November 2023 – Page 13

Post Date : November 24, 2023

Appeal Court Sacks Bauchi Assembly Speaker

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has sacked the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, from his seat as the member representing Ningi Central Constituency in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State. A three-member panel on Friday held that the election that produced Suleiman was full of irregularities and ordered for a rerun in 10 polling units in the constituency. However, the Speaker has urged all his supporters and constituents to remain calm and law-abiding, viewing the situation as a temporary setback that will soon be rectified. The Speaker expressed his acceptance of the judgement in good faith, citing his belief as a Muslim in destiny and fate, despite the unfavourable outcome. Characterising the judgement as a minor political setback, not uncommon in his political career, the Speaker stated his readiness for the rerun election, aiming to augment the almost two thousand-vote margin he previously secured against his opponent. Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman emphasised that the steadfast support and solidarity he enjoys in Ningi remain unwavering, dismissing any attempts to undermine his position. He questioned the rationale behind prolonging the process of election defeat by his opponents, considering the rerun in the ten polling units, which are his strongholds, as a straightforward contest. The Speaker emphasised the enduring infrastructural development initiated by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad in the Ningi Local Government Area, affirming the unbeatable position of the PDP in Ningi. He pledged to persist in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Ningi Central Constituency, undeterred by the attempts of certain elements to hinder his progress. These statements were contained in a statement by Abdul Ahmad Burra, Spokesperson to the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly.

Post Date : November 24, 2023

Appeal Court Upholds Election Of Delta Governor

The court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, has upheld the election of Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the duly elected Governor of Delta State. The three-member tribunal headed by Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu, in it’s judgment, affirmed the return of Oborevwori as the winner of the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election in the state. Not satisfied with the ruling, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ovie OmoAgege headed to the appeal court. Senator Omo-Agege said the Tribunal failed to reckon with the fundamental flaws in the March 18, 2023 governorship election that mortally rendered the declaration of the PDP, as the winner untenable. The former Deputy senate President said: “It is a no-brainer that the Tribunal operated under a very challenging environment. “It therefore ignored the unassailable evidence adduced to question the validity of lawful votes as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. But in a ruling on Friday, the Appellate court dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit. More details later…

Post Date : November 24, 2023

Court Stops PDP From Removing Anyanwu As National Secretary

A Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, granted the ex-parte motion moved by Joshua Musa, SAN, on Thursday. Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter until Dec. 4 for a hearing of the motion on notice. Two members of the party; Geoffrey Ihentuge and Apollo’s Godspower had sued the PDP, Umar Aliyu Damagun (acting National Chairman) and National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants. Others are the National Working Committee (NWC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 4th to 5th defendants respectively. The motion was brought pursuant to Order 26, Rules 2 and 6; Order 28, Rules 1 and 2 if the FHC (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court. The plaintiffs, who sought five reliefs, prayed for an order of interim injunction, restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from carrying out the threat to remove the national secretary (Anyanwu). This, he said, is a violation of the provisions of Article 47 (1) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. They sought an order restraining the PDP and its executives from preventing Anyanwu from discharging his functions as an elected national Officer as contained in Article 36(1) of the Constitution of the party. They also sought an order of interim injunction restraining them from appointing any person as acting national secretary of the party when Anyanwu’s tenure is still running and subsisting until Dec. 9, 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. They equally sought an order restraining INEC (5th defendant) from recognising any purported appointment of any person as PDP’s national secretary whether in an acting capacity or otherwise other than Anyanwu, whose tenure of four years was still running and subsisting until Dec. 9, 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, among others. Giving a 16-ground argument, the plaintiffs argued that Article 47(1) of the PDP Constitution provided for a tenure of four years for its executive committees at all levels from the date of inauguration. They argued that Anyanwu was duly elected on Dec. 10, 2021 and was entitled to remain in office till Dec. 9, 2025. They said that an elected national officer of the 1st defendant cannot be arbitrarily removed from office in any manner howsoever without his resignation and in breach of party’s constitution. They argued that there must be a vote of no confidence as required by Article 47(3) of the party’s constitution proposed or moved at a national convention before a national officer like Anyanwu could be removed from office, among other arguments. Justice Ekwo granted the prayers after the motion was moved. Anyanwu was the PDP candidate in the Nov. 11 Imo governorship election where Sen. Hope Uzodinma of All Progressives Congress (APC) was re-elected. The PDP’s NWC had, on Nov. 14, asked Anyanwu to step aside and directed Setonji Koshoedo to take over as acting national secretary. Until his appointment, Koshoedo was the deputy national secretary. PDP acting National Chairman, Damagum, who announced after the NWC meeting, explained that Koshoedo’s appointment was pending the resolution of the issues. NAN also reports that arising from its Southeast Zonal Executive Committee meeting held in Enugu on Oct. 20, PDP National Vice Chairman, Ali Odefa, declared that the zone had unanimously nominated the former party National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, as the new national secretary Consequently, a High Court in Enugu on Oct. 23 restrained Anyanwu from parading himself as national secretary and ordered Damagum to recognise Udek-Okoye as party’s scribe. The order was equally reaffirmed on Nov. 7. Explaining the decision of the NWC, Damagum said: “Since there are conflicting court orders, we urged the two sides to stand down. “And we have agreed and appointed the deputy national secretary to continue to act as secretary pending the time we will resolve all the issues; the conflicting court orders and resolutions of the southeast matter.”

