Uche Ogar's invalid CoR: You can't build something on nothing

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you this day, two documents. Judge for yourself which of them is real and fake. Compare and contrast the Valid and invalid. Original and forged.

Before you do that, permit me to give you the background of how it all started.

There was a governorship election in Abia State on April 11th, 2015. That election was declared inconclusive by INEC on the grounds of irregularities in some local government areas in the state. That election failed to produce a clear winner despite that Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP was already cruising home with a wide margin of votes against Dr Alex Otti of APGA.

INEC called for a supplementary election in the affected LGAs on April 25th, 2015. After the election of April 25th, a winner in the person of Dr Ikpeazu of PDP emerged as Governor-elect for Abia State, and he was issued with a certificate of return, bearing the two dates (April 11and 25) that elections held.

Uche Ogar did not contest any of the elections. He could not have because, as a matter of fact, his name was never submitted to INEC as a candidate by any political party.

As far as the 2015 Abia Governorship elections are concerned, Mr. Uche Ogar, is and remains an interloper. He is not known by moral and electoral law in the governorship election. This is another reason he is invalid and will continue to possess an invalid document.

The election that produced the Governor of Abia State in 2015 is the April 25th election, and not the inconclusive April 11th election. If Ogar had contested the election, he would have known this fact. He would have also realized that the document issued to him by some agents of INEC is invalid. But as someone on the fast-lane, he lost his sense of reasoning.

You can now understand why the failed civilian coup was plotted. You can also understand the rush by Ogar and his cohorts to invade the government house. But the coup failed. This conspiracy and evil plot has failed.

Thank you.

Enyinnaya Appolos
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ikpeazu

Fake or falsified certificate of return with Uche Ogah?
*Did Uche Ogah forge COR or gave false information?
I read the following lines from a publication on the purported
explanation of the registrar of the federal high court circulated by Uche
Ogah's surrogates.
"Registrar said the case before Justice Abang had a different subject-
matter, that Ikpeazu submitted form CF001 to INEC which were alleged
to contain false information.
“The court held that the information in Form CF001 as shown by him
(Ikpeazu) in the affidavit accompanied with other documents to INEC
are false and has nothing to do with forgery.
“The, court, therefore made consequential orders under the doctrine of
‘lis pendens,’ which disallows any transfer of rights or interest in any
subject matter that is being litigated upon during the pendency of
litigation in respect of the said subject-matter."
As a non lawyer I find that interesting. Much more than I find the
novelty of the explanation by the registrar.
Here is why.
Sampson Ogah filed his pre-election matter about 2 weeks before the
governorship polls in April 2015. Precisely 26th of March 2015. That
ordinarily makes it a pre-election matter and clearly filed when he
realized Dr Ikpeazu was headed to victory.
We need to note that PDP primaries held on the 8th of December 2014.
Dr Okezie Ikpeazu submitted his form CF 001 to INEC after the
primaries. Specifically on the 23rd of December 2015.
NOTE: the information deemed false by Justice Abang were details lifted
directly from the tax certificate confirmed by the court as truly issued
by BIR:
“The court further held that by the affidavit of the Abia State Director
of Taxes testifying that the documents are genuine, the court held that
there was presumption of genuineness of the assessment and the
certificate and/or receipts issued to Ikpeazu."-Registrar
What does the above mean?
It simply mean that he entered information presumed to be genuine by
all legal standards to INEC form CF001.
Just like if I have to fill an employment form under oath I will fill that
I have second class upper degree issued to me by a university. It doesn't
matter if later the university says they miscalculated my GPA and so it
should have been 1st class or 2nd class lower. As long as the university
admitted issuing the degree certificate to me the doctrine of
presumption of genuineness favors me and nobody can claim I forged my
degree certificate or entered false information in my employment form.
True or false? Over to lawyers.
But one thing is settled; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu DID NOT forge tax
clearance certificate or tax receipts. The courts have said so, as
confirmed by Ogah's court registrar. Sorry, Registrar of the Federal
High Court of Nigeria.
Let me now make two observations for legal minds to examine.
According to the Registrar, Justice Abang ruled on the basis of
information presented to INEC by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu. In my view, Uche
Ogah is not known to INEC in law as he did not submit anything to INEC
and was not submitted to INEC by any political party. From INEC
position, his legal status is like mine: an unknown quantity without locus
standi to sue INEC on the Abia Governorship election.
Uche can only make claims related to the primaries he claimed he
participated in, not with regards to whatever is submitted to INEC.
My question: can I also go and sue as a member of PDP in Abia and
Abang will issue me a certificate of return as the governor of Abia
State? After all as a registered PDP member some other members that
attended the convention may have wanted to make me the candidate of
the party.
Secondly, INEC issued attached certificate of return to Uche Ogah and
stated that he won the election of April 11th 2015. Unfortunately the
election held by same INEC in Abia on April 11th 2015 was inconclusive
and returned no dully elected Governor. In law, no winner emerged on
that date.
In fact, I wish to unequivocally state that the original and genuine
certificate of return issued to Dr Okezie Ikpeazu by INEC in 2015
specifically stated that he won the elections held on April 11th and 25th
2015.
Is the certificate issued to Ogah a forged or falsified certificate or
should we presume genuineness since it was INEC that purportedly issued
it? If you presume genuineness here then why didn't Abang presume
genuineness in the tax certificate and information entered by Dr Okezie
in form CF 001?
Or should we arrest INEC officials and Uche Ogah for forging certificate
of return? Do not forget that in seeking to be inaugurated as Governor
of Abia State Uche Ogah submitted that patently fake certificate to the
Osisioma High Court and others. Did he or did he not submit false and
fake information?
Can Uche Ogah validly be sworn in on the basis of the Governorship
election of April 11th 2015 that produced no winner? That is assuming
that he wins at the Supreme Court.
The answer is NO. What is with Mr Ogah as "certificate of return" is
either fake or falsified and surely not a legal document that can form a
basis for swearing in because Abia Governorship poll produced no winner
as at April 11th. That was why I called it "tissue paper".
My people, I rest my case. But I must warn INEC officials not to
surreptitiously change the tissue paper they issued Uche Ogah within
hours of a court ruling. That will effectively incriminate them as parties
to a criminal conspiracy. Nigerians are seeing copies of what they issued
on the 30th of June 2016. Members of the media and security agents
should also note these facts.
As the Supreme Court pleases.
JOK

FESTUS KEYAMO'S MIGHTY FALL

By Onyebuchi Ememanka

When I heard that lawyer and self styled activist, Festus Keyamo released a press statement on the Abia political imbroglio, I braced myself for an intellectual feast. I sincerely expected a harvest of intellectualism considering the fact that Keyamo has always presented himself to the public as one outstanding lawyer who knows his onions.
I looked forward to an excellent legal analyses that will enrich our jurisprudence and create a higher level of public awareness.

