₦airaland Forum

Where are the name checkers...? Food is ready...!!

The federal High Court judge has given a specific order asking the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize Jimoh Ibrahim as the People's Democratic Party candidate in the upcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo state.


Justice Okon Abang gave the order to reinforce his earlier ruling in June which compelled the PDP to work with the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the party as authentic party leaders relating to 2019. However, when INEC received the ruling, the electoral body noted the ruling did not mention the status of the Sheriff led PDP faction in relation to 2016 elections. The litigants approached the court to obtain an interlocutory order forcing INEC to include Ibrahim's name or face contempt.

In resolving their prayers today, Justice Abang gave the order to effect the inclusion of Mr. Ibrahim in the election as a candidate.

An INEC source told Saharareporters that substitution of candidates for Ondo closed yesterday. However, he stated the electoral body would study the order and comply with it as necessary

The Ondo state branch of the Peoples Democratic Party has issued a statement commending the ruling

FULL TEXT OF THEIR PRESS RELEASE:


Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo Chapter
Press Statement
October 14, 2016
Jimoh Ibrahim's victory at court; Democracy is winning, Judiciary is working, Ondo begins a new dawn

Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) wish to congratulate the good people of our Sunshine State for witnessing, today the 14th of October, 2016 a victory for democracy, the triumph of truth over falsehood, Godliness over godfatherism and most importantly, the sweet beginning of a new dawn of development and good governance across the state.

We also congratulate the authentic chairman of our great party in the state, PrincePoroye Biyi Bill for his doggedness, his nonresistant fighting spirit and his stronghold to the tenet and dictate of the Almighty God in achieving this historic fate; a case of a little David killing the giant Goliath.

We congratulate our ever vibrant and goal getting candidate, Chief (Dr.) Jimoh Ibrahim (CFR) for remaining steadfast and strong will in defending the people's mandate freely given to him by over seven hundred delegates of our party at the primary held on the 29 ofSeptember, 2016.

And to all our elders, leaders, members, loyalists, well-wishers and the good people of Ondo State in keep faith with our party PDP, we thank you and solicit your support for our candidate in the forthcoming Governorship election for us to consolidate today's victory when our candidate shall be elected the governor of the state.

We salute our Judiciary, the last hope of common man, for enhancing our democracy, and rekindle our hope for better Nigeria through the instrumentality of law by correcting the wrong done by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where Mr. Eyitayo Jegede was erroneously listed as PDP candidate in place of the rightful person, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim (CFR).

As we have always been saying that as a political party and law abiding individuals, we believe in the court of law and the goodwill of the people of Ondo State not to result in violence or any act capable of undermining our integrity as citizens of Nigeria; but to always act in the best interest of our people, our state, Ondo and dear country Nigeria.

It was a great joy for us that the court has ordered that "INEC shall accept for the conduct of Ondo state election only the nomination of Jimoh Ibrahim for Ondo state election for PDP."

The presiding Judge of Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Abang when delivering the judgment that authenticated the candidacy of Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim for PDP in the Septemeber 26 2016 Ondo State Governorship Election said; "I held a while ago there is no application in the court file brought to my attention, and while going through the court record I found in the court file a counter affidavit of the second respondent INEC dated Oct 12, 2016.

"It is, therefore, mean that INEC did not challenge the prayers of the judgment creditors. INEC is bound to accept the Nomination of the creditors. I so hold.


"INEC counsel did not inform the court on the June 29th, 2016 the day of the judgment of any other judgment that set aside or altered this judgment. To do otherwise than publish the name of the creditor's candidate will be unlawful," Justice Abang ruled.

We, therefore, urge the people of our Sunshine state to diligently await the homecoming of our candidate and the man God Himself has ordained and appointed as the next governor of the state, where he shall visit every unit, ward and local government in an unprecedented campaign trail, preaching message of love, oneness, selfless service, developmental strides, human and infrastructural development, wealth creation, educational growth, economy buoyancy and giant stride in Agriculture. Congratulations, Sun shiners.

Signed:
Yemi Akintomide
Director of Media/Publicity
PDP, Ondo State


http://saharareporters.com/2016/10/14/jimoh-ibrahim-replace-eyitayo-jegede-pdp-governorship-candidate-ondo-state

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Sunday criticised the Nigerian Bar Association for demanding the unconditional release of the judges arrested by the Department of State Services between Friday and Saturday.

He described the demand by the leadership of the NBA as an embarrassment to the “incorruptible members of the bar”.

The operatives of the DSS had raided the official quarters of judges at Abuja, Gombe, Kano and Port Harcourt and ended up arresting at least four judicial officers.

The arrested judicial officers comprised two Justices of the Supreme Court – Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro – as well as Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court and another judge of the Gombe State High Court, Justice Mu’azu Pindiga.

In a statement issued at the end of the raid, the DSS alleged that the suspects had engaged in judicial misconduct and corrupt practices, adding that a huge amount of money was recovered from three of the judges.

In response to the raid, the NBA had declared a state of emergency and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the judges.

Falana, however, criticised the move, saying, “In particular, the Nigerian Bar Association which has information on all corrupt judges and lawyers in the country has continued to shield them to the embarrassment of incorruptible members of the bar and the bench.

