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Tag: Rivers

  • Four Thais released after Rivers kidnap ordeal

    Four Thais released after Rivers kidnap ordeal

    Four Thais held in an apparent ransom kidnapping in Rivers State have been freed unharmed, a spokesman for the kingdom’s foreign ministry in Bangkok said yesterday.

    A gang of armed kidnappers seized the four Thais and two Nigerians on a waterway while they were on their way to work at a state-owned fish farm in the state a week ago.

    “All of them are released,” ministry spokesman Manasvi Srisodapol said of the Thai nationals.

    “The Thai Foreign Minister has talked with one of them. They are fine and will continue to work in Nigeria,” he added, without confirming whether a ransom was paid or the exact time of their release.

    One of Thai hostages spoke to Thai television yesterday and said he believed the kidnap was linked to rivalry between competing fish farms.

    “They took us as hostages and used us as a bargaining chip,” Somchoke Panpinij told Thailand’s Channel 7. “We will not return to Thailand yet… I came here to help them to develop their country.”

     

  • Rivers PDP to police: arrest Speaker now

    Rivers PDP to police: arrest Speaker now

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has expressed dissatisfaction at the seeming delay by the police to arrest the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, as ordered by a Port Harcourt High Court.

    The party said its discomfort is borne out of the fact that the state government is frustrating investigations of its officials, who are culpable of crimes and offences perpetrated in the crisis, particularly the July 9 incident at the Assembly.

    The PDP, in a statement in Port Harcourt by Jerry Needam, Media Adviser to the factional Party Chairman, Felix Obuah, said the expectation was that the Commissioner of Police would act swiftly, considering the sensitivity and seriousness of Amachree’s allegation of a grand plot to kill Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    The party believes that an urgent response would douse the tension and fears created by the assassination plot and reassure the citizenry of the impartiality and commitment of the police in crime prevention.

    “It is important that the police refuse to yield to pressure from the government, as acting otherwise will further leave the people with ill feeling and lack of confidence in the activities of the police.

    “We, therefore, call on the Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, to prove his affirmation by the Inspector General of Police as a professional and non partisan police officer, by respecting the decisions of the court and acting in accordance with the law.

    “He should arrest Amachree for raising false alarm, claiming to have uncovered plots by some persons to assassinate an eminent personality.

    “In such a serious matter as this, the people deserve to know the truth and see that the culprit(s) are punished accordingly.

    “The only way we can get to the truth is by investigating this serious allegation so that even the governor, whose life is said to be in danger can be at peace,” the party said.

     

  • Rivers crisis: House Leader Lloyd arraigned

    Rivers crisis: House Leader Lloyd arraigned

    A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt yesterday ordered detained House Leader Chidi Lloyd remanded in prison custody for allegedly attempting to murder his colleague, Michael Chinda.

    Lloyd faced a six-count charge of murder, attempted murder, inflicting of grievous harm on Chinda, unlawful assault, using the mace to inflict injuries on him and malicious damage (of government property), following the July 9 fracas in the House of Assembly.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered to be remanded in prison custody.

    Mr. Justice Latan Nyordee adjourned till today ruling on Lloyd’s bail application.

    “In view of the application for bail, this case is adjourned till August 7, for ruling. Meanwhile the accused person is remanded in prison custody till the adjourned date,” he said.

    Also yesterday, Mr. Justice Esor Teetito rejected Lloyd’s interlocutory application, urging him to restrain the police from further inviting and arresting him over the Assembly fracas.

    Mr. Justice Teetito ruled that he could not stop the police from inviting and investigating a person in a criminal matter, especially when a prima facie report had been made against him. He described the suit as baseless. He dismissed it.

    Lloyd went to the court to enforce his fundamental human rights and to stop the police from further inviting and arresting him over the fracas.

    This was after Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar invited him for further interrogation on the fracas and Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu had placed him on the wanted list.

    Lloyd was arrested before the court could hear the application. He has been in detention ever since.

    Moving the motion, shortly after the plea and the Attorney-General of the State, Worgu Boms, had taken over the prosecution, the lead counsel for Lloyd, Beluoilisa Nwofor (SAN), prayed the court to grant him bail on self-recognition, being the leader of the House of Assembly and also a lawyer.

