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Tag: Rivers

  • Rivers: Abe supporters boycott rescheduled ward congress

    Supporters of Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast) yesterday boycotted the fresh ward congress in Rivers State’s 319 wards that was ordered by the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Abe’s allies also declared that they would not be part of the fresh local government congress today (on Sunday) and the rescheduled state congress tomorrow (on Monday), while insisting that the May 11 order of Rivers High Court in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Chiwendu Nwogu, must be obeyed.

    The fresh ward congress was, however, peacefully conducted yesterday in the 319 wards, across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, as confirmed by the Chairman of Ward and Local Government Congresses Committee from the national secretariat of APC in Abuja, Mr. Joseph Dogo, who monitored the exercise, along with members of the committee and some leaders of the party.

     

  • CJN condemns attack on courts in Rivers

    CHIEF Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen has condemned last Friday’s reported attack on courts and judicial workers in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Onnoghen warned that such attack on the judiciary was a sign of grave moral depravity among political actors and a major threat to the nation’s democracy.

    The CJN, however, assured that the Judiciary would not succumb to intimidation and was determined, more than ever before to dispense justice with the required speed, particularly on political matters.

    Onneghen, in a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Awassam Bassey, hailed security agencies for preventing a major break down of law and order.

    The CJN said, from report, the Port-Harcourt attack was aimed at stopping the court from sitting and delivering a ruling in an intra-party dispute of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in respect of the state’s local government congresses.

    The CJN, who noted with concern that the magnitude of violence could be visited on the Judiciary during a ward/local government intra-party primary election, wondered what the situation would be during the forthcoming general elections in 2019.

    Part of the statement reads: “This latest act of intimidation of the judiciary and the unwarranted violence against a peaceful institution of an arm of government is quite disturbing.

    “More importantly, such show of shame ought not to be encouraged by right-thinking members of the Nigerian public.

    “If the enemies of our peace and democracy succeed or get away with what occurred at the High Court in Port-Harcourt, it would be a source of encouragement to them to do same to the Court of Appeal and ultimately, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, whenever any one of them perceives that a judgment may be delivered against any of them or the interests they represent.

    “The Judiciary remains the last hope of man and our judges and judicial officers are called upon to remain true to their oath of office.

    “They must remain focused, resolute and courageous, regardless of the effort at intimidating them.

    “The Nigerian public is urged to continue to have faith in the Judiciary of the nation.”

    He added: “Any person with a legitimate complaint against another person, organisation or institution is advised to employ the civilised and legal mode of redress as contained and guaranteed by our constitution.

    “Whoever is dissatisfied with the outcome of decisions of our courts of law has the right of appeal as constitutionally guaranteed. The Judiciary will never fail in its duties.

    “Violence, the type visited on the Judiciary of Rivers State, is alien to any civilised society and therefore condemnable.”

    But, Rivers State lawmakers have resolved to send a “save our souls” petition to President Muhammadu Buhari to request for immediate action over the violence.

    The legislators also said they would write to the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) as well as other  foreign missions for intervention.

    The lawmakers, after their on-the-spot assessment tour of the judiciary during plenary yesterday, put the cost of damages done at the premises at N1 billion.

    The lawmakers, through the Speaker of the House,  Ikwunyi Owaji-Ibani,  expressed the fair of a possible breakdown of law and order in the state,  if the situation was not checked before the 2019, general elections,  stressing that the event was a typical sign of what will be expected at the polls.

    They agreed to formally write Buhari and the international agencies with the view of seeking assistance.

  • Rivers: Amaechi, Peterside floor Abe, Odike, supporters

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, yesterday floored the lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe; the Deputy Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Peter Odike; and their supporters.

    Odike, Abe and their teeming supporters across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, on Friday, celebrated the motion on notice, in a suit filed by Felix Mboi, an ally of Abe, to stop yesterday’s ward congress of the APC in Rivers, with APC; the National Chairman of the ruling party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Rivers Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ikanya; and the state Secretary of the party, Chief Emeka Beke, as defendants.