“The few lawyers who have plucked up the courage to expose corrupt judges and lawyers have been stigmatised and treated like lepers by their colleagues.

“It is on record that when both the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission sent invitation letters to judges suspected of corruption they had rushed to the Federal High Court to obtain interlocutory injunctions to prevent their arrest, investigation and prosecution.”

He said members of the legal profession had themselves to blame for the harassment of judges by security forces as they had failed to take advantage of the relevant statutory disciplinary bodies to purge the bar and the bench of corrupt elements.

“It is on account of negligence on the part of the legal profession that the SSS which screens candidates before they are recommended by the National Judicial Council for appointment as judges has now engaged in the arrest of judges for alleged corruption and abuse of office,” he said.

Falana, however, said because the detained judges “are presumed innocent until the contrary is proved by the State, they should be admitted to bail in self recognisance.”

He urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, to ensure that the judges were immediately arraigned without delay.

He lamented the state of the legal profession, saying, “It is a matter of grave concern that the legal profession has allowed the denigration of the hallowed temple of justice because of the misconduct of a few corrupt judges.

“For several years, judges who committed grave criminal offences were not prosecuted but merely retired by the authorities on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

“Although the National Judicial Council recently recommended the dismissal and prosecution of a judge for extorting the sum of N197m from a litigant the authorities had paid lip service to the menace of judicial corruption in the country.”

http://punchng.com/falana-condemns-nbas-demand-for-unconditional-release-of-arrested-judges/

The State Security Service raided the homes of some senior Nigerian judges late Friday and early Saturday to gather evidence of corruption, officials have told PREMIUM TIMES.
The raids on multiple residences in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Gombe, Kano, Enugu and Sokoto, were not aimed at arresting the judges, they said.
An official said the operation was ordered after months of investigations, during which the secret police established credibly that the affected judges were involved in questionable financial dealings.
The SSS initially submitted parts of its findings to the regulatory body, the National Judicial Council.
Officials said the SSS moved in after the council merely recommended two of the judges for retirement, and not prosecution.
The council also refused to cooperate with the SSS as the agency launched wider investigations into the cases for more evidence.
The source explained that judges whose homes were raided include Adeniyi Ademola, and Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja as well as Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro of the Supreme Court.
In Kano, the source said the home of a high court judge, Kabiru Auta, was raided along with another residence in Enugu belonging to the Chief Judge of the state, A. I. Umezulike.
The two judges were earlier recommended for retirement recently by the NJC.
The residences of a Gombe State judge, Muazu Pindiga, as well as that of his counterpart from Sokoto state, Justice Samia, were also raided during the operation.
Our source said during the search, documents linking Mr. Ngwuta or Okoro to estates worth over N1.5 billion were recovered.
At the residence of Mr. Ademola, the SSS recovered at least $400, 000 and N39 million in cash, in addition to documents of landed properties belonging to the federal judge.
The raid at Justice Mohammed Liman’s residence in Port Harcourt, our sources said, was ordered to allow operatives search the house because he was believed to be in possession of $2 million.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/212351-exclusive-untol

Next should be justice Muhammed Yunusa of Lagos division of Federal High Court

SaharaReporters has learned that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has, this evening, compulsory retired the Enugu Chief Judge Innocent Azubike Umezulike. Mr. Umezulike, the highest ranking justice for Enugu State, has been embroiled in numerous controversies related to his corrupt and fraudulent activity.


SaharaReporters previously reported that Mr. Umezulike was accused of forging legal judgments for personal gain, accepting N10 million in bribes, and ordered the unlawful arrest of petitioners against him by the Commissioner of Police.

Sources revealed to SaharaReporters that the NJC met until 6:30 this evening. During their meetings they evaluated outstanding petitions and cases involving corruption by officials in the Nigerian justice system.

The outcome of the NJC meeting was to discipline many officials including Mr. Umezulike.


http://saharareporters.com/2016/09/29/njc-forcibly-retires-corrupt-enugu-chief-judge-innocent-umezulike

GO

Bismarck Rewane, the brilliant business economist and chief executive of Financial Derivatives Ltd based in Lagos, has joined the pantheon of seers. Just before Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as Nigeria’s president on May 29, 2015, he said on a program on Classic Radio 97.3 FM that many Nigerian business executives would become ex-millionaires in a matter of months. Rewane’s reason was simple: with Buhari’s creating a new social order based on the rule of law and transparency, many government contractors would be out of business. Truth be told, most of the contractors are just rent seekers, business fronts of those in power.

Since the very day Buhari assumed office, Emeka Offor, perhaps the most controversial government contractor from Anambra State ever, has not paid staff salaries. Not only have his offices in Abuja closed down in the past one year, as SaharaReporters has just accurately revealed, the extremely flamboyant politician has not been able to bury his father who died in February. He is determined to spend a fortune on the father’s burial, as he did on January 3, 2015, when he celebrated his third marriage in his village where very expensive musicians like P-Square and Flavor played. The essence is so as to sustain the façade of a super rich business tycoon, but the resources are unfortunately no longer forthcoming. The simple truth is that Offor is now an ex millionaire. He is not alone in this club of ex-millionaires, which, in fact, is growing rapidly. Offor’s free fall became public knowledge because a lot of people have rather been celebrating his predicament; this owes to his unsavory relationship with not only family members but also most people from his hometown of Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State. We will explain shortly why his townspeople celebrate his present acute business crisis.

