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Tag: suspension

  • Confusion in Anambra over suspension of LG boss

    Confusion in Anambra over suspension of LG boss

    There is tension in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state following the indefinite suspension of the  council chairman, John Onyeakpa, by the councilors over allegations of misconduct and poor performance among others. Already, Anambra state police command had deployed more security operatives to the area to maintain law and order.

    Before his controversial suspension, the chairman was served with an impeachment notice on July 2nd, 2015. In reaction to the move by the legislators, Onyeakpa dragged the Councillors and the Chief Judge of the state to court, seeking discontinuation of the impeachment process. Specifically, the LG boss urged the Court to stop the Chief Judge from setting up a panel to investigate him.

    But in a surprise statement on Friday at Umunze headquarters of the council area, after their sitting, the Councilors announced the indefinite suspension of the Chairman and directed him to hand over the affairs of the council to his deputy, Sir Emma Enwere, within 24 hours.

    According to reports, the motion for his suspension was moved by the leader of the house, Sir Chukwudi Okwuma, and was supported by all the 15 legislators present out of the 18 member house.

    Okwuma alleged that the chairman had crippled the activities of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the council area and had equally accused Governor Obiano of sponsoring the councilors to impeach him at all cost. Also, chairman information and security, Hyginus Umeaka alleged that the chairman had turned the council area into a private business, while Mr. Stanistus Nnaka accused him of being stubborn.

    But there is confusion over the state of things in the council as Onyeakpa has vowed to resist all attempts to wrongly and forcefully remove him from office. Although he could not be reached for his reaction, a close aide of the embattled LG boss said it is unlikely that Onyeakpa will give up without a fight.

    “Don’t forget the matter is in court already. I am sure the Chairman will seek justice till the very end. He will not succumb to this extra judicial act by the councillors. He will resist them,” the aide said.

  • Fans condemn suspension of Erasmus

    Fans condemn suspension of Erasmus

    Somesupporters of the Heartland FC of Owerri have expressed dissatisfaction at the suspension handed down to the club’s Technical Adviser, Erasmus Olottah, who was alleged to have `factionalised’ the club.

    They supporters claimed that such an action could lead to more setbacks to the club.

    Speaking in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Friday, one of the popular fans of the club, Jude Obi popularly known as (Babawo), urged the management of the club to recall Olottah.

    Obi said Heartland had many matches under Olottah including a defeat to Nasarawa United 5-2 in week 2, and another victory in week 11, at which the club defeated Bayelsa United 4-1.

    Since then the club had suffered terrible humiliation, 0-2 loss against Enyimba of Aba on June 17, blaming it on the suspension.

    Obi said if Ollotah was not recalled before their next match against Taraba FC, the club might suffer further humiliations.

    “We are not happy at the suspension because Olottah played his role very well. It is dangerous to suspend a technical adviser midway, especially if such a coach had been performing well; the management should have allowed him to complete the season’s assignment,” he said.

    Another fan, Chidiebere Anozie, an Owerri-based civil servant believed the suspension was enough to demoralise the players, especially those that believed in the abilities of the coach.

    Okey Alozie, an Owerri-based football analyst said the suspension was not healthy for the club and urged the management of Heartland to recall Olottah.

    An Owerri-based sports journalist, Theodore Tasie said if management had decided to suspend the technical adviser, they should replace him with a more experienced person. He faulted Heartland for choosing the Chief Coach of the club, Bethel Orji to take over Olottah’s job.

    “It is unfortunate that the coach was suspended when he is most needed, considering the games ahead. Such decision, if not well managed can be counterproductive. So, I want the management to consider a more experienced coach as his replacement,” he said. Another supporter of the club, Ikenna Enyiocha said the new technical adviser should prove himself by winning most of the games ahead.

    Enyiocha said if the club fails to win its upcoming match, fans could seek for the recall of the suspended coach.

    “We can only be happy with at the suspension if the team begins to win its games; but we the fans cannot seat back to watch the club go on relegation for wrong decisions,” he said. Meanwhile, the Media Officer of the club Cajetan Nkwopara said the action was only to save the club from the dangers of factionalising the team.

