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Tag: Petition

  • UN gets petition on $9.3 million ‘arms deal’

    UN gets petition on $9.3 million ‘arms deal’

    A diaspora group, Nigeria Unite Group, has petitioned the Office of the Secretary- General of the United Nations (UN) on the alleged $9.3million arms deal.

    The group in a petition by the Coordinator and Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Hussaini and Francis John, said the arms deal was a violation of the principles enshrined in the global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

    The statement said: “Although the government has admitted knowledge of the deal, it has denied any complicity in the attempt to commit a crime.

    “This is a violation of the principles enshrined in the global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Moreover, the explanations given by the two Nigerians and one Israeli arrested by the South African investigators are flawed and riddled with discrepancies.”

    The body said the manner of the transaction and the channel the money passed through, called for questioning, adding that government was covering up the arms contract with an unauthorised agency.

    It said that the UN should act on its petition to enable Nigerians know the truth.

    Drawing a parallel between the revelations by an Australian Hostage Negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis and the botched arms deal, the group said the UN must take urgent and holistic measures to investigate the issues, to ensure peace and security.

    The statement further reads: “We demand a full, urgent and independent investigation by the UN into the $9.3million arms deal, which is suspicious and flawed by the international standards of arms sales.

  • APC files 600 witnesses against Omisore’s petition

    APC files 600 witnesses against Omisore’s petition

    Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) has filed written statements of 600 witnesses against the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, on the August 9 governorship election.

    The statements were filed with the reply of the APC, which is the second respondent in the petition yesterday.

    Omisore is challenging the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, claiming that the election was marred by fraud.

    The lead counsel to the APC, Kunle Adegoke, who filed the reply, said the respondent was asking the tribunal to dismiss the petition of the PDP and its candidate because it was baseless, frivolous and contentious.

    He said the reply contained about 257 pages in which explanations were offered on the happenings in the local governments being challenged by the PDP.

    “We started filing the reply on Saturday. We have about 600 witnesses that we have prepared their witness statements to counter the allegations of the petitioners.

    “Our reply is to the effect that the allegations raised by the petitioner are completely frivolous, baseless, vexatious and constitute an abuse of court process.

    “We are saying they don’t have any business being here, they are only here to waste the precious time of the tribunal and our own precious time too.

    “In addition, we are saying cost should be awarded against the petitioners for wasting the court’s and our time too.”

    Adegoke noted that the tribunal was informed in the reply that if not for the vigilance, resoluteness and the preparedness of the electorate, which  stood firm against rigging, the election would have been rigged by PDP and its candidate.

    The APC counsel then noted that if the petitioners were serious and desirous of driving the petition the way it should be done, the petition would be concluded within the stipulated 180 days.

    He noted that steps the petitioners took so far did not show them as serious people.

  • Elders petition Umar over monarch’s ‘excesses’

    Elders petition Umar over monarch’s ‘excesses’

    Concerned Mambilla Elders Forum (CMEF) has petitioned Taraba State Acting Governor Alhaji Garba Umar over what it described as the alleged excesses of a monarch, Shehu Audu Baju.

    The petition, signed by the coordinator, Alhaji Usman Hassan Zubairu and the secretary, Daniel Mbomu, accused Shehu of “neglecting his people and for not being a listening leader as he promised on August 24 last year when he was given the staff of office.”

    The elders alleged that the Mambilla ruler undermined the opinions of the traditional council and conferred chieftaincy titles on 40 people, including fraudsters, against their culture.

    They accused him of appointing only the rich as the village heads instead of those from the ruling homes.

    The petition reads: “When on August 24 last year you gave Shehu the staff of office, we supported you, as he promised to be a listening leader, a democratic servant-ruler. He promised to reunite the ethnic groups. But to our dismay, our king has turned out to be an autocratic ruler, exercising powers inimical to Mambilla people.

    “Within a short time, Shehu has given chieftaincy titles to 40 people, including fraudsters, simply because they are rich.

    “He gives the Ardo (Fulani district head) and the Jouro (Mambilla district head) titles to people, provided the beneficiaries have N1.5 million to give him. He does not care whether such people are from the ruling houses or not.

    “Shehu has set up a three-man committee, headed by Kaigama Abdulkadri, to review the land ownership system in the area and collects 10 per cent of the money involved in every land deal. This is causing problems, which may result in crisis.