If it were in the days of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Offor and other Aso Rock contractors, as President Buhari reportedly described him before his chief of staff Abba Kyari, none of them would have been allowed to experience any form of discomfort. The national treasury was practically handed over to the so-called Big Boys by the PDP, which delighted in referring to the rent seekers as party financiers. It was an era of culture of impunity. Here are just a few examples. Towards the end of May of 2014, the National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) ordered 22 banks in the country where Offor’s Chrome Group had accounts to freeze them because of a 9.2 billion naira debt owed the defunct African Express Bank (AFEX), owned by Offor. The NDIC even went before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja to enforce the order. However, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s “government magic” came into play. The NDIC overnight accepted a paltry N1bn as full and final payment for the N14bn debt. This was on June 12, 2014. No reason was given for the acceptance. But everyone knew that Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency directed the financial regulator to lay off a most beloved son.

In 2013, Offor’s Interstate Electrics was described by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the National Council on Privatization (NCP) as grossly incapable of doing the business of electric power distribution because it did not possess the technical competence or financial resources. They, therefore, disqualified the consortium from bidding for any of the country’s 11 electricity distribution companies. However, within 72 hours, Jonathan’s presidency directed the NCP to declare Interstate the preferred bidder for not just the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company but also the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company. Interstate Electrics thus became the first and only consortium to become the preferred bidder for two DisCos! The Jonathan government then pleaded with Offor to choose the DisCo it wanted-- and it picked Enugu. Does anyone still wonder why the privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) assets under Jonathan remains a big mess to this day, providing the nation more darkness than light?

Despite the blacklisting of Offor following the recommendation of a committee headed by the legendary Aret Adams in the 1990s for the monumental fraud and incompetence exhibited by his company in the turn-around maintenance (TAM) contracts of both the 115,000 per day barrel Warri and the 150,000 barrel per day New Port Harcourt refineries during the Sani Abacha regime, the Jonathan government furtively awarded the TAM contract for both the New Port Harcourt and the Old Port Harcourt 60,000 barrel per day refinery to Offor’s Chrome in 2014 for an undisclosed amount. It is safe to assume that both the government which awarded the contract and the contractor were not really interested in fixing the refineries because no attempt was made to get the job done until Jonathan was defeated in the March 2015 presidential election. With the defeat, Offor quickly mobilized to site and promised that the refineries would come on stream in September, 2015. All the media in Nigeria, both print and electronic, carried the propaganda with flourish. It is almost a year now but there is absolutely nothing to show for it. The rehabilitation was abandoned almost as soon as it started.

But Jonathan is not the only president who empowered Offor with impunity. The Olusegun Obasanjo administration is perhaps more guilty. Obasanjo gave him a ChevronTexaco oil bloc in his last days in 2007 on what The Wall Street Journal called sweetheart terms. The deal became an international scandal. In addition, Obasanjo awarded him the Bauchi-Yola electricity transmission line job for a price that made the World Bank protest openly. The same government handed over to him Nigeria’s interest in the Nigeria-Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Zone, enabling Offor to become the Lord of the Manor in this small two-island nation. Obasanjo also gave Offor contracts for river channelization in Edo and Ondo states, among other places, which were not executed despite full payments. Obasanjo’s government provided Offor with police support and other forms of state assistance to fight the Chinwoke Mbadinuju government in Anambra State from 1999 to 2003, so that the ground would be prepared for Andy Uba, his Friday man, would become the state governor.

Therefore, it is very strange for Obasanjo to claim in an interview with Premium Times published on August 5, 2015, to be innocent of creating the Frankenstein monster known as Offor. No one is fooled by the claim. It is known to many Nigerians that Offor had been boasting openly how he capitalized on Obasanjo’s greed to deal with him ruthlessly. Offor has a reputation of swindling public officers once they are out of power. When former Vice President Atiku Abubakar went to Offor’s Abuja residence three years ago straight from Dubai to ask for his share of the businesses Offor did on his behalf while he was in public office from 1999 to 2007, the government contractor brought out a machete and threatened to slaughter Atiku. The ex vice president fled for his life in broad daylight! Against this background, political watchers are skeptical that ex-President Jonathan, his wife Patience and erstwhile Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo would ever receive anything from Offor who was their business agent when they were in government.

Finally, back to Offor’s relationship with his kinsmen in Oraifite, Anambra State, who have been rejoicing since the controversial government contractor fell on hard times. During in particular the time of Mohammed D. Abubakar as the Inspector General of Police, many of our townsfolk were arrested in a most humiliating manner and detained for months with hardened criminals for having personal disagreements with Offor. Some of these individuals went to court against the police and won. It never ceases to amaze one how M.D. Abubakar reduced the police leadership to a Gestapo in the hands of a barely literate private individual, who was a driver with Julius Berger construction firm. The consolation is that all our people deprived of their humanity by the police are in the process of suing Offor and Abubakar to their last kobo.

