Tag: Obi

Three workers with Upper Class Hotel, Onitsha, Anambra State have sued Governor Peter Obi and the state government, claiming N301,364,000 for breaching their rights.

The hotel was demolished on August 1 on the order of Governor Obi in line with a standing policy of the government, following the alleged discovery of two decomposing human heads and two AK 47 rifles inside Room 102.

The three applicants are Nnamah John Emeka, a steward, Ikem Chiagozie, a bar man and Miss Nkiru Nwachukwu, the chief cook. Governor Obi, Commissioner of Police John Nwafor, Commandant, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Awkuzu and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice are the first, second, third and fourth respondents in the separate suits filed by each of the applicants in different courts.

The first applicant, Emeka, is claiming N100,553,000 jointly and severally from the respondents, of which N100 million is for aggravated/punitive damages for the violation of his rights, while N553,000 is for special damages, being the value of his property, which he said the respondents took possession of when they arrested him and demolished the hotel.

The second applicant, Chiagozie, is also claiming N100,470,500, jointly and severally from the respondents, of which N100 million is for aggravated/punitive damages for the violation of his rights, while N470,500 is for special damages, being the value of his property, which he said the respondents took possession of when they arrested him and demolished the hotel.

The third applicant, Miss Nwachukwu, is also claiming N100,340,500, jointly and severally from the respondents, of which N100 million is for aggravated/punitive damages for the violation of her rights, while N340,500 is for special damages, being the value of her property, which she said the respondents took possession of when they arrested her and demolished the hotel.

Miss Nwachukwu’s suit and Chiagozie’s suit have been fixed for hearing on February 26 at the Federal High Court, Awka, while the date for Emeka’s suit is yet to be fixed by a State High Court sitting in Ihiala.

The Motion on Notice, filed on their behalf, by their counsel, Chief Joe Onuoha, an Onitsha lawyer, was brought pursuant to Order 2, Rule 1 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure Rules), 2009, sections 34, 35 & 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and articles 4, 5 & 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Nwachukwu’s motion was supported by a 40-paragraph affidavit, while Chiagozie’s and Emeka’s were supported by a 35-and 32-paragraph affidavit.

In the motion, the applicants, besides the monetary claims, are also seeking the declarations of the courts that their arrests, humiliation, detention and torture at the Police Area Command, Onitsha and at the SARS Headquarters, Awkuzu, by the respondents from August 1 till September 1 (31 days for Chiagozie), till August 26 (26 days for Emeka) and till August 28 (28 days for Nwachukwu) without being informed of the offences they committed and without being charged to the courts, are violations of their rights to dignity of human person, personal liberty and freedom of movement, as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution.

The applicants also sought the courts’ declarations that their arrests, humiliations, detentions and tortures at Onitsha Area Command and Awkuzu SARS offices by the respondents without being informed of their offences and without being charged to courts within 24 hours or released unconditionally, violated their rights, under the African Charter on human and peoples’ rights.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi last night mourned Nelson Mandela.

He said: “Africa has lost one of her greatest sons and a champion of selfless service to humanity. He lived his life for his people and for humanity and challenged abonoxiuos policies that militated against  humanity and paid dearly for it. Mandiba, may Africa continue to produce true statesmen like you.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said the administration is committed to improving security in the state.

He spoke yesterday while presenting security vehicles to markets. Some of the beneficiaries are: Old Mercedes Benz Spare Parts Dealers Market, Nkpor; Mgbuka, Obosi; Ochanja markets.

Obi said: “As I speak, we are delivering 25,000 computers to schools. We shall begin the development of Nnewi Shopping Mall, Three Arms Zone, among others.

“What is satisfying to me is that though we cannot finish all the projects, we have money set aside for them. I am happy to inform you that by the time I leave, I would have left over N20 billion in savings for the state.”

He assured that more access roads would be built to give easy access and boost socio-economic activities.

The Interim Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Joe Igbokwe, has blamed Governor Peter Obi for the stampede in which 25 worshippers died in Anambra State last Saturday.

He said although Obi had the fundamental right to attend the vigil of the Holy Ghost Ministry held at Uke, he goofed by turning it into a rally to canvass votes for his party’s candidate.

According to him, Obi attended the vigil with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Vivtor Umeh, the governorship candidate, Mr. Willie Obiano, other party faithful and government’s security detail.

Igbokwe, who spoke at a news conference in Lagos, alleged that “they were in full APGA regalia, showing the world that their mission went beyond seeking the face of God. They went in search of votes.

“Governor Obi spoke and canvassed votes for his candidate. He donated N5 million to the ministry. We were told that when the vigil turned to a political rally, the congregation murmured. We figured that this behaviour infuriated the governor’s detail. One thing led to the other, and there was a stampede in which about 30 innocent people died.”