After reading the piece, what I saw was a poorly researched and badly written piece.
The write up sounded more like a literary presentation replete with ad hominem arguments. Bereft of any sound legal reasoning, garnished with embarrassing factual inaccuracies and stewed with shocking legal inconsistencies, Keyamo simply exposed himself as one who blows nothing but hot air in legal analyses.

The gravamen of his presentation is that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, by reason of non payment of his taxes as at when due was ab initio not qualified to contest election as Governor.

In Keyamo's words...
"A thorough scrutiny of the judgment of the Court will reveal that contrary to widespread opinion that Dr. Uchechukwu Samspson Ogar's case was that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu presented forged tax papers to INEC, his case was SIMPLY that Dr. Ikpeazu APPARENTLY rushed to pay all his backlog of taxes just before the elections, yet HE SWORE TO A FALSE ADDIDAVIT and supplied a false information to INEC that he paid his taxes as at when due. It was based on this false information that the Court nullified his candidature". (CAPITALIZED WORDS MINE, PLEASE FOR EMPHASIS)

The above statement, in Keyamo's books was enough to nullify the candidature of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

It is obvious that Keyamo is completely ignorant of the constitutional requirements for any person to contest election into the office of Governor in Nigeria. He is also oblivious of the fact that tax and payment thereof do not form part of the conditions laid down by the Electoral Act 2010, as amended and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
If neither the Electoral Act nor the Constitution do not make tax a condition to run for elections, will the evasion of tax or false declaration thereof preclude anyone from contesting?

One critical point that has been missing in the entire Abia narrative is that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu did not present any tax papers to INEC. He couldn't have since INEC does not require it. He presented his tax papers to the PDP because the party requires it.
It is elementary law that where the guidelines of a political party conflicts with the provisions of the 1999 constitution, the guidelines remain void to the extent of the inconsistency.

That apart, Keyamo's assertion that Dr. Ikpeazu "apparently rushed to pay all his backlog of taxes just before the elections..." show clearly that the so called brilliant lawyer knows practically nothing about how our tax laws operate. He is ignorant of the Personal Income Tax (PAYE) and how it applies to an individual who works and receives salary.

Dear activist Keyamo, workers do not rush to pay taxes. Indeed, workers do not go anywhere to any pay taxes anywhere in this world. When a worker is paid his salary each month, his employer mandatorily deducts his tax and other things like pension contributions at source even before the worker gets his money.
Oga Keyamo, have you ever heard of GROSS AND NET SALARIES?
I am sure you have not. Let me educate you small.
Gross salary of a worker is the total package of emoluments payable to a worker BEFORE any statutory deductions are made while Net salary is actually what gets to the worker finally after all lawful deductions have been made from his salary.
Therefore, Mr. Keyamo, a worker has absolutely no part to pay in his taxes. He makes no contributions whatsoever into how his taxes are assessed. The law does that. The law fixes rates of assessment of tax. The worker too plays no part in how the taxes are deducted. It is the statutory responsibility of his employer. Indeed, when employers fail to deduct taxes of their workers, they run foul of the law. The law comes after the employer, not the employee.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was an employee of the Abia State Government within the tax period under review. He worked as General Manager and Deput General Manager respectively of ASPIMS and ASEPA. Was he working for free?

With the above explanation, the statement that Dr. Ikpeazu "rushed" to pay his tax backlogs shows Keyamo as a dangerously ignorant fellow. This is very unfortunate indeed.

Let us now return to the judgment proper.

Keyamo stated that Ikpeazu "swore to an affidavit and supplied a false information to INEC...".

By his own admission, Keyamo states that Governor lied on oath. The offence of perjury is committed when a person knowingly tells lies in an affidavit.

Let me ask Lawyer Keyamo one elementary criminal law question. Perjury, is it a civil wrong or a crime?
Does our criminal laws define the offence of perjury?

As a lawyer who has handled several criminal cases, including the conviction of Chief Bode George, Keyamo should tell the world what the standard of proof in a criminal matter is.
Can a crime be proved through affidavit evidence?

How can Keyamo forget so suddenly that crimes must be proved beyond reasonable doubt? Can that standard be achieved in an affidavit?

How come Keyamo forgot that every offence in our statute books has specific ingredients which must be proven one after the other?
Keyamo, have you heard anything like MENS REA and ACTUS REUS before which are the twin pillars of proof in criminal cases?

Keyamo, since you are so impressed with the judgment of Justice Okon Abang, what does the Supreme Court say about the duty of a court when faced with irreconcilable conflicts in affidavits in a civil matter?

Have you ever read the case of Falobi V. Falobi?

What happened to Festus Keyamo?

Could it be that his recent non inclusion in the final list of Senior Advocates of Nigeria has robbed him of the analytical power of the average lawyer or is it that he is just a guy who makes empty noise?
Or did he probably write in a hurry without doing his homework well?
Maybe...just maybe.

Let me ask Keyamo again...

Can a court, suo motu, interprete technical information in a tax document without the benefit of a tax expert?

Can a court interprete a survey plan or engineering drawing or even a bill of quantities prepared by a quantity surveyor?

Did the PDP, which presented the name of Dr. Ikpeazu as her candidate to INEC complain that their guidelines were not met?
Did the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue tell anyone that Dr. Ikpeazu did not pay tax?

Who prepared the tax papers in question?

Did Ikpeazu write the tax papers himself or did he merely apply to the Tax Authorities to issue him evidence that his taxes had been steadily deducted in line with the law?

Are you aware that the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, a body set up by law, has openly told the world that they prepared the document in question and that the entries therein are correct?

Can any court make any valid finding on the contents of a document prepared by a statutory body without any input from that statutory body?

Keyamo, are you aware that Sections 167 and 168 of the Evidence Act firmly establish a presumption of regularity in favor of official acts and documents? And that anyone who intends to rebut that presumption must present cogent and unimpeachable evidence?

Haba, Keyamo!

How come you said nothing about Ikpeazu's notice of appeal and stay of execution which predated INEC's issuance of the certificate to Ogar and were duly served on INEC?

What did the Supreme Court say in Ojukwu V. Governor of Lagos?

Have you heard of the doctrine of Lis Pendens?

Is there any precedent anywhere in our jurisprudence that an elected governor has been thrown out of office by the orders of a court of first instance? Be it a pre or post election matter?

Why did Peter Obi wait in 2007 even after he got judgment from the Court of Appeal? Why didn't he rush into the Government House, Awka but he allowed Andy Uba to remain there until the Supreme Court gave its final decision?

Why is Dr. Ogar in a hurry to be sworn in even when the entire gamut of our legal procedures have not been exhausted?
Is he pursuing anything or is anything pursuing him?

He has been in court for over a year now, why can't he wait for just a few more months?

You described the judgment of the Abia State High Court as "non sequitur". That's very laughable.
That judgment is valid and subsisting. The issues canvassed in that matter are different from the one before Justice Abang and the parties are also different. Was the Chief Judge of Abia State a party before Abang?