    He told the court that all the six counts preferred against him were bailable felonies and the Constitution presumes the accused person innocent until otherwise proven.

    He assured the Judge that Lloyd has sureties who would take him on bail, and maintained that he would not abscond from his trial.

    “The counter affidavit deposed to and filed for the police by ASP Eniyepere Sikpi did not in any of their paragraph disapprove the bail of the accused person, neither did they say that his release on bail would in any way affect their investigation of the matter. Rather, they challenged him on the issues of his health,” Nwofor averred.

    The prosecution applied for the withdrawal of the counter affidavit filed, noting that he was interested in trying the case to conclusion.

    He said: “I am very grateful to God that Micheal Chinda did not die in this encounter. That is why I have the strength to stand in this matter.

    “I apply for the withdrawal of the counter affidavit filed by the Police and signed by Sikpi (ASP). I also urge the court to strike out the same counter affidavit. I am interested in the trial of this matter.”

    The court granted his application and struck out the police counter affidavit.

    The court ruled on the pending arguments on whether or not Donald DENwigwe(SAN), a private legal practitioner, could appear in a case instituted by the Police without a fiat from the office of the Attorney-General, and whether or not the A-GS should take over and continue with the prosecution in a criminal proceeding when the accused person had not been arraigned.

    It held that a private legal practitioner could appear in a case instituted by the police without a letter of authority from the Attorney-General, and also the A-GS could not take over a criminal proceeding until plea is taken.

    Nwofor (SAN) had on July 31 raised objection on the appearance of DENwigwe, a private lawyer, in a matter by the police without a fiat from the A-GS. He urged the court to disqualify him and other lawyers are not policemen.

    DENwigwe insisted that he could appear without a fiat so far as the case was not instituted by the A-GS and he has the copy of the personal letter with which the police engaged him to act on their behalf.

    Justice Nyordee agreed with DENwigwe that it was improper for the A-GS to indicate interest to take over the prosecution in a criminal charge when the accused person has not made a plea.

    He dismissed the argument of the A-GS, but noted that if the plea had been taken, the police could step down and allow the takeover of the prosecution by the A-GS, before the proceeding could go on.

    DENwigwe withdrew from the prosecution and the A-GS, Boms, stepped in.

    On whether he has faith on the A-GS in the case, DENwigwe said: “It is not a question of faith or no faith, but a question of what the A-GS wants to do, it is only a matter of the conscience of the A-GS.

    “The AG, whether of the state or the federation is the keeper of the conscience of state and time judges him in whatever he does.”

    A lawyer to Lloyd, Emenike Ebetem, described his formal arraignment as a positive step.

    He said: “The taking over of the matter by the A-GS is right, but that does not mean that all is well for us. Lloyd has to go for trial. You heard the A-GS say that he was interested in the trial; the trial will go on. The prosecution will prove whether Lloyd attempted to murder his colleague, assaulted him, and we will also canvass our position.”

    On the position of Justice Charles Wali’s State High Court, Ahoada’s, bail granted Lloyd on Monday, and his being remanded by Justice Nyordee yesterday, Ebetem said: “The Ahoada case was filed and the order was got same day (Monday), for the police to scuttle yesterday’s proceedings, and in their smartness, they produced the accused person in court this morning (yesterday).

    “It was the order that propelled them to produce him in court, because if that order wasn’t there, they would have come up with one excuse or the other. If they (police) had failed, that order would have propelled them to release him on bail.”

    A High Court in Ahoada East Council on Monday granted bail to Lloyd in the sum of N5million, with one surety with a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The court also ordered the police not to re-arrest the accused person when released.

    Ebete said the need to approach the court (Ahoada court), was for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the accused person having been detained by the police for about two weeks.

     

  • EFCC witch-hunting officials, says Rivers

    •PDP welcomes probe

    The Rivers State government yesterday said operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the state are witch-hunting government officials and abusing judicial process.

