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Tag: Sylva

  • Sylva ’ll bounce back, says Tatua

    Sylva ’ll bounce back, says Tatua

    Former governor of Bayelsa State Chief Timipre Sylva will foster peace and prosperity, if elected as governor, the spokesperson of the Niger Delta People’s Movement, Mrs. Ibifuro Tatua, has said.

    “Bayelsa State needs an effective leader. Sylva represents very different vision for the future of the state. He has a vision that will finally defeat the unethical, incompetent Seriake Dickson led PDP leadership in the next election,” she added.

    Tatua advised Bayelsans not to be carried away by the alleged endorsement of certain aspirants.

    She said misguided attacks by some self-acclaimed leaders and their backers would never deter Sylva from becoming governor of the state.

    Speaking with leaders of political parties in Yenagoa, Tatua said Sylva would make a difference.

    “Bayelsans have a choice in December to pick someone who can bring about a new direction in the state, or someone who seems to want to lead because they think they are entitled to lead. Bayelsa needs a new direction, and Sylva represents that direction”.

    Tatua said: Sylva  would go beyond providing critical infrastructure, paying salaries, gratuities, pensions, employing large number of qualified people into the civil service and financing the education of thousands in local and foreign universities.

    “Sylva will complete abandoned and all on-going projects in the state. He will find solution to the problems of the state, inculcate positive values like honesty, hard work, and fairness and ensure social justice and good governance in the state.

    “Sylva will also encourage the poor and powerless to take part in the government of the communities and the state, promote grassroots economic development, prevent environmental degradation, help the poor people develop a clearer understanding of the social, political and economic factors affecting their lives, make the development process more accountable, transparent and participatory as well as provide conducive atmosphere for local and foreign investors” Tatua said.

    “Sylva is committed to ushering in a brand new way of doing things for the state. He will get Bayelsa’s economic house in order, by ensuring progressive spending and social engineering policies in place” she added.

     

  • ‘EFCC’s fresh charge against Sylva abuse of court process’

    ‘EFCC’s fresh charge against Sylva abuse of court process’

    A group, the Open Democracy Network, Nigeria, has faulted the fresh criminal charges filed against a former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying it amounts to an abuse or court process.

    The commission, in a fresh 50-count charge accused Sylva, Francis Okukoro, Gbenga Balogun and Samuel Ogbuku, of using three companies – Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Limited to move about N19.2 billion from Bayelsa State coffers between 2009-2012 on the pretext of using the money to supplement the salaries of the state government’s workers.

    The group said the new charge bordered on a 42-count criminal charge that Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, dismissed on June 10.

    The only difference, it said, is that the old charge contained 42 counts while the latest one is 50.

    It recalled that earlier on June 1, Justice Evoh Chukwu of the same court struck out another EFCC charge against Sylva involving a N2.5 billion based on the same set of transactions as the N19.2 billion.

    The group said: “This strange 50-count suit against Sylva constitutes an even greater abuse of court processes and, from every indication, it will suffer same fate as the other frivolous ones. Why?

    “Even a pupil lawyer knows that once a case has been dismissed, the only option open to the loser is to go on appeal. It cannot return to the same court or a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

    “Secondly, under the rules of the court, a prosecuting authority has to conclude its investigation before proceeding to court, satisfied that it has a case it can substantiate. Investigations and trials cannot be open-ended.

    “Sylva left office since January 2012. Why is it difficult for EFCC to prove anything against him in court? Their style has been to conduct a media trial in order to ridicule Sylva and try to ‘finish’ his political career. Unfortunately for them, Sylva is still rising!”

    The group said the charge was designed to discredit Sylva, who it said was victimised by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    “We at the Open Democracy Network, Nigeria, are of the view that this ‘new’ suit against Sylva constitutes a national embarrassment. It is an embarrassment to this government. It is an embarrassment even to the EFCC itself.

    “It is now time for President Buhari to rejig the anti-corruption war by sacking (EFCC chairman) Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde in order to pave the way for a total reform of that agency, which has been turned into an instrument of political witch-hunt and persecution,” the group said.