Keyamo, can the judgment of a court bind a person who was not a party before it?
Did Justice Abang make any orders on the Abia State Chief Judge?
Does the possession of a certificate of return automatically make a person governor?

Did you actually expect Governor Ikpeazu to sit back and sing from the Adventist Hymn Book while Uche Ogar strolls to take his seat? A seat he secured via a sacred mandate of the people of Abia State after several weeks of vigorous and energy sapping campaigns across the state? And hand his mandate over to someone who was in Lagos drinking champagne and never canvassed for votes for once?
A mandate that has been confirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria?
Keyamo, if you thought that, you thought wrong.
The law expects all of us to be proactive in the defense of what is ours, lest we be caught up with the doctrine of Laches and Acquiescence. Have you heard that one before?
Eh, Oga Keyamo?

The only order that specifically affects the Abia State Chief Judge is the one made by the High Court of Abia State. Do you expect the CJ to disobey the orders of a court in a state she presides over in preference of one that didn't mention her at all?

Bros, Keyamo, do the needful. Advise Uche Ogar and his co travelers in this perfidious journey that Dr. Ikpeazu will remain in office as Governor until the highest court in this country says otherwise.
And yes, like you said in your poorly researched article, THE HEAVENS WONT FALL!

My victory; a victory for good over evil...... IKPEAZU


The Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has described his victory at the Owerri High court against Mr. Friday Nwosu as a victory of light over darkness, good over evil and victory for the Judiciary. He called on his brothers in Abia North and South to shield their sword and join him to develop Abia.

The Governor made this call while hosting his team of lawyers, who came back victoriously from Owerri High court. He expressed happiness that the Judge says he remains the Governor, having declared that his tax papers are genuine and that he was qualified to contest in the 2015 election.

Dr. Ikpeazu said that the attempt made against his mandate was against the law, stating that God of justice has vindicated him. He thanked Mr. President, who said that 'status quo should be maintained' until the court gives verdict and appreciated Nigerian public for standing behind him and the lawyers for their dogged fight, assuring that he will continue to serve Abia sincerely.

Speaking, the lead counsel to the Governor, Barr. Theo Nkeire described the judgement as the beginning of their success in Dr. Ikpeazu's legal battle. According to him, tax law in Abia State runs from January, 1st to December, 31st each year and the day, whether Saturday or Sunday is immaterial. He added that, the Judge said that the greatest authority for tax issues is the Board of Internal Revenue (B.I.R), informing that B.I.R through an affidavit confirmed that the Governor actually paid his taxes.

Bar Theo went further to explain that the said Tax papers have passed ICAN and CITN assessment, who gave professional stand and confirmed that the assessment is in line with tax best practice. Bar Theo thanked members of his team for keeping faith with him.

Let me explain what happened in courts today so you won't be misled

Fed High Court Abuja

At Justice Abang's court, the legal team of Govenor Okezie went there with one objective: remove the matter from the judge and hand it over to the appeal court. They got that.

Of course nobody expected Justice Abang to rule on the stay of execution motion before him when he has taken judicial note of the processes going to the superior Appeal court.

Likewise, Abang cannot rule on the motion by Ogah to vacate the ruling of Abia High court stopping his swearing in. (Note that he and his supporters previously created the impression that the Abia High Court ruling does not matter.) Yet they went to Abang's court and tried to vacate a "useless" order. I dey laugh o.

Summary of events at Abang's court: "as you were" before today remain like that until Appeal court handle the matter.

Of course that aligns with my previous position that in the face of conflicting ruling by two courts of equal powers only the Appeal Court can break the tie at this time and the Chief Judge of Abia is legally in order to choose which conflicting order of court to obey.
She chose to obey the Abia High Court ruling that was served to her earlier. End of discussion.

Owerri Federal High Court.

That court made nonsense of the claim that Governor Ikpeazu forged his tax clearance certificate. That court is exactly same with Abang's court in all material particular in law. He also pronounced Okezie validly elected governor of Abia state.

The plaintiff was FN Nwosu

Now some might try to mislead you that the issues were different because Abang focused on false information while Allagoa ruled on forgery of tax certificate.

Ignore the sophistry.

False information, based on Abang's ruling, arose from Governor Okezie copying out data in his tax clearance form and swearing them to be correct to the best of his knowledge in his PDP nomination form. If you find that his tax clearance certificate was validly issued by the tax authorities (BIR) then you cannot accuse him of giving false information. He gave information supplied by those who should supply it.

End of discussion.

Osisioma High Court

The court gave an initial order that was valid for 10 days. What they did was to extend the order not to swear in Ogah for another 10 days. As long as this order subsists Uche Ogah cannot be validly sworn in.

The only authority that can change that is the Appeal Court. If the appeal court rule that the order from Abang should be enforced immediately the Chief Judge must follow that order because it is coming from a superior court to Abang, Allagoa and Ahuchaogu' courts.

But the appeal court will never give an order that destroys the RES of a matter before them. That will amount to judicial suicide. It is also judicial common sense 101 and Governor Ikpeazu's team knew that and hence decided to arrest the decision of Abang whom they have no confidence in.

The Appeal court will naturally rule to grant stay of execution pending when they will examine the appeal and rule. No brainer.

Umuahia High Court

This court also have same powers as the other two high courts. The difference is that the applicant at that court was PDP as a political party. Not Governor Okezie that approached the Osisioma High Court.

PDP asked the court to stop Ogah from being sworn in as Governor and the court granted the order. They also stopped the chief judge, president of customary court, DSS and co from acting in anyway to swear in Ogah.

Summary
1. Only the Supreme Court can decide who will be Governor of Abia State because whoever loses at the key Appeal court will likely go on appeal to the Supreme Court.

This is exactly the demand I have always made: allow the judicial process to be exhausted up to the Supreme Court and do not attempt a coup in Abia.

2. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu remains the Governor of Abia state unless the Supreme Court decides against him. He is the only duly sworn in person and what Uche Ogah collected from INEC is of no value till after the Supreme Court has ruled.

In fact once Appeal Court grants stay of execution INEC is duty bound to look for Uche Ogah with same speed and haste to retrieve the Nwaorukwu "wonder" certificate.

I pity Lawrence Nwaorukwu and INEC chairman because Uche Ogah will not be easy to find then. Never mind why....

*I invite lawyers to contradict my illiterate legal interpretation of the rulings today. I will read and learn or make puuuuuu.

Lele ndi certificate of certificate of return na certificate of travel!

Mtscheew!

JOK

The Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has described his victory at the Owerri High court against Mr. Friday Nwosu as a victory of light over darkness, good over evil and victory for the Judiciary. He called on his brothers in Abia North and South to shield their sword and join him to develop Abia.

The Governor made this call while hosting his team of lawyers, who came back victoriously from Owerri High court. He expressed happiness that the Judge says he remains the Governor, having declared that his tax papers are genuine and that he was qualified to contest in the 2015 election.

