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Tag: probe

  • Probe: Kaduna Assembly’s committee grills El-Rufai’s ex-commissioners

    Probe: Kaduna Assembly’s committee grills El-Rufai’s ex-commissioners

    • Panel indicts former Exco members

    An ad hoc committee the Kaduna State House of Assembly set up to investigate the loans and contractual obligations approved by the state government from May 29, 2015 to May 29, 2023, has grilled some commissioners that served in former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration.

    The House of Assembly recently inaugurated the committee to probe the financial dealings of the eight-year administration of the former governor.

    This followed an outcry by incumbent Governor Uba Sani over his administration’s inability to pay salaries and complete projects due to inherited huge debts.

    The Nation gathered that former commissioners so far questioned include Thomas Gyang (Public Works and Infrastructure), Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani (Education), and Dr. Manzo Daniel Maigari (Agricultural).

    Others are: Balarabe Aliyu (ex-Commissioner/Administrator, Zaria Metropolitan Authority), Mohammed Lawal Magaji (ex-Managing Director, Kaduna State Roads Agency), Phoebe Yayi Sukai (ex-Administrator, Kafanchan Metropolitan Authority), among others.

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    Addressing reporters after a long session with the former commissioners on Monday night, the committee’s Chairman Henry Danjuma said: “The ad hoc committee was inaugurated by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate financial dealings that has to do with loans and contractual obligations by the Kaduna State government from May 29, 2015 to May 29, 2023.

    “Since the committee was inaugurated, we swung into work and we have reached a stage where today we have invited some key persons that we deem it necessary to have them interviewed so that we can get testimonies to get to an appropriate conclusion so that we can give a justified report of our committee.

    “Our remark is that the entire session was open. Anybody who came took an oath to know that we are serious, that whatever is told must be honest. I think I’m happy that there have been honest and frank discussions between us and those that appeared before us.

    “We have not reached a conclusion yet. Just because of testimonies, you have to go and analyse whatever that has been said before us before we reach findings. Don’t worry. By the time we are done, we will invite the press to the final reports.”

  • Army 17:  We need independent probe’

    Army 17:  We need independent probe’

    Centre for Law and Civil Culture (CLCC) has urged National Assembly to set up an independent inquiry into the killing of 17 officers and soldiers in Delta State on March 14.

    It called on National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to probe the incident to prevent a recurrence.

    In a statement by Executive Secretary, Abdul Imran, and Deputy Legal Adviser, Oyinkansola Chukwu, the centre said the police should lead the investigations.

    “The Army cannot objectively investigate the killings. It is police responsibility.

    “CLCC calls on the police not to abdicate its constitutional and statutory responsibility,” it said.

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    The centre urged the Army to exercise caution and ensure innocent people are not punished for the offence they knew nothing about.

    It said Delta State governor, police and other security agencies as well as the press should be given access to the troubled community. 

    Describing the killings as “cruel and barbaric”, CLCC commiserated with the Army and the bereaved families.

  • Commendable probe

    Commendable probe

    • We should know how N30trn Ways and Means was spent

    We commend the decision by the senate to probe the controversial N30tn Ways and Means loans granted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Far from being an attempt to open wounds as some are won’t to tag the exercise, it seems, in the circumstances in which the country has found itself, utterly unthinkable that those charged with the public duty of calling such behaviours into account, will pass off the egregious violations of the era without doing violence to their own integrity as an institution. Nigerians would readily recall the many controversies that trailed the issue of the reckless loans to the immediate past administration. The high point of that sordid era was President Muhammadu Buhari’s January 2023 letter to the National Assembly requesting that the N22.7trn Ways and Means loan be converted to a 40-year bond with a moratorium of three years. Whereas the House of Representatives acceded to the request, the 9th Senate would be thrown into a chaotic session after some lawmakers opposed to the request demanded the details of the expenditures. Amidst strident objections by some members who had insisted that the approval would run foul of the law, the then senate president Ahmad Lawan had rammed the request through.