    Chief of Staff, Government House, Tony Okocha said the Rotimi Amaechi administration is not afraid of the EFCC’s probe. He urged the operatives not to deliberately trample on judicial orders.

    Okocha said the operatives ought to be aware of a subsisting court order, which restrained officials of the anti-graft agency to stay away from interrogating or investigating Rivers government officials on the state’s financial dealings.

    The chief of staff said: “This is another phase in the Federal Government’s attempt at intimidating and witch-hunting the government and its officials.

    “If the EFCC’s operatives want to probe the activities of the government, they should vacate the subsisting court order, which restrains them from probing the state government’s affairs.

    “The court order is still subsisting and they (EFCC’s operatives) know that the proper thing to do is to vacate the order first, but they have left that undone, they rather came to unleash the operatives on Rivers state officials. This is improper and we consider it a violation of judicial process.

    “Rivers State government is not stopping the EFCC’s officials from doing their duties. We have no reason to be afraid of probes or investigations. “The government and its officials have not done anything unlawful. Our books are clean, but we must insist that things be done properly,

    “Nigeria is a democracy. We profess the rule of law and the supremacy of the constitution. So, the EFCC should not, because it is Rivers State now, try to disregard or disobey the law.

    “It is obvious. This is just another phase of the witch-hunting game. You know how they operate. They will just go after people, hoping to intimidate and harass them.”

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday hailed the incarceration of House Leader Chidi Lloyd.

    The party urged operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to extend their investigations to state officials and local government helmsmen.

    It condemned the taking over of Lloyd’s by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms.

    The PDP, through the Special Adviser on Media to the Chairman, Felix Obuah, Jerry Needam, yesterday in Port Harcourt, said the representative of Obio/Akpor 2 Constituency, Michael Chinda, must get justice.

    “We are shocked that since the July 9 incident in the House of Assembly, neither Governor Rotimi Amaechi nor Boms, had visited Chinda in London.

    “All they are concerned about is how to secure Lloyd’s release.”

    The PDP admonished the EFCC operatives not to allow themselves to be intimidated.

  • Rivers crisis: EFCC quizzes detained House Leader

    Rivers crisis: EFCC quizzes detained House Leader

    Govt protests alleged plan to change charges against lawmaker

    With Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives visiting Port Harcourt to quizz the detained Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, the crisis in Rivers State seems to be taking a new shape.

    The deployment of EFCC operatives, to observers of the political row, signposts a breakdown of the ongoing reconciliation talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    A source in the state said the coming of the EFCC operatives was a ploy to implicate Amaechi and pave the way for his impeachment .

    But the EFCC yesterday said its operatives were in Rivers State as part of an ongoing investigation.

    It was gathered that the EFCC operatives stormed Port Harcourt at the weekend to look into the financial activities of the state government and House of Assembly.

    The operatives reportedly made Lloyd’s police detention camp their first port of call.

    For about two hours, the operatives interrogated Lloyd on some financial transactions between the Executive and the Legislature.

    A source in the anti-graft commission said: “We are looking into allegations of diversion of public funds, outright graft and financial crimes against Lloyd and some public officials in Rivers State.

    “I cannot give you the details to avoid disclosures which could prejudice ongoing investigation because our operatives just got to Rivers State.

    “Already, the operatives have met with Chidi Lloyd at the facility where he is being detained. They are going to interact with other officials connected with allegations against Lloyd.

    “It is not a personal thing against Lloyd; if nothing is found against him, we will let the public know.”

    The Rivers State Government yesterday raised the alarm over the Federal Government’s “desperation” to take over Lloyd’s prosecution through the EFCC.

    It alleged that the operatives of the EFCC were acting on the instructions of two prominent citizens involved in the crisis to change Lloyd’s charge from attempted murder.

    The Amaechi administration also accused the Federal Government of playing dirty, stressing that attempted murder, the allegation with which Lloyd has been charged, is under the state’s purview.

    Commissioner for Information and Communications Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said: “The Federal Government is playing dirty. They have brought in the EFCC to interrogate and investigate the House of Assembly’s Leader, Hon. Chidi Lloyd (a lawyer, who represents Emohua constituency).