     

  • Psalm 32 for Sylva

    He must be the happiest man in the land today. He must have been throwing parties and indeed, must have thrown in an elaborate thanksgiving in the sanctuary of the holy one yesterday. Hardball speaks of Mr. Timipre Sylva, the former governor of Bayelsa State.

    Gangling Timi has just gotten a reprieve. The taut noose around his neck has not only been loosened, it has been removed. In fact, this particular noose, the ugly device of the equally ugly hangman which had Timi’s number on it has been cast into a raging fire. It was such finality that seemed to proclaim to him: no more shall a noose hang around your neck. Be gone because you are loosed and no man shall bind you again.

    Such is the impression Hardball gets as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja last Wednesday, declared Big Timi free of N19.2 billion fraud charges against him. You now see why Hardball is moved to a cataclysmic ecstasy on account of another man’s triumph. Common, empires would rise and fall over 19 billion big ones; in any currency, this is an earth shaker. Wars can be started and ended with this kind of money.

    Again, people are languishing in Nigeria’s dingy detentions across the country for merely playing tricks with cheap Chinese phones. Some luckless fellows have been pulled in and never to return for ‘playing’ with a wandering goat or flicking a second-hand bra off a neighbour’s line. Yes, the law is blind and sometimes crazy so strange stuff does happen, especially when you do it cheap.

    The law seems to have a particular dislike for the poor and the cheap. It treats the poor with so much disdain that it keeps him on awaiting trial bind until he expires or becomes a worthless destitute; whichever suits it.

    But not so for the big shot; the learned jurist in his ruling, proclaimed the majesty and eminence of justice and law with which he loosed Timi. Here is a sampler (just as Hardball did not understand it, you, an unlearned layman, are not expected to comprehend the fine enunciation of justice.): Justice Ahmed Mohammed held: “ By withdrawing the charge at court 8, the prosecution didn’t really want to prosecute the matter.

    “I say so because the allegation of abuse is against the charge before this court.

    “Whatever decision the prosecution arrived at did not prevent them from continuing the charge at court 8, since it was earlier in time and was not targeted by the allegation of abuse.

    “Based on the above findings, the charge, FHC/ABJ/CR/167/2013, amounted to an abuse of court and same is accordingly dismissed.”

    All this N19.2 billion caper which had been on since 2012 when Timi was torpedoed from his gubernatorial perch has been quash very speedily in just one month. Yes, the matter has been truly dismissed and Timi is free, discharged, acquitted, unfettered, unrestrained, etc.

    But Hardball hereby sentences him to Psalm 32. He must study it, learn it by mind and recite it every morning and night for the rest of his life. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven…”

  • Court dismisses N19.2b fraud charge against Sylva

    Court dismisses N19.2b fraud charge against Sylva

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja has dismissed the N19.2 billion fraud charge brought against former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2013.

    The EFCC had on June 1, withdrawn another six count charge, involving about N2.45 billion it earlier filed against Sylva and for which he was arraigned before Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court. The commission claimed it intended to merge the charge with the one before Justice Mohammed.

    Ruling on a notice of preliminary objection filed by Sylva, Justice Mohammed dismissed the N19.2 billion charge.  He held that EFCC was wrong to maintain two similar charges against Sylva simultaneously because according to him, it amounted to an abuse of court process.

    Justice Mohammed held that the N19.2 billion charge was an abuse of court process since it was based on the same set of transactions involved in the N2.45 billion charge.

    “It is thus clear that even with the withdrawal of charge at Court 8, when a ruling is being awaited in the application to quash the charge before this court is in itself an abuse of court process.

    “The withdrawal of the charge at Court 8 (Justice Chukwu’s court) is clearly intended to interfere with the decision of the court on the motion dated May 15, 2015 (Sylva’s notice of preliminary objection). It is an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice. It is also a clear admission that by the prosecution, both charges in Court 8 and this court should not exist side by side, “ Mohammed said.