    With last Tuesday resolution by the senate to proceed with a probe, the wheels would appear to have turned full circle. But then, the development is itself a logical sequel to the recommendation of its Joint Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Finance, National Planning, Agriculture and Appropriation on State of the Economy, on the matter. The body had held interactive sessions with the Federal Government’s economic management team on the issue, following which it recommended that a probe had become necessary. Here is the broad stroke of the committee’s observation as captured in its report: “One of the main drivers of inflation in Nigeria today is the volume of money in circulation. As at December 2023, the country recorded an unprecedented money supply of N78.74tn, and a 51 per cent year-on-year increase when compared to money supply as at December 2022. One of the driving forces of this significant increase in money supply was the N30tn Ways and Means or the direct financing extended by the CBN to the Federal Government which has only weakened the balance sheet of the central  bank. In addition to the inflationary pressures, the country is also battling with acute shortages of food items.”

    Now, the Godswill Akpabio-led senate wants the entire affair probed: ‘A thorough probe must be carried out on the N22.7tn Ways and Means approved in May 2023 by the 9th Senate which later increased to N30trn, with the passage of the N7.2trn accrued interest forwarded to the senate for passage last December…The details of the spending, he insisted ‘must be submitted for required scrutiny and possible remedies…’

    With due respect to the former Senate President under whose watch those controversial activities took place, and who in the course of the deliberations last week, would urge his colleagues to consign the development to the past to enable the body focus on the present, we do believe that this senate, unlike the one in which he held sway, is very much in order. His call, if we may put it bluntly, seems to us as utterly irresponsible.

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    To start with, the country would not have been in this mess had the 9th senate done the due diligence of requesting for the detailed breakdown of how the N30 trillion went. As if that was not bad enough, the same senate would take to the ‘sleep mode’ and so failed to sound the alarm even when the signs were there all along that the apex bank had not only violated the relevant provisions of the CBN Act 2007, but had in moments of an assumed national exigency, conveniently overstepped its traditional boundaries of monetary policy management.

    It may be that Nigerians have grown weary of probes that in the end up as mere charades. What is undeniable is that the latest one is not just at sync with the demands of public accounting, it is a public duty imposed on the senate. In any case, it is in accord with the citizens’ right to know. This is even more so now that the proverbial chicken has come home to roost; with the mind-boggling revelations of outlawry and subversion of the foremost national institution by its irresponsible leadership. The probe seems to us the surest path to a definitive closure of that sordid chapter.

  • TAM probe

    TAM probe

    • We hope it won’t end up the familiar script

    Last week, the Senate constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the N11.35 trillion spent in the last 13 years on Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna. The committee, chaired by Senator Isah Jibrin, was mandated to work with chairmen of the committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream); Upstream; Gas; Finance; Appropriation, and Public Accounts, is expected, among others, to examine all contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of the refineries, and to ascertain the progress on the ongoing works. 

    It was also to interrogate the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), NNPCL, and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on the best approach to commercialise and ensure profitability of the refineries. In all, it has four weeks to turn in its findings.

    Given how previous exercises have yielded nothing tangible either in terms of turning the fortunes of the entities around or identifying those personalities who merely took the nation on a wild goose chase for punishment, it is at once tempting to dismiss this latest exercise as merely playing a familiar script. 

    Yet, to the extent that we are here dealing with huge amounts of public funds farmed out through contracts to entities that have neglected to deliver commensurate values to the people, the issue would certainly remain not only live as it were, but legitimate subjects for our elected representatives. 

    Broad fiduciary duties of contracts and performance apart, we are here dealing with the issue of crime and punishment; how to ensure that those who were given contracts by government and for whom huge amounts were paid are not only held strictly to the terms of their contracts but are disallowed from profiting from defrauding the common wealth.  

    Of course, it may well be argued on the other hand that the failure stemmed from abdication by those charged with the public duty of oversight on those entities; in other words, had the bodies done their duties as expected under the law, the sector would have in all likelihood been spared the mess that it has become, just as the country would have avoided the humongous costs that it has had to bear as a result.

    Now that the senate has elected to act, what can Nigerians expect? 

