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Tag: suspension

  • Activist condemns Ondo lawmaker’s suspension

    Activist lawyer Dr. Tunji Abayomi yesterday criticised the Ondo State House of Assembly for suspending the lawmaker representing Ose Constituency, Mrs. Fola Olaseinde.

    She was suspended for allegedly keeping fetish objects in her former apartment.

    Abayomi said native medicine is acceptable in Africa and Yorubaland.

    In a statement, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain said the Assembly violated the constitution, which protects the rights for privacy, culture and belief.

    He said: “In my view, we have an unserious case which should not have led to her suspension. Her former landlord, Sir Ogunbadejo, did not contest her claim that she left his house at least nine months ago. This obviously accounted for the legal process initiated by the landlord.

    “Does common sense not tell us that native medicine abandoned in someone else’s house for over nine months can barely command any efficacy or carry any value to the owner or to others?

    “In Africa and Yoruba cosmological thinking, native medicine is an acceptable and respectable way of protecting oneself or loved ones against diseases and death. There is scarcely a Yoruba person who does not know or hear about oogun, (traditional medicine).

    “Even in this advanced age of science, movies remind us of their place in our life. They highlight their significance in our ontological thinking. If Mrs. Olaseinde made native medicine either nine months ago or today, she is exercising her right to privacy, culture and belief.

    “She has done nothing wrong and it was inappropriate of the House to humiliate her with an unwarranted suspension. The House abandoned its responsibility to the legislator.

    “Mrs. Olaseinde is one of the three women in the Assembly. Women in politics, in this heavily-male dominated constituency, face diverse challenges, ranging from marginalisation to sexual harassment. They often walk on a lonely path. It is worse in the case of widows like Mrs. Olaseinde.

    “We need to respect and protect women’s right to seek self-security through means that conform to their beliefs. The institution that employs them has a greater duty not to injure them psychologically, emotionally or spiritually through wrong decisions.

    “Mrs. Olaseinde should have been protected by the House. The Assembly’s failure to do so greatly reduces its dignity, honour and prestige.

    “Now is the time for the Assembly to make amends by recalling her and restoring her rights as the representative of Ose Constituency.”

     

  • Tukur: suspension of governors not a witch hunt

    Tukur: suspension of governors not a witch hunt

    The suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Liyu Wamakko (Sokoto) from the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) is not a witch hunt, party Chairman Bamanga Tukur, said yesterday.

    According to him, the suspension is in line with the party’s Constitution and to instill discipline and maintain good conduct among members.

    In a statement from his office yesterday, Tukur said the actions of the governors constituted a distraction to President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

    The suspension, Tukur maintained, is not borne out of malice but a step aimed at ensuring that the PDP does not become a flock without a shepherd.

    The chairman added that the party was reorganising, with a view to making members appreciate the supremacy of the party’s constitution and its manifesto.

    The statement said: “We harbour no malice against any member. We only do not want to be a flock without a shepherd.

    “If we are not disciplined as a party, we certainly may not be able to produce the most progressive government in line with the greatest expectation of every Nigerian and the rest of the world.

    “The PDP government led by President Goodluck Jonathan has a good agenda founded on the desire to transform Nigeria.

    “The agenda has started bearing fruits. Indeed, the PDP should lead in the implementation.

    “We do not want to constitute a distraction to the President’s transformation agenda and this requires absolute discipline and loyalty from every member.

    “Right now, we are re-organising by way of bringing everyone to appreciate the Constitution and manifesto of the party so that when we go into election in 2015, we can win a landslide as a family in the election which will rank as the freest, most peaceful and most transparent in line with the desire of President Jonathan”.

  • Bauchi lawmaker on suspension for one year

    The Bauchi State House of Assembly yesterday said it had not received a State High Court order to reinstate Mrs Rifkatu Samson Danna, the member representing Bogoro Constituency, who has been on suspension in the past one year.

    The Bauchi lawmakers had slammed an indefinite suspension on the only female member for opposing the relocation of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area headquarters from Tafawa Balewa to Bununu.

    The Assembly’s action was overturned on May 30 by the Bauchi High Court, presided over by the State Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Zango.

    In compliance with the court’s judgment, Mrs. Danna went to the Assembly but was told by the Clerk, Mr. Bala Abdullahi, that he had not received the court order.

    A mild drama followed as the Clerk, who was in his office two minutes before Mrs Danna walked into the Assembly complex, vanished with his deputy and secretary.

    This compelled the Bogoro representative to contact him on his cell phone.

    Mrs Danna, who said she “felt frustrated and insulted as a representative of Bogoro constituency”, was informed that the other lawmakers had relocated to the home of Speaker Yahaya Mohammed Miya at the Government Reservation Area (GRA).

