The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ikenga Ugochinyere.

  • CUPP alleges plots to topple leadership of N/Assembly

    The Coalition for United Political Parties (CUPP) has alleged plots to forcefully effect a change in the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    The CUPP, at a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, said the alleged plot, which is slated for execution on Tuesday, had received the nod of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Spokesman for the CUPP, Ikenga Ugochinyere told journalists that available information indicated that some All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the two chambers have been mobilised to executive the plot.

    Recall that the leadership of the Senate had invited members to reconvene on Tuesday to deliberate and take positions on the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    The CUPP spokesman further stated that Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan is being primed to take over frm Dr Bukola Saraki as President of the Senate.

    According to the CUPP, the plot will also see Senator Hope Uzodinma taking over from Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, while Senator Godswill Akpabio will become Senate Majority Leader.

    The Coalition said, part of the plot is to replace Mr. Yakubu Dogara with Mr Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives, while Mr. Abdulmumini Jibril will be made to replace Mr Lasun Yusuf as Deputy Speaker.

    President Buhari had, on Friday, suspended Justice Onnoghen, following advice from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). The President had since sworn-in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed as Acting CJN.

    Ugochinyere said, “The APC led Federal Government are of the firm belief that Tuesday is their best and last chance to effect the changes as their control of the judiciary will be put to use to ensure there is no reversal of justice for the present occupants.

    “The APC is ready to do whatever and destroy the very fulcrum of our constitutional democracy on Tuesday and have vowed, it is tomorrow or never.

    “The judicial coup, which they believed was supposed to be more difficult, went very easily beyond their imagination hence the need to complete the takeover of the National Assembly immediately so that the distraction of the election campaigns will be put to use.

    “They have also resolved that the government will make some big positive announcements tomorrow being Monday, 28th January so as to deflect the minds of Nigerians”.

    The CUPP identified some serving APC senators and members of the House of Representatives as arrowheads of the alleged plot.

    Continuing, Ugochinyere said, “Nigerians are hereby put on notice that these coupists are plotting that Sen. Saraki, the Senate President, Sen Ike Ekweremmadu the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ben Bruce and Sen. Sen. Dino Melaye, Biodun Olujimi, Hon. Dogara, Kingsley Chinda, Nnena Ukeje among others would be stopped by security agents from gaining entry into the National Assembly.

    “Thugs have been mobilized from Plateau, Kwara and Kogi to mount protest at the gates of the National Assembly and have the approval to attack and disperse any group that come to hold a counter rally.

    “Nigerians have been sleeping too much and not keeping vigilance. We hereby reiterate our call; If you are sleeping- wake up! If you are eating – stop! If you are playing – stop!

    “The political barbarians are knocking on the last door of constitutional governance and democratic rule and are willing to knock it down if we do not resist them.

    “This was how Hitler started! He burnt down the parliament and we all know the tyrant that was born afterwards. Nigerians be vigilant, many citizens paid the supreme price to win our democracy which President Buhari and his Buccaneers want to destroy.

    “We shall stand shoulder to shoulder with all men of good will till we overcome. They claim they have taken over the Media!
    They claim they have taken over the judiciary!
    They claim they have taken over the INEC!
    They claim they are now taking over the Legislature!

    “But alas!!! They have not taken over the Nigerian people, our collective will and our renowned resilience to push back evil out of our land! Freedom comes by struggle!”.

  • 2019: We are not part of Atiku’s endorsement – SDP

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has distanced itself from Wednesday’s endorsement of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) as consensus candidate for 2019 presidential election.

    SDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Mohammed Alfa who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, said the party already has a candidate, Mr Donald Duke whose name had been submitted to INEC for the 2019 election.

    Alfa said that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party would meet next week to take a position on the issue.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), on Wednesday announced that it had endorsed Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2019 presidential election.

    Mr Ikenga Ugochinyere, spokesman of the group who announced the endorsement, said Atiku is the coalition’s consensus candidate.

    The SDP publicity secretary however said that the attention of the party had been drawn to the statement issued on the endorsement.

    “We want to enjoin the general public, SDP faithful, especially all our candidates to carry on with their campaigns effectively, irrespective of the development.

    “We assure you that the SDP National Working Committee (NWC) will meet and issue appropriate statement on the matter next week.

    The SDP is one of the 39 opposition parties that formed CUPP in July 2018 with the aim of producing a presidential candidate that can defeat the ruling party All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2019 election with the aim of forming a government of national unity.

  • Court urged to void Buhari’s Executive Order 6

    Lawyers argue it infringes citizens’ right to own properties

    Judge fixes hearing for August 8

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to void the Executive Order 6 issued on July 5 this year by President Muhammadu Buhari, which allows the government to seize of assets linked to ongoing criminal trials and investigations.

    The request forms the core relief in a suit filed by two lawyers – Ikenga Ugochinyere and Kenneth Udeze – with President Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants. The suit is marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/740/2018.

    The plaintiffs contended that by the provisions of sections 5, 36 and 43 of the Constitution, the President lacked the power to issue the Executive Order.