    He said the suspension was temporary, pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegation. He urged the fans to continue to support the club, over decisions of the management, rather than criticising it.

    Nkwopara pledged that the club would ensure impressive performance in its next match, calling on the supporters to always come out in en masse to offer support.

    NAN reports that Olottah was suspended on Monday over what the management described as factionalisation of the team.

  • ASUU protests chair’s suspension over fraud

    ASUU protests chair’s suspension over fraud

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU] Owerri zone has protested the suspension order given to Dr Uzochukwu Onyebinama, chairman of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike [MOUAU] chapter of the union over alleged fraud and examination malpractices.

    The union called on the university authority to immediately revoke the suspension, which it described as callous.

    However, the MOUAU Vice Chancellor, Prof Hilary Edeoga, said that Onyebinama’s suspension was prescribed by the rules of service of the university concerning fraud and misconduct, and not because of his role as ASUU Chairman.

    But the union resolved after its congress at the university last week to commence action against the management until it reversed the suspension.

    The resolution which was announced by the Owerri zonal coordinator of ASUU, Prof Ike Odumegwu, said that the measure to suspend the chairperson, place him on half salary and ban him from entering the campus because he sought redress in the court against the university over cases of injustice, were unacceptable.

    Defending the management’s decision, Edeoga explained that Onyebinama did not wait for the outcome of the investigation before running to the court which he said was against the university’s rule.

    The VC said: “The rules of the university are very clear on certain matters: you don’t take the university to court.  The rule says that if you are suspended you go on half salary”.

    Edeoga said that Onyebinama was also guilty of examination fraud by awarding suspicious marks to students, which the Senate found abnormal – in addition to allegations of incompetence and mismanagement against him as the Director of Continuing Education Center [CEC].

    He disclosed that the problem started after Onyebinama was removed as the Director of CEC.

    “They started writing all sorts of petitions even against the new Director but I stood my ground that the right thing must be done,” he said.

    Edeoga said that the panel of investigation into a case of misconduct against Onyebinama and that of the staff disciplinary committee found him guilty of the allegations of dereliction of duty, abuse of office and deliberate breach of senate guidelines.

    He said that the committee also found him “guilty of insubordination, total disregard for constituted authority, inefficiency, negligence and dishonesty in the discharge of his official functions,” and recommended his suspension.

    The report of the six-member staff disciplinary committee recommended his dismissal from service after its investigation, but the management decided to suspend him instead.

  • Onuh calls suspension an afterthought

    Onuh calls suspension an afterthought

    Suspended Heartland coach Erasmus Onuh has told AfricanFootball.com  that the club’s management has been sabotaging him.

    The widely travelled coach alleged that some of them on the club’s management are working against him.

    “How can I be happy? When some people are bent on frustrating my good work in the team,” he said.

    “I have been calling for strengthening of a department in the team but they have refused bluntly,forcing me to make use of the half-baked players I met there.”

    On Sunday, Onuh led ‘The Naze Millionaires’ to trounce visiting Bayelsa United 4-1, but the coach insisted his team were lucky to win the match.

    “We won the match due to the players’ determination and the grace of God.Divine intervention saw us through this game as our opponents played a good game but were unlucky” he said.

  • Imo denies complicity in suspension of Monarchs

    Imo State Government has denied its involvement in the suspension of four traditional rulers and the probe of about 50 others.

    The state Council of Traditional Rulers suspended four monarchs for disobeying the Council’s directives and identifying with a deposed monarch and factional chairman of the Council, Cletus Ilomuanya.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo described the action as an independent decision of the Council.

    “It is important to say that while the state government takes exception to the action of the traditional rulers, it has no hand in their suspension or the trial of more than 50 others.

    “The government has a culture; the culture of not being vindictive, even at the height of provocation. The suspension and trial of the concerned monarchs remain the business of the Eze Samuel Ohiri–led council.

    “The state government cannot interfere in the Council’s activities, especially in handling issues concerning the conduct of the members. The state government will however not hesitate to act on the recommendations of the Council as long as it is in the interest of the state.