    “They want to take over the prosecution by ulterior means and so plan to change the charge from attempted murder, which is under the state’s purview, to EFCC.

    “They have planted something in Hon. Chidi Llyod’s house, which would be against the governor.”

    A government source said: “They have designed a plot to detain Lloyd perpetually. With this, it is apparent that they intend to arrest other members of the G-27 who are loyal to Amaechi.

    “Since they failed to impeach Amaechi with five lawmakers, they have opted the ambush method by framing up Lloyd and the 26 lawmakers in the state.

    “Once they are able to arrest the 27 lawmakers, the five pro-Minister Nyesom Wike’s lawmakers can then sit and impeach Amaechi.”

    Another source spoke of some stakeholders being against the reconciliation plans between the President and Amaechi.

    “It is clear that the so-called peace talks were mere shadow chasing to gauge the mind of the governor,” the source said.

    EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said: “Some of our operatives are in Rivers State over an ongoing investigation. I think there is a link to the Majority Leader Chidi Lloyd.

    “But the operation is not just a Port Harcourt or Rivers State thing; it is about investigation of some allegations in some states in the Southsouth.”

    It was learnt that Amaechi summoned a meeting of the State Executive Council, obviously to discuss the latest development.

    A third source added: “The governor has been meeting with his executive members on the invasion of the state by EFCC operatives.

    “The governor and his team have nothing to hide but it is evident that the EFCC is falling into a trap of being used for political vengeance.”

  • Rivers PDP kicks as Lloyd gets bail

    Rivers PDP kicks as Lloyd gets bail

    •It’s in order, says Ake

    Detained Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly Chidi Lloyd was yesterday granted bail in the sum of N5million by Justice Charles Wali of Ahoada High Court in Ahoada East Local Government Area.

    But the Rivers Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) protested, saying Governor Chibuike Amaechi is trying to shield Lloyd from prosecution.

    Lloyd, a member representing Emuoha Constituency, was arrested on July 23 at the Force Headquarters, Abuja where he went to report after being declared wanted in connection with the fracas on the floor of House on July 9.

    Lloyd must have one surety who owns landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. He (the surety), should submit the particulars of the property to the court, he said.

    He also ordered the Police not to re-arrest him, after he has been released.

    One of his lawyers, Emenike Ebete, said Lloyd would be released this morning after the order is served on the police.

    Asked what would happen to his matter before Justice Latan Nyordee today, he said he would still be in court for his matters today, but he will now come to court, a free man, not under heavy police security as was the case during his last appearance in court.

    “A high court in Ahoada has granted bail to our client Chidi Lloyd.

    “We approached the court to enforce his fundamental human rights, having been detained for about two weeks now. And following his doctor’s medical report on his deteriorating health condition in which he said if no serious and urgent attention is given to him, it might lead to his death.

    “Based on these, the court granted him bail and ordered that the police should not re-arrest him over this charge, and adjourned the case till August 12 for hearing.”

    Lloyd was transferred to Port Harcourt on July 26 to face his charges in court, and probably be released on bail. He is yet to be arraigned.

    However, efforts by his lawyers, led by Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN) to secure his bail release over the weeks were aborted.

    Two courts at the Port Harcourt High Court complex adjourned his matters till today for ruling.

    Justices Esor Teetito, which he initially approached to enforce his fundamental human rights and to get an injunction to stop the police from arresting him, adjourned till this morning to rule on whether or not the police should be restrained.

    Justice Nyordee will be ruling on whether or not it was ripe for the Attorney-General of the State(A-GS), Worgu Boms, to take over and continue with the prosecution of Lloyd in the six-count charge preferred against him.

    Lloyd is to be tried on a six-count charge of conspiracy, attempted murder, assault and malicious damage.

    The leadership of the PDP in Rivers State, however, expressed shock and utter disappointment on the bail granted Lloyd.

    The Obuah-led PDP said: “This is a vindication of our fears and alarm that the representative of Obio/Akpor 2 Constituency, Michael Okechukwu Chinda (one of the five anti-Amaechi lawmakers, who was injured in the July 9 fracas and still receiving treatment in a private hospital in London) cannot get justice in Rivers State.