Dr. Ikpeazu said that the attempt made against his mandate was against the law, stating that God of justice has vindicated him. He thanked Mr. President, who said that 'status quo should be maintained' until the court gives verdict and appreciated Nigerian public for standing behind him and the lawyers for their dogged fight, assuring that he will continue to serve Abia sincerely.

Speaking, the lead counsel to the Governor, Barr. Theo Nkeire described the judgement as the beginning of their success in Dr. Ikpeazu's legal battle. According to him, tax law in Abia State runs from January, 1st to December, 31st each year and the day, whether Saturday or Sunday is immaterial. He added that, the Judge said that the greatest authority for tax issues is the Board of Internal Revenue (B.I.R), informing that B.I.R through an affidavit confirmed that the Governor actually paid his taxes.

Bar Theo went further to explain that the said Tax papers have passed ICAN and CITN assessment, who gave professional stand and confirmed that the assessment is in line with tax best practice. Bar Theo thanked members of his team for keeping faith with him.

The Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has reiterated that nobody will remove him from office as he has confidence in God, who assured believers that their battles are his own.

The Governor said this at a solidiarity visit by the members of Nzuko Ohanaeze Ukwa/Ngwa in Govt house, Umuahia.

Dr. Ikpeazu said that if it were to be money and influence, his opponents would have taken over the Government House and called on the people to continue to pray for him saying that any coup 'd'etat' that failed for about 5 days has become public and will never hold again.

He thanked the Ukwa/Ngwa people for their support.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and chairman, Board of Trustee of the group, Elder Emma Adaelu said they came to show solidiarity to him over the court ruling assuring him that they will fight the legal battle with him to its logical conclusion.

They urged him not to be afraid, saying that the mandate he has was freely given to him by Abians, stressing that nobody will take away the mandate and requested the Appeal Court to do the needful.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has told Abia women not to border over the recent political development in the State, assuring that at the end of the day, Abians will give glory to God over his victory.

The Governor said this during a solidarity visit by Leaders of Abia Women Groups at Govt house, Umuahia.

Governor Ikpeazu appreciated the women for their supports since his campaign period and assured them that their prayers on his behalf have been heard by God.

He told them that the plans of the opponents have failed, saying that nobody can remove him from the office freely given to him by Abians.

Speaking on behalf of others, Mrs Uloma Nwogu said they came to identify with him over an attempt to unseat the duly elected Governor of the State, stressing that majority of the votes were casts for Dr. Ikpeazu by Abia women and told him to be courageous.

They appreciated his development strides, especially in the areas of road, bridge and drainage constructions.

The women, who described Governor Ikpeazu as the Moses of our time, assured him that no evil shall befall him.

I.

Candidly I must start with a few questions. In doing this I am guided by the fact that we must not only argue or debate the Law but that the Law must serve as the vehicle that guarantees public good, safety and decorum.

To what immediate gain was the hasty attempt to execute the 27th of June, 2016 Order of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja to wit that Dr. Uche Ogah be given the Certificate of Return and sworn in as Governor of Abia State?

Did INEC not know that the Law allows her 7days to do so? Or was the speed/haste geared at frustrating and stultifying the exercise of the right of Appeal and perhaps the Stay of Execution due Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu?

Why can't Dr Uche Ogah and those fueling this conundrum wait for the Court of Appeal and perhaps the Supreme Court to uphold or overrule Justice Abang?

How does this conundrum benefit the Abia People, and how will it positively impact our democracy?

If you were in Governor Ikpeazu's shoes will you abdicate office without first exhausting all the levers of Appeal open to you as provided by Law?

If Dr. Uche Ogah is sworn-in and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu wins on Appeal, is INEC going to re-issue a Certificate of Return to him? Is he going to be sworn-in again? Why can't we all wait to see through the Appeal than engage in unending conjectures?

I'm aware that the Law does not and should not work absurdity. I'm troubled by the penchant of Lawyers in this clime for strict interpretation of the Law regardless of how it impacts the society. And I'm worried because save and except public good, order and decorum constitutes the fulcrum on which devolves the wheel of Justice, our search for the beloved society may yet be distant.

God Bless You.

To be CONT'D.

Prof Chris Nwaokobia Jnr.
DG CHANGE AMBASSADORS OF NIGERIA CAN.
Partner: NIGERIA UNITY IN DIVERSITY CHALLENGE.
Pin:5588BE17.
Twitter: @CNWAOKOBIAJNR

A ruling on the Abia State governorship tussle will wait till Friday July 8, 2016, when Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court will decide the motion for a stay of execution of the judgement that sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu from office.

This is due to the public holiday declared by the federal government on July 7, to mark the Eid-el-fitr celebration, the day the court had set aside to hear Ikpeazu’s motion for a stay of execution of the judgement which had ordered his rival, Dr Uche Ogah, to take the seat from him.

But because of the holiday, the hearing of the case will now come up on July 8.

Last Monday, Justice Okon Abang reserved ruling on the motion for stay of execution brought by the governor on the declarative judgment affirming Dr Ogah as the governor of Abia State.

Last week, Justice Abang, in a ruling, sacked Ikpeazu from office over falsification of his tax clearance certificate before he was cleared for the governorship election in the state last year.
The court further ordered Dr Ogah to be sworn in as the governor of the state.
Less than 24 hours after the governor was sacked by the court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued the certificate of return to Ogah, in compliance with the court order.
Some senior advocates who spoke on the matter said INEC acted rashly.

According to them, the electoral body should have waited for the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, to have a final say on the matter before taking the action it took.

A senior advocate, Chief Godwin Obla, described INEC’s action as suspicious.

He said, “let me make this clear; what Ugah has as certificate of return is a mere piece of paper. INEC, as an institution, has a pattern of doing things. Even in a substantive election matter, if a party loses, he has a number of days to appeal the judgement.

During that period, you cannot waive his right to appeal. You must allow that period to pass before you can do anything. Since the man has appealed, what is the hurry in issuing certificate of return? The action of INEC is suspicious, unwarranted and unwise”.

Another senior advocate, Mr Mahmud Magaji, said the order of the High Court was not a final order.

He said, “Except the governor will not appeal the judgement, the judgement of the High Court sacking him cannot be said to be the final judgement. The Supreme Court has the final say in this matter.”

Another Abuja based legal practitioner, Ismaila Alasa, on his part, described INEC’s action as unfortunate.

“I think it is unfortunate that INEC goes ahead to issue a certificate of return to the winner of the court case. I am aware that there is an appeal and if there is an appeal, why the hurry in issuing a certificate of return. I am also aware that it is a pre-election matter. INEC should not have rushed to issue the certificate. It is not quite tidy for them to issue the certificate of return to Uche Ogah.

Since it is a pre-election matter, INEC should have allowed the governor to exhaust his right of appeal. INEC acted in haste by issuing that certificate and it is not tidy enough,” Alasa said.

At the sitting of the court on July 4, Justice Abang, who was scheduled to hear the motion in court, fixed hearing for July 7.

