The Nation Newspaper

Tag: suspended

  • Why we suspended the strike, by Judiciary workers

    The Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria  (JUSUN) has said it decided to suspend its nationwide industrial action to give room for the implementation of the agreement on judicial independence.

    Speaking with reporters in Lagos, the Publicity Secretary of JUSUN, Kayode Igbarago,  said the union decided to suspend the strike for 45 days to enable a committee set up on the implementation of the court order on direct funding of the judiciary conclude its assignment.

    He said the decision was reached  at a meeting attended by representatives of the Accountant-General of the Federation, forum of national Accountants Generals, Ministry of Finance, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    Last month, JUSUN embarked on an industrial action to press for the execution of the Federal High Court judgment that judicial funding should be paid to the National Judicial Council (NJC) as provided by the constitution.

    JUSUN had filed the suit in 2012 challenging the piecemeal payment of funds accruing to the judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund contrary to the provisions of sections 81(3), 121(3) and 162(9) of the 1999 Constitution.

  • Kwara United wants ref suspended

    Kwara United wants ref suspended

    Kwara United have demanded the immediate suspension of assistant referee (AR), Hannah Elaigwu of the FCT Council for her display during the week 11 Nigeria National League (NNL), game involving the Afonja Warriors and Plateau United in Jos on Saturday.

    The club, in a statement on Sunday by their spokesman, Olayinka Owolewa, said Elaigwu’s continued involvement in the game in the future would bring the game to disrepute and deny it the beauty of it.

    The statement expressed the belief that Elaigwu who was the AR 2 in the match was firmly against the team, harassing the players unnecessarily from the dressing room of the visitors.

    United claimed that Elaigwu disallowed a goal the Centre Referee (CR), Ibrahim Musa from Katsina had pointed at the centre for a goal.

    The goal, according to the statement, was scored from a free kick taken by Obadaki Halilu whose cross had found Hamza Rasheed after the Plateau United goalkeeper had missed his chance to pick up the ball on the air before Segun Alebiosu found the back of the net.

    The statement stressed that after the poor display by Elaigwu in disallowing the goal, she also denied the visitors another scoring opportunity after another Kwara United player had been brought down in front of the 18 yard box, which was supposed to be a free kick.

    The club also asked Hannah Elaigwu to explain why she ran to the security men immediately after the blast of the final whistle if she had not done anything wrong during the course of the game.

    Kwara United was, however, full of praises for the Centre Referee, Ibrahim Musa from Katsina. The club expressed the confidence that such display Musa put up in the match is further needed in the course of the league as the NNL remains the bedrock of the Premier League

    The statement urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and NNL to closely monitor the progress of the nation’s lower league cadre.

    The club also expressed confidence in Nigerian referees and promised to continue to be a law abiding club in future involvement in the league at all levels.

  • Union leaders suspended

    Union leaders suspended

    The legislative arm of the Students’ Union Government of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has held an emergency sitting to nullify the decision of the executive arm on the suspension of the union’s president Usman Musa Maizare and his Secretary General, Adamu Aliyu Shuaibu. The parliament faulted the executive’s decision, saying it had no constitutional power to suspend an officer.

    The lawmakers said the suspended officers should be reinstated and any official entitlement accrued to them during the period of suspension should be given to them. The executive arm was directed to write a letter of apology to the house for contravening the provisions of the constitution, saying copies of the letter should be pasted at strategic places of the school campus.

    The executive arm had suspended the duo for flouting the union’s constitution by soliciting for sponsorship for a programme without the knowledge of other members. Their decision was based on the evidences provided which showed that the duo solicited for financial support of about N 250,000 in several places to execute project unknown to the council.

    Maizare admitted the allegations levelled against him but said he was not aware of the constitutional provisions in question.

    The decision of the council came hours after the house issued the president a 10-day ultimatum to refund the N 60,000 he misappropriated or face either suspension or impeachment.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the suspension, which was to last for four weeks for each officer, was to enable proper investigations. The House Committee on Rules, Ethics and Congress Petition chaired by Mutiu Jimoh, was responsible for the probe.