    “The Office of the Chief of Mambilla is under the Office of the Sardauna Local Government, but our chief has grown bigger than the local government chairman, Dr. David Jedua and does not wish to consult him on any decision he takes. We are afraid that you are not aware of his excesses and the danger they portend.”

  • Election petition: INEC ’ll remain impartial, says Ekiti REC

    Election petition: INEC ’ll remain impartial, says Ekiti REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the body won’t favour any side in the petition raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the June 21 election in the state, Mr. Peter Ayo Fayose.

    The APC is challenging the victory of Fayose, Ekiti governor-elect, at the election petition tribunal, alleging some irregularities in the conduct of the election.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ekiti State, Alhaji Halilu Pai, who spoke with journalists on the phone   yesterday said all the materials used for the conduct of the election would be well kept and made available for all parties.

    It woud be recalled also that the Justice Mohammed Sirajo-led tribunal had given an order empowering the APC to inspect all materials used for the election.

    But the PDP kicked against such, urging the commission to protect the materials from being destroyed, alleging the APC might attack where the materials were kept and destroy them.

    On this, Pai said: “There is no cause for alarm. Immediately we got wind of the petition filed by APC, we contacted the Police and the State Security Service to beef up security around our warehouse.

    “And I want to tell you now that the place is under serious security watch. There is no reason to fear whether those materials will be tampered with.

    “We are going to protect them and ensure that we make them  available to all parties as directed by the tribunal  as the trial progresses.

    “We have demonstrated partisanship in our dealings with all political parties and we will continue to maintain this”.

    The INEC said the results that were declared across the 177 wards by the staff of the commission on the day of the election were true representations of the wishes of the Ekiti electorate.

    He added that the commission had no reason to take sides in the conduct of any election, since it was not  part of any political party, but a statutory and autonomous body established primarily for the conduct of election.

    He urged Nigerians, especially politicians, to continue to repose confidence in the commission as an unbiased umpire and stop making comments that could disparage the election body.

  • ‘Election petition not to distract Fayose’

    ‘Election petition not to distract Fayose’

    Ekiti State Commissioner for Integration and Inter-governmental Affairs Funminiyi Afuye has said the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to petition the elections tribunal in respect of the June 21 election was not to distract the governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

    Afuye said the party’s intention was to prove the extreme possibility of having rigged the election using technologies known to have been employed in some advanced climes to perpetrate electoral fraud.

    He spoke in Ikere-Ekiti at the weekend in an interview with reporters during the referendum held by the government on the creation of new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    Afuye said despite the loss of the election, the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration remained a blessing to the people.

    He said: “People would have to believe that nothing is impossible with technology. There are people who defraud through the use of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) without the owner knowing about it.

    “If this could happen and many other reported cases of cyber crime, we cannot rule the possibility of photo chromic and thermo chromic rigging in the June 21 governorship election.

    “Apart from this, the system had been used in advanced climes to rig

    election and it might be a new invention in Nigeria, which our party would have to expose”.

    He added that APC would do everything possible to maintain a robust opposition.

    “We will constructively engage him on issues and this will be based on the programmes he has for the people of this state,” he said. .

  • Four petition rights group over unpaid N6.9m

    Four petition rights group over unpaid N6.9m

    Four ex-employees of Tec Ventures Company, Lagos have dragged their former employer, Mr Thomas Ejimadu Chukwure before the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), over alleged N6.9 million debt owed them since 2012.

    In a petition appealing for CDHR’s assistance, Messrs Sylvester Agwuibe, Eugene Emiantor, Hope Chigbo and Mrs. Augustina Chichi Nkemka pleaded with the human rights group to help them to prevail on Mr. Chukwure to pay them the amount which they alleged he is owing them as salaries.

    They stated that the company which started operation in 2001 with Messrs Agwuibe, Emiantor and Mrs Nkemka (the accountant) as the pioneer staff, grew into a multi-million Naira business enterprise due to the staff commitment.

    They told the CDHR that initially, their employer was treating them well, adding that it was as a result of their hard work and dedication to duty that they secured landed property for their boss at Agbara at the cost of N2.1 million and an additional N100, 000 for the agent who facilitated the purchase of the property. They also said another sum of N8 million was given to the managing director for land procurement from the company’s account.

