The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Stella Oduah

  • I was not sacked by Supreme Court – Oduah

    I was not sacked by Supreme Court – Oduah

    Sen. Stella Oduah On Friday in Abuja, described as “a misinterpretation”, media reports which quoted a Supreme Court judgment to have sacked her and other federal lawmakers from Anambra.

    Reports in the media said that the apex court had ordered the replacement of Oduah and other federal lawmakers from the state saying that their nomination to contest in the 2015 election was wrong.

    In a statement issued by Cynthia Ferdinand, Press Secretary to the Senator, Oduah said that the report in the media was misleading as the apex court did not order the withdrawal of her certificate of return.

    She said that the judgement of the Supreme Court said that it was only the National Executive Council of a political party that had the legal right to sponsor candidates in an election.

    Oduah, therefore, stressed that she and all the other lawmakers from Anambra state have not been sacked by the Supreme Court contrary to media reports.

    ‎“It is pertinent to note that this is a mere misinterpretation of the Supreme Court rulings and‎ should be disregarded in all entirety‎.

    “The Supreme Court did not order the withdrawal of the Certificates of Return issued by the Commission.

    “It did not hold that the faction of the PDP had the right to sponsor candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “It did not equally authorise the Commission to substitute our clients with the individuals whose names were on the list improperly allowed by the Commission,

    “Series of judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria states that it is only the National Executive of the party that has the vires to sponsor candidates,” she said.

    Meanwhile, the solicitors to the nine lawmakers allegedly sacked, have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to also fall into the folly of misunderstanding the judgment.

    The letter signed by the lawmakers urged the commission not to allow itself to be misled by its legal department just as it was initially misled to accepting the list presented by the state chapter of the party.

    The lawmakers stressed that separate rulings of the Supreme Court including that of Jan. 29, upheld that only the list submitted by the National Executive Committee was valid.

    “This correspondence is aimed at setting the record straight so that your good self will not again be misled by your legal department into unjustifiably occasioning an unnecessary confusion in the process.”

    The letter also drew the attention of INEC to pages 4647 and 48 of the judgment of the Supreme Court to further butress the point that the couurt did not sack their clients.

    The solicitors stated further that the apex court did not authorise the Commission to substitute the lawmakers’ names with the individuals whose names were on the list improperly allowed by the Commission.

    NAN reports that the media was awash with reports that the Supreme Court had sacked the nine remaining lawmakers from Anambra state.

  • Anambra PDP members jubilate over Supreme Court judgment 

    Anambra PDP members jubilate over Supreme Court judgment 

    The mood in Anambra state is that of joy and sadness Friday, following the Supreme Court judgment that removed senators Andy Uba, and Stella Oduah from the National Assembly.

    But the Chief Chris Uba camp who benefited from the judgment is bubbling with the members of the party pumping champagnes in the state in celebration.

    Members of the party in the state Friday, described the judgment as the handiwork of God, having suffered in PDP in the hands of those they described as cabals, being engineered by a member of the national body.

    Some of the roads including adjourning streets were blocked by the PDP faithful loyal to Chief Chris Uba’s camp Friday.

    The implication of the judgment, according to a Chieftain of the party, Chief Nnamdi Okoye, was that Ejike Oguebego would take over the leadership of the party as chairman in the state, while Chris Uba and his line up during the primaries would take over their seats at the National Assembly.

    Also, the five members in the Anambra state House of Assembly who were not in the lineup of Chris Uba would equally vacate their seats for former Assembly member, Hon. Rebecca Udorji and others.

    The members of the PDP especially those at the Oguebego lineup were seen in virtually all the joints Friday in Awka purchasing assorted drinks and foods to passers bye and friends.

    The chairman of the party in the state, Chief Ejike Oguebego, described the verdict as the will of God, while thanking members of the party for their patience all the while.

    Also, he commended the Supreme Court judges for painstakingly going through the Anambra PDP scenario before arriving at their verdict, adding that it showed that God would never abandon his people.

    But those in the camps of senators and Uba and Stella Oduah were speechless, as none of them agreed to speak to The Nation on the judgment.