  • Two doctors suspended for contempt, unethical practices

    Two doctors- Theophilus Masha Dabkana and Friday Wokoma- have been suspended for contempt and unethical practices.

    The Chairman of the Council of Medical and Dental Practitioners Tribunal, Dr. Jonathan Azubuike, said Dabkana and Wokoma were found guilty of the charges brought against them and suspended for three months.

    The charge against Dr. Dafe T. Adiki, an employee of the Delta State government, was struck out to avoid double jeopardy because he had been punished by his employer.

    Adiki was caught by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan engaging in private business during work hours.

    The tribunal, which sat for three days, adjourned till May 6, to consider the remaining cases.

    Ten doctors were to stand trial but only three cases were concluded.

    Dabknana did not appear throughout the tribunal’s session.

    He was tried in absentia in pursuant to page 63, Rule 6 subsection (1) and(2) of (Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    The tribunal in its judgment said: “ Dr. Theophilus Masha Dabkana has conducted himself infamously by acting in contempt of the Medical and Dental Practitioner Investigating Panel contrary to Rule 28 1(a – d and g of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria 2008 edition.

    “He is, therefore, suspended from practice as a medical doctor for three months.”

    Wokoma, who is an associate professor at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is found guilty of professional negligence, contrary to Rules 29 and 43 of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria 2008 edition.

    He was said to have failed to manage the health of Victor Afego.

    The Chief Medical Director, Taraba State Specialist Hospital, Dr. Zakari Aliyu, was among those expected to appear before the tribunal.

    He is accused of divulging information on the health status of Governor Danbaba Suntai, contrary to the ethics of the profession.

    Others still expected to appear before the tribunal are: David Emmanuel Udo, Godwin Ugbam, Temitope Gabriel Onile, Nzurumike Charles Nnanna, Danmusa Ademu Ochala, Omotayo Oluwadamilola Akinro and Udezue Nnameka Obumneme.

  • Ondo Assembly recalls suspended member

    The lawmaker representing Ose Constituency in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Fola Olaseinde-Vincente, who was suspended seven months ago, has been recalled.

    She was suspended on June 18, last year, for allegedly keeping fetish objects in her former rented apartment.

    The House set up a five-man committee, headed by Mr. Olotu Fatai, to look into the allegation and submit its report in two weeks.

    When the committee failed to submit its report after four months, Mrs. Olaseinde-Vincente approached the court, urging it to declare her suspension illegal.

    On December 18, last year, an Akure High Court, presided over by the Chief Judge, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, struck out the case for lack of merit.

    He said as a public officer, the suspended lawmaker’s “offence was not personal, adding that she should have waited for the report of the panel before approaching the court.

    Mrs. Olaseinde-Vincente joined her colleagues on the floor of the House yesterday.

    The Deputy Speaker, Dare Emiola (Akoko Southwest 1), told reporters that Mrs. Olaseinde-Vincente was pardoned at a meeting on December 31, last year.

    Emiola said: “Our member who was suspended has been pardoned. That is why you see her with us today. We are together. We are one. She is back and her recall will be ratified today at the hallowed chamber.”

    Mrs. Olasehinde-Vincente said she was happy that truth prevailed.

    She said: “You will recall that about seven months ago, on June 18, 2013, a letter of suspension authored by the House leadership was handed to me. My suspension was hinged on a trumped-up story that fetish objects were found in my former apartment.

    “An apartment I vacated and handed over the keys before the story was well-dressed to paint me black. Despite denial of free and equitable hearing, I was suspended. As a law abiding citizen, lawyer and representative of the people of Ose, I approached the court to seek redress.

    “I went to court because I have always believed in the potency of the law to untie the orchestrated politics of mudslinging that was targeted at my person. While the court process continued, the leadership and members of the House absolved me of the wicked story, lifted the suspension and reinstated me.

    “I am grateful to God under whose grace ordinary mortals enjoy the gift of freewill and abundant life.