It says something profound about the culture of abomination which the PDP imposed on Nigeria for a whole 16 years that so-called business tycoons like Offor could not pay staff salaries from the very day Buhari became Nigeria’s president. We salute Buhari for insisting on things being done properly. The era of the Nigerian state serving as a cow to be milked almost to death by a few rapacious individuals is gone. We are now in a new social order.

FRSC officers are just extorting money from unsuspecting applicants.

I was charged #11,500 for the licence after another officer duped me of #8,000 and issued me fake licence and the licence was later confiscated in Abuja.

#Karma will catch up with those dubious officers

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The Federal Government on Thursday blacklisted the Nigerian Development and Construction Company (NDCC), an importer and seller of explosives in Koko, Delta State, for allegedly diverting explosives.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, who gave the blacklisting order said the company’s business premises should immediately be sealed off, in addition to the withdrawal of its explosive distribution licences.
The action by the government followed the outcome of investigations by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which revealed that the company was involved in illegal diversion of about 9,000 kilogramme of Nitro-glycerine explosives and 16,420 pieces of electrical detonators from its magazines between 2015 and 2016.
A statement from the minister’s office warned manufacturers, importers, sellers and end users of explosives in the country to desist from unprofessional activities, including the sale, procurement, storage and use of explosives in line with the provisions of the Explosives Act of 1964 , the Explosives Regulations of 1967 and other extant policy directives.
The Nigerian government has in recent years tightened its control on the distribution of explosives, as it fights a brutal insurgency by Boko Haram.
The group has killed thousands of people using suicide and car bombs since 2009.
Experts also believe that explosives, used legally by construction firms, are easily sourced by militants in the Niger Delta where oil and gas installations are frequently attacked.
It is however unclear whether the decision to blacklist NDCC had to do with such security threat.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/208071-nigeria-blacklists-firm-revokes-licence-allegedly-diverting-explosives.html

Did anybody noticed that GOtv has added Super Sport 5, Super Sport 7 and Super Sport 12 to its existing bouquets. Am I the only one that notice this..??

Did anybody noticed that GOtv has added Super Sport 5, Super Sport 7 and Super Sport 12 to its existing bouquets. Am I the only one that notice this..??

The punishment meted out to Justice Muhammed Yunusa of Lagos division of the Federal High Court awaits Justice NFN Ntong as well.

NJC should act fast and quick to investigate this allegation because we can't continue to tolerate and condone illegality in the judiciary the last hope for the common man