    But Mrs. Danna was not allowed into the Speaker’s home. His security detail and domestic workers told her the “the Speaker is not at home”.

    It was, however, learnt that Miya and other members held a session in his house.

    Mrs. Danna’s efforts to contact the Speaker on phone were unsuccessful.

    According to her, “all his telephone lines that I know have been switched off”.

    Counsel to the lawmaker, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), told The Nation on phone that “she has informed me and I will contact the counsel to the Speaker and Bauchi Assembly before I know what to do next”.

    The Assembly’s Director of Information, Lamaran Abdu Chinade told reporters that Governor Isa Yuguda invited the lawmakers to the inauguration of a community radio in Bununu village”.

     

  • ‘There is more to Amaechi’s suspension’

    ‘There is more to Amaechi’s suspension’

    Activists, lawyers and politicians yesterday spoke on the suspension of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the election of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    The National Chairman of the de-registered Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said the suspension arose from cumulative actions.

    He told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that there was more to the suspension than what the PDP made the public to believe.

    He said the suspension carried more malice than just winning the chairmanship of the NGF.

    Balarabe said the PDP with their action was sending a dangerous signal to the nation towards the 2015 elections, adding that the party must be checked.

    He said: “The suspension of Amaechi was a desperate action. I am not talking as an opposition, but as a politician with greater interest in the democratic dispensation of the country. PDP has a big problem and as a ruling party, they have to show good example, rather than heating up the system all the time.“

    He said because of the political future of Nigeria, every politician must see the action as a warning signal which must not be handled with sentiments.

    The conception of NGF, he said, was a good idea if its ideals were well exercised without external interference.

    He said during the Second Republic, there was a similar forum named, “The Progressive Governors Forum”.

    Balarabe said the Progressive Forum was partisan then because it only took care of the progressive parties.

    “But, NGF was based on the national interest as it comprised all the governors irrespective of their political parties,” he said.

    He said the PDP should not interfere in the affairs of the forum because it was not a PDP Forum or affiliate.

    He said the Forum should be independent of any political party for it to survive.

    A member of the House of Representatives, Innocent Tirsel, (PDP Shendam/Mikang Federal Constituency of Plateau State) called on stakeholders to reconcile their differences in the interest of “Nigeria and Nigerians”.

    Tirsel said: “In the interest of peace I would advise that the governors, as partners in progress, should be able to deal with this issue squarely, while the Federal Government should also look for a way out in addressing it.’’

    He advised the Presidency to parley with all the governors as a way of finding a lasting solution to the problem.

    The lawmaker said the interest of the country was paramount, adding that it should be considered before any other thing.

    The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum yesterday condemned the anti-Amaechi governors for refusing to accept defeat.

    In a statement by its General Secretary, Mr. Akin Malaolu, the group hailed Amaechi.

    It said: “We are filled with joy that in spite of the attacks on Amaechi, he still won the election. We are happy to see him appear not only in very high spirits, but also radiating hope and confidence.”

    Another House member, Peter Edeh (ANPP, Ezza/North/Ishielu Federal Constituency) of Ebonyi State said the controversy surrounding the NGF election was “all about the 2015 elections”.

    Amaechi’s plan to seek redress in court, he said, would depend on evidence at his disposal.

    He said Amaechi had “always” survived through the courts adding, “this is maybe another time to go and test the courts”.

    Deputy House Leader Leo Ogor called for amicable settlement between the two factions in the just concluded election.Ogor (PDP-Delta) said: “We must try as much as we can to be democratic in our electoral process because two people can not win in an election at same time.”

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Victor Umeh, in Abuja called for the scrapping of the NGF.

    Umeh said “the existence of NGF has no constitutional basis’’.

    The APGA chairman, who spoke on the sidelines of the launching of a book titled: “The making of an oracle’’, said the Forum was threatening democracy and peace in the country.

    He accused the governors of losing touch with the realities in their respective states partly because of their insatiable crave for power both in their states and at the federal level.

    Umeh said the excesses of the 36 governors should be checkmated by proscribing the forum before it causes further harm to the polity.

    He said: “We are tired of the activities of these 36 men who are tearing this whole country apart.

    “The NGF has no place in the Constitution and should therefore not be allowed to tear us apart. Let the Forum be scrapped for peace to reign in this country.’’

    Umeh said the governors, through the Forum, wielded so much power to the extent of abandoning their primary responsibilities to their constituents.

    He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to go beyond the forum and engage with Nigerians directly, rather than relating with them (Nigerians) through the 36 governors.

    Umeh urged Jonathan to free himself from NGF’s stranglehold and concentrate on the mandate given to him to lead the nation.

    He said: “I think the president is paying too much attention to the governors. They leave their jobs and come to Abuja to hold the president by the jugular and I think this is not right. What Jonathan should do is to ignore this set of people and free himself from their grip, if he wants to re-contest in 2015. He should seek the support of Nigerians and not the governors. They are only 36 out of over 150 million Nigerians. Let him ignore them and continue with his job.’’

    Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Chibudom Nwuche condemned what he described as “the unnecessary attention being given to the election of a Chairman for the NGF”.

    He described the NGF as a voluntary club whose chairmanship was not in any way the most pressing problem of Rivers State or the Southsouth region.

    In a statement yesterday, the former lawmaker said: “The people of the Southsouth are among the poorest in the country. And this is because in some states in the region, the governors, for fear of being exposed, prefer to deal with persons from outside the region who act as fronts and assist them to fritter away funds accruing to the states, representing a clear case of internal capital flight from where it is needed most.

    “The Forum has seen some governors abandon their core duties and responsibilities for incessant flights to Abuja, Lagos and all over the country where they profligately expend the resources of their states, in flagrant disdain for the hopes and aspirations of those who elected them into power to lead them to the path of progress and development.”

  • Falana: Bauchi Assembly member’s suspension illegal

    Falana: Bauchi Assembly member’s suspension illegal

    A  Bauchi High Court, presided over by the State Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Zango, yesterday heard that any rule or law made by a House of Assembly which violates any Nigerian law and the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is illegal, null and void.

    Mr Femi Falana (SAN), counsel to the suspended member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rifkatu Samson Danna, representing Bogoro Constituency, spoke in Bauchi in an address supporting an originating summons in a suit filed by the lawmaker against the Speaker and the Assembly.

    The frontline lawyer, in a five-point written address before the Bauchi High Court, averred that Mrs Danna, on February 7, last year, had likened the relocation of Tafawa Balewa Local Government’s headquarters from Tafawa Balewa town to Bununu, to a Constitution amendment.

    According to him, the Assembly faulted the lawmaker as using a derogatory language and consequently suspended her.

    Mrs Danna noted that the quick unanimous decision of the other members of the Assembly on the motion for the relocation of the council headquarters might have taken place outside the floor of the House.

    She alleged that no debates were allowed on the matter, unlike the normal practice of the Assembly.

    The other lawmakers, Falana said, claimed that Mrs Danna’s contribution was derogatory and, therefore, ordered the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Ethics and Privileges to investigate her.

    Her oral and written apologies were rejected and she was given an indefinite suspension.

    Among other prayers, Mrs Danna is challenging the legal validity of her indefinite suspension from the Assembly and demanding her reinstatement with the restoration of her rights and privileges as a member of the Assembly.

    She told the court that her indefinite suspension as a member of the Bauchi Assembly, through a letter dated June 7, last year, for expressing a divergent opinion, is a violation of her fundamental right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap. A9), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Falana said: “From the indisputable facts, it is undoubtedly clear that the Bogoro Constituency committed no parliamentary or Constitutional wrong and was not accused of violating any particular law or provision of the Standing Order of the House. So, there was no basis to have subjected her to an investigation and punish her by an indefinite suspension. Her fundamental rights to fair hearing are contained in Section 36(1) of the Constitution and Article 7 of African Charter on Haman and Peoples Rights.”

    Justice Zango adjourned further hearing in the matter till May 30.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 2014 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH: Origi confirms suspension from Eagles cracker

    2014 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH: Origi confirms suspension from Eagles cracker

    Norway-based Kenya’s Harambee Stars goalkeeper Arnold Origi has urged the country to move on without him after it was confirmed he is not eligible to play against Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the June 5 World Cup qualifier in Nairobi.

    The Lillestrom custodian confirmed in an exclusive interview that he has picked two yellow cards as confirmed by world football governing body Fifa in a letter to Football Kenya Federation on Friday.

    “I can confirm that I was cautioned against Namibia and then against Nigeria. But these things happen and the country should learn to move on without me,” he told Goal.com.

    Origi said his absence should give another player a chance to start in goal and warned against the tendency of depending on a particular player.

    “There are many other players in the team and they can do the job. We should avoid a situation where the team depends only on me or Dennis Oliech being there.”

    Oliech is also suspended for the Nigeria fixture after picking two consecutive yellow cards.

    On Tuesday, Kenya FA Secretary General Michael Esakwa expressed doubts whether the two players were indeed suspended and revealed he had written to Fifa for clarification.

    “We got a letter from Fifa on Friday informing us that two of our key players are suspended for the June 5 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria.

    “However, according to our records this is not true because both players have not picked two yellow cards as claimed.

    “We remain confident that Fifa will confirm the same for us considering that both players remain important to our campaign in the qualifiers.”

  • NGO seeks suspension of RSUST accreditation

    A Non-Governmental Organisation – Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), has criticised the on-going accreditation tour of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Nkpolu by officials of Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC).

