of appeal attacked a decision where all reliefs of the plaintiff were granted, whereas, by the record of this court, in the judgment delivered by this court on May 10, 2018, all the seven main reliefs of the plaintiff were refused.

    “The court only made an order pursuant to the eight omnibus relief, on the basis that the sole reason given for the recommendation and the subsequent suspension of the plaintiff was an unconstitutional reason.”

    “I have seen nothing, either in the application or the notice of appeal that attacked or targeted that sole conclusion of the court.”

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