A coalition, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate Justice NFN Ntong of the High Court of Akwa Ibom State, Ikot Ekpene Judicial Division, for abuse of powers in a case involving the Akwa Ibom State government.
In a petition to the council and signed by the coalition’s national chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC Justice Ntong deserved punishment for his action.
The petition read: “The Akwa Ibom State Government through the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Uwemedimo Nwoko, Esq., recently filed an ex-parte motion (application) at the High Court of Akwa Ibom State, Ikot Ekpene Judicial Division, presided over by Hon. Justice NFN Ntong, to sought and obtained inter alia, an order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government or any of its agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Inspector General of Police from arresting, detaining or investigating any official of the state government, past or present, without any report of indictment by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
“Also, the Judge granted an order of interim injunction restraining: The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly; The House of Assembly for Akwa Ibom State; The Clerk of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly; The Auditor General for Akwa Ibom State and the Accountant General for Akwa Ibom State from surrendering themselves or any document or financial records to the EFCC, ICPC or any other person, authority or body.”
“Curiously, the court restrained ALL commercial banks in Nigeria, including: Zenith Bank Plc; Keystone Bank Plc (formerly Bank PHB); Skye Bank Plc; First City Monument Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc from submitting any document, Financial Statement/Record, Statement of Account, Cheque or Voucher related to any account of the Akwa Ibom State Government to any Agency of the Federal Government, including the EFCC, ICPC or the Inspector General of Police. The enrolled order to this effect was issued by Justice Ntong on July 13, 2016.”
The group said the Attorney Attorney of Akwa Ibom state, Mr. Nwoko, in an interview with an online newspaper stated that the state government went to court because the EFCC wrote letters to banks requesting documents on state government’s transactions.
“These orders granted by Justice Ntong are not only illegal but constitutes a gross abuse of judicial process and powers in the light of judicial decisions, including those of the highest court of the land (the Supreme Court) on the matter, said CSNAC, which had under its Judicial Integrity and Access to Justice (JIAJ) programme, undertook review of judgements and judicial pronouncements of Judges across the country, with a view to assisting the National Judicial Council in its fight against corruption in the Judiciary.
“There are at least five (5) settled principles of law violated by the interim injunction:
“First, the High Court of Akwa Ibom State lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain any subject matter or question relating to: (a) The administration, management or control of the Federal Government or any of its agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC; (b) The operation and interpretation of the Constitution in so far as it affects the Federal Government or any of its agencies and (c) Any action or proceeding for a declaration, order or injunction affecting the validity of any executive or administrative action or decision by the Federal Government or any of its agencies.
“By virtue of Section 251 (1) (p), (q) and (r) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the jurisdiction over the subject matter listed in the preceding paragraph is conferred EXCLUSIVELY on the Federal High Court. For ease of reference, the following cases are apt: NEPA v. Edegbero (2002) 18 NWLR (Pt. 798) 69; Benson Agbule v. Warri Refinery & Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (2013) 6 NWLR (Pt. 798) 78; Olutola v. University of Ilorin (2005) 3 MJSC 151 at Pp. 173-174; Inegbedion v. Selo-Ojemen & Anor (2013) All FWLR (Pt. 688) 907 at Pp. 922-923 and very recently, John Shoy International Limited v. Federal Housing Authority (Unreported Appeal No. SC. 98/2005) delivered July 2016 by the Supreme Court.”
“It is beyond argument that the suit instituted by the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and the orders made by Justice Ntong clearly offends the provisions 251 (1) (p), (q) and (r) of the Constitution and the Supreme Court authorities cited supra. The subject matter in the case relates to the operation and interpretation of the Constitution as it affects the EFCC and ICPC (both of which are agencies of the Federal Government).
“The interim injunction affects the validity of the administrative actions of the anti-corruption agencies. The law is now firmly established that proceedings no matter how well conducted and orders made by a court without jurisdiction are a nullity. The locus classicus on this is Madukolo v. Nkemdilim (1962) 2 SCNLR 341.
“On the power of Federal law enforcement agencies to investigate state government, this is an issue resolved by the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney General of Ondo State v. Attorney General of the Federation (2002) 9 NWLR (Pt.772) 2222. Relying on Sections 4 (4) and 15 (5) and items 60 (a) and 67 of the First Schedule to the Constitution and other enabling provisions, the Apex Court upheld, validated and sustained the ICPC and its establishment Act and dismissed the arguments canvassed by Ondo State. This decision was followed consistently in subsequent cases on the subject.
“The power to prosecute economic crimes is exclusive to the Federal Government. It is not shared with the States. See the Supreme Court decision in Nyame v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2010) 11 NWLR (Pt. 1193) 344. In the Amadi v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2008) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1119) 259 at 276, Muktar, JSC (as he then was) held that: “Indeed, the EFCC is a common agency for both the Federal and State Economic and Financial Crimes”.
“In the light of the position of the law as encapsulated above, it is most shocking, regrettable and embarrassing that Mr Nwoko, who is the Chief Law Officer of Akwa Ibom State by virtue of Section 195 of the Constitution purported to set “a precedent” over an issue that the Supreme Court of Nigeria has settled. If the Attorney General is oblivious of the state of the law on a constitutional issue like this, what becomes of the rule of law and justice in Akwa Ibom State?
“The injunction granted by Justice Ntong is a daring slap on the face of the Supreme Court, the constitution and the Judiciary.”

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/207862-group-urges-njc-probe-judge-barred-efcc-investigating-akwa-ibom.html

A Federal High Court siting in Abuja has nullified the national convention held by the Peoples Democratic Party on May 21 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
It was at that convention that the National Working Committee of the party led by former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff was dissolved and a caretaker committee led by former Governor Ahmed Markarfi was constituted.
Mr. Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, has since then been challenging his removal and has insisted that he remained the legitimate leader of Nigeria’s leading opposition party.
But ruling in a fresh case brought before his court on Thursday, Justice Okon Abang said the May 21 convention was illegal and that Mr. Makarfi’s committee was unlawfully constituted.
Justice Abang gave the ruling while determining the rightful counsel to represent the PDP in the new case.
Mr. Sheriff is asking the court to determine whether his replacement by Mr. Makarfi was lawful or an abuse of court orders.
The Lagos division of the Federal High Court had issued a court order restraining the PDP from conducting election into the offices of its national chairman, national secretary and national auditor.
The ruling by Justice Ibrahim Buba was made sequel to an application brought by Mr. Sheriff and his colleagues who occupied those positions.
The application had intended to prevent elections of new party leaders at the May 21 convention.
But on May 21, the PDP held its convention in Port Harcourt where Mr. Makarfi was appointed to lead a caretaker committee, a development that sparked a fresh round of crisis in the party, with Mr. Sheriff insisting that he remained the legitimate chairman of the fold.
The two contenders sent two different lawyers to Justice Abang’s court on Thursday, both claiming to represent the national chairman of the party.
The court listened to the two lawyers – Ferdinand Obi and Adeniyi Akintola — to enable it to determine who should be the legal representative of the PDP in the matter.
Giving his ruling, Mr. Abang ruled that in determining who should be the rightful counsel to the PDP, it was necessary to decide whether the caretaker committee led by Mr. Makarfi was rightly constituted or not.
“The convention was unlawfully held and the caretaker committee was unlawfully constituted,” the judge ruled.
“If the Markarfi-led faction, as an apostle of impunity, missed its way to the Port Harcourt division of the FHC, the court cannot be said to have acted within its legal jurisdiction in entertaining the matter,” Mr. Abang said.
He urged politicians to desist from creating confusion for judges.
Prior to his ruling, the counsel argued for over seven hours.
Mr. Obi, who represented the Makarfi faction, argued that it was illegal for the Deputy National Legal Adviser of the Sheriff faction , Bashir Maidugu, to file the suit and then also receive court processes on behalf of his faction.
“The plaintiff has no authority to receive documents for PDP, whom he has sued as the second defendant,” he said
He further cited a previous ruling by the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court, which ruled that the decisions taken at the May 21 convention were completely legal.
He added that the court held in that judgment that nothing in the decision of the convention amounted to an abuse of the law.
But responding, Mr. Akintola, who represented the Sheriff faction, said his client received the processes for the matter as part of his official responsibility as a legal officer representing the PDP.
“I submit that the plaintiff has power to act in plural capacity. He is a lawyer and the legal officer for the PDP,” Mr. Akintola said.
He added that the previous case cited by Mr. Obi did not make categorical statement as to who should represent the PDP, adding that the decision of his client to act in his statutory position should not amount to an abuse of law.
“We urge the court to hold that we are counsel for the PDP and that my learned brother should cease to appear for the PDP,” he said.
In his ruling, Justice Abang noted that there was an order restraining the party from conducting election into the offices of national chairman, national secretary and auditor pending the hearing and determination of a substantive suit at the Lagos decision of the Federal High Court.
“Where the court in Port Harcourt had no jurisdiction for entertaining such matters, a court of coordinate jurisdiction has legal prerogative to nullify the decision reached at the Port Harcourt division of the court,” he said.
Responding, Mr. Obi prayed the court for an adjournment, saying the issues raised were weighty and important for the determination of the matter.
“They should therefore not be resolved hastily,” he said.
Responding, Justice Abang said the May 21 convention was held despite the decision of the court, and that the Port Harcourt division wrongly assumed jurisdiction which led to the July 4 judgement that nullified the decision of the Lagos Division of the court.
He therefore ruled that the decision of Mr. Obi to ask for adjournment rather than respond to the question posed to him was not meritorious and therefore his prayer for adjournment refused.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/207719-pdp-crisis-ali-modu-sheriff-wins-as-court-nullifies-port-harcourt-convention.html

