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Tag: order

  • Subsidy suit: Witness says Majope transaction in order

    A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja was yesterday told that the transaction on importation of petroleum products made in 2011 by an oil marketer, Opeyemi Ajuwah, and her company, Majope Investment Limited, was in order.

    Mohammed Abubakar Ghidi, a prosecution witness in the ongoing subsidy fraud trial of the oil marketer and her company, said this at the resumed hearing of the suit before Justice Lateefa Okunnu.

    Ghidi, who is a senior research officer with Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), confirmed to the court that the computation made in 2011 based on the documents submitted for the transaction by the marketer was in order.

    The witness, who is also a civil and water resources engineer, was under cross-examination by defence counsel, Mr. Lanrewaju Ajanaku and Mr. Remi Oguntoye.

    Ajuyah and her company, Majope Investment Limited, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N1.1 billion subsidy fraud.

    They are standing trial alongside Abdullahi Alao, son of the late Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, his company, Axenergy Limited, and Olanrewaju Olalusi.

    The witness told the court that he was not aware of the case until a letter of request from EFCC was sent to him in May 2013.

    He said the PPPRA received a letter dated May 10, 2013 from the EFCC requesting them to re-compute the Majope Investment Limited transaction carried out in 2011.

    According to him, the EFCC had asked his agency to re-compute the transaction based on a quoted figure to the tune of 5.7 million litres as against the initial total of 20.3 million litres for which the marketer claimed subsidy payment.

    Ghidi also confirmed to the court that though EFCC quoted the 5.7 million litres to compute with, but that it failed to back up the figure with any documentation.

    Justice Okunnu adjourned further hearing in the matter till May 22,   2015.

     

  • CAS disowns Giwa, rejects restraining order on FIFA

    CAS disowns Giwa, rejects restraining order on FIFA

    The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the request for provisional measures restraining FIFA from suspending Nigeria from internationally-organised football events.

    CAS stated on its official website that the case of the appellants was rejected because “it was without object at this stage.”

    But the appellants’ request for arbitration is still expected to be heard and determined by CAS.

    The appellants, Yahaya Adama, Obinna Ogba, Musa Talle, Effiong Johnson, Chidi Ofor Okenwa, Busari Ishola, Mohammed Saidu and Tijani Jubril asked CAS for “[a]n Interim Order restraining the Respondent (FIFA) whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers, directors, legal representatives and others whomsoever from suspending, excluding, removing, foreclosing and/or banning the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) or the Federal Republic of Nigeria from participation howsoever from international and or FIFA organised football events, pending the hearing and final determination of the Request for Arbitration dated  September 5, 2014 by CAS.”

    FIFA in its response, according to CAS, “noted that two cumulative conditions mentioned in the Emergency Committee’s decision dated  September 3, 2014 had been complied with and that therefore the NFF would not be suspended.”

    CAS concluded in its statement that: “Accordingly, the NFF is not suspended and the African Nations Cup qualifier match between South Africa and Nigeria scheduled to take place on September 10  is not affected.”

    On Tuesday, FIFA wrote to the NFF stating that it will not be suspended since “positive steps” had been taken to resolve its governance crisis.

    But the world football governing body warned that it will immediately suspend NFF “should the electoral process be affected by any interference or mishap” till FIFA’s next congress in May 2015.

  • Groups to IG, SSS: call Ekiti LP to order

    The Inspector-General of Police and the Director of State Security Service (SSS) have been urged to call members of the Labour Party (LP) in Ekiti State to order following the alleged violence they perpetrated in Itaji-Ekiti at the weekend.

    In a statement, The Sixth Pillar, a socio-cultural group of Itaji and Oloje sons and daughters, said irrespective of political standing, status or indigeneship, the people of Itaji would not stand criminals who pose as politicians.

    The group, which said one of its members was in Itaji to see a relation on Friday and witnessed the war declared on Itaji by the LP on Friday, wondered why their people should be subjected to such a display of terror because of someone’s governorship ambition.

    The statement reads: “One of our members was conversing with some people outside the house of one late Mrs. Adeyeye, popularly known as Ajepe, when the Labour Party gang of criminals drove by. The LP thugs looked in their direction and shouted ‘Labour Party!’. Their refusal to respond drew gunshots from the thugs. They operated unchecked for three hours like.