Post Date : November 24, 2023

Beware of ‘Black Friday’ online scams, FG warns consumers

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned consumers against possible increase in fake online stores to scam them during the ‘Black Friday’ sales. A statement by the commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Babatunde Irukera, shared on ‘X’, said the FCCPC received credible intelligence that fake online stores would increase by 135 per cent. Irukera advised consumers to be vigilant this period adding that they should demand and insist on their rights, particularly with respect to full and transparent disclosures. FCCPC has received credible intelligence that the customary seasonal sales at deep discount on a specific Friday, otherwise known as “Black Friday”, may witness an increase of fake online stores by 135 percent. According to him, consumers should only patronise trusted and credible platforms and exercise caution to avoid being victims of fraud and other exploitation. ”This is including scams, misrepresentation and other exploitative conduct. ”This information is corroborated by publicly available reports such as Netcraft. ”For reports and inquiries, please visit our website at www.fccpc.gov.ng and follow us on our social media handles: @fccpcnigeria or fccpcnigeria”

Post Date : November 24, 2023

Hamas Truce: ‘Returning to North dangerous,’ Israel warns, as Gaza streets fill up

As hostages are expected to be released today by Hamas following a truce, Israel has warned against returning to north Gaza. Israel dropped leaflets from planes saying the war not over. Meanwhile, children had pets in their arms, others with their belongings loaded onto donkey carts or car roofs, headed home on Friday. They were among the thousands of displaced Gazans heading as a four-day Israel-Hamas truce began. The din of war was replaced by the horns of traffic jams and sirens of ambulances making their way through crowds emerging from hospitals where they had taken refuge. Before now, for nearly seven weeks, Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip had been relentless. But on Friday morning, no more shots were heard in Khan Yunis, in the south of the Palestinian territory. I still don’t understand — 50-year-old Hayat Hayat al-Muammar was among those hurrying to take advantage of the truce deal, under which hostages seized from Israel would be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. “I’m going home,” said the 50-year-old, who had been sheltering in a school. “We fled the death, destruction and everything,” she told AFP. “I still don’t understand what happened to us — why did they do this to us?” she asked. The lives of Gazans have been turned upside down since the militant group Hamas, which rules the Palestinian territory, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7. Israeli authorities say around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and around 240 taken hostage in the cross-border raids. However, weeks of sustained Israeli bombardment in response has killed nearly 15,000 people, around two-thirds of them women and children, Gaza’s Hamas government says. Some 1.7 million of the territory’s 2.4 million people are estimated to have been displaced, the United Nations says. With more than half of homes damaged or destroyed according to the UN, Gazans were unsure if would still have a roof over their heads when they returned. ‘War not over’ — Israel Whipping a donkey pulling his cart, Ahmed Fayad, 30, hit the road heading back to his village. With him were 70 members of his family who he said had taken refuge in a school. An elderly man walked by with a bag on his shoulder. He said he felt safe enough to return to his home near the border with Israel. Around them, a multitude of men, women and children travelled on foot, carts or tuk-tuks with the few belongings they had taken with them when the war started. One woman carried her cat in her arms through the streets. Large parts of Gaza have been flattened by thousands of air strikes. And the territory faces shortages of food, water and fuel. Meanwhile, Israel has told Palestinians to move from northern Gaza for their safety. Israeli warplanes over southern Gaza dropped leaflets warning people not to head back to the north. “The war is not over yet,” they read. “Returning to the north is forbidden and very dangerous!!!” Khaled al-Halabi left his home in northern Gaza at the start of the war. He headed for Rafah in the far south on the Egypt-Gaza border. “I wish I could go and see my house,” he said. He did not plan to risk the journey home. But at least with the truce “we will finally breathe after 48 days”, he said. He welcomed the arrival of aid trucks from neighbouring Egypt. Also, Raed Saqer, who took refuge in Rafah, said he hoped the promises of increased aid would come true. “We needed this truce to treat the wounded so that people could recover a little. People displaced from the north are experiencing an unspeakable tragedy. “We hope it’s the first step towards a definitive ceasefire,” he said