    Justice Mohammed maintained that if the prosecution wanted to prosecute the accused person, it should have withdrawn the charge before his court, which was filed after the one before Justice Chukwu, which the EFCC chose to withdraw.

     ”By withdrawing the charge at court 8, the prosecution didn’t really want to prosecute the matter. I say so because the allegation of abuse is against the charge before this court.  Whatever decision the prosecution arrived at did not prevent them from continuing the charge at Court 8 since it was earlier in time and was not targeted by the allegation of abuse.

    “Based on the above findings, the charge, FHC/ABJ/CR/167/2013 amounted to abuse of court and same is accordingly dismissed, “ the judge said.

    Charged with Sylva are: Nide Francis Okonkwo, Gbenga Balogun and Samuel Ogbuku and three companies – Marlin Maritime Ltd, Eat Catering Services Ltd, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Ltd.

    Reacting to the ruling, Sylva’s media aide, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, in a statement said: “The ruling by Justice Ahmed Mohammed has at long last vindicated Chief Sylva and ended an elaborate game of cat and mouse being played by EFCC on purpose to frustrate the political life of the former governor.

    “The judge clearly accused EFCC of interfering with the administration of justice and abuse of court process while dismissing all the corruption charges against the former governor”.

    Last week, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Chukwu had struck out similar charges against Sylva instituted by the same EFCC.

    Buokoribo said: “All the multiple charges by EFCC against Sylva and his associates had a single aim: to persecute, intimidate, and harass him, and in so doing, destroy his political career.

    “We are happy that at last, justice has been done in this matter. We are very much relieved that all the attempts by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to keep Sylva away have failed.”

  • Court dismisses fraud charge against Sylva

    Court dismisses fraud charge against Sylva

    Former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, got a breather on Wednesday as Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, dismissed the N19.2billion fraud charge brought against him in 2013 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The EFCC had on June 1 this year withdrew another six counts involving about N2.45billion it earlier filed against Sylva and for which he was arraigned before Justice Evoh Chukwu of the same Federal High Court.

    The commission claimed it intended to merge the charge with the one before Justice Mohammed.

    With Wednesday’s development, all fraud related charges against the ex-governor have been dismissed.

    Ruling on a notice of preliminary objection filed by Sylva, Justice Mohammed dismissed the N19.2billion charge.

    The judge held that EFCC was wrong to have maintained two similar charges against Sylva at the same time.

    He said it amounted to abuse of court process.

  • Court strikes out fraud charges against Sylva‎

    Court strikes out fraud charges against Sylva‎

    Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday struck out the N2.45billion fraud charges brought against a former governor of ‎Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The judge, in a ruling, also ordered the release of Sylva’s international passport deposited with the court since 2012 in fulfillment of the conditions attached to the bail granted him when he was first arraigned.

    Justice Chukwu’s decision was informed by an application for withdrawal made by O.J Nnadi (SAN), who appeared for the prosecution on the instruction of the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Saidu Diri.

    The former prosecuting lawyer, Festus Keyamo, withdrew from the case on May 25 this year, following which the case file was handed back to the DPPF.

    On Monday, it was thought the case will proceed to trial as earlier scheduled by the court, but Nnadi, who presented a fiat, which he said was issued to him by the DPPF, to take over the prosecution of the case, applied to withdraw it.

    Nnadi, while tendering the fiat, told the court that he was instructed by the EFCC to withdraw the suit. He urged the court to strike it out.

    “‎We are ready for trial, but following the instruction this morning, EFCC directed that this charge be withdrawn.‎ I received instruction from Ojogbane that this charge against the defendant be withdrawn. We urge this court to strike out the charge,” Nnadi said.

    EFCC’s Assistant Director, Legal and Prosecution, Johnson Ojogbane, who appeared with Nnadi denied that the EFCC was part of the decision to withdraw the case against Sylva.

    He was surprised about Nnadi’s claim that the EFCC instructed him to withdraw the case.

     

  • Buhari’s inauguration won’t be flamboyant, says Sylva

    Buhari’s inauguration won’t be flamboyant, says Sylva

    Former Bayelsa State Governor and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) Presidential Inauguration Committee, Chief Timipre Sylva, said yesterday that the committee plans a low key and compact inauguration.