    “Alarmed by the seeming contradiction in the face of the ongoing sanitisation of the judiciary by the NJC, the party describes the bail and order stopping further arrest and prosecution of Chidi Lloyd made by Justice Charles N. Wali, sitting in Ahoada, as a travesty of justice.

    “What is the logic behind the order by Justice Wali, in a case properly before another judge of coordinate jurisdiction in Port Harcourt, who is handling the matter and has adjourned it till Tuesday, August 6, 2013.

    “We note with disdain the plot to drag and further implicate the state’s judiciary, in a clear criminal case of attempted murder.

    “This has confirmed our earlier claim and fears that Governor Amaechi and his cohorts are doing all within their powers, using the governor’s office, to want to let Lloyd off the hook, while his victim (Chinda) is dying in a London hospital.

    “Why run to far-away Ahoada when the offence for which Hon. Lloyd was arrested, was committed in Port Harcourt.

    “The presence of Amaechi’s Commissioner for Agriculture (Emmanuel Chinda) and top aides to the governor of Rivers State in court today (yesterday) was premeditated to set Lloyd free.

    “The Rivers State High Court in Ahoada, presided over by Justice Charles Wali, lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter and above all lacks power to order the release of Chidi Lloyd in a criminal case that the suspect is not before him and plea not taken.

    “This development is most unfortunate, shameful and unacceptable to Rivers people. Governor Amaechi, Chidi Lloyd and Justice Charles N. Wali belong to the same camp and share the same sentiments.

    “We urge the NJC to as a matter of public importance initiate an immediate investigation into the activities of Justice Wali, with a view to unearthing the reasons behind the order, which was further ridiculed by succumbing to change the earlier condition that Lloyd should be stripped of his international passport, to only handing in the photocopy of it, so that he would proceed overseas for medical check-up, as argued by his lawyers.

    “We should also not lose sight of the far-reaching implications of this abuse of the judicial process, where an application touching on an attempted murder suspect, who is under another court, is made exparte, heard and its requests granted intoto the same day and even went beyond the prayers sought, to foreclose further prosecution of the matter.”

    The ruling party also described the development as a serious matter that must not be left to lie.”

    But the GU Ake- led PDP faction hailed the judgment that gave bail to Lloyd.

    Publicity secretary of the faction, Mr. George Ukwuoma-Nwogba, dismissed the “propaganda being peddled by Jerry Needam, the media aide to Felix Obuah.

    “I advise Obuah and his co travelers to respect our justice system and not to play politics with it as it remains the last hope of the common man. They should allow the rule of law to prevail.

    “Too many unguided utterances will only destroy our party and the needed peace we all pray for in our dear state,” the statement added.

    The Chindah family has petitioned the NJC over what they termed the undue interference of the Rivers State Chief Judge Justice Iche Ndu in the matter.

    According to a statement by Chief Evans Chindah, elder brother of Chindah, the family resorted to the petition against the Chief Judge to ensure that justice is done in the case which the Amaechi Government in Port Harcourt is twisting to give the impression that his brother was at fault and deserved the violence that Hon Chidi Lloyd visited on him.

    Chief Chindah said their family was particularly surprised and sad that instead of pursuing the course of peace, the Chief Judge and Amaechi do not want the case to go on.

    In the petition to the NJC, Chief Chindah raised the alarm that the glaring irregularities in the case since Lloyd was brought to court speaks volumes. Both the Chief Judge and the Judge, Justice Letam Nyordee, are trying to defeat justice through the back door. Lloyd was brought to court on a six-count charge of conspiracy, attempted murder and aggravated assault, among others.

    He said that owing chiefly to the desperation of the Amaechi administration to take control of the case prematurely and free Lloyd, the arraignment ran into a hitch. The court adjourned the matter till August 6, for ruling on the interlocutory argument of whether or not the police can engage a private counsel to prosecute the accused person.