    Amaechi, who is the leader of APC in Rivers and the Southsouth zone, and Peterside, the deputy leader of the party in the state, who was the 2015 governorship candidate of the APC, however declared in separate interviews in Port Harcourt that they were not aware of any court order or injunction retraining Rivers APC from conducting yesterday’s ward congress.

    Our reporter who monitored the ward congress in Port Harcourt and some parts of Rivers confirmed that the election (ward congress), using Option A-4, took place peacefully and orderly across the 319 wards in the state, with impressive turnout of members.

    Abe, yesterday evening in Port Harcourt, in an online statement by his Spokesperson, Parry Benson, however, claimed that there was no ward congress of the APC in the 23 LGAs of Rivers State yesterday.

    He also stated that there was no stakeholders’ meeting before the scheduled ward congress, as promised by the leadership of APC in Rivers.

  • Looters list: Court restrains FG from further mentioning Secondus

    A Rivers High Court in Port Harcourt has restrained the Federal Government from further mentioning Prince Uche Secondus, the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in the looters’ list recently published by the government.

    The Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, who gave the order on Monday, also ordered that the hearing notice be served the respondents by the plaintiff.

    The order followed a motion brought by Secondus seeking an interlocutory injunction against further publication of his name on the list.

    Secondus, in Suit PHC/1013/2018, is suing the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Federal Government and Vintage Press for alleged libel.

    He is asking the court to award him N1.5 billion damages for the alleged libel.

    He said listing him as a looter who collected N200 million on Feb. 19, 2015 from the Office of the National Security Adviser was libellous.

    The PDP chairman’s counsel, Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN), said that the judge could hear the suit because his client was defamed by the publication.

    The respondents were not present in court and the judge adjourned the matter until April 28.

    NAN

  • FG to begin Ogoniland clean-up in August – HYPREP

    The Federal Government is to begin the remediation phase of oil impacted sites in Ogoniland in August, Dr Marvin Dekil, the Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP), has said.

    Dekil made the disclosure on the sidelines of a medical outreach organised by HYPREP in Nonwa-Tai, Rivers, on Friday.

    He said that government had begun placing advertisement in national and international newspapers inviting contractors to apply for remediation of 26 hydrocarbon impacted sites in Ogoniland.

    According to him, the invitation is open to both local and foreign companies with requisite expertise and experience in the business.

    “The delay in the take-off of the clean-up was as a result of contracting process as enshrined in the Procurement Act that is procedural.

    “The exercise will involve all the processes that we have put in place right from inception of the project coordination office in March 2017.

    “Already, invitation for pre-qualification of contractors has been sent to local and foreign concerns. The remediation will be done only by experienced and best hands, both locally and internationally.

    “We believe that engaging the best hands will enable us achieve the desired result of restoring the environment back to an acceptable standard,” he said.

    Dekil added that advertisement had also been made for the reconstruction of existing water facilities and construction of gas facilities in the affected communities.

    He said HYPREP had earlier invited companies to the impacted sites to demonstrate their expertise, technology and suitability for the clean-up.

    The HYPREP boss pointed out that the demonstration exercise by the local and foreign companies was at no cost to government.

    “We did not pay the companies or offer advantage to any of them that participated in the exercise. The demonstration exercise is for them to show their capacity.

    “We are now in the contracting process where companies would be selected from those that participated in the demonstration exercise and those that did not.

    “At the end, we will choose the best companies for the remediation,” he said.

    Dekil added that HYPREP was targeting to treat about 20,000 indigent Ogonis of different ailment in the second phase of its medical outreach  in four local government areas.

    He also said that 100 surgeries would be performed on victims of hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme  Report.

    Ogoniland is made up of four local government areas consisting of Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai.

     

  • INEC swears in seven new RECs

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has sworn in seven new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) bringing the total number of serving RECs in the commission to 33.

    Performing the ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed confidence that the new RECs would contribute to the commission’s determination to make 2019 general elections the best in the country.

    He said “with the track records of service in the academia, public service and private sector, it is gratifying to note that the new RECs made positive contributions to the society in various ways.

    “I am equally delighted to note that some of you have managed elections at national level as RECs.

    “I am confident that you will bring to bear on your new assignments, the experience of the recent past that will contribute to our determination to make the 2019 general elections our best elections in Nigeria.”