Reacting to Umeh’s call for the arrest of the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Chris Ngige, Igbokwe said he was not at the vigil, “so he cannot be held responsible for the tragedy.” He added that Umeh was asking for Ngige’s arrest because “APGA got their fingers burnt by playing dangerous politics with a church programme.

“We want to put the world on notice that APGA is getting desperate in this Anambra election. The other day, they went to Onitsha to force the traders to close their shops for campaign. The people resisted and waved brooms to them. As if that was not enough, they went to town that Senator Ngige slapped a Catholic priest. It took a news conference by the priest to debunk their blatant and pathological lies.

“Ngige has become a thorn in the flesh and every contestant in Anambra knows this. The fear of Ngige is the beginning of wisdom in Anambra State. They know they cannot match him in anything. So their plan is to use propaganda.”

On the panel set up by Governor Obi on the stampede, the Lagos APC interim spokesman said: “We don’t have faith in the commission of enquiry. Who will trust or believe Governor Obi’s panel of enquiry when it is obvious that he is the principal actor in the drama? He cannot be a judge in a matter he is involved in.”

Speaking on the election, Igbokwe said: “We are hopeful that Ngige will win in the first ballot. Our fear is that the Federal Government is planning to use security men to intimidate voters and assist a particular party to rig the election. I can assure you that we in the APC will foil attempts to rig the poll.”

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi yesterday distributed 100 vehicles to secondary schools.

He said it was in fulfilment of his promise to spend N40 billion on “the final push” towards accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Speaking yesterday at the Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital, Obi said his administration bought 25,000 computers, containing the school syllabus and books, for schools.

He said all secondary schools would get money to set up sick bays and connect to the Internet and would be given electricity generating sets. Obi said the administration’s investment in education was yielding fruit, as manifested in the performance of pupils in external examinations.

The governor thanked churches for partnering the government to improve schools.

Commissioner for Education Uju Okeke said the governor had made teaching and learning easier by providing a conducive teaching and learning environment and necessary logistics.

Governor Peter Obi has presented a brand new, fully equipped Life Ambulance valued at over 25 million naira to the Immaculate Heart Hospital and Maternity, Nkpor.

Governor Obi, who presented the vehicle on the hospital premises, also gave the hospital a cheque for 50 million naira for continuation of work on its building projects.

The building projects include the School of Medical Laboratory Hostel at Umuoji, the rebuilding and renovation of the Mmiata Comprehensive facility recently handed over to the congregation by the state government and expansion of existing facilities at the hospital.

He explained that the intervention was in line with the present efforts of his administration to rebuild, re equip and reposition hospitals and health facilities across the state in the drive to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

According to the governor, the ambulance would enable the hospital to respond promptly and efficiently to emergency health situation especially in remote areas.

The Superior-General of the congregation, Mother Mary Claude Oguh, expressed gratitude to the governor for his various interventions across all sectors in the state.

She noted that the governor’s administration has impacted positively on all strata of the society through its policy of fairness and equitable distribution of development projects and urged people of the state to vote in a credible candidate that would ensure continuity.

The Chief Medical Officer and coordinator of the Mmiata Hospital, Reverend Sister Dr. Maria Sapientia Ameke, said the governor’s support had enabled them to commence the rebuilding and renovation of the structures destroyed by the last year’s flood, including reinforcement and elevating the buildings.

A former Transition Chairman, Idemili North Local Government, Mr. Ralph Nnabuife, thanked the governor for the many projects completed in the area and urged the people to give the APGA total support in coming elections.

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday presented a cheque of N1 billion to strengthen the libraries and laboratories in 420 secondary schools.

Speaking during the presentation at the Women Development Centre, Awka, he said it was part of the N40 billion his administration would commit in the next six months into the sectors as a final push towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Obi said the money was not borrowed from any financial institution, but was from savings, following the prudent management of resources and support from development partners.

The governor had presented cheques of N1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of primary schools returned to the churches; two billion naira for rehabilitation of primary schools owned by government; and N3 billion to selected missionary hospitals for the upgrade of facilities to enable them secure accreditation.

He said in a few days, the state would employ teachers in core subjects, such as English language, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, among others and they would be trained locally and in overseas.

“This is in addition to the ongoing recruitment of 5,000 teachers in the state, whose salaries for one year after my exit from government have been saved in the bank.”

Governor Obi said the state had procured 500 buses from local manufacturers, namely Coscharis and Innoson, to be shared to public and private schools.

He said other things that would be provided to secondary schools before the end of the year included 25,000 laptops books, generators, sick bays and Internet connectivity.