    We believe that the four weeks is more than enough for the committee given what is already available in the public domain, particularly from the records of earlier related probes. While it seems logical that the NNPC Ltd will have the records of who got what and so should be too ready to guide the committee, the same should go to the contractors; they are in good stead to assist the committee to shed light on what went wrong. In the end, nothing short of a full accounting for every kobo spent on the refineries, including those decisions and/or lack thereof, all of which combined, have made the country the butt of jokes across global capitals, is expected. 

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    Beyond that is the issue of the future of the refineries themselves. Interestingly, the Federal Government continues to assure Nigerians that the current cycle of TAMs would deliver. Indeed, we have heard over and over again that the December target date for the completion of the Port Harcourt refinery TAM is sacrosanct, and that Warri will come on stream by the end of the first quarter of next year, and Kaduna towards the end of next year. As always, our expectation is for the government to deliver on those promises. 

    Yet, the bigger question and which has remained unanswered is what happens after. Interestingly, the Senate listed the matter among others to be considered by the ad hoc committee. For us, it comes to the basic question of whether the so-called transformed NNPC Ltd could be trusted to run the entity as a truly commercial value-driven entity, going forward. Our instant retort in the circumstance would be – what in that entity’s past record is there to point at? Is it not the same archaic models that led us to this sorry pass? Surely, this is no time to further indulge in unprofitable games. The government as a matter of fact should be out there shopping for world class firms to run the entities profitably.

  • Post-surgery complications on six patients for probe

    Post-surgery complications on six patients for probe

    Afive-man panel is to probe post-surgery complications in six patients who had cataract at National Eye Centre, Kaduna.

     The panel will look into the cases to understand the incident that led to the adverse events, understand the systemic causes, and ensure appropriate actions are taken, following due processes to ensure fairness.

    Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, decrying unacceptable post-operation complications, stressed that government places premium on clinical governance to improve health care.

     A statement by his Special Assistant on Media and External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah, said the panel has five members, including three consultant ophthalmologists and two representatives from Federal Ministry of Health.

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     It will be headed by an external consultant ophthalmologist to give it the independence it deserves.

     Minister of State, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stressed: “This new era, emphasis will be placed on high quality care, and substandard quality of care is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

     Pate reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensure Nigerians access quality health services, irrespective of age, ethnicity, income, or location . 

    He said: “Improving quality of health services is paramount to rebuilding people’s trust in our health institutions.”

  • Election monitoring group calls for probe of returning officer

    An election monitoring group, Youths for Credible Elections, has called on the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and security agencies to probe activities of Prof. James Ihemeje, an INEC’s Presidential and NASS Elections Returning Officer.

    The group, in a statement made available to The Nation, made particular reference to a trending video on the internet which shows where Prof Ihemeje of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, who was the Presidential/NASS Returning Officer for Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, was being questioned on why he appeared alone at the collation centre with the alleged local government results as against the laid down electoral procedure that he should be accompanied by the local government electoral officer and security operatives.

    The group alleged that the said INEC official did not follow the procedure but rather surfaced alone at the collation center.

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    In a press release signed by the group’s coordinator and secretary Comrade Akuagba Ezerendu and Comrade Uche Ndudim respectively, the group urged INEC chairman and security operatives to probe the activities of Prof James Ihemeje on the said day and to also look into the result he presented as it can attest to what it described as “the enormous electoral frauds perpetuated against mostly President Muhammadu Buhari in the Southeast zone, greatly facilitated by INEC ad hoc staffs.”

    The group recalled that it was the same Ikwuano Local Government Area that had a known issue regarding some INEC electoral officers who were arrested by the police while trying to smuggle out alleged unclaimed voters cards in their thousands.

     

  • Probe: Onnoghen likely to face fresh criminal charges

    The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen may face two fresh trials on alleged huge deposits in his accounts.

    There were indications that Justice Onnoghen might be tried for alleged several breaches of the criminal and anti-corruption laws, including money laundering, bribery and tax evasion.

    The latest cases also border on alleged strange deposits in his accounts and cash gifts from some Senior Advocates of Nigeria( SANs).