    “Surprisingly and in a twist of fate, the chief Judge, the presiding Judge and the state government, unknown to the defence counsel, refixed the case to be heard again on July 31, 2013 instead of August 6. The court heard and ordered exparte that Lloyd be produced in court by the police, knowing full well that the short notice was inappropriate. As predicted, Lloyd was not brought to court and we went home dejected.”

    It is on this ground that the family is pleading with the NJC to call the Rivers State Chief Judge and the presiding Judge to order because justice is not a one- way traffic. All sides to the case deserve justice and that is what our family is asking for and no more,” he said.

     

  • Police smash baby factory in Rivers

    The police in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday paraded a fake In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment service provider, Dr. Chinyere Emeka Precious, for allegedly inducing fake pregnancies.

    Also paraded were a couple- John Ndubuisi Joseph and Favour Chioma Joseph- who allegedly sell day-old babies to her.

    Mrs. Precious reportedly owns and operates the God’s Gift Maternity/Hospital at Elelenwo in Port Harcourt Local Government Area.

    She was said to inject desperate barren women with substances to make them appear pregnant. She would then arrange a stolen baby for the women.

    Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DSP) Jovinus Iwu, who led the operation, said the suspects were arrested at 1am last Saturday.

    Iwu said a day-old baby boy and a woman purportedly in labour were “detained”.

    But the suspects denied the allegation.

    Precious said she was a qualified and licensed doctor, who has been practising for several years.

    She said: “I have never defrauded anybody and the crime they say I committed I know nothing about it. I am a licensed doctor and have been in practice for several years. The police have all my licences. My number is 348 from the Nigeria Medical Council, Abuja.

    “In this country anybody can frame anyone, but God is watching and He will vindicate us.”

    She declined further comments.

    Joseph said: “My wife was ill. So, I took her to Dr. Precious who has been our family doctor for about one year. Let me tell you that she gave birth to a baby boy last Thursday,

    “We have accommodation problem; so I suggested to her to let us sell the baby for N300, 000 to get a house.

    “The baby is mine and I did not steal it.

    “What I told DSP Iwu in his office was that my wife put to bed on Thursday. I have accommodation problem, so I took the baby to the doctor to sell him for N300,000.”

    At the briefing, the officer in charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit narrated how the syndicate was tracked down.

    “On August 3, at about 1am, the unit got information about a baby factory syndicate, which specialises in selling of day-old babies at Elelenwo, in Port Harcourt.

    “On arrival, we met Mrs. Precious, who claimed to be a medical doctor and runs the factory.

    “We found a day-old baby boy, who was concealed behind the theatre. There was also a woman there who was reported to have been delivered of a baby.

    “When we confronted the woman, she claimed to have under-gone fertility treatment with the doctor.

    “But in actual fact, she was not pregnant, and was never pregnant. Rather what they do is hypnotise these women, who believe that they are pregnant. They are injected with substances which make their stomach swell.

    “They will then be placed on treatment for nine months. Before delivery, this syndicate makes arrangements to procure the babies, and once the arrangement clicks, they will take the women to the theatre or labour room.

    “At this point now, they will inject her with drugs that will make her unconscious; when that is done, she will now be laced with blood all over her body, including her private parts.

    “The same blood will also be used on the child, so when she regains consciousness they will now handover the baby to her, claiming that she has delivered.

    “Then they will start the second round of treatment to deflate her stomach.

    “Unfortunately, most women have fallen victims and it has been going on for so many years.

    “What we saw at the clinic was unimaginable. You see innocent women from as far as Abuja, Kaduna, Calabar, among others, all under going the quick fertility treatment.

    “These things are done at an exorbitant price. Prices range between N1.5million to N6million per child.

    “We are hoping that at the end of the day, the syndicate will be charged to court.”

    The recovered baby is at the motherless baby’s home at Borokiri in Port Harcourt.

     

  • Rivers panel holds inaugural sitting

    Members of the commission of enquiry set up by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to investigate the cause of the July 9 and 10 crises at the House of Assembly have called for memorandum.

    Chairman of the commission Biobele Georgewill made the appeal during the inaugural sitting at the State High Court complex in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday.