Post Date : November 24, 2023

Calm at Lebanese-Israeli border after Gaza ceasefire begins

The Lebanese-Israeli border was calm on Friday after the first pause in fighting in nearly seven weeks began in Gaza. “No Hezbollah attacks have been registered since the truce started,” a Lebanese security source told dpa. A source from the Hezbollah an Iran-backed militant group said that there were still Israeli warplanes and “intelligence drones” hovering over areas of southern Lebanon, but no strikes were recorded. Hezbollah has not officially announced that they would abide by the temporary Gaza ceasefire but according to Israeli media reports the military had been ordered to respond only in the event of new attacks from Lebanon. Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on Oct. 7, there have been repeated exchanges of fire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah. It was the worst outbreak of violence in the border area since 2006 and had sparked fears that a second front in the current conflict could erupt. (dpa/NAN)

Post Date : November 24, 2023

A’Court upholds election of Nwifuru as gov of Ebonyi

The Appeal Court sitting in Lagos, on Friday, upheld the election of Francis Nwifuru as elected governor of Ebonyi State in the March 18, governorship poll. Nwifuru is of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The State and National Assembly Appeal Court 3-member panel presided over by Justice Justice Jummai Sankey in its judgment, dismissed the appeal by Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The court resolved all the five issues raised in favour of Nwifuru and dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit. Justice Sankey in the lead judgment held that the PDP and its candidate lacked the legal right to meddle in the internal affairs of the APC as it relates to the nomination of candidates.

Post Date : November 24, 2023

I’m Saddened Judiciary, Priests Getting Sucked Into Politics, Says Kukah

Bishop Matthew Kukah speaks at the House of Justice 8th summit held in Kaduna State on Friday, November 24, 2023. The convener of the National Peace Committee, Bishop Matthew Kukah, on Friday, expressed sadness over what he described as members of the judiciary and Catholic priests getting sucked into politics. Kukah spoke at the 8th House of Justice Summit held in Kaduna State with the theme ‘Electoral Accountability and Democratic Stability’. “I am saddened by the fact that the judiciary has now found itself being sucked into politics,” he said without elaborating further on the nature of political involvement. “I would have also been sad — and I’m also sad — to the extent that even us who are priests in the church, we are getting sucked into politics because you will never come out the same. “You go to wrestle with a pig inside poto poto (mud). You may defeat the pig, but you cannot go around showing yourself to see what you look like.” Noting that he was not referring to politicians as pigs, the cleric explained that politics has its own rhyme and rhythm, especially in contrast to someone who has a certain moral responsibility. “Elections will always give us what I call unintended consequences. But also, it is important to understand that a contest is always a contest. And you use the experience of this to prepare for the next contest,” he said. The Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese urged Nigerians not to be despondent, saying the best is still to come. Rather than worry about the next generation, he argued that Nigerians should be focused on the present. “You are using mobile phones today. It wasn’t the generation that went before us that gave us mobile phones. Every generation will contest its own problems. Let’s be concerned with the problems of the moment,” Kukah said. “Yes, we dream about the future. But like somebody said, today is the tomorrow you dreamt about yesterday. But let’s not be nervous. We should be nervous that we are underperforming because there are things we could have done differently and we can do differently. “But there is a new consciousness that is emerging and it is that consciousness that we must build on. So, justices will do what justices will do.”