    They maintained that their employer instructed them to pay his wife who is not a staff of the company N95, 000 monthly, the house maid N6, 000 and private tutor of his children N10, 000.

    They revealed that from 2008, their boss began paying their salaries at his convenience and by installment.

    “Some staff had to resign but some of us who remained loyal and faithful stayed, even though he did not pay our salaries in May, June, July and December 2012.

    “In December, 2012, he told us that he was closing down the company to enable him to source for fund to revitalise the firm. He took us outside and locked the company. That was how he cunningly terminated our appointments without due process.

    “In January, 2013, we called him to know the position of things only for him to accuse us that we stole his money and liquidated his business.

    “All agreements we entered into and signed concerning reward, leave allowances dividends and others he violated.

    “We had worked in his company for 12 years and we have nothing to show for our dutifulness. So, we want CDHR to help us regain our rights and entitlements and defend us from our oppressor and suppressor director,” they stated.

    When contacted for comment on the issue, Mr. Chukwure said he had stated his case to the CDHR  and there was nothing else he would say. He added that he would want all parties to the issue to be present to state their views.

    Countering Mr. Chukwure’s claim, the Coordinator of CDHR Isheri-Oshun Unit to which the petition was directed, Comrade (Mrs.) Chinazo Ifechigha who is also the Financial Secretary of the rights group at the state level said Mr. Chukwure honoured the CDHR’s invitation once and had refused to honour subsequent invitations aimed at resolving the matter.

    She urged Mr. Chukwure to appear before the rights group in order to resolve the matter so that all parties would be convinced that justice had taken its full course.

    Commenting on the issue, a member of the group and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum Theory, University of Lagos, Dr Chinedu Ifechigha, said the pitiable plight of an average Nigerian worker, especially those in the employ of private entrepreneurs, has been a source of worry to labour analysts and activists who argue that the employers are not humane enough so much so that they pay the employees non-living wage.

    Some, he maintain, derive bestial pleasure in treating their workers in a shabby and callous manner, even as they could terminate the appointment of any of the workers in a feigned administrative restructuring.

    “The average Nigerian worker lives in the present. He neither has a gladdening secured tomorrow nor could he be proud of his yesterday.

    “Instead of caring for the well-being of the workers whose lives they have used and whose labour had become the foundation of the employer’s prosperity, they (employers) wear them out and discharge them, some with unreasonable reasons.

    The employees, most times, are discharged without tangible benefits on which they will fall back on in their old age. The employers should remember that all that is of value in the society is the product of labour,” he said.

  • Taraba ex-commissioners petition NJC

    Former Taraba State commissioners have petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over what they described as “alleged murder of the judiciary and judicial process by the Chief Judge, Justice Josephine Adamu Tuktur”.

    In the petition by Anthony Jellason (Agriculture), Emmanuel Bello (Information) and another official, Samuel Galadima, the petitioners urged the NJC to “intervene” in what they described as “a systematic erosion of the judiciary, judicial process and rule of law in Taraba”.

    The former commissioners said Justice Tuktur “systematically and deliberately obstructed, frustrated, undermined, thwarted and barricaded judicial process and court orders passed by the law court in her jurisdiction.”

    “It is incomprehensive that ‘contempt’ could willfully be committed by a judicial officer.”

    The Taraba CJ, the petitioners alleged, did not rise to protect the “sanctity and integrity” of the judiciary when Acting Governor Garba Umar on October 30, last year and January 6 sent lists of commissioner-nominees to the House of Assembly, despite a court order restraining him.

    They said Justice Tuktur also ignored the screening of the commissioner-nominees by the House.

    The petitioners urged the NJC to investigate their claims vis-à-vis the activities of Justice Tuktur, who they alleged has “ridiculed the revered image of the judiciary.”

  • Ngige’s petition strong, says campaign organisation

    Senator Chris Ngige Campaign Organisation has said the petition filed by its candidate at the Anambra State Governorship and Elections tribunal is strong.

    It reacted yesterday in Awka, following the ‘falsehoods’ peddled about the ruling at the Justice Ishaq Bello-led panel last week.

    In a statement in Awka by Mr. Okelo Madukaife, the organisation’s deputy director of Media & Publicity, it said some had gone to the extent of falsifying the action of the tribunal to the effect that the documents presented to the tribunal by Senator Ngige’s counsel and those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were forged.