    “It takes the grace of God for a widow like me to go through so much emotional torture on a matter that was premised on falsehood and make-believe, and come out strong and resolute.”

    The letter of reinstatement took effect from December 31, last year.

  • Bauchi High Court grants Speaker’s, Assembly’s prayer on suspended lawmaker

    A Bauchi High Court, presided over by Justice Aliyu Baba Usman, yesterday granted an application for a stay of execution filed by the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and the Assembly on a State High Court’s ruling.

    A Bauchi State High Court, presided over by the State Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Ibrahim M. Zango, on May 31, held that the indefinite suspension of Mrs Rifkatu Samson Danna, the only woman in the Assembly, who represents Bogoro State Constituency, violated her fundamental rights to fair hearing and freedom of expression as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

    The CJ also declared that her indefinite suspension from the Assembly, with effect from June 7, last year, was against Sections 109-110 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 13 of African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and Enforcement Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He also set aside the indefinite suspension and ordered the Speaker and the Assembly to reinstate and pay Mrs Danna “all her outstanding salaries, committee allowances and constituency allowances and restore her official vehicle and security detail immediately”.

    Mrs Danna was suspended indefinitely, following her dissenting opinion on the relocation of Tafawa Balewa Local Government’s headquarters to Bununu when she spoke on the floor of the Assembly in June, last year.

    She informed her colleagues that “the relocation of the local government headquarters was a constitutional affairs which the State Assembly was not competent enough to reverse”.

    The members were uncomfortable with her position. They insisted that the suspended lawmaker should be punished with an indefinite suspension.

    Mrs Danna, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, through her counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), went to court and got a judgment in her favour.

    But the Assembly, through its lawyer, Mahmoud Haruna Yakubu, appealed against the judgment at the Appellate Court in Jos, Plateau State.

    The Assembly prayed the Bauchi High Court 7, presided over by Justice Aliyu Baba Usman, to stay execution on the judgment, pending the outcome of the appeal whose hearing date has not been fixed.

    In a 92-minute ruling yesterday, Justice Usman ordered a stay of the execution of Orders 3 and 4 of the judgment, which set aside Mrs Danna’s suspension, as well as the order for the payment of her allowances.

    He affirmed the declaration aspect of Judgments One and Two, which declared her suspension illegal, null and void.

    The judge also affirmed the declaration that she has a right to comment on the relocation of Tafawa Balewa Local Government’s headquarters.

     

  • Niger PDP: Aliyu can’t be suspended

    Despite the seeming face-off between the national leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, the state chapter of the party yesterday passed a vote of confidence in his leadership and administration.

    The party also foreclosed any suspension of the Chairman of the Northern States’ Governors’ Forum (NSGF) from the party “because he has committed no offence”.

    Rising from an enlarged State Executive Committee meeting in Minna, the state capital, the state PDP, through its Publicity Secretary Hassan Saba, told reporters that “as far as we are concerned in Niger State, we are 100 per cent behind Governor Babangida Aliyu and he has our solid support”.

    Saba said the party was comfortable with the leadership style and the ability of the governor to deliver the manifesto and progreammes of the ruling party in the state.

    Dismissing the rumour of an imminent suspension of the governor from the party, like two of his colleagues – Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his Sokoto State counterpart, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, the party’s spokesman said: “Governor Aliyu has done nothing to warrant suspension from the party. This rumour is baseless, because he has not fallen short of party decisions.”

    On the ongoing wrangling at the national level of the party, Saba said the party in the state is not happy but expressed hope that the matter and other areas of frictions between the contending forces will soon be resolved.

    He said: “We are not happy with what is happening at the national level. It is a family matter and we pray and hope that the family would solve the problem quickly. We are hoping that in no distant future they will solve the problems”.

     

  • Rivers ACN: Sekibo, suspended official head to Abuja

    The 2011 governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, and the party’s suspended National Treasurer, Kenneth Kobani, are heading for Abuja to meet with the national leadership of the ACN, on the crisis in the state chapter.