    “This explanation has become necessary to set the record straight with regards to the referenced actions of the Council on their members,” Onwuemeodo said.

  • ASUU, VC differ on suspension of unionist

    ASUU, VC differ on suspension of unionist

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU] Owerri zone and the Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike [MOUAU] Abia State, have expressed different views over the suspension of the ASUU chairman, Dr. Uzochukwu Onyebinama, by the university authority.

    While ASUU condemned the suspension, the MOUAU chairman called for the immediate revocation of the suspension describing the action as callous.

    The Vice Chancellor, Professor Hilary Edeoga, on the other hand justified the suspension of Onyebinama as a staff of the university, saying it was prescribed by the rules of service of the university.

    He said that the MOUAU ASUU boss breached the service of the school and the recommendations of the committees set up to investigate allegations of exam fraud and misconduct leveled against him and not on his role as ASUU chairperson.

    The union had, in its congress at the university last week, resolved to commence action against the university authority until it reversed the decision order suspending its chairman.

    The resolution, which was announced by the Owerri zonal coordinator of ASUU, Professor Ike Odumegwu, said that the measure to suspend the chairperson, place him on half salary and ban him from entering the campus because he sought redress in the court against the university over cases of injustice, was  unacceptable.

    Reacting to the allegations of highhandedness, the Vice Chancellor, said the suspension of Dr. Onyebinama was neither personal nor a war against ASUU but followed the due process as contained in the university’s rule of service.

     

  • Senate wades into suspension of perm sec

    Senate wades into suspension of perm sec

    THE Senate yesterday waded into the suspension of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni.

    President Goodluck Jonathan ordered the suspension of Ambassador Sheni for his alleged role in the recall of Nigerian envoy to South Africa.

    The Federal Government claimed that the ambassador recalled the envoy without clearance from President Jonathan.

    The envoy, Martin Cobham, was recalled over the controversy trailing the xenophobic attack on Nigerians in South Africa.

    Deputy Senate Leader Senator Abdul Ningi brought the suspension to the attention of the Senate yesterday.

    Ningi (Bauchi Central Senatorial District) pleaded passionately for the Senate to prevail on the Federal Government to recall the permanent secretary.

    “I, therefore, want this Senate not to look the other way, but to urge the President, Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to tamper justice with mercy,” he said.

    The Senate did not debate the issue, but Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said the issue would be conveyed to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Ekweremadu added that “the issue of the recall (of an ambassador) is a very sensitive matter.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • PDP leaders seek Obasanjo’s suspension

    PDP leaders seek Obasanjo’s suspension

    Apparently shaken by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s striping comments on President Goodluck jonathan, some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders are pushing for his suspension from the party.

    They said Obasanjo’s diatribe amounts to anti-party activities.

    But Jonathan, who is the leader of the party, is yet to accede to the demand of the aggrieved PDP stalwarts, including some members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    It was however learnt yesterday that a media campaign will be launched against Obasanjo to expose what a source described as his “weak side”.

    The Nation learnt that leading figures in PDP, including governors, BOT members and those in the National Working Committee (NWC), felt slighted by Obasanjo’s comments at a briefing.

    A source said: “From the President to party leaders, we were all sad by Obasanjo’s attacks against the person of the President who had shown him much respect.

    “We all concluded that what the ex-President did in an election year amounted to anti-party activities.

    “Some of our leaders have started demanding for Obasanjo’s suspension from the party. They said there was no point having Obasanjo in PDP to give him more leverage to destroy the party.

    “Worse still, these angry leaders said Obasanjo had written off his party by openly canvassing for the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

    A member of the NWC said Obasanjo’s activities could attract suspension – in line with Article 57(3) of the PDP Constitution 2012(as amended).

    The NWC member said: “No matter the situation, you do not discredit and abandon your party for another. Obasanjo cannot be a bonafide member of PDP and be attacking the party’s presidential candidate.

    “The preponderance of opinion is that we should damn the consequences by suspending him from the party. But some are saying we should ignore him.