    According to the statement, “the reality on the ruling is that APC, jointly with Senator Ngige and severally with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Tony Nwoye applied to the tribunal severally to hear the preliminary objections in the body of the trial and consider them side-by side with the substantive matter in the final judgment, as provided for by Paragraph 12, Sub-Paragraph 5 of the First Schedule to the 2010 Electoral Act, as amended.

    “The framers of the Electoral Act, by an amendment effected four years after the original enactment abridged the timing expended on interlocutory applications/appeals by providing in Paragraph 12 sub-paragraph 5 of the First Schedule that parties should raise and document their objection, state the section or subsection under which they are raised and the ruling will be taken along with the trial and judgment delivered together on all issues.

    “In the instant ruling, the tribunal agreed with the arguments of APC, Ngige, PDP and Nwoye, and allowed all preliminary objections to be considered in the final address along with the final judgment.

    “The tribunal, however, in its wisdom, made an exception of the preliminary objections seeking to strike out some paragraphs of the respective petitions.

    “The legal teams of Ngige and APC are focused on the expected motions fixed for February 25, filed by Chief Willie Obiano and seeking to strike out some paragraphs of their petition, as this application enjoys the benefit of that exception by the tribunal.”

    Proceedings will resume today at the tribunal, following adjournment by Justice Bello last Wednesday.

    The motions, filed by the plaintiffs and defendants, would be ruled upon today, while Ngige and APC would reply the motions filed by INEC, Obiano and APGA.

     

  • Tribunal orders service of Ngige’s petition by substituted means

    Anambra State Governorship and Legislative Houses Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka has ordered that the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr, Chris Ngige, be served on two of the respondents by substituted means.

    Ngige and APC sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), its candidate, Chief Willie Obiano and the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD).

    The tribunal ordered that Obiano and APGA be served by pasting the petition on the tribunal’s notice board.

    The order was made on December 22. The respondents are expected to respond within 14 days.

    In the petition filed by their counsel, Messrs Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), George Uwechue (SAN) and Emeka Ngige (SAN), among others, the petitioners are asking the tribunal to nullify the election.

    They claimed that it was marred by substantial non-compliance with the mandatory statutory requirements and irregularities and that “none of the candidates in the election was entitled to be returned.”

    The petitioners argued that the APGA candidate did not satisfy the mandatory requirements in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

    They prayed the tribunal to declare that Obiano was not duly elected or returned and that his election was void.

    The petitioners are also asking the tribunal to determine that the use of an invalid voter register rendered the elections of November 16, 17 and 30 invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    Ngige and APC urged the tribunal to declare that Obiano was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast, and that the APGA candidate did not receive 25 per cent of votes in two-thirds of the 21 councils as required by the constitution.

    The petitioners sought a declaration that “the election and return of the third respondent be nullified and a fresh election ordered among the parties and candidates, who contested the election, save for third and fourth respondents.”

  • SAN seeks quick hearing of petitions by lawmakers

    SAN seeks quick hearing of petitions by lawmakers

    Speedy determination of public petitions before the Public Petitions Committees of the National will help to promote the cause of democracy and rule of law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mrs Funke Adekoya has said.

    However, matters which are pending in courts or before administrative panels are not among those the committees can treat, she said.

    Addressing a strategic retreat session of the Senate and House of Representatives committees on public petitions in Lagos, Adekoya said they also should not dabble into matters which citizens have agreed to resolve by arbitration.

    The lawyer, who is the immediate past Chair of the Nigerian Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), said committees’ jurisdiction does not extend to “situations in which parties have already taken the matter to court for determination or where an action has been taken on the matter by an administrative panel”.

    She noted that most petitioners approach the National Assembly because they feel that they will not obtain redress in the courts or due to the slow or expensive process of litigation.

    Adekoya advised the committees to adopt ADR techniques in resolving the petitions, as they are usually written before redress is sought in the courts or administrative panels.

    “Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a cheaper and a viable option for resolving disputes due to the speed at which decisions are made,” she said.

    Reviewing the recent Senate decision advising the disengaged staff of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to approach the courts for redress, the lawyer said the impasse would have been more speedily resolved through conciliation and mediation.