The judge said all issues relating to the grant of stay, as in the case of election petition, will on the said day be determined, whether it is applicable to a pre-election matter as in the instant case.

He urged parties in the matter to file and exchange necessary process before the adjourned date so as to facilitate early hearing of the motion.

Governor Ikpeazu had, in the motion, asked Justice Abang to put the judgement which removed him from office on hold pending the determination of his appeal filed against the judgement of the court at the Court of Appeal.

He told the court that the appeal had been entered at the appellate court and that necessary steps would be taken to facilitate its quick determination.

Abia elders back Ikpeazu, carpet INEC, Abang

Meanwhile,prominent political leaders, elder statesmen and traditional rulers from Abia State rose from a high level meeting in Abuja late Monday night and threw their full weight behind Ikpeazu in the unfortunate crisis surrounding his mandate.

The meeting which was hosted under the aegis of Concerned Abia Elders by former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, had in attendance the three senators representing Abia State in the National Assembly, members of the House of Representatives and other notable leaders from the state.

Reading the Communique at the end of the meeting, pioneer Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and a former governorship candidate in Abia State, Chief Onyema Ugochuku, the leaders faulted the said judgement as perverse and reckless.

They also criticised INEC for its decision to issue a Certificate of Return to Ogah.

“We have also noted the unseemly haste of INEC to issue the certificate just a few hours after Justice Abang’s order, and in spite of the fact that INEC had been duly served with a notice of appeal of the said order and the motion for a stay of execution,” the elders said.

Continuing, the leaders expressed worry at the impression created of a conspiracy involving INEC, to throw the state into confusion and anarchy.

Admonishing the federal government not to unwittingly open another flashpoint in yet another geopolitical zone of the country, the leaders condemned in very strong terms, the attempt to set Abia on fire and create a situation which can only exacerbate the problems which the country is currently contending with in the North East and Niger Delta.

According to Ugochukwu, spokesperson of the elders, the meeting noted with appreciation the intervention of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN, who has urged the parties to exercise restraint, follow the rule of law and await the conclusion of proceedings from the appellate courts. The elders aligned themselves with the Attorney-General’s appeal for peace, imploring all parties in the matter to remain calm and await the conclusion of matters in the courts.

While commending the people of Abia for maintaining the peace in the face of recent provocations and urging them to remain calm, the meeting restated the faith of Nigerians in the judiciary and expressed optimism that at the end of the situation, justice will be done.

The Concerned Abia Elders paid tributes to the memories of two distinguished Abia leaders, Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe, former Minister of Transport and Foreign Affairs respectively, and Senator Onyekachi Okoroafor, a member of the third republic national assembly between 1992 and 1993.

UCHE OGA'S GOVERNORSHIP AMBITION: A NUNK DIMITIS.



The news tabloids were awash with the attempted invasion of Abia State government house on the 30th of June, 2016 by some miscreants with the utmost intention of dethroning the Executive Governor of Abia State. Suffix it to say that the surreptitious judgement which declared Uchechukwu Ogah winner of an election he never contested was a rape of the law. According to the electoral act as amended, section 141 clearly stated that "An election tribunal or court shall not under any circumstance declare anybody winner at an election in which such a person has not fully participated on all the stages of the said election", this deduce the fact that Mr. Uche Ogah, having not taking part in any of the processes that produced the Governor, has no place to be declared winer, whatsoever.

The judgement which it's role order was released before the the details of the judgement itself was passed on the 27th of June had it backed up by surreptitious issuance of certificate of return to Uche Ogah on the 30th of June, which certificate dated 28th of June. This act alone is antithetical to the democratic development of the Nigerian state.

The mischief maker did not campaign for any electoral position and the genuineness of his candidacy was by no means tried by the people of Abia State he wanted to rule. He only succeeded in hook winking Abians through his short term philanthropy, some gimmicks he used to lure sentiment.

While some gullible people has joined the bandwagon to maw wow the frivolous judgement, it is pertinent that Abians know who exactly Uche Ogah is and his pedigree.

The Nigerian state has about four refineries which were meant to refine the crude products with a value chain of employing lots of Nigerians into its web but Nigeria cannot refine even a drop of the black gold, rather import dependent of the end products of what the country produces. The refineries went moribund, occasioned by the activities of a particular set of cabal where Uche Ogah belong to.

Some of the members of the cabal were bent on pocketing monies paid to them to import the petroleum products while they refuse to import them, it's resultant effects falling back on the masses.

Thanks to President Mohammadu Buhari led anti corruption crusade which has opened lots of cans of worms, including that of Uche Ogah, one of which is the embezzlement of N2.9b for which he has been charged, awaiting trial and a deserved punishment will certainly mark the end.

Educating Abia Online team on the rules of law, Dr. Hagler Sunny Okorie drew our attention to section 183, Sub 1(i) of the Nigerian constitution as amended which provides for disqualification of anybody from being a Governor of any State when a person "has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a judicial commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal set up under the Tribunal of Inquiry Act, a Tribunal of Inquiry Law or any other Law by the Federal or State government which indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State government;...

He also referred us to the Black's Law Dictionary where highlighted the actual meaning of indictment which is "To charge (a person) with a crime by a formal legal process, esp. by grand-jury presentation" while it reads indictment as "The formal written accusation of crime, made by a grand jury and presented to a court for prosecution against the accused person".

By the dictates of the law, Uche Ogah who has been indicted by the magistrate court with three count charges in charge N0 A/62/2016; inspector general of police vs Masters Energy and Gas LTD, UBA, Uche Ogah and Deji Somoye which is adjourned to 4th of August 2016 and a six count criminal charge in the Federal High Court with Charge N0 FAC/199C/2016; inspector general of police vs Masters Energy Oil and Gas LTD, Uche Ogah and seven others, considering the charges pending against Uche Ogah, he is automatically disqualified from being a Governor thus the certificate of return issued to him by INEC cannot avail him having been disqualified by law.

It is therefore expedient that the authorities questions the judgement of the Justice of Okon Abang and the hurriedly issued certificate of return to a criminal who should be facing his charges in the courts and possibly jailed.

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has described the plot to unseat him as an attempted coup d’etat in a democracy and vowed to fight to protect his mandate.

The Governor was speaking when he received members of the Abia State Executive Council who paid him a solidarity visit, in Government House, Umuahia, over the federal High Court judgment against him.

The Governor wondered how someone who never stood election will seek to become governor through the back door.

"The plot to remove me as governor, was a coup d'etat. I can't imagined that somebody who never contested election, is seeking to be made a governor through the back door. I can't understand the rush by INEC to issue Uche Ogah with a certificate of Return. I also can't comprehend the rush to swear him in.

"Are you telling me that I don't have a right to appeal a judgment against me? Or are you telling me that if it was a death sentence, I should be killed before appealing? The truth is that it goes beyond the issue of tax. I want to appeal to our Igbo brothers to see politics as a game of a winner and a loser. They must should not bring the mercantile business style into politics. It won't help us."