    “According to those who were peeping from where they were hiding from the bullets , the criminals had a bus-load of ammunition to draw from. While some were firing shots into houses, others with cutlasses were smashing and hacking down anything within reach. Two natives of Itaji, Kupolusi Sunday and Dele Ishola, were hacked by the LP thugs. While Kupolusi was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Ido, Dele Ishola, was admitted at the Ayede General Hospital. As of yesterday night, Kupolusi Sunday was breathing with the aid of an oxygen tube. These are the imprints of violence’’.

    The Sixth Pillar said cars were also vandalised.

    The group said it had good evidence to sue the Labour Party as it identified those who were pointing out APC members in the community to the LP criminals.

  • FCT minister and court order on Park and Pay

    SIR: Park and pay is a worldwide practice around the world. As the Nigerian capital city develops, people will have to pay for parking especially in city centres. The idea behind introduction of the park and pay regime in addition to ending the traffic congestion on the streets of Abuja, is to create employment and some level of security for vehicles in the capital city.

    The reaction by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed to the judgment of an Abuja High Court is commendable. The court, presided over by Justice Peter Afeni, had in its ruling of Thursday April 17, averred that the scheme was illegal. However, the court also made it clear in the judgment that the scheme was an excellent government policy, but that it only lacked legal status.

    It is a hallmark of good leadership for a leader to stand up and accept a court judgment that on the face value seems quite unfavorable. His response is a departure from what have witnessed in some states where court orders and verdicts were flouted at will. The minister took the path of honour by opting to abide by the court judgment.

    Also heartwarming is that the minister has put in place mechanism for a review of the Park and Pay scheme with a view to addressing areas of serious public complaints. Such areas include the fines usually slammed on offenders. Many people were of the opinion that the fines were too hefty in some cases and in others, too draconian, in additional to the fact that people were not being given enough grace period before their ticket expired. But even though nobody has been availed with a copy of the recommendations of the review committee, one may infer that the review would address most of these observed lapses in the implementation of the scheme.

    Parking management is a scheme introduced by municipal authorities all over the world to control and sanitize the cities and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja will not be an exception. The FCT was designed by the founding fathers to conform to all the parameters that a modern city should have for smooth and convenient living. On-street parking is not one run-off thing; it has been in the design from the day the city was conceptualized.

    The FCT administration, in its wisdom, only deemed it fit that it was the right time to activate this scheme to control the flow of traffic in the city.

    •Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim

    Garki, Abuja

  • 2015: PDP under fire over Jonathan’s 32 states order

    2015: PDP under fire over Jonathan’s 32 states order

    Merger ‘ll kill PDP, says CPC

    The President and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were under attack yesterday over their plot to win 32 states in 2015.

    Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) National Chairman Tony Momoh told the PDP to be prepared to lose 32 states in the next general elections.

    PDP Chairman Bamanga Tukur said on Monday that the party got Presidential order to win 32 states. Besides, he described the coming election as “a serious battle”, which his party members must prepare for.

    Momoh, who expressed displeasure at the expanded National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja over Tukur’s statement, vowed to ensure that PDP is sent to the “grave” in 2015.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), he said, will perfect the merger of top opposition parties, which will kick PDP out of power.

    His words: “We want merger and it is only when we merge that we can solve the problems in Nigeria today and take a decision to send PDP to the grave. Someone is already saying that PDP will win 32 states in 2015. I think he was misreported. I think what he may have had in mind is that PDP will lose 32 states in 2015. I don’t know where the courage is from. We will work hard, make sacrifices and ensure we move into the merger and grow the new party (APC) so that Nigeria will have the change it needs.

    “Incidentally, I use this opportunity to mention that the merger is being promoted to set an agenda, to look at the constitution and ensure that Nigerians who have sovereignty, this sovereignty is returned to them. The sovereignty has been stolen from them for the last 12 years and it must be returned to them. We will ensure that welfare and security, that which is in the constitution, are reached.

    “As you can see now, there is no welfare and no security.

    “For the first time in Nigeria, the adoption of merger is necessary – if that is what it will take for change to come and if Nigeria must lead, then the change must come. We are not those who believe that the heavens will come down. We are ready to make a sacrifice; this may be the last meeting that we will have before the merger. I am saying this because lots of people are saying that we have nothing to offer. I can tell them that we are ready to take over.”