    It was learnt that the Federal Government has delayed the arraignment of the CJN in deference to the constitutional provisions on the National Judicial Council ( NJC).

    The constitution stipulates that such allegations against a judicial officer should first be presented to the NJC.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) has submitted a petition and a comprehensive report on Onnoghen’s accounts to the NJC.

    A  government official, who spoke in confidence with select reporters, said there are three dimensions  to the allegations against Justice Onnoghen.

    He said apart from the trial of Justice Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct Tribunal  (CCT), there might be two other cases against him.

    The source said the suspended CJN might be arraigned before a High Court of Justice very soon.

    The source said: “When President Muhammadu Buhari decided to suspend Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen on the 25th of January, 2019, it was in response to serious allegations of irregularities, illegalities and criminal conduct contained in petitions submitted against the top judicial officer, and indeed some findings of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which not only substantiated those petitions but threw up even more damning facts.

    “Since then, there have been several public revelations and judicial proceedings which are sometimes confusing to members of the general public.”

    ”For clarity, there are two different cases currently ongoing before constituted panels and a separate ethical issue in the public domain,

    “The first point of focus has been the failure of the Chief Judge to declare his assets immediately after taking office and every four years thereafter, as required by the 1999 Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, and the Code of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

    “This particular illegality has been admitted in writing by the Chief Justice himself and is a matter for criminal prosecution now before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    “But we must note that because of its specialised nature, CCT has a narrow jurisdiction and the case before it is confined to the issues of asset declaration, failure to declare assets as required by law and false declaration of assets.

    “That is what the CCT had been hearing since charges were first filed against the CJN on the 10th of January, 2019.

    “The prosecution recently closed its case and lawyers to the suspended CJN are now to open the defence or make a no case submission. Just for clarity, it is worth emphasising that the CCT will only treat issues relating assets declaration.”

    The source gave insights into the new cases against the suspended CJN.

    He added: “The more interesting aspect of the suspended CJN’s dilemma involves allegations of several breaches of the criminal and anti-corruption laws, including money laundering, bribery and tax evasion.

    “It is alleged, for instance, that the suspended CJN is the owner of some domiciliary accounts primarily funded through US dollar cash deposits made by himself.

    “More disturbing is the pattern of deposits which, according to EFCC, were made in a manner inconsistent with financial transparency and the code of conduct for public officials. These include instances of repeated cash deposits of 10,000 US dollars each, totaling close to two million dollars.

    “These serious allegations would ordinarily have gone to the High Court for prosecution, but for a case precedent which stipulates that such allegations against a judicial officer should first be presented to the National Judicial Council, more or less an internal disciplinary panel for erring judicial officers, before being prosecuted in a criminal court.

    “The allegations of unexplained wealth, huge cash deposits being made into the suspended CJ’s Naira, dollar and pound sterling accounts directly from the court and well beyond his estacode and other allowances; unexplained payments into the suspended CJN’s account by lawyers who at the same time were appearing before him for adjudication, etc, are currently being handled by the NJC and would be filed in court after the NJC has made its decision on them.”

    Responding to a question, the top source said: “We must not miss the point that EFCC is also a petitioner against the suspended CJN.

    “After carrying out an extensive investigation, some of the findings submitted by the Commission are truly shocking.

    “For instance, there are findings to the effect that the CJN allegedly received a Mercedes Benz car and dollar cash deposits from  Joe Agi, appearing, who is a Senior Advocate.

    “Worse still, the CJN is shown to have received cash gifts directly into his bank accounts from several other senior advocates.

    “These implicating cash transactions were going on, in dollar and Naira, even up to 2017 and 2018.

    “Even as the world eagerly awaits the decision of NJC on these matters, it is pertinent to emphasize that the conclusion of the cases before the CCT and NJC is not likely to be the end of the matter. Criminal charges are still to be filed in court.”

     

  •   Senate probes siege to Ondo Assembly

    The Senate has put machinery in motion to investigate the ongoing police siege to the Ondo State House of Assembly.

    The decision by the Upper Legislative body followed a motion by Senator Abiodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South).