    They argued that by issuing the Executive Order, the President allegedly encroached on the constitutionally guaranteed right of citizens to own properties, a right to which persons, who are standing trial or being investigated, but yet to be convicted, are also entitled.

    Read Also: We did our best to stop defection – Buhari

    The plaintiffs added that by virtue of the provisions of sections 5, 36 and 43 of the Constitution, the President lacked the power to issue such an order “on matters not connected with the ‘execution and maintenance of the Constitution, all laws made by the National Assembly and to all matters with respect to which the National Assembly has, for the time, being power to make laws.”

    They urged the court to restrain both defendants from enforcing it and prayed for a declaration that “the act or conduct of the president in issuing the order interfere with, or encroach into the ownership, or otherwise of the assets or properties of any person without such person being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, is unconstitutional, null and void.

    The plaintiffs equally want a declaration “that the president cannot validly exercise his constitutional powers by deliberately undermining, limiting and/or inhibiting the entrenched constitutional rights of any citizen of Nigeria to fair hearing vide the issuance of the Order.”

    When the case was called on Wednesday, Obed Agu, announced appearance for the plaintiffs, while Bashir Mohammed appeared for the defendants.

    Mohammed informed the court that he has filed a memorandum of conditional appearance and that he intends to file a preliminary objection to challenge the competence of the suit.

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu adjourned to April 8 for hearing.

  • 2019: Saraki’s aide resigns to chair political party

    2019: Saraki’s aide resigns to chair political party

    Ahead of the 2019 election, Special Assistant to the Senate President on Youth and students matters Ikenga Ugochinyere has resigned his appointment.

    Ugochinyere in a one page letter to the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said that his resignation was to enable him serve as the national chairman of his newly formed political party.

    He did not however give the identity of his new political party, but said he decided to quit his job “because the legal and political implication of his new status, national chairman of a new party does not allow him to continue to serve as an aide to the Senate President.

    The letter dated October 3, 2017letter read “Sequel to the recent issuance of certificate of registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to my newly formed political party and my emergence as the national chairman, I wish to tender my resignation as your Special Assistant on Youths and students matters .

    “This is because of the legal and political implication new status as a result of which I cannot be able to discharge my function to you Sir ” The Imo state born youth leader however expressed gratitude to the Senate president for given the opportunity serve in that capacity .

    “Our over two years official relationship I count as the most amazing moment in my public service life. His Excellency confidence and believe in the innovative spirit of the young people is indeed legendary.

    “He built a bridge between the old and the young and have been working hard to help return the country to the part of national unity.”

  • How DSS operatives arrested Saraki’s aide to avert pro-Wike rally

    How DSS operatives arrested Saraki’s aide to avert pro-Wike rally

    Operatives of Department of State Service (DSS) on Thursday arrested the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Youth Matters, Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere.
     
     The DSS operatives were said to have stormed the Abuja office of Ugochinyere to prevent him from leading a protest rally against the manner the December 10, 2016 legislative rerun election in Rivers State was conducted.
     
    The DSS operatives were said to have broken into Ugochinyere’s office and carted away documents.

    The security operatives who arrived the office in four unmarked Hilux trucks at around 2 am on Thursday allegedly broke into the office.
     
     Ugochinyere who is also the National President of National Youth Council of Nigeria, was reportedly  arrested in the process.

    Competent source noted that the DSS operatives acting on tip off, stormed the office “to stop a protest rally earlier fixed yesterday (Thursday)  by Lawyers in Defence of Democracy.
     
    The source noted that the “operatives came with four Hilux trucks with inscription DSS, SARs.”
     
    He said that the operatives who left in the early hours of Thursday “ left a stern warning that no body should enter the premises.”

    There was also heavy presence of security operatives in some designated areas where the protesting lawyers had indicated interest to visit on Thursday.

     Barrister Ohazuruike Tochukwu, a member of the group claimed that “armed security men suspected to be from DSS in the wee hours of Thursday invaded the office at Suit 29 Shaki plaza area 11 Garki and whisked away Barrister Ugochinyere, his driver and Secretary to unknown destination.”

    Barrister Tochukwu added “This is the private law firm of National President of NYCN. This place was invaded by DSS by 2:am this morning, while the National President and some staff were inside this place.
     
    “The security men guiding this place called us that some DSS men were here and they broke the place and took away the National President, his driver and secretary, one Oguchukwu.
     
    “The security men guiding the plaza said men wearing SARS uniform also came by 6 am after the DSS had left and warned them that no one should enter the office.”

    Asked how he was certain that it was DSS operatives that invaded the office and arrested Ugochinyere, he said” I spoke with Ugochinyere through his driver and they confirmed it was DSS that arrested him.”

    Ugochinyere, a special adviser to Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Youth Affairs was in May  this year arrested and detained by DSS for one month and later released without any charge.

    An Abuja High Court later awarded N20 million compensation to Ugochinyere for wrongful detention and damages, a ruling the DSS had appealed.

    Ugochinyere and his group were to stage a protest rally yesterday at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarter in connection with investigation into the violence in the River rerun election.