Governor Ikpeazu assured his commissioners that he was not bothered by the judgment as he has absolute confidence in the judiciary to do justice on the matter.

The Governor pointed out that his story as a public servant in the state is well known to Abians and that as a public servant his tax was deducted by the appropriate authorities.

Governor Ikpeazu used the forum to call on business men in politics to jettison the mercantile attitude of business and not see politics a do -or- die game.

Earlier in his speech on behalf of the Executive Council members, the commissioner for Finance, Obinna Oriaku explained that their visit was to show solidarity to the Governor over the current political situation in the state, assuring him that they were together with him in this trial period.

According to him, their various ministries will interpret and carry out the Governor’s dreams and promised that the distractions will not deter them from achieving their goal.

Abia State elders and traditional rulers have described the issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the order of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, as perverse and reckless.
The elders who declare their full support for Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, appealed to Abians and every interest group in the tussle for leadership of the state, to remain calm, for the good of the state.
.
Addressing journalists after a meeting in Abuja, on Monday, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, who read the communique of a meeting they held at Asokoro home of Prince Vincent Ogbulafo in Abuja, commended Attorney of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for his quick and timely intervention which the elders said, has helped to reduce tension in the state.
“We, the concerned elders of Abia state, worried by the developments in the last five days which threatened to plunge our state into anarchy, violence and bloodshed, met today in Abuja to review the situation”
The elders, he said, “reviewed the judgement of Justice Okon Abang, which is the beginning of the unfortunate crisis and INEC’s decision to issue a certificate of return to our son Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, which decision exacerbated the crisis.
“We came to the conclusion, unanimously, that Justice Abang’s order to issue a certificate of return to someone who never contested the governorship election against the Electoral Act and well known decisions of superior courts was perverse and reckless and we condemn it in its entirety.”
“We have also noted the unseeming haste of INEC to issue the certificate just a few hours after the Justice Abang order, and in spite of the fact that INEC had been duly served with a notice of appeal of the said order and the motion for a stay of execution.
“We are worried by the impression created of a conspiracy involving INEC to throw Abia into confusion and anarchy.
“We condemn in very strong terms the attempt to set Abia on fire and create a situation which can only compound the problems which our country is currently having to bring an end to violence in the North East and Niger Delta.
“We have also noted with appreciation the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation, Malami, who has urged all parties to follow the rule of law and wait the conclusion of proceedings in the appellate courts. We join in this appeal for peace and urge all parties involved in this matter to calm down and await the conclusion of matters at the courts.”
“We also commend our people, the people of Abia who have remained peaceful in the face of recent provocations. We urge them to remain calm and maintain the peace as we wait the courts to conclude their processes”, they said.
The elders, made up of who is who in Abia politics, stated that they have “faith in the Nigerian judiciary and believe that in the end Justice will be done.”
They also used the opportunity to commiserate with families of notable Abia citizens who lost their lives recently, among who is Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who died recently.
“We also discussed our recent bereavement as a people, especially the demise of Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe, just as our state was being thrown into confusion as well as the earlier death of Senator Onyeka Okoroafor.
“We offer our sincere condolence to their respective families and pray that Almighty God will comfort and strengthen them and the whole Abia State.”
The meeting was attended by notable Abia elders and traditional rulers among who are all the current serving Abia Senators including Former Governor Theodore Orji, (Abia Central,) Mao Ohuabunwa, (Abia North,) Enyi Abaribe, (Abia South).
Others are Senator Adolfus Wabara, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, Empire Kanu, Chef Onyema Ugochukwu, HRH, Eze Ngozi Marthias Nwoko, Professor S.O. Igwe, Uzoma Nkem Abonta, and Professor Herbert O. Orji.
Other Royal father’s present at the meeting include, HRH Eze J O Akaliro, HRH Eze Dr. Eberechi Dick and HRH Eze P M Okponku, amongst other personalities.

F.N. Nwosu v. Okezie Ikpeazu & Ors.(FHC: Owerri): All Applications taken and heard today, July 4, 2016. Originating Summons also heard.
We, as Counsel to the Governor, brought before the Court all the material particulars of facts needed to clarify the issue of the misconcieved allegations of false tax documents. We also relied heavily on the unchallenged expert evidence (Affidavit) of the Director of the Revenue Board which clarified that the documents were duly issued by the Board and that the entries which have been misconcieved are in line with tax Rules and Regulations. He explained further in the Affidavit that by practice, the day of tax deductions are not the same date the receipts are dated but on the day the tax year ends which is statutorily on the 31st December of every year - be it Sartuday or Sunday. Matter has been ajourned to Friday, July 8, 2016 for Judgment.

...Yet to proffer legal opinion

1. The attention of the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to the insinuations and crass lies being peddled and disseminated by a cross-section of Nigerians and the various media platforms that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation is behind the legal logjam over the Abia state governorship seat and wish to clarify that those canvassing this position have no basis to do so.

2. Of particular concern are those who have peddled ill-natured rumours with a view to misinform our discerning populace that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and by extension, the Federal Government of Nigeria that gave directives to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Certificate of Return to Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah declaring him Governor-Elect. He has definitely not taken any action either by spoken words or body language as far as this Abiagovernorship crisis is concerned.

3. I wish to therefore, on behalf of my principal declare that these rumours are untrue and a figment of the imagination of those pushing these selfish, shameless and irredeemable lies into public space which only translates to partisanship on the side of its purveyors.

4. As far as the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation is concerned, the constitutional powers for the legal opinion of his office have not been invoked on this issue. So far, nobody has approached him to proffer any legal opinion to it. As a strong believer in the rule of law, it is his belief that the law should naturally take its cause. The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation will not be dragged into this controversy and mind-games being played out by the various legal minds and spin doctors of both camps at this point.

5. The parties involved should await the decision of the courts.


6. In fact, we wish to by this statement advice those in the habit of dragging the highly esteemed Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice into knotty issue of this kind even when it is yet to take a position. They should desist from these unwarranted presumptions henceforth.

Signed,
COMRADE SALIHU OTHMAN ISAH
SPECIAL ADVISER, MEDIA AND PUBLICITY
TO THE HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE

RE-ALLEGED PRESENTATION OF FALSE TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE BY DR OKEZIE VICTOR IKPEAZU TO INEC: THE SACRED FACTS/TRUE POSITION BY ABIA STATE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

The attention of the Abia State Internal Revenue Service has been drawn to a court judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja on the tax clearance certificate issued to Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu by the Service, and hereby makes the following clarifications:


1. That the tax clearance certificate referred to in that Judgment was duly issued to Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu by the Service, and was therefore not fake.


2. That the taxes for the years 2011,2012 and 2013 were PAYE taxes deducted at source from his personal emoluments by his employers (Abia State Passengers’ Integrated Manifest Scheme and Abia State Environmental Sanitation Authority respectively) and remitted to the service in the relevant tax years


3. That the dates on the tax receipts of the relevant years (2011, 2012 and 2013) did not suggest that they were paid on those dates, but only reflected the date he applied to be issued with the receipts, because that was when he needed them.