    Yakubu advised the new commissioners to maintain openness and consultations, as well as be firm and courageous in carrying out their new assignments.

    The chairman disclosed that in addition to the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, the commission would be conducting four bye-elections this year to fill vacancies.

    These, according to him, include Takum state constituency in Taraba, Lokoja/Koton-Karfe Federal Constituency in c, Bauchi South Senatorial District, and Kastina North Senatorial District in Kastina State.

    The INEC boss reassured newly registered voters in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ) of getting their Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) before the 2019 general elections.

    He added that “we have consistently reassured the public that for those who registered in 2017, their PVCs would be available for collection in the first week of May 2018.

    “Those who registered in the first quarter of this year, that is between January and March, as well as those who are registering right now in the second quarter of this year, would collect their cards thereafter.”

    Yakubu also reassured the public and those who applied for replacement of their PVCs that their cards would be available for collection before the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: Wanted: An ‘independent’ INEC

    “For those who registered in Ekiti and Osun in 2017 and 2018, priority attention was given to the production of their PVCs, such that all the cards would be available ahead of the July 14 and Sept. 22 governorship elections,’’ he said.

    Responding on behalf of the new RECs, Mr Segun Agbaje, representing Ekiti State, pledged the new commissioner’s readiness to justify the confidence reposed in them.

    He said “by the grace of God, we shall finish well.”

    He expressed confidence in the leadership of Yakubu, saying “with your style of leadership, we would
    not be surprised if 2019 elections turned out to be the best elections in the country.”

    The new RECs are: Mr Baba Yusuf and Mr Segun Agbaje, representing Borno and Ekiti states for second term.

    Others are Dr Uthman Ajidagba, Kwara;  Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa State; Dr Emmanuel Hart, Rivers; Mohammed Ibrahim, Gombe and Dr Cyril Omorogbe, Edo.

    NAN

  • Rivers Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency gets board

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has inaugurated the board of the  State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency.

    The exercise was done yesterday at the Government House Port Harcourt, the capital.

    Wike said there was no going back on the agency because it was central to security of the state.

    He said: “Use your experiences and capabilities to ensure that the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency takes off effectively.

    “Start the recruitment process for operatives. By September, 2018, I expect that training of operatives would have been concluded and the agency fully operational“.

    He urged members the Neighbourhood Safety Corps not to be swayed by the antics of opponents on establishment of the agency because their duty is vital to stability of the state.

    The governor said some politicians approached the police to sabotage the scheme by rejecting recruited by the agency.

    He said the Executive Council would approach the House of Assembly for amendment of its law so that the Police would not vet recruited operatives as is obtainable in Lagos State.

    The governor advised the board to recruit persons that have the interest of the state at heart.

    He said contrary to criticisms, against the Neighbourhood Safety Corps would only bear light arms for self defence, subject to approval of the Police.

    “Chairman of the board is a retired brigadier general, while the director general is a retired assistant commissioner of Police.  We have appointed  credible and experienced retired security chiefs because we want the best for the state. Now that we have prevailing peace in the state, all efforts should  be geared towards sustaining it”, he said.

    The chairman, Brig-Gen. Dick Ironabare assured the government and people that the agency will enhance state-wide security.

    He hailed the governor for setting up the outfit, which is in line with international best practices.

    He said the agency would work within the law, adding that many who oppose  the agency do not understand its relevance in modern-day security framework.

    The chairman praised Wike for supporting security agencies and promulgating stringent laws to check kidnapping and cultism.

  • Oil spill: First Bank objects to contempt charge by Rivers community

    First Bank of Nigeria Limited and its Chairman Mrs. Ibukun Awosika have filed a preliminary objection to a contempt charge against them by Ejama-Ebubu community in Eleme Local Government in Rivers State.

    Their counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), told Justice Ibrahim Buba, of the Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, that his clients’ motion for objection was dated March 18 and filed on March 20.

    He said his clients were challenging the proceedings and the court’s jurisdiction, and prayed that they should be set aside.

    “Our motion takes precedence in this matter. We are challenging the non-compliance with the rule of the court, conditions precedent and jurisdiction of the court,” Olanipekun said.