    A statement issued in Port Harcourt, by Livingstone Wechie, the CLO Director, Research and Publicity, Rivers State branch, called for the discontinuation of the tour immediately pending the resolution of the on-going strike by lecturers of RSUST.

    Since July last year, some members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), embarked on an indefinite strike to protest the re-appointment of Prof Barineme B.Fakae as Vice Chancellor (VC) by the state government.

    They alleged that the VC’s re-instatement did not follow due process, and insisted that he be removed.

    Wechie said the move by NUC to accredit courses of an institution that is neck-deep in crisis suggests their supports for the on-going problems in the school.

    He said, “We are accusing NUC of complicity in the crisis in Rivers State University of Science & Technology Port Harcourt.

    “NUC is aware of the crisis rocking RSUST and yet it went ahead to begin a process to accredit courses and programmes of the university, whose Lecturers are on strike.

    “the Minister of Education Prof. Rukayyatu Rufai had in a statement this year said that until the Law is followed and the questions and concerns raised in the appointment of the VC resolved, NUC will not accredit the courses in that institution.” he recalled

     

  • Suspension of four lawmakers in Ogun

    Suspension of four lawmakers in Ogun

    SIR: What distinguishes man from animals is the observance of law and order. Developed societies of today attained such status because of adherence to the rule of law. Any right-thinking person should therefore support any measure taken to enforce law and order in order to keep the society a going concern.

    Given the above background, the suspension of four members of the Ogun State House of Assembly by the House leadership should be commended. Three weeks ago on a radio programme, one of the suspended legislators threatened to precipitate a crisis in the legislative chamber. She collected a handful of three other lawbreakers and violated Rule 38 of the House at the penultimate sitting of the legislature.

    What is more, after they had been suspended at the plenary on Tuesday they decided to break the mace of the House in order to prevent further legislative business. They even went further to announce the suspension of the leadership of the House after destroying the mace. We must not condone this brazen display of lawlessness anywhere in the country.

    Of course, any discerning mind could see the hand of the discredited opposition in the attempted crisis. Having failed to create a state of insecurity in order to stall the ongoing development strides in the state, they have now shifted to the House in order to present a façade of crisis in Ogun. That won’t gel.

    I advise the House leadership, led by the Speaker, Suraj Ishola Adekunbi, to stick to the rules of the House. While we call on the police to investigate the criminality of the lawmakers with the aim of prosecution, they should be allowed to return to the chamber at the end of the maximum number of days prescribed by the House Rule. That way, we will all be seen to be promoting the rule of law in Nigeria.

    • Steven Oladele,

    Abeokuta.

  • Elechi lifts suspension of three commissioners

    Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi at the weekend lifted the three-month suspension of three commissioners for alleged improper dressing to a state banquet.

    The Commissioners are: Chief Hycinth Ikpo, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism; Mr Chukwuma Nwandugo, the Commissioner for Works and Transport and Dr Ben Igwenyi, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

    The three commissioners were suspended on November 24 and barred from attending any state function during the suspension period.

    Several dignitaries, including traditional rulers and leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had to intervene before the Governor announced the lifting of the suspension.

    In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr Onyekachi Eni, the governor said the lifting of the suspension began at the weekend.

    “The suspension was lifted in the spirit of Christmas and New Year and the goodwill that traditionally accompany the periods.

  • ATM charges suspension begins Dec 17, says CBN

    ATM charges suspension begins Dec 17, says CBN

    Commercial bank customers using the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) for inter-bank withdrawals from their accounts will no longer pay service charges, beginning from December 17, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said.

    He also spoke of a plan by the apex bank to unveil a divestment programme that will make the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) divest from the three bridged banks —Keystone, Enterprise and Mainstreet on June 1, 2013.

    The CBN chief, who doubles as the chairman of the Bankers’ Committee, dropped the hint at the 4th Annual Bankers’ Committee retreat in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    The retreat’s theme is: “Towards Economic Development and Sustainable Transformation.”

    Commercial banks reached an agreement last month to suspend all charges from the use of their ATMs by customers, but some of the lenders are yet to comply.

    According to the CBN Governor, the December 17 date, as agreed by the banks and their supervisor, has been fixed for the take off of the new policy.

    He said: “We have agreed on a final date of Monday, December 17 for the kick-off. On this day, every bank will take-off with the charges. We allowed some time for banks that have not configured their IT to do so and stop charging and hopefully, by December 17, you are not going to have any customer pay additional charges.”

    Sanusi said the CBN would on June 1, next year begin a process that would culminate in the divestment of AMCON from the three bridged banks by 2014.

    Besides, he said banks’ lending to the agriculture sector had increased from 1.5 per cent of total industry portfolio to 3.5 per cent in 2012.

    Banks, he said, have outlined strategies to attain seven per cent agric sector lending by next year and 10 per cent by 2017.