  • Supreme Court sacks Andy Uba, Stella Oduah

    Supreme Court sacks Andy Uba, Stella Oduah

    • Upholds Oguebego leadership of Anambra PDP

    The Supreme Court has sacked former Special Assistant to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Domestic Affairs, Andy Uba, former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, and other House of Representatives members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Anambra State.

    The apex court, in a judgment Friday morning, upheld Ejike Oguebego-led Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra State and the list of candidates it sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the last general election.

    The court upheld the appeal filed by Ejike Oguebego-led Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra against the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the issue.

    By the judgment, Andy Uba, Stella Oduah and others, who were products of a second list submitted to INEC by another faction of the PDP, are now to be replaced by those on the earlier list submitted to INEC by the Ejike Oguebego-led Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra.

    Also by the judgment, Annie Okonkwo now automatically becomes the candidate of the PDP for the rerun election for the Anambra Central Senatorial district, which election was voided recently by the Court of Appeal.

  • Bulletproof cars: Oduah knows fate February 2

    Bulletproof cars: Oduah knows fate February 2

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos, will on February 2 deliver judgment in a fundamental rights suit filed by former minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah.

    The judgment was stalled on Monday following Justice Abang’s transfer to the court’s Abuja division.

    Parties had adopted written addresses and made closing arguments before the transfer was announced.

    However, rather than the case starting de novo (afresh), it was learnt that Justice Abang will fly down to Lagos to deliver the judgment.

    The Federal Government had objected to the suit, praying the court to dismiss it on the basis that Oduah cannot be shielded from prosecution.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa had last August 26 granted an interim injunction restraining anti-graft agencies from taking any action against her pending the suit’s determination.

    The case is over the 2013 purchase of two armoured BMW cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) under Oduah’s watch.

    The AGF, in its objection, is challenging the territorial jurisdiction of the Lagos division of the Federal High Court to hear the case‎ on the ground that the alleged rights violation did not take place in Lagos.

    The prosecution is contending that by virtue of Section 46(1) of the Constitution and Order 2 Rule 1 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure, only a court within the state where Oduah’s rights were allegedly violated could hear the case.

    The AGF also said Oduah did not prove that she had been invited, arrested or detained.

    The vehicles, bought under Oduah’s watch as aviation minister, were said to have cost N255million, an amount that sparked huge outrage.

    Justice Yunusa barred the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the AGF and the Inspector-General of Police from inviting the former minister for interrogation.

    The EFCC, it was learnt, did not file any application to discharge the restraining order within the time allowed.

  • Anambra: Oduah wins Senatorial election

    Anambra: Oduah wins Senatorial election

    The Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District, Stella Oduah, on Tuesday, won her election to the 8th Senate.

    Oduah, who won the election by over 30, 000 votes, had her victory upheld by the Appeal Court sitting in Enugu, after dismissing an appeal against her victory.

    The former Minister of Aviation had been brought before the election tribunal in October, by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance , APGA, Dubem Obaze, who cited electoral malpractice in the elections which held in March.

    Although, the Appeal Court threw out another Senator voted under the party’s umbrella, Uche Ekwunife, Oduah and her party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have reasons to celebrate.

    Similarly, the election of former Senate President, David Mark as a member of the 8th Senate was nullified by an appeal court.

    Mark’s case was followed by Ekwunife’s loss.

  • Bullet proof cars: AGF faults Oduah’s allegation against APC

    Bullet proof cars: AGF faults Oduah’s allegation against APC

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Tuesday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit filed by a former Minister of Aviation Senator Stella Oduah.

    Oduah alleged in her fundamental rights suit that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was behind the bid to have her arrested and prosecuted.

    Arguing the AGF’s opposition to the suit, his lawyer Tijani Gazali said the Oduah’s claim was not substantiated.

    He said the former minister should have joined APC in her suit to enable the party defend itself.

    Gazali, who also filed a preliminary objection to the suit, urged the court not to grant Oduah’s application.

    “We urge the court to uphold the preliminary objection and decline jurisdiction. The applicant said the concoction of evidence to implicate her happened at APC caucus meeting, and that she was informed by a chieftain of APC.

    “APC is not before my lord to refute or admit the claims. APC should have been joined as a respondent to admit or refute the allegations against them,” Gazali said.

    Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) G. K. Lotona said the issues Oduah complained about ccurred in Abuja, therefore the suit ought to have been instituted there.

    Citing Order 2 (1) of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure, the lawyer said: “Any applicant who alleges breach or likely breach of his fundamental rights may apply to the court in the state where the infringement occurred or is likely to occur.

    “Since all the acts in issue are alleged to have occurred in Abuja, the proper forum would and should have been the Federal High Court Abuja division. I urge your Lordship to decline jurisdiction,” he said.

    Oduah said there was a plot to arrest her over the 2013 purchase of two armoured BMW cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) under her watch. The vehicles were said to have cost N255million, an amount that sparked huge outrage.

    The former minister, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District in the Senate, said the vehicles were bought for the use and safety of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) officials who were in the country to inspect and certify the 22 airports being rehabilitated under her watch.

    Oduah said the bid to arrest her for a crime she did not commit began as the general elections approached when the House of Representatives led by Aminu Tambuwal (now Sokoto State governor), and its Committee on Aviation, set out to indict her. The lawmakers’ move, she said, was part of APC’s grand plan to capture power by all means.

    The party, she said, carried out a campaign of calumny by “demonising” the most visible leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Being a frontline PDP member, she also became a target, especially as she was seen as playing a crucial role towards the realisation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

    She said as part of the APC’s campaign of calumny against her and others, the party’s leadership commissioned some faceless organisations to write letters to the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation.

    Among others, she said she was falsely accused of “all manners of corrupt practices and offences in respect of my stewardship as Minister of Aviation.”

    Oduah said was shocked by the allegations because the aviation ministry under her watch was run in the cleanest manner imaginable.

    Justice Okon Abang adjourned to January 25 for judgment.

  • Bulletproof cars: Court adjourns Oduah’s case

    Bulletproof cars: Court adjourns Oduah’s case

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday adjourned hearing in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, till December 1.

    The case was stalled due to the absence of her lawyer Ajibola Oluyede, who was said to be handling another case at the Court of Appeal.

    Oduah sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa had, on August 26, restrained them from questioning or arresting the ex-minister over the purchase of two bulletproof vehicles until her suit is determined.‎

    The vehicles, bought under her watch as aviation minister, were said to have cost N255million, sparking a national outrage.

  • Senate seeks action on recurrent flood disasters

    The Senate on Thursday asked the Federal Government to take concrete steps to address the challenge of perennial flood disasters in parts of the country.

    The lawmakers specifically urged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to revisit the proposed construction of Dasin Hausa Dam and any other dams to take in the flood water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun.

    The upper chamber also urged the Federal Government to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to ex-ray the situation of recurring flood disasters with a view to proffering a lasting solution to problem.

    This followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “Construction of dams to remedy the perennial flood disasters in Nigeria,” sponsored by Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra North).

    Oduah in her lead debate noted the recurring annual floods in the country especially arising from the release of flood waters in Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

    She said the perennial flood disasters have also resulted in colossal loss of properties and livelihood, with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) estimating the lose at over N2.6 trillion from the 2012 flood alone.

  • Bulletproof cars: EFCC, IGP fail to appear in Oduah’s suit

    Bulletproof cars: EFCC, IGP fail to appear in Oduah’s suit

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Inspector-General of Police on Wednesday failed to send legal representatives for the hearing of a suit filed by a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa of ‎the Federal High Court in Lagos had, on August 26, restrained them from questioning or arresting the ex-ministee over the purchase of two bulletproof vehicles until her suit is determined.‎

    The vehicles, bought under her watch as aviation minister, were said to have cost N255million, an amount that sparked public outrage.

    The judge also stopped the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and the IGP from inviting the former minister for interrogation.

    The EFCC, it was learnt, did not file any application to discharge the restraining order within the time allowed.

    Justice Yunusa had adjourned hearing to October 2, but the matter was however listed for hearing on Wednesday, apparently due to its urgency.

    [ad id=”403656″]The court’s registrar said hearing notices were issued to parties, but as proceedings commenced, no lawyer announced appearance for Oduah, EFCC and IGP.

    Only ICPC was represented by Ms. Funmilola Oluborode, who said the commission did not receive a hearing notice.