Post Date : November 24, 2023

Ondo lawmakers meet, may declare Aiyedatiwa acting gov

The Ondo State House of Assembly is set to hold a plenary session today to discuss the state’s political situation. It was reliably gathered that the lawmakers would discuss the issue of the executive arm of the government of the state as the lawmakers may declare the deputy governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as acting governor, following the inability of the governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, to resume office, due to ill-health. The governor is still recuperating at his private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. A source, however, noted that some of the lawmakers might not be at today’s sitting as a result of disagreement among them on the issue of Aiyedatiwa. He also disclosed that today’s sitting had the consent of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress. The source said, ” The lawmakers are ready to meet today (Friday). One of the agenda of the sitting is the declaration of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the acting governor. Though some of the lawmakers may not be at the meeting today because they are not in support of Aiyedatiwa becoming an acting governor the national leadership of the APC knows about and has approved the meeting. So they may declare Aiyedatiwa acting governor today.” When contacted, one of the lawmakers and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Olatunji Oshati, confirmed the development but could not confirm if Aiyedatiwa would be declared an acting governor or not. The Assembly spokesman said, “What I can tell you for now is that there is something like that, not to declare him (Aiyedatiwa) but the House is going to sit on the matter and review the political situation today as directed by our national leaders. The House has likely ( made the declaration), but not under must, I don’t want to preempt what the outcome of the meeting would be. If it is likely to happen, you are invited as well.” Meanwhile, it was also gathered that President Bola Tinubu would meet members of the Assembly today in Abuja over the lingering crisis. Details later…

Post Date : November 24, 2023

Tinubu’s appointee, Akawor resigns as Rivers PDP chairman

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Desmond Akawor, has resigned. His resignation letter surfaced on Friday barely a few hours after President Bola Tinubu appointed him Federal Commissioner—representing Rivers State in the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission. Akawor, in the letter dated November 22, 2023, and addressed to the PDP acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umaru Damagun, said his resignation is connected to his appointment. He noted that he has since handed over to his deputy, Aaron Chukwuemeka. The letter read, “I have recently been nominated for a Federal appointment to the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission as the Federal Commissioner representing Rivers State. ” After consultation with my leaders and family, I have accepted this opportunity to serve our country, which I consider a national service. “Consequently, I have resigned my position as the Rivers State party chairman of our great party- yhe PDP, and immediately handed over all duties to the Deputy Party Chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, who has commenced action in this stead. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have steered the ship of our great party, the PDP at the state level from 2020 to 2023, and especially grateful for your support and the support of the national body during my tenure. “My family and I are extremely grateful to Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for his consideration and for finding me worthy to serve in this capacity. “I remain committed to the ideals of our party always and will continue to be available to provide, steer, and support for all party affairs whenever I am called upon.” Tinubu had on Thursday, appointed, Akawor, to serve as a Federal Commissioner—representing Rivers State—of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, pending confirmation by the Senate. Akawor was appointed “following the tragic demise of the immediate past RMAFC Federal Commissioner from Rivers State, Asondu Temple earlier this month,” a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed. The statement was titled ‘President Tinubu approves appointment of RMAFC Federal Commissioner.’ Until his appointment, Akawor served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Korea; Minister of State of the Federal Capital Territory; Sole Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority; CEO, Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority, and Executive Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (Engineering & Technical Services). The President tasked the new Federal Commissioner to “deploy his robust experience across tiers of government toward the comprehensive reformation of processes that will ensure the most efficient and productive utilisation of allocations to all three tiers of government in Nigeria.”