    “To most PDP members, we should ask him to go because he has even reduced his involvement in PDP to ward activities. Do not forget, he was not a founding member of the PDP.

    “If Obasanjo’s case comes to NWC, we will look at it on merit and treat as such.”

    “Article 57 (3) of the party’s constitution, 2012(as amended) says, “The Working Committee, at any level of the party, and the executive committee (at the Ward Level) may, after preliminary hearings, suspend a member from the party for a period not exceeding one month, during which period the member so suspended shall lose his right to contest any election, and shall be referred to the appropriate disciplinary committee.”

    “Article 57 (4) specifically states that “where an allegation is made against a member of the party, the disciplinary committee shall inform the member in writing of the allegations made against him or her.”

    A Presidency source said: “The President is also unhappy with Obasanjo. This was why he also came hard on the former President in a statement on Saturday night.

    “Jonathan has the choice to allow the issue to run its course in the media the way it is now or allow the party to exercise its discretion since no one is above PDP.

    “Obasanjo’s case is certainly being looked into by the party.

    “The President is a bit cautious on the proposal for Obasanjo’s suspension because it might distract the party’s attention. He also does not want to be seeing as betraying his benefactor.”

  • NFF lifts suspension on Eduok

    NFF lifts suspension on Eduok

    Dolphins attacking winger, Emem Eduok, can now return to international football after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lifted his suspension.

    Eduok was expelled from the Super Eagles on Tuesday following transfer confusion after it emerged that he signed for Sarpsborg 08 in Norway and Tunisian club, Esperance. This suspension came just days before today’s international friendly against Ivory Coast in Abu Dhabi.

    “We are not happy with the cloud of controversy over his transfer issue and it is a terrible distraction to the team and Nigeria football generally. Telling him to leave the camp does not mean we are indicting him. We will carry out an investigation and whoever is found guilty, be he/she an agent or player manager or an official of his club, will be duly sanctioned,” Pinnick explained earlier this week.

    Investigation has now been concluded and the NFF Technical and Development Committee chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, has submitted the report to the federation  on the transfer imbroglio of the Dolphins player.

    The NFF has now forwarded the report to its Ethics and Fair Play Committee to take a decision.

    “In line with a directive by the NFF President, the Chairman of Technical and Development Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu presented the report of his investigation into the controversy over the transfer of Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt player, Emem Eduok. The report was immediately referred to the Committee on Ethics and Fair Play for prompt and decisive action. In the meantime, the player is now free to return to the national team camp,” a statement from the NFF on Friday read.

    In mid-December, Eduok had agreed to join Norwegian outfit, Sarpsborg 08 for a four-year deal and within days turned up at Esperance to sign a three-and-a-half-year contract.

     

  • Urhobo youths hail suspension

    Urhobo youths in Delta State have hailed the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) for ostracising some politicians accused of working against Urhobo’s governorship interest.

    The UPU, in a published advertorial last week, ostracised three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains- Olori Magege, Monday Igbuya and Ben Igbakpa- for working against Urhobo’s interest.

    The youth urged the UPU to extend the same treatment to other “disloyal” Urhobo politicians.

    President, Urhobo Media Group, Daniel Ekiugbo said: Much as Urhobo politicians fronting aspirants from other districts have fundamental and democratic rights to so freely associate, UMG is strictly opposed to anyone exercising such privilege to ridicule the UPU.”

    Rex Anighoro of the Coalition of Urhobo National Youth Leaders and Stakeholders (CUNYLS) described the UPU ban as “a definitive and needful action towards sanitising the political class betraying the Urhobo nation.”

    Omonigho Matthew said: “It is a good, timely decision but certainly not enough. UPU should drop any executive member who is an active member of any party so UPU can fight justly.”

    Unuajefe Choice said: “UPU has more work to do and let all anti-Urhobo declaration masterminds and supporters be fished out and sanctioned for life.

    Michael Kalabu said: “There are more people to be sanctioned, those executing anti-Urhobo agenda, many are hiding under party loyalty to sell Urhobo, UPU should move down to Udu council area too, there are many betrayals there.”