    She informed her colleagues at plenary the siege to the Assembly by police personnel and thugs has denied the lawmakers access to the legislative complex.

    She cited Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate rules, stating the crisis in the Ondo House has reportedly caused an injury to a female lawmaker, who was allegedly beaten up by thugs.

    Olujimi said: “Thugs invaded the House and beat up a legislator, a woman was beaten,” urging the Senate to intervene to allow the lawmakers carry out their duties.

    Other lawmakers that aligned with Olujimi’s position were Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Ajayi Boniface, Gbenga Ashafa, Atai Aidoko and Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu among others.

    In his ruling, Senate President Bukola Saraki bemoaned the invasion of the Ondo Assembly, noting that legislators have become targets of attacks by the police and sponsored thugs.

    Saraki cited similar siege in Benue, Kogi and Akwa Ibom in recent times.

    Saraki said: “Our democracy is defined by our legislative arm, we must stand very strongly on this. By our resolution, the police should allow the members to sit”.

    The matter was referred to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs for investigation. The committee is expected to report back to the Senate next week.

  • Probe revealed troops not suffering, says minister

    After a probe directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government is sure that troops deployed in the Northeast to fight Boko Haram are not suffering.

    The report also indicated that there are no cases of hunger, starvation or begging among the troops.

    The government said the allegations of irregular/short payment of allowances, poor equipment, inadequate kitting and accommodation were “ill-conceived” and “unfounded”.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed, who yesterday released the outcome of the investigation to the media in Abuja, said the inflow of logistics into the theatre in the past six months showed an enormous quantity of material.

    Mohammed said: “Recall, gentlemen, that a little over three months ago, precisely on July 11th 2018, we launched a National Campaign Against Fake News. At the launch, we said the campaign is to sensitise all Nigerians to the dangers posed to the peace and security, and indeed the corporate existence of Nigeria, by the phenomenon.

    “We said that each and every Nigerian has a role to play in curtailing the spread of fake news. We also said Nigerians should not share any information they cannot verify.

    “Two months and 10 days after the launch, specifically on Sept. 21st 2018, an online publication reported alleged deplorable conditions of the troops who are fighting Boko Haram in the Northeast.

    “Quoting a phantom Corporal, with the pseudonym Gandoki, said to be serving with one of the Special Forces Units in the theatre of operation, the publication alleged that troops deployed in particular along Gubio Road and the Brig.-Gen. Maimalari Secondary School were begging for food to survive, were poorly kitted with some wearing slippers and were facing irregular/short payment of their allowances. The publication also reported non-serviceable equipment in the theatre.

    “These allegations have grave implications for the security of the nation, hence the allegations were taken seriously by the President and Commander-in-Chief, who subsequently ordered an investigation to determine the veracity or otherwise of the claims in the publication.”

    The Minister said investigation revealed  that troops were not being subjected to any form of suffering or degradation.

    He added: “Gentlemen, the investigation has since been concluded and, in line with the transparent stance of this Administration, I have invited you here today to share with you the outcome.

    “ The summary of the findings is that there is no case of hunger, starvation or begging among the troops fighting in the Northeast, and in particular in the Armed Forces Special Forces Battalion that was referenced in the publication.

    “ There is also no irregular/short payment of allowances while claims of poor equipment, inadequate kitting and accommodation are found to be ill conceived and unfounded.”

    Mohammed gave an insight into how troops were being fed at the war front and inflow of kits and equipment.

    He said: “Let me elaborate. The troops in question, deployed at Brig.-Gen. Maimalari Secondary School along Gubio Road, are being fed centrally three times a day, and are kitted immediately after their training before they are deployed in the theatre.

    “ How then can soldiers who are fed centrally be starving or begging for food? Concerning the payment of allowances, the monthly allowances of troops of the AFSF Battalion are being paid directly into their various accounts from the Defence Headquarters, hence they cannot be shortchanged.