Worthy to note:

“ Integrity is necessary for all systems and institutions to be strong. Today, rogues, armed robbers are in the state houses of assembly and the national assembly. What sort of laws will they make?


#OBJ Has hit it on the head

Former Senator and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, was on Friday night released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after he agreed to refund the over N1.3billion he allegedly received from the office of the National Security Adviser, people familiar with the matter have told PREMIUM TIMES.
The EFCC arrested Mr. Omisore in Abuja on July 3 for allegedly collecting the huge funds from a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
The former NSA is being prosecuted for allegedly mismanaging billions of dollars meant to procure arms and ammunition for the Nigerian military which has in the past five years been battling a deadly insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria.
The PDP chieftain had since his arrest battled hard to regain freedom from the custody of the EFCC.
The anti-graft commission moved him to the National Hospital, Abuja, after he complained that his health was failing. He was however kept under close watch by two well-armed police officers.
Then his lawyers approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to press for bail but the court, on July 15, dismissed the application for lack of competence.
This week, the former deputy governor capitulated, those close to him said. He approached the EFCC and agreed to refund the money he was alleged to have fraudulently received.
On Friday, the EFCC granted him administrative bail after he struck a deal with the commission to refund the N1.3billion in installments.
He paid the first installment of N300million before he was allowed to go home, this newspaper learned.
Those familiar with the negotiation said before his release on Friday, Mr. Omisore issued a letter authorising his bank to release N170million to the EFCC, being the entire amount in his frozen account.
He also gave the anti-graft commission a draft of N130 million, bringing the first installment of the repayment plan to N300 million.
Mr. Omisore, a former deputy governor of Osun State and PDP flag-bearer in the 2014 Osun governorship election, will return to the Commission on Monday for further negotiations regarding how he would stagger the refund of the remaining one billion, our sources said.
Mr. Omisore had denied benefiting from #Dasukigate and had sued the EFCC, seeking N10 billion damages, after he was declared wanted in May.
However, according to our sources, Mr. Omisore, while in detention, admitted to collecting the sum from Mr. Dasuki.
Mr. Omisore, our sources disclosed, had initially claimed that the over N1.3 billion he received from Mr. Dasuki was meant for a certain parcel of land he sold to the office of the NSA.
The politician was however unable to provide documents backing the transaction, those close to him said.
EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached to comment for this story early Saturday morning.
Mr. Omisore too could not be reached by this newspaper. But the Nigerian Tribune quoted him as saying after his release, “Thanks for your support and prayers. I also thank my supporters for their steadfastness. I’m back at home in Abuja.”

http://saharareporters.com/2016/07/23/omisore-surrenders-reaches-deal-efcc-alleged-n13-billion-fraud

could this be true....?

– The PDP has apologised for the political tension in the country

– The party asked Nigerians to forgive it for its role in causing a toxic political atmosphere

– The opposition promised to henceforth focus on providing competent solutions to the issues facing the nation

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has apologized to Nigerians for ‘whatever role’ it played in creating a toxic political atmosphere in the country.
The party lamented that the toxicity has reached the level where the finer points of national conversation are drowned out in shouts and screams across the political divide.
According to the opposition, it would henceforth focus only on proffering cogent and competent solutions to the issues facing the nation.