    They condemned the alleged unilateral decision of the national leadership of the ACN to work for the interest of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Rivers ACN, yesterday in an online statement by its suspended Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, alleged that members were aggrieved that Amaechi, whom they said had marginalised the opposition , could easily worm his way into the party, without the knowledge of the state chapter.

    The aggrieved Rivers ACN leaders declared that they could not work with Amaechi in the yet-to-be-registered All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that they would rather return to the PDP, where they said they originally belonged.

    The other suspended members are Jerry Needam; Ibieneye Lolo, Lali Green and Nancy Nwankwo.

    Esuku and the Secretary, Ngoji Warmate, accused the suspended officials of anti-party activities, especially for fraternising with the Chief Felix Obuah-led executive of the PDP.

    The suspended persons, on Tuesday, claimed to have suspended Esuku.

    But the chairman described them as liars, blackmailers and jokers.

  • Rivers ACN: Sekibo, suspended official head to Abuja

    The 2011 governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, and the party’s suspended National Treasurer, Kenneth Kobani, are heading for Abuja to meet with the national leadership of the ACN, on the crisis in the state chapter.

    They condemned the alleged unilateral decision of the national leadership of the ACN to work for the interest of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Rivers ACN, yesterday in an online statement by its suspended Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, alleged that members were aggrieved that Amaechi, whom they said had marginalised the opposition , could easily worm his way into the party, without the knowledge of the state chapter.

    The aggrieved Rivers ACN leaders declared that they could not work with Amaechi in the yet-to-be-registered All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that they would rather return to the PDP, where they said they originally belonged.

    The other suspended members are Jerry Needam; Ibieneye Lolo, Lali Green and Nancy Nwankwo.

    Esuku and the Secretary, Ngoji Warmate, accused the suspended officials of anti-party activities, especially for fraternising with the Chief Felix Obuah-led executive of the PDP.

    The suspended persons, on Tuesday, claimed to have suspended Esuku.

    But the chairman described them as liars, blackmailers and jokers.

  • Suspended student wins union presidency

    Suspended student wins union presidency

    Six years ago, Chris Taiwo was placed on suspension by the authorities of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, after he lost bid to be elected as president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

    During the election held last week, Chris emerged leader of the union. In the build up to the poll, aspirants thronged the campus and off-campus hostels with their supporters sharing posters to canvass for votes. They also stationed billboards at strategic places for awareness.

    The election was held simultaneously in the six faculties on the Ogbomoso campus and also at the College of Health Sciences, Osogbo. Security personnel including Man O’ War and cadets were drafted to maintain peace during the process. Red Cross officials and LAUTECH Road Safety Corps were on hand to ensure smooth process.

    To ensure the best got elected, the Union of Campus Journalists organised a debate for the aspirants. On the election day, members of the electoral commission with Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sulaiman Gbadegesin, moved round the campus to monitor the election.

    The process was marred by low turnout of students. When the election ended, collation exercise could not follow immediately because ballot boxes were being transported from Osogbo. Students and observers besieged the convocation ground, the venue of the collation.

    Around 11:30 pm in the evening, the results were announced.

    Chris was returned as the president-elect. In 2007, he was suspended because of the controversy that trailed his defeat in union election. He, however, wrote another entrance exam and was re-admitted into his former department.

    He also lost the union election last session but re-contested and won last week. As his name was announced as the winner, his supporters shouted “Abraham Lincoln of LAUTECH”.

    Declaring the winner, the chairman of the electoral commission, Dr Siyanbade Adewale, said Chris garnered 1,992 votes to defeat his close rival, Bolanle Sherrifdeen, who polled 1,473 votes.

    Others elected include Calista Atanye, Vice-President 1, Emmanuel Fadeni, Vice-President II, Sheriffdeen Hamzat, General Secretary, Adeboye Kuta, Assistant General Secretary, Abdulrasheed Adewale, Financial Secretary, Kayode Alabi, Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Kolawole, Welfare Director, Ayoola Badmus, Sports Director and Abayomi Adams, Social Director.

    The elected officials have since been sworn in. Chris pledged not to renege on his campaign promises.