    Lawmakers on July 9 engaged in a free-for-all, following the attempt by five lawmakers, led by the member representing Ogu/Boloto Local Government, Evans Bipi, to impeach the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree.

    Georgewill reiterated the pledge to ensure justice, fairness and equity in the proceedings and appealed for calm.

    “All parties shall be treated equally and fairly in all the proceedings before the commission.

    Amaechi on July 15, at the Government House, set up a nine-man judicial commission of inquiry to probe the crises.

    They were given till October 15 to submit their reports. The session was adjourned till August 12 for hearing.

  • ‘Rivers crisis is a threat to democracy’

    ‘Rivers crisis is a threat to democracy’

    The Speaker of Gombe State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers, Hon. Inuwa Garba, spoke with Vincent Ohonbamu on the position of the group on the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

     

     

    WHAT is your reaction to the Rivers State crisis?

    The Conference of Speakers is condemning the action of the five members of Rivers Houses of Assembly because we are men of integrity and we are representatives of the people of Nigeria. This kind of ugly action is not acceptable to the entire member of the Conference and it is very, very unfortunate that they are members of the Conference. But we don’t support that kind of injustice and we do not support disrespect to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the integrity of the legislators in the state. We cannot allow this kind of disrespect to the constitution to continue. We are surely going to take appropriate action on that. Right now we are planning to convey an emergency meeting so that we can move on with the appropriate action we want to take on the matter.

    Why has the conference not spoken before now?

    First of all, the action of the Conference is not late because the Conference of Speakers of State Legislature must have to first make our findings before taking any action as regards to what happens in any State House of Assembly. So, we went to get information and collate the information and before we began action. This is because we do not want a situation where two wrongs could happen at the same time; and of course you know two wrongs can never make a right. That is why we had to wait to see what actually happened, hear how it happened, and make some internal investigation on what transpired.

    The Mace as a symbol of authority in the House of Assembly seems to have lost its respect among the members. What is the Conference doing to restore the dignity of the Mace?

    About the dignity of the Mace, it is not the individuals or the various Houses that gave the Mace its dignity; it is the constitution. The only thing you would say is that we are not taking enough measures to see how we can protect the dignity and integrity of that symbol of authority, which is the Mace in the Houses of Assembly. As I earlier said, we are planning to take an action, which will serve as a measure to protect the integrity of the legislature and the Mace itself will not be an exception; we will include all other areas to see how possible we concretise the activities of the state legislators in Nigeria.

    If the House enjoys autonomy, will it prevent crisis?

    The issue of the autonomy of the state legislators has definitely contributed negatively to the activities of state legislators in Nigeria and it has reduced the impact of that institution in the democratic setting. But I am assuring you that we are going to partner with all and sundry to see that this time around, we are able to achieve the noble objective; not just for our Houses of Assembly, but for Nigerians. The National Assembly has collated the views of Nigerians on what and what people wish to be part of the amendment and the issue of autonomy of state legislature overwhelmingly enjoyed a lot of support by Nigerians. And in seeking our autonomy, we are doing it to have better state legislature for the sake of Nigerians. So, we are going to partner with all the stakeholders in the amendment process to see that we achieve that goal of autonomous state assembly in this coming proposed constitutional amendment.

  • NLC urges govt to resolve Rivers crisis

    NLC urges govt to resolve Rivers crisis

    President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwahed Omar, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan, to intervene in the political crisis in Rivers State.

    Omar, who made the call at the opening ceremony of the 11th NLC Rain School, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, described the recent political crisis in the state where five lawmakers in the state House of Assembly attempted to impeach the Speaker as capable of derailing democracy in the country.

    He said: “We urged President Goodluck Jonathan to display uncommon statesmanship by intervening in the political crisis rocking Rivers State”.

    “Of importance to the working class has been the rate and extent of impunity in the country.

    “The show of shame in Rivers State where only five legislators in the state House of Assembly attempted to impeach the speaker ,and the protracted travails of the Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, are capable of derailing democracy in our country.

    “We reiterate our call on Mr President to demonstrate uncommon statesmanship by ensuring that the political crisis in Rivers State is checked and resolved in the interest of the people of the state and the nation,” he said.