This was disclosed in a series of tweets on Tuesday, July 19, via the party’s official Twitter account.
The party wrote: “ We have noticed, with a growing sense of dismay, the level of toxicity that pervades the political space with respect to discussions on national issues
“This toxicity, some of which finds expression in discussions across social media platforms, has reached the level where bridges are being burnt, personal relationships are being strained and an unnecessary tension fills what should ordinarily be patriotic and enlightening conversations on how to move the nation forward.
“We accept responsibility and apologise for whatever role we have played in reaching this level of toxicity .”

The party therefore, called on its supporters to show more maturity while pointing out the flaws of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

https://www.naij.com/896862-tired-fighting-buhari-pdp-makes-u-turn-party-will-shock.html?source=index_trending

#Facts check that so called fan critic is neither married nor have a reasonable boyfriend...

We understood the fan pains...

My Candid Thought Sha.....!!

President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, and other stakeholders, on Monday jointly spoke against corruption and identified the roles of the judiciary and other in the fight against the scourge in the country.
Against this background, the CJN said the judiciary would no longer dismiss cases of corruption against high- profile persons without trial.
The CJN said the judiciary had put a stop to giving verdicts that exonerated high-profile citizens accusinstitutionsed of corruption without undergoing trial.
Justice Mohammed said this amid calls by President Buhari and other stakeholders, on the judiciary to join the Federal Government’s efforts to rid the country of corruption.
The President called on the judiciary to put its house in order, tackle judicial corruption, be impartial and politically-neutral, remove causes of delays in adjudication of cases and stop tolerating the dilatory tactics of defence lawyers that prolonged high- profile corruption cases.
The President, the CJN and others including the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), among others spoke at the opening ceremony of an ‘International Workshop on the Judiciary and Fight against Corruption.’
The two-day event was jointly-organised by the National Judicial Institute and the Sagay-led PACAC and it was with the theme, ‘The Roles of Judges in the Fight Against Corruption:
Sagay, who had earlier spoken at the event, had identified four reasons for the “unconcluded-trial syndrome” that had kept the corruption cases against about 15 ex-governors in court since 2007 to include, “the reluctance or failure of the judiciary to take control of their own courts and to exercise their powers firmly and decisively.”
But the CJN in a veiled response to Sagay, while delivering his speech, said one of the reasons the cases against the politically-exposed persons had remained in the court’s dockets was because of lack of will by government to get them prosecuted.
He said, “I must emphasise that the fact that these cases still remain on our case list was because of lack of will on the part of government to have these cases prosecuted.
“Also, as corresponding action from the judiciary, we are determined not to strike out or dismiss the cases or discharge and acquit accused persons without trial.
“That is why these cases remain on the list because of virile determination to have them prosecuted when the will to do so arises such as now.”
The CJN said since 2013, various levels of court in the country had “initiated and introduced Practice Directions on Kidnapping, Corruption and other Serious Offences, that provides framework for the fast-tracking of major crimes and corruption cases.”
He added, “The issue of undue delay by technicality, which hitherto plagued the criminal justice system, has also been addressed by the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.”
He urged “all parties to proceedings to avail themselves of the innovations introduced by the Act in order to ensure that delay becomes obsolete in our courts.”
He assured Nigerians that the judiciary would continue to play its role in the fight against corruption, adding that due punishment would be meted out to anyone found guilty.
Reiterating the role of diligent investigation in the successful prosecution of corruption cases, the CJN commended the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, in that regard.
President Buhari said his administration made the war against corruption one of its priorities in order to restore the economy and build a new Nigeria.