4. In the same vein the dates on the tax receipts did not suggest that they were written out on those days. The date on the receipts only indicates the last day of the last month of the year, when the PAYE tax payer became entitled to the receipts, as the receipts could not have carried a date earlier or later than the 31st December of the relevant tax year. It is immaterial that it fell on a Saturday, Sunday or any other day of the week. For example if 31st December 2011 fell on a Saturday, in the month following i.e January, when the receipts are to be written out, it cannot carry any date in January 2012 or any other month in 2012.


5. That his taxes having been deducted by his afore said employers and remitted to the service within the relevant years will not be said to have been paid on the same day, as such were paid as at when due. In fact the issue of payment as at when due does not apply to PAYE taxes because the tax payer has no part to play in the deduction and remittance of his PAYE as the same is done by his employer. Where there is failure to deduct and remit PAYE taxes, it is the employer and not the tax payer that is liable. See LSIRS and Seven Up Bottling Company reported in year 2000. Having stated the facts as they are above, we make bold to say that the tax returns filed by Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to his party (Peoples Democratic Party) were neither false nor fake and cannot be said to amount to fraudulent payment of taxes.


Consequently, we affirm that both the Tax Clearance Certificate and the tax receipts referred to in the afore said judgment were the documents of Abia State Internal Revenue Service because same was authored by the Service as the authority empowered by law to do so.


Finally, we state emphatically for the records and for the attention of the general public that we were never invited (subpoenaed) by the court or the plaintiff, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah during the pendency of the subject suit that led to the judgment in Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu’s tax matter to state the authenticity or otherwise of the tax papers in issue.


Udochukwu G. Ogbonna

Executive Chairman.

Press Release


PDP IN ABIA STATE CAUTIONS AGAINST UNBRIDLED AMBITION: 

The Peoples' Democratic Party in Abia State has frowned at the reports making round the State that a certain desperate politician in the State, whose illegal efforts to cease power from the back door has been frustrated by decent application of the rule of law, is now directing his evil machination towards kidnapping Judicial officers in the State with the hope of intimidating them in order to have access to power he did not canvass for.

The Party has equally taken cognizance of the inordinately- ambitious politician's plot to kidnap some top functionaries of the Party in the State.

According to intelligence available to the Party, the political desperado is embittered with the State Executive of the Party for not coming out to support his acts of illegality.

The Party, therefore, cautions the politician that is involved in this sacrilegious and bloody shenanigan to quickly retrace his nefarious steps as the likely consequences of his devious desires and mischievous plots would compound his imagination and would only leave him with regrets that may not be redressed or even corrected in his life's time. The Party wishes to remind him that he that throws stones into a crowded market should not forget that his loved ones could end up being the victims of his action.


Sir Don Ubani, 

State Publicity Secretary 

PDP, Abia State.

Press Release

The attention of the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Theresa Uzoamaka Uzokwe, has been drawn to various spurious and mischievous reports alleging that the Honorable Chief Judge had absconded from her duty post on Thursday 30th June 2016, to avoid swearing in Uche Ogah as Governor of Abia State.

Contrary to the allegations of cowardice by mischievous politicians, the Chief Judge, was in her office throughout work time on Thursday 30 June 2016 from 8:30am till 4:30pm.

For the avoidance of doubt, on Thursday 30th June 2016, the Chief Judge was in her court room performing her lawful duties, including the delivery of four rulings on that date.

The particulars of the ruling in question are: HU/35CM/2015 FRANCIS AKOR vs THE STATE; HU/ICM/2016-JOHNSON ASIEGBU vs. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, HU/42CM/2016-ONYEKACHI SAMUEL vs. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE; HU/34CM/2016-LUCKY SAMPSON vs. THE STATE.

These facts are verifiable and in the records of the court. The various lawyers who appeared in the respective suits listed above are also living witnesses.

This press release has become necessary in order to avoid further mischief and to set the records straight.

Issued this 2nd day of July 2016.


Signed:
Mrs. Vicky Analaba
Ag. Chief Registrar Abia State Judiciary

The police on Thursday arraigned the President of an oil firm, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Uche Ogah, and an ex-employee of the United Bank for Africa, Deji Somoye, before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for alleged fraud.

 The oil firm and the bank were also joined in three counts bordering on forgery and conspiracy preferred against the defendants by the police.



 The police said Ogah allegedly forged a Memorandum of Understanding between Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited and Mut-Hass Petroleum Limited sometime in March 2011.

 He and some other persons said to be at large were also accused of forging the signature of one Mrs. Bridget Adeosun.

 The alleged forgery was reportedly committed in Ikeja, Lagos.

The police also alleged that the bank aided Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited to open an account in the name of Mut-Hass Petroleum to perpetrate a fraud without applying its internal control procedures in the opening of the account.

The police had claimed that UBA allowed the said account to be opened sometime in 2011 at its regional office in Palmgrove, Lagos, in breach of the provisions of the Financial Institutions Act 2004.

The defendants were brought before a Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Kikelomo Ayeye, by a police prosecutor, ASP Henry Obiazi.

 Obiazi told the court that the offences contravened sections 363 (3)(u), 408 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The charges read in part, “That you, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Uche Ogah, and others at large sometime in March 2011 at Ikeja, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to wit: forgery.

“That you, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Uche Ogah, and others at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned magisterial district, did forge the signature of one Mrs. Bridget Adeosun and a document known as MoU between Mut-Hass Petroleum Limited and Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, with an intent that it may be in any way used or acted upon as genuine.

“That you, Deji Somoye, United Bank for Africa and others still at large, sometime in August 2011, at UBA regional office, Palmgrove, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did knowing that Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited design to commit an offence, failed to use all reasonable means to prevent the commission or the completion of the crime.”

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with one surety each in like sum.

The case was adjourned till August 4, 2016.

On the 8 of March 2016 it was reported in some news papers that a man from ihie ndume, ibeku committed suicide. This is to let the general public know that the said story did not happen anywhere in ibeku land,. This is from the community chairman

Governor Theodore Orji has advised Ndume Ibeku youths in Umuahia North Council Area of the state to shun criminality and to always give information to security agents.

Orji gave the advice when the youths in their hundreds stormed his private residence to thank him for rescuing their son and state chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Sunny Nwakodo, from the hands of kidnappers.

Orji, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, Eric Nwadinobi, urged the youths to shun all forms of criminality, especially kidnapping, stating that it is not in the character of Ibeku people to engage in such a crime.

He said the Federal Government has stationed special security forces in the state to forestall kidnapping and other vices, adding that anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law.

He advised them not to allow strange elements to use their communities to perpetrate kidnapping, while urging them to watch and report non-indigenes who might be in the act to the police.

Orji then urged them to also become community police of their own and “get rid of miscreants,” ortherwise, “it will affect your generations to come”.