    All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) National Publicity Secretary Emma Eneukwu said Nigerians could no longer be fooled by “ mere boasts by a political party”.

    He described Tukur’s speech as that of a man trying to console himself by talking big. He advised Tukur to keep his peace as, according to him, the day of reckoning is already at hand.

    Said Eneukwu: “He is only trying to console himself by talking big. The elections will be done by Nigerians who will rate them according to their performance in the past 12 years. Nigerians are not fools who can be deceived by mere boasts by a party that had plunged the country into terrible darkness. The day of reckoning is approaching.”

    To the National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Osita Okechukwu, Tukur should be more concerned with how he would maintain the 23 states in its party’s fold.

    He doubted if the Adamawa-born businessman-turned-politician was actually given that directive by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said it was a face-saving posture by an embattled party boss who called a meeting of 23 governors and 21 of them failed to honour his call.

    “Tukur is grandstanding. I don’t believe that the President gave that directive. It was his own way of trying to redeem his sagging image and influence. His party has 23 governors now; his burden is how to maintain them first, rather than think of how to increase them. He is presently embattled, you know. He called a meeting and 21 out of 23 governors did not turn up. Is that not a big problem for him? He must sort out his problem first before thinking of capturing more states.”

    This is the second time in less than three months that Tukur has beaten the drums of war in respect of the 2015 general election. In February during a tour of the North Central Zone in Kaduna, he said the elections would be “a big war”.

    To the Chairman of the ACN in Ekiti State, Chief Jide Awe Tukur’s assurance that the PDP would capture a minimum of 32 states as an “open invitation to anarchy”.

    Awe spoke yesterday at a press conference at the ACN secretariat in Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti, is the state capital, warning that the “directive is blatant expression of preparedness for war”.

    According to Awe, the fact that Ekiti State’s governorship election will be held in 2014 is an indication that the people must be prepared for war from PDP.

    Urging Nigerians to be wakeful to threats by the ruling party, Awe noted that “PDP is giving itself away at such an early time as to make us all expectant and fearful.”

    He said: “ACN demands serious explanation from the President referring to the whole nation as a captured nation.

    “I believe he is not inviting the military to take over the governance of this state because all the words he (President) used are military’s.

    “You don’t capture with votes but with arms and ammunition. This trend has been orchestrated and sustained within the PDP since its inception in this country. My fear is for 2014 election in Ekiti and we don’t want Ekiti to be thrown into crisis because you will need to test the ammunition you acquired somewhere.”

    “And I am sure those states he does not love include Bornu Plateau and other states where there have been killings and maiming of innocent souls.”

    “This so-called directive must not embolden the elements of the PDP in this state. Ekiti is ready to resist imposition in any form.”

     

  • Tukur to Lagos PDP: Put your house in order

    Tukur to Lagos PDP: Put your house in order

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was in Lagos State at the weekend to resolve the crisis rocking the chapter. Party sources said that it was a morale-boosting emergency visit aimed at affirming the leadership of Captain Tunji Shelle (rtd), who emerged as the state chairman at the last year’s party congress.

    The National Chairman lamented the defection of key chieftains from the party to the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), urging party chieftains to put their house in order. He spoke on the need for unity in the chapter, stressing that cohesion, solidarity and mutual goodwill are critical to the party’s 2015 calculations.

    Tukur, who arrived Lagos in the evening, was received by the Southwest PDP Caretaker Chairman, Chief Isola Filani, the party chairman, Captain Shelle and other members of the state executive committee. The meeting took place at the Dominion Lounge, Muritala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja.

    The national chairman held closed door meeting with the party stakeholders on how to move the chapter forward and position it strategically for the next general elections. Former Works Minister Prince Adeseye Ogunlewe, who has been a critic of the Bode George leadership, attended the meeting.

    Tukur pacified the aggrieved party leaders who complained about their exclusion from party activities, especially the composition of the current executive committee led by Shelle. He explained that he was not in Lagos to dissolve the executive committee, pointing out that the Lagos PDP problem is not similar to that of the Ogun State chapter.

    The national chairman charged the state executive committee to appeal to those who defected from the party to return to the fold, adding that Shelle should assure them of equal treatment and sense of belonging.

    There have been alleged factional interests in the Lagos State PDP, prompting appeals to the National Working Committee (NWC) for the dissolution of the Shelle executive. But the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Gani Taofeek, told reporters after the meeting that Tukur met a PDP that was intact in Lagos State, adding that the party is prepared for the 2015 polls.