    According to her, she was directed to represent ICPC by a superior who got to know that the case was coming up for hearing after seeing it in the cause list.

    The ICPC lawyer said since other parties were not represented, there was nothing she could do alone.

    She sought for adjournment.

    Oluborode said ICPC was yet to file any response to Oduah’s suit, and asked for more time to enable the commission file its defence.

    Justice Yunusa pointed out that the suit was a fundamental rights enforcement action which deserved urgent hearing.

     

  • Bulletproof cars: EFCC asks court to dismiss Oduah’s suit

    Bulletproof cars: EFCC asks court to dismiss Oduah’s suit

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit by a former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah seeking to stop her invitation for interrogation over the purchase of bullet proof cars.

    It filed a notice of preliminary objection to the suit, contending that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain it.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa on August 26 barred the commission from arresting Oduah until her suit is determined.

    The judge also stopped the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police from questioning the former minister.

    EFCC, in its preliminary objection, said beside the court not having jurisdiction, there was no valid basis for the action.

    According to the anti-graft agency, the suit was wrongly filed in Lagos because the subject matter took place in Abuja.

    EFCC said Oduah’s claims were baseless and speculative as there is no concrete evidence that she was about to be questioned.

    It added that the senator did not show enough material fact to justify her claim that she was about to be invited or arrested.

    The commission urged the court to reject Oduah’s suit for lacking in merit.

    Oduah, in her suit, had justified the 2013 purchase of two bullet-proof BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The vehicles were said to have cost N255million, an amount that sparked outrage.

    Oduah, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District in the Senate, said there was a move by the respondents to persecute and humiliate her.

    She, however, explained that the vehicles were bought for the use of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) officials who were in the country to inspect and certify the 22 airports being rehabilitated under her watch.

    According to her, the vehicles were acquired to safeguard the foreign officials’ lives so that they would not be bombed, attacked or abducted by the rampaging Boko Haram insurgents who were creating havoc in the Northeast.

    Oduah said the bullet proof cars were especially necessary because the visit of the airport inspectors coincided with “the peak of Boko Haram terrorists’ menace in the country, when the United Nations building and the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force were bombed in Abuja.”

    “It was thus imperative that the NCAA, which is an apex regulatory authority in the Nigerian aviation industry, operating under the SARPs of the ICAO and subject to assessment by ICAO, acquire its own armoured vehicles for the use of the ICAO officials coming for inspection and certification at the time,” Oduah said.

    She added that the bullet-proof vehicles were captured in the 2013 budget, adding that they were duly procured in line with the Bureau of Public Procurement regulations.

    She said the respondents would be doing the bidding of her political enemies if they are not stopped.

    In the papers she filed before the court, the former minister said the bid to arrest her for a crime she did not commit began as the general elections approached.

    According to her, the House of Representatives led by Aminu Tambuwal (now Sokoto State governor), and its Committee on Aviation, were especially out to get her.

    But the lawmakers’ move, she said, was part of a grand plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to capture power by all means.

    The party, she said, carried out a campaign of calumny by “demonising” the most visible leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Being a frontline PDP member, she also became a target, especially as she was seen as playing a crucial role towards the realisation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

    She said as part of the APC’s campaign of calumny against her and others, the party’s leadership commissioned some faceless organisations to write letters to the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation.

    Among others, she said she was falsely accused of “all manners of corrupt practices and offences in respect of my stewardship as Minister of Aviation.”

    Oduah said was shocked by the allegations because the aviation ministry under her watch was run in the cleanest manner imaginable.

    The former minister said despite her selfless service to Nigeria and the positive changes made by the ministry under her watch, including the revamping of the country’s air transportation, Tambuwal still ordered her investigation based on the petitions containing “spurious and wild allegations.”

    She said because of her electoral value and strategic politicking, she had been a target of the ploy by the APC to weaken the PDP and distract its leaders with trumped up charges.

    According to her, part of the APC plan was to charge PDP leaders “in a criminal trial in a Lagos State Government-controlled court.”

    Oduah said unless the court intervened, “the APC will unleash repression against her and others and this may cause the country to recede to a one-party state, with gross adverse effects and irreparable damage to our nascent democracy.”

    Justice Yunusa adjourned to October 2 for hearing of her suit.