“Don’t waste a minute to fish out criminals in our midst to ensure we rid society of criminality. Any Ibeku son caught in the act, I will not save him,” he warned.

In their separate speeches, the President General of Ndume, Ibe Ogbonna, and the President, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Amb. Chidiebere Kanu, thanked Governor Orji for rescuing Nwakodo.

They said the community; especially the youths were worried until the transport chief was rescued.

They also expressed concern that the governor was yet to disclose his future political ambition to them.

However, they also urged him to proceed with plans to contest for the senatorial position of Abia Central Senatorial District in 2015.

They commended him for being number one initiator of youth empowerment programmes in the country.

http://ireporterstv.co/omg-ochendo-in-aba-i-cant-believe-my-eyevideo/

Go to the video and see for yourself

please keep this guy off the streets

Self styled poet Odimegwu Onwumere who was recently arrested and released has
been arrested again by the police over the rape of a 10 year old girl in Porthacourt.
Odimegwu who is Uzor Kalus love-vendor and his mothers boy friend was arrested in mile 2 diobu
after his atrocities. Odimegwu a known informant to kidnappers , is being detained
and may be charged to court soon. The celebrated con man who specialises in
blackmailing politicians it was learnt has sought the intervention of Uzor Kalu.
According to our source the former Abia gov is tired with Odimegwus life style which
he described as very reckless. Kalu is however hooked as any attempt not to help
Odimegwu will force his boy to expose him, a situation kalu may not like.
Odimegwus parents have already disowned him. The parents of the raped girl have
called on the IG not to spare Odimegwu, as it will serve as a deterrent to others.

Self styled poet Odimegwu Onwumere who was recently arrested and released has
been arrested again by the police over the rape of a 10 year old girl in Porthacourt.
Odimegwu who is Uzor Kalus love-vendor and his mothers boy friend was arrested in mile 2 diobu
after his atrocities. Odimegwu a known informant to kidnappers , is being detained
and may be charged to court soon. The celebrated con man who specialises in
blackmailing politicians it was learnt has sought the intervention of Uzor Kalu.
According to our source the former Abia gov is tired with Odimegwus life style which
he described as very reckless. Kalu is however hooked as any attempt not to help
Odimegwu will force his boy to expose him, a situation kalu may not like.
Odimegwus parents have already disowned him. The parents of the raped girl have
called on the IG not to spare Odimegwu, as it will serve as a deter ant to others.

No fewer than 1000 members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia state including the deputy gubernatorial candidate and campaign manager of the party’s governorship candidate in the 2011 election have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party.
The defectors who said they were rather “returnees” to the party they belonged to before they joined APGA were represented at the brief ceremony at the government house where they were received by Governor T A Orji and top notches of the PDP .

Their representatives included the running mate of Chief Reagan Ufomba, the APGA governorship candidate, Chief Chima Ubaka, the Director General Ufomba campaign Organization, chief Okechi Kanu, the chief of Staff Chies Jude Nwogwugwu as well six representatives of the markets in Aba among others.
Receiving them, Governor Orji said they have made their best decision in life by returning to the PDP, and urged them to galvanize and make the party stronger at the local government levels. “I receive you to formalize the sense of belonging. This is the best decision you have taken; we accept you with all sincerity and we believe you have come with sincerity.”

He said that their mass exodus has dealt the final death blow on the party adding that the little relevance APGA had was because of the presence of late Emeka Odumegwu –Ojukwu. He stressed that the death of the former leader would definitely mark the end of the party adding that those who were playing up the ethnic sentiment were not helping the party either as nobody wants to belong to a party owned by one ethnic group.
He advised them to pitch their tent with the largest party which has the capacity to accommodate everyone from every part of the country noting that the habit of leaving a party once one failed to win nomination was not the best political behaviour.

Referring to his brief stopover in APGA before joining PDP the Governor said “we made APGA relevant in the state,” adding, we fought a war in Abia State that almost tore the state apart but we won and everything is turning around for our good.”
He noted that PDP would continue to win in Abia state given its performance in the last election, stressing that his administration has returned the state to the mainstream of Nigerian politics which he said made the completion of the 132kv power substation in Umuahia possible among other federal government projects.

According to him, the political class who fled the state has returned saying “PDP is one united family, we are not polarized though they could be problems during elections,” and urged them to stay even when there seem not o be space for political office at the moment.
In his remarks, chairman of PDP in Abia State, Senator Emma Nwaka who had earlier received thee decampees at the party secretariat said that with the development “only one person is left in APGA and after now APGA will be buried in Abia State,”. He said that they could rightly be addressed as returnees as they all were members of he PDP.
Their leader Chief Okechi Kalu said they were back to PDP for obvious reasons, adding that they had expected their former party to offer constructive opposition but was averse to the idea of criticizing on the newspaper which they consider as inimical to the image of the state.

A Non-Governmental Organization known as Media Watch International has condemned in strong terms the bias reporting of SUN newspapers on events happening in Abia State. Media Watch International based in the UK said that its surprised that SUN owned by ex Abia governor Kalu has thrown the ethics of journalism into the wind as its now practising blackmail journalism with special reference to Abia where the paper seems to see nothing good coming out from the state even when the money used in establishing the paper was stolen from Abia State when Kalu was governor. Media Watch says its surprised that the SUN did not report the appeal court ruling that EFCC should prosecute Kalu. It urged SUN to emulate Independent that reported the jailing of Ibori despite the fact that Ibori is the owner of Independent. by http://untoldigbonews..co.uk/

Former aides of ex governor of Abia State Orji Uzor Kalu have commended the appeal court for quashing attempts by the former governor to stop his trial by EFCC. They include Chris Akomas, Reagan Ufomba, Chuka Odom, Lisa Akerele, Ikechukwu Ukaegbu , Ebere Nwachukwu and Stanley Ohajuruka. It will be recalled that Reagan Ufomba the embattled Ogoni man who claims to be an Abian had earlier last week prayed EFCC and the court to commence the trail of Kalu whom he is insisting looted Abia funds.
The former aides who jointly issued a statement hailed the judgment of the appeal court which rejected Kalu's pleas that his trial be stopped based on flimsy excuses. According to them Kalu is on his way to jail. They stated that during the trail the world would see how Kalu looted Abia dry. They urged EFCC to ensure that Orji's mother Eunice Kalu and Nnanna Kalu are also tried alongside the ex governor.
The former aides said that their reason for taking this hard stance is due to the way Kalu used and dumped them. Akomas it was learnt is bitter that Kalu forced him to sell his house in Abuja to him (Kalu) during the last election, a situation that has made him financially down. Ohajuruka is not happy with Kalu for denying him PPA ticket while Ufomba is annoyed that Kalu has refused to bail him out from the huge debt on his head which has forced him into hiding.
Posted by http://untoldigbonews..co.uk/

http://untoldigbonews..co.uk/ ....... a friend told me the suspect arrested in their presence in Kaduna is an IGBO Man.......... Come to Owerri and see how many Hausa men that looks and speaks Igbo