    “On the allegation of poor equipment and inadequate kitting, it was found that the inflow of logistics into the theatre in the past six months showed an enormous quantity of material was distributed to troops in the theatre. Needless to say that no army in the world has all the requisite equipment to prosecute a counter-insurgency operation

    “ Let me recap: There is no issue of hunger, improper kitting of soldiers, non-payment or short-payment of soldiers’ allowances and poor equipment at the AFSF Battalion or in any other units within Operation Lafiya Dole theatre.

    “If anything, the publication in question exhibited poor understanding of what obtains in the theatre of military operations. For example, the claim of poor accommodation in an operational environment.

    “By their training, soldiers in theatres of war are usually in trenches, tents or other makeshift structures.

    “Fighting insurgency is not a walk in the park and the gallant men and women in uniform who are engaged in counter-insurgency operation in the Northeast are not on a luxurious expedition. The battlefront is no playground.”

    The minister, who praised the troops for making great sacrifices, urged the media to exercise restraint.

    He said: “Our men and women in uniform are making great sacrifices for us as a nation. They stay awake and are constantly in harm’s way so that you and I can sleep well and be safe. I saw this first hand when I took over 30 local and international journalists to the Northeast in December 2015. As we drove from Maiduguri to Bama, passing through Konduga, Kaure and other towns along the way, we saw gallant troops deployed on desolate roads and bushes.

    “We saw them perched on very high towers, where they stay for hours on end. We marvelled at the sacrifices they are all making on our behalf. The least we can do is to support and pray for them.

    “Engaging in the publication of what I can now call fake news about the troops on Sept. 21st 2018 is not only a great disservice to the nation, but a terrible downplay of the kind of sacrifices being made by our gallant troops.

    “Such reports amount to collaborating with fifth columnists and enemies of the nation to weaken the fighting spirit of our fighting forces. In short, they (the reports) represent a clear and present danger to the nation’s security.

    “ We are, therefore, using this opportunity to appeal to the media to check the veracity of whatever information they receive from any source before publishing such. It is particularly necessary to double-check with the government before publishing any information from the theatre of operation in the Northeast.

    “Let me reiterate that this administration is a firm believer in the freedom of the press, and will not do anything to jeopardise that freedom. On its part, the press must always commit to the highest standards of journalism.”

  • Oshiomhole queries competence of suit seeking his probe for graft

    •Court schedules hearing for Nov 19

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC’s)  National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole has queried the competence of a suit seeking his probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for corruption related conduct.

    Oshiomhole, who also questioned the plaintiff’s right under the law, to seek to compel the EFCC to probe his tenure as Edo State Governor, urged the court to dismiss the suit for being incompetent.

    The plaintiff, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, said he, on October 28, 2016, petitioned the EFCC, demanding that Oshiomhole be  investigated on some allegations he (Ochei) has made against the ex-Governor.

    The said his suit, filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja was as a result of the EFCC’s alleged failure to act on his petition.

    The plaintiff’s  lawyer West Idahosa said there were documents and electronic pictures of palatial houses credited to the former governor, whose earnings throughout his lifetime, according to the plaintiff, could not have been able to afford.

    Idahosa said, among other allegations, there was evidence that the ex-governor allegedly diverted Edo State’s funds. He claimed that there were also vouchers of exorbitant air fares that the former governor allegedly incurred.

    Oshiomhole, in a notice of preliminary objection filed by his lawyer, Damien Dodo (SAN), argued that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to bring the suit.

    In the objection, supported by 10 grounds, Oshiomhole argued that the suit has become a mere academic exercise since the plaintiff failed to file the suit for judicial review within three months of the occurrence of the subject of the case.

    He argued that the action or inaction of the EFCC being subjected to review by the proceedings occurred on December 13, 2016, while the plaintiff only institute the action for judicial review on June 13, 2018.

    The APC National Chairman noted that this came about 18 months after the occurrence of the alleged failure being complained about.

    He argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit for failure of the plaintiff to begin the action within the time provided by extant rules of the court and for failure to disclose locus standi to file the action.

    The judge, Justice Anwuli Chikere, had on October 8, 2018, granted leave to the plaintiff to begin the suit for “judicial review”.