    Sylva told reporters in Abuja that they believed that the nation could not afford a flamboyant ceremony because the economy is in a bad shape.

    He added that the committee was expecting some foreign leaders to attend the event, but refused to disclose the number of foreign leaders being expected, saying the committee was yet to get confirmation from all those invited.

    He said: “There are no challenges. We are planning very well and I think we are going to give Nigerians a compact inauguration. We are not going to be flamboyant. We think that this country cannot afford a flamboyant ceremony this time because the economy is not in good shape.”

    The former governor dismissed the insinuation that there was a rift between the incoming administration and the outgoing government.

    “There is no problem; it is just politics. What happened is that they were on the wrong side and they lost. We are on the right side and we won. So, the government will have to continue, and just like we were there when they were governing, they also have to be there when we are governing the country.”

    On allegations that he was carrying a corruption baggage and should not be part of Buhari’s men, he said: “I will be shocked to hear that. Maybe those peddling the allegation are the courts and they have already convicted me. We have courts in the land and you know that PDP is the party of impunity.

    “Today, if I pick you up and I charge you to court on charges of corruption, does that convict you? It is only the court that can convict you and that is why we have rule of law.

    “A situation where people just pick you up and say you’re corrupt just to persecute you does not augur well for our democracy. I have been vindicated politically and I will be vindicated by the court because I ran the best government in Bayelsa State; a better government than what the outgoing President ran in Bayelsa State. I can assure you that I am going to come clean at the end of the day from the charges against me.

    “You can ask them why they are charging for an offence, when they have discharged my accountant-general and my Commissioner for Finance. What does that tell you? It means that this is just mere persecution because no governor can access fund unless through his accountant-general or commissioner for finance. Both of them have been exonerated, and that means there is actually no crime at all.”

  • Anyim, Sylva head 27-member presidential inauguration panel

    Anyim, Sylva head 27-member presidential inauguration panel

    Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim have been named as the co-chairmen of the 2015 Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee (PIPC) for the smooth transition of government on May 29.

    At a joint news conference by the co-chairmen in the Banquet Hall of the State House Abuja yesterday, Anyim said the event was organised to present the programme of the presidential inauguration to the public.

    He added that it was the second time the committee was meeting to deliberate on inauguration programme.

    He said: “There are two parallel transition committee and inauguration committee. Two parallel transition committees work independent of each other, but to interface at a point.

    “Inauguration committee is structured to be joint committee of the present administration and incoming administration and is chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the present administration and former governor of Bayelsa State for the incoming administration.”

    He said the PIPC has 14 members from the present government and 13 members from the incoming government.

    Members of the present government list include FCT Minister Bala Muhammed, Minister of Land and Housing Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, Minister of Interior Abba Moro, Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka and Minister of State for Defence Austin Akobundu.

    Others are Minister of Water Resources Sarah Ochekpe, Minister of Tourism and Culture Edem Duke, Minister of Foreign Affairs Aminu Wali, Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh, Acting Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase, representative of National Security Adviser, Bello Fadile, Commander, Brigade of Guards Brig.-Gen. A.B. Omozoje and Permanent Secretary of SGF Office Ibikunle Odusote.

    Members of the incoming government include Chief Pius Akinyelure, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Sharon Ikeazor, Tony Anwuka, Kawu Baraje, John Shagaya and Babagana Kingibe.

    Others are Ismaila Isa Funtua, Hadiza Usman, Babachir Lawal, Binta Garba and Samson Osagie.

    On the terms of reference, Anyim said: “The mandate of the committee is to draw up programmes of activities for the inauguration ceremony, arrange invitations and accommodation for foreign and local dignitaries, organise approved programme of activities, draw up budget for the programme of activities and co-opt into subcommittees persons that may be necessary to assist in the discharge of activities.

    “The purpose of this press briefing is to present the programme to the public, seek their understanding, support and participation in the 2015 presidential inauguration.”