    He argued that the objection should be heard first, saying: “My learned friend said contempt is quasi criminal. Even in criminal proceedings, where an accused is challenging the jurisdiction of the court, he does not need to appear until when the application is taken and determined.”

    Counsel for Ejamah-Ebubu Mr. Rafiu Lawal-Rabana (SAN) said the alleged contemnors, First Bank and Awosika, ought to be in court.

    He said: “By the nature of this application and proceedings, they are bound to be in court because they were summoned to show cause while they should not be charged for contempt. It is our prayer that the contemnors be in court before proceedings can commence.”

    Lawal-Rabana said he had responded to the preliminary objection, urging the court to hear it with other applications.

    Ruling, Justice Buba said since the respondents filed a preliminary objection, an order for the alleged contemnors to be present was unnecessary until their application was decided.

    The community initiated the proceedings, accusing First Bank of refusing to release N17 billion which it allegedly guaranteed to pay on behalf of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

    Ten indigenes of Ejama community in Ogoniland sued Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Netherlands, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, United Kingdom, and SPDC at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt for alleged oil spills that occurred when Shell operated in the community.

    Justice Buba, who heard the case in Port Harcourt, awarded N17 billion to the community’s representatives in 2010, as well as 25 per cent interest on the principal.

    Shell appealed and applied for a stay pending the appeal, while the court required First Bank, Shell’s bankers, to provide a guarantee of the judgment sum as condition.

    The Court of Appeal dismissed Shell’s appeal, holding that the appellant did not pray for leave to amend its brief or for extension of time to file its original brief out of time.

    The appellate court held that in the absence of any clear or proper order sought and duly obtained from it, the amended appellant’s brief sought to be relied on was not fully and duly regularised.

    It held that Shell’s appeal was not a proper or valid process before the court and therefore it ought to be discarded as it was more or less as if the appeal was never filed.

    Shell is in the process of challenging the Court of Appeal verdict, it was learnt.

    Justice Buba adjourned till May 14.

  • Rivers PDP releases timetable for LG primary elections

    Rivers chapter of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) on Wednesday released timetable for the party’s 2018 local government primary elections.

    The timetable is in a statement by Mr Samuel Okpoko, the state’s PDP Secretary in Port Harcourt.

    According to him, the schedule is for PDP 2018 Special Ward/LGA Congress/Primaries
    to elect chairmanship, councillorship candidates and ad hoc delegates across the 319 wards of the 23 local government areas of the state.

    Okpoko stated that Ward Congress in Rivers East Senatorial District would hold on April 16, while that of Rivers West Senatorial District would hold on April 17.

    He added that Rivers South-East Senatorial District Ward Congress had been fixed for April 18, and Rivers East Senatorial District for local government area congress would be held on April 19.

    He noted that the party had scheduled April 20 for Local Government Area Congress for Rivers West Senatorial District, while Local Government Area Congress for Rivers South-East Senatorial District would hold on April, 21.

    The secretary called on chairmanship, councillorship aspirants, ad hoc delegates and other PDP members to adhere strictly to the schedule.

    NAN

  • Police recover 179 illegal firearms in Rivers

    The Police Command in Rivers says it has recovered 179 arms and 577 cartridges from members of the public.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Zaki Ahmed, said this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt at a news briefing.

    Ahmed listed the recovered firearms to include 27 AK47 rifles; 51 locally made pistols; 33 single barrel guns; 29 double barrel guns; 21 pump action guns and other 18 assorted ones.

    He recalled that the Inspector-General of Police ( IGP ) had given a 21-day ultimatum to members of the public to surrender their illegal firearms to the police.

    He said the command had set up an eight-man Task Force headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to mop-up illegal firearms in the state.

    The commissioner said that the task force had embarked on sensitisation and advocacy visits to all the local government areas in the state to that effect.

    He said the mop-up compliance in the state had been commendable, noting that the exercise was ongoing.

    “I am, therefore, appealing to members of the public to once again cash in on the window to submit their illegal firearms before the expiration of the deadline or force will be used,” he said.

    Ahmed said the command was always making efforts to protect lives and property and urged residents of the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation.

    NAN