    Shelle acknowledged the NWC’s plan to win Lagos in the next election, assuring Tukur that all hands would be on desk to achieve the noble task. He charged party members to forgive and forget the past in the collective interest of the platform.

    The state chairman also thanked Tukur for the confidence reposed in his leadership, assuring that he would not fail the national leadership.

    Taofeek said: “We left the meeting with a greater resolve to work as a family so as not to disappoint the people of Lagos who are agitating for a change of government. We will to reassure our teeming members that the PDP is determined more than before to take over power in 2015 and ensure grassroots development in the state. We appeal to our black sliding members to come back home. We welcome people from other parties willing to join us and we assure that all members, new and old, will be treated with the love and fairness”.

     

     

  • The High Court order that removed party chief

    The order of the Federal High Court that removed Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola from office by Justice Abdu Kafarati reads in part:

    •That a declaration is hereby granted that the candidacy of the 1st defendant (Oyinlola) as a nominee of the Southwest chapter of the 2nd defendant (PDP) and his consequent election to the office of National Secretary of the 2nd defendant at the National Convention of the 2nd defendant in March 2012 were invalid, null and void by reason of the order of the Federal High Court made on the 27th of April 2012 in suit No. FHC/L/CS/282/2012 nullifying the Southwest Zonal Congress of the 2nd defendant conducted in March 2012 from which the 1st defendant emerged or ought to have emerged.

    •That a declaration is hereby granted that the candidacy of the 1st defendant for and his consequent election to the office of National Secretary of the 2nd defendant at the National Convention of the 2nd defendant in March 2012 were invalid, null and void by reason that he was not a valid nominee of the South-West Zone of the 2nd defendant to which the position had been zoned in accordance with the Constitution of the party.

    •That a declaration is hereby granted that the candidacy of the 1st defendant for the position of National Secretary of the PDP and his consequent election to the office of National Secretary of the 2nd defendant at the National Convention of the 2nd defendant in March 2012 were invalid, null and void in the combined circumstances of the order of the Federal High Court made on the 27th of April 2012 in suit No. FHC/L/CS/282/2012, the provision of the Constitution of the 2nd defendant for zoning of party offices, enforcement of the zoning policy of the 2nd defendant(PDP) and the provision of Section 223 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

    •That an order is hereby granted removing the 1st defendant (Oyinlola) from the office of National Secretary of the 2nd defendant (PDP).

    •That an order is hereby granted directing the 3rd defendant (the Independent National Electoral Commission) to rectify the records of the 2nd defendant by deleting the name of the 1st defendant as the National Secretary of the 2nd defendant and replacing same in accordance with the provision of the Constitution of the 2nd defendant with candidate nominated at a valid congress of the South-West Zone Chapter of the PDP to be held within 21 days of the order of the Court.”

  • ‘Call Southwest PDP to order’

    The Osun State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to call its Southwest chapter to order.

    It warned the Southwest PDP to stop “exhibiting ignorance” by calling for a probe into a road dualisation contract awarded by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration to Sammya Construction Company.

    In a statement by its Publicity Director, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, ACN advised the PDP “to stop making a nuisance of itself by peddling falsehood about the reputable company in an attempt to tarnish Aregbesola’s image”.

    It said: “Only an ignoramus would describe a company as bankrupt because a garnishee order was placed on its accounts. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is far more intelligent than the Southwest PDP, as it knows the difference between a garnishee order and a state of bankruptcy.

    “The PDP is either being mischievous or ignorant, but we would like to put the records straight on the issue. We say categorically that Sammya is not bankrupt. We are aware that there was a bank charge dispute early in 2011 between Sammya and Wema Bank, as a result of which the bank secured a court order to garnish the accounts of Sammya in other banks.”

    ACN said the dispute had been settled, adding that the bank had issued a discharge letter to that effect on which a court order had also been vacated.

  • IG issues security marching order

    IG issues security marching order

    •List of suspected Boko Haram detainees being compiled

     

    How many Boko Haram suspects are in detention?

    Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar was unable to provide the answer yesterday at a news conference in Abuja.