    According to him, the committee has organised one week programme of activity, including press briefing, Jumat prayers, inter-denominational church service, inauguration dinner, swearing-in ceremony, launch immediately after the swearing-in ceremony and a gala night.

    “We have accordingly created sub-committees to focus on each activity. The co-chairmen and members of the sub-committees may now or later take their turns in briefing the public on their activities.” he added

    Chairman and co-chairman of the sub-committees are Mrs. Eyakenyi and Lawal for Accommodation, Duke and Akinyelure for Media and Publicity, Moro and Lawal for Church Service, Muhammed and Dabiri-Erewa for Venues and Entertainment, Wali and Kingibe for Protocol and Invitation.

    Other sub-committee chairman and co-chairman are Muhammed and Funtua for Jummat Service, Anyim Pius and Sylva for Swearing-in-Ceremony, Ochepke and Anwuka for Inauguration Dinner, Arase and Shagaya for security, Alhassan and Usman for Medical, Chidoka and Baraje for Transportation and Logistics, Ikeazor and Bello for Inauguration Reception and Luncheon, Garba and Odusote for Gala Night.

  • Sylva: APC’s maturity prevented bloodbath in Southsouth

    Sylva: APC’s maturity prevented bloodbath in Southsouth

    Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipreye Sylva has said the maturity of All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the Southsouth prevented a bloodbath in the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Silvia noted that APC members in the zone were faced with a choice between winning the elections and protecting its members when they were being attacked, intimidated and killed.

    The former governor said it was glaring from the outset that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) planned to rig the elections and cause violence while the APC only prepared for free and fair elections.

    He said this explained why APC members remained peaceful, despite the attacks on and intimidation of its members.

    Sylva, who contested for the Senate, said the party’s members in the Southsouth had shown their commitment to the party, despite the intimidation and attacks by PDP members.

    He said: “I am sure the nation knows that those of us from the Southsouth who are members of the APC are committed. What happened was not because we are not committed; it is a situation of choosing between the lives of our people and the death that PDP brought.”

    Sylva described APC’s victory in the general elections, especially in the North, as a victory for Nigeria.

    The former governor noted that the party’s victory had rescued the nation from the precipice because Nigeria was already at a dangerous point.

    According to him, if the PDP had won the presidential election, the country would not have survived another four years, given the level of mess in the country.

    Sylva said: “Nigeria has once moved away from the precipice. We were so close to chaos. When you look at every sector of this country, the Lord has once again shown His mercy to Nigeria. We are very grateful to God.”

    The former governor said APC’s chapters in the Southsouth would focus on its next line of action.

    He said: “They just grabbed election materials and went away. Of course, they intimidated. In some instances, they killed people. They filled in the the results papers. That is not an election. An election is when people come out and they are allowed to vote.”

  • Bayelsa guber poll: Supreme Court dismisses Sylva’s appeal

    Bayelsa guber poll: Supreme Court dismisses Sylva’s appeal

    The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, challenging the choice of Governor Seriake Dickson as the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the 2012 governorship election held in the state.

    Sylva in the appeal argued that he and not Dickson should have been picked as the party’s candidate for the election.

    In a unanimous decision by a five-man bench, the apex court resolved the two issues raised for determination against the appellant, Sylva.

    Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who read the lead judgment on Friday, came down hard on the former governor for wasting the court’s time.

    He awarded, N500, 000 cost against Sylva, to be paid to Dickson (3rd respondent).

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP, who were listed as 1st and 2nd defendants, are to bear the cost.

    Sylva (then a serving governor) had won the primary election conducted by the party in January 2011 in anticipation that the governorship election will hold later that year.

    Before the election, for which he (Sylva) was to stand as the party’s candidate, could be held, he got a judgment of a Federal High Court, Yenagoa, extending his tenure.

    The Court of Appeal upheld the judgment and held that Sylva’s tenure would end on January 28, 2012.

    Following the development, INEC rescheduled the governorship election for February 2012.

    The PDP later conducted a fresh primary, for which Sylva bought form, got screened along with other candidates, but was disqualified by the party. The primary was won by Dickson.