    “Yes, we have quite a number of the suspects (Boko Haram) with us but I cannot give you a definite figure now. Remember that other security agencies are involved in this fight and they too have some suspects,” IG Abubakar said, adding: “Because of that concern and worry, we have just set up a committee to reconcile all the number of suspects and as soon as they do that, I can give you the number in detention.”

    The police chief spoke after a meeting of the police top brass at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

    The IG ordered all zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of police (AIGs) to curb crimes in their areas of jurisdiction or face the consequences.

    He decried what he described as increasing spate of lawlessness in certain parts of the country, particularly the northeast.

    The IGP, however, cautioned the officers against high-handedness in the handling of the job, saying that the fundamental rights of citizens must not be trampled upon while enforcing the law.

    Abubakar stressed the need to keep the streets free of criminals ahead of the Yuletide. He specifically charged Commissioners of Police in charge of Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna and Taraba states to be on their toes against the Boko Haram sect.

    He said: “Given the situation we met on ground, I think there is progress. But we need to state that there are challenges, particularly in Borno, Yobe and Taraba in the Northeast and Kaduna and Zamfara states in the northwest.

    “All these incessant killings, kidnappings, armed robberies must stop. We must work on the excesses of our men; we have seen appreciable improvement but we still need to do more.

    “In the cases of bribery and corruption, we have improved but I have observed that there are some states where it seems the issue of bribery and corruption has not gone down. Henceforth, I am going to hold the Commissioners of Police responsible for this.”

    The IGP attributed the delay in trying suspects arrested for alleged terrorism to the delay in passing the Anti Terrorism Bill, but added that the suspects are undergoing intense interrogation.

    He hinted that an inter-agency committee comprising all the security agencies has been set up to properly screen the suspects and determine their culpability, stressing that a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) is representing the police in the committee.

    Abubakar said the police authorities were still working on the next line of action against the dismissed former Commissioner of Police, Zakari Biu who was alleged to have taken illegal actions that led to the escape from police custody of a terror suspect, Mr. Kabiru Sokoto.

    Sokoto was alleged to have masterminded the bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State on Christmas day in 2011.

     

  • Reps order closure of Kogi Assembly

    Reps order closure of Kogi Assembly

    The House of Representatives yesterday ordered the closure of the Kogi State House of Assembly pending the report of its mediation in the crisis rocking the assembly.

    The lawmakers, in a letter directed the Inspector- General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Ekpenyong Ita and other relevant security agencies to ensure compliance with their order.

    The October 30 letter was signed by the Deputy Chief Whip and Chairman House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee, Murktar Ahmed, to mediate in the Kogi State House of Assembly crisis.

    The same letter was also addressed to members of the Kogi State House of Assembly and the Clerk of the House.

    The lawmaker directed the Clerk of the assembly and other workers not to recognise any group of members or its leadership pending the outcome of the Ad-Hoc Committee’s mediation.

    It would be recalled that 12 members of the 25-member Kogi Assembly sat and ‘impeached’ the Speaker, Abdullahi Bello and other principal officers.

    The action of the lawmakers has been condemned as illegal.

    Analysts believed the group did not meet the mandatory two third majority members of the House to carry out impeachment.

    Ahmed insisted that full suspension of legislative business in the House has become necessary to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the state.

    A copy of the letter entitled: “Enrolled Order”, which was sighted by our reporter in Abuja, reads: “Having interacted with the various segments, persons and members of the House of Assembly and other stakeholders from Kogi State, it is clear that two groups of members of the assembly are claiming leadership.

    “Pursuant to Section 11 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), it is the opinion of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee to mediate in the House of Assembly crisis that by reason of the prevailing situation, the assembly cannot legitimately perform its duty without a breakdown of law and order.

    “It is, therefore, hereby ordered that: All members should suspend all and any official legislative function pending the outcome of the Ad-Hoc Committee’s mediation.

    “The Clerk of the House of Assembly and other supporting workers should not recognise any group of members or its leadership howsoever called, pending the outcome of the Ad-Hoc Committee’s mediation.

    “The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) and all relevant security agencies are hereby ordered to ensure full compliance with this order.”

    Meanwhile, effort by the Kogi State Government to win over four members of the House in support of Bello from Kogi West was said to have been unsuccessful.

    Investigation showed that a meeting to allegedly coax the four members to support the government’s anointed Speaker was held about 10.30pm on Wednesday at Chief Jide Omokore’s home in Maitama, Abuja.