http://punchng.com/no-dismissal-corruption-cases-without-trial-cjn/

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has explained why it recommended Justice Mohammed Nasiru Yunusa of the Lagos division of the Federal High Court and Justice Olamide Folahanmi Oloyede of the Osun State High Court for compulsory retirement.
In a statement signed by Soji Oye, the council's acting Director of Information, the NJC said it took the decision to recommend the two judges for sack at its 77th meeting, which held on 15 July, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.
According to the statement, the NJC prescribed that Justice Yunusa be compulsorily retired following its findings during the investigation into allegations contained in petitions written against him by the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC). The civil society organisation alleged that Yunusa granted interim orders and perpetual injunctions restraining the Attorney-General of the Federation, Inspector- General of Police, Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting, investigating and prosecuting some persons accused of corruption in seven cases.
These include (FHC\L\CS\1471\2015) between Simon John Adonimere & 3 Ors Vs. EFCC; (FHC\L\CS\477\14) FRN V MichaelAdenuga; (FHC\L\CS\1342\15); Senator Stella Oduah Vs. AG Federation, EFCC, ICPC and IGP; and ( FHC\L\CS\1285\15) Jude Adelakun & Anor Vs. Chairman EFCC & Anor.
The others are (FHC\L\CS\1455\) Dr. Martins Oluwafemi Thomas Vs. EFCC;(FHC\L\CS\1269\15) Hon Shamsudeen Abogu Vs. EFCC & Ors; and (FHC\L\CS\1012\15) Hon. Etete Dauzia Loya Vs. EFCC.
During deliberations, said the statement, the NJC found that Justice Yunusa assumed jurisdiction in Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit FHC\L\CS\1342\15 even though the infringement of the applicant’s right occurred in Abuja. This, said the council, is contrary to Section 46 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
It also found that Yunusa contravened Rule 3. 1 of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers in Suit FHC\L\CS\1445\15 by claiming ignorance of the provisions of the Money Laundering Act when he gave an order stopping EFCC from conducting an investigation into a $2.2million money laundering case against the applicant.
The NJC held that Justice Yunusa’s decision to restrain the anti-graft agencies from performing their statutory functions in the first six listed cases is contrary to the judgement of the Court of Appeal in AG Anambra State Vs. UBA, which he quoted, but did not apply in his rulings.
Justice O.F Oloyede of the Osun State High Court, explained the NJC, was undone by findings during the investigation into allegations contained in petitions written by Osun Civil Societies Coalition.
The NJC said it found that Justice Oloyede conducted herself in a manner inimical to the dignity of her office as well as impartiality and independence of the judiciary when she sent a petition against Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and his deputy to the State House of Assembly. She also circulated the petition to 36 persons and organizations.
"The petition was said to contain political statements, unsubstantiated allegations and accusations aimed at deriding, demeaning and undermining the Government of Osun State, the person and character of the Governor (as one who is cruel, a liar and a traitor), his deputy and aides," the statement explained.
The NJC concluded that the petition bore statements made with the intention of inciting the people of Osun State against the state government and its elected officers.
"Hon. Justice Oloyede crossed the fundamental right of freedom of speech and created a negative perception of the Nigerian Judiciary to the public. "The allegations against the Hon. Judge constitute a misconduct contrary to Section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended and Rules 1 (1) and 5 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," the NJC stated.
On account of its findings, the NJC has suspended Justices Yunusa and Oloyede from office pending the approval of its recommendation for their compulsory retirement by President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Aregbesola respectively.

http://saharareporters.com/2016/07/17/why-we-recommended-justice-yunusa-and-oloyede-sack-national-judicial-council

NIGERIA SENATE: QUIZ 101, WEEK 27
TIME: 30 MINUTES.

Choose the correct answer.

Q1: "I will beat you and nothing will happen" who made this statement.. (5 marks)
A, Bukola Saraki
B. Ekweremadu
C. Dino Melaye
D. OBJ.

Q2: To whom was the statement in Q1 was
directed? (5 marks)
A, Remi Tinubu
B. Diezanne
C. Mrs. Melaye
D. None of the above.

Q3, If Remi Tinubu gets impregnated by Dino, what will the child be in future. (5 marks)
A, A Bastard
B. A billionaire
C. A. Thug
D. Future Nigeria President
E. A Nigerian Senator

Q4. What should be Bola Tinubu's reaction to Dino's statement? (5 marks)
A. Beat Dino
B. Thank Dino
C. Sue Dino to court
D. Do nothing
E. Divorce Remi

Q5. What statement will Bola Tinubu likely make after hearing that his wife will be impregnated by
Dino. (5 marks)
A. Hmmm, Remi, so you and Dino have been doing it together Abi?
B. Hmmm Omo Ale jatijati.
C. Wo Remi, Let Him try it first, and I will show
him what "Magun" is, idiot.
D. Olorun gbo adura wa ni yen (God has finally
answered our prayer)

Q6. Why was Remi Tinubu not scared of Dino's statement? (5 marks)
A. She knows Dino is a liar.
B. She knows Dino cannot perform.
C. She knows Dino can perform.
D. She wants to dare Dino

Q7. What was Bukola Saraki' reaction to Dino's statement? (5 marks)
A. He was quiet.
B. He was shocked.
C. He was happy
D. He was sorry for Dino
E. none of the above.

Q8. Why was Saraki sorry for Dino.? (5marks)
A. He knows Dino is impotent.
B. He knows Bola put Magun on Remi.
C. He also want to impregnate Remi.
D. He is very scared of Tinubu.
E. All of the above.

Q9. What was Ekweremadu's reaction to Dino's statement? (5 marks)
A. He was shocked
B. He wasn't 'happy.
C. He wasn't listening
D. He was happy.
E. None of the above.

Q.10. Ekweremadu did not hear Dino's statement because...... (5 marks)
A. He was not happy.
B. He was thinking about his jail term.
C. He was thinking about his forgery case.
D.He was fighting at that time.
E. All of the above.

Q11. In one sentence describe what should happen to Nigeria Senate?
(50 marks)

No cheating please..

where are the name callers association...

Buhari wants to Christianize Nigeria...

Olofos food is ready.....!!

Two top officials of the Nigerian Prisons Service have been retired from service.
The spokesperson for the prisons service, Francis Enobore, announced the retirements in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.
The statement said, “Following the appointment of Ja’afaru Ahmed as the Controller-General of the Nigerian Prisons Service, the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board ( CDFIPB), in an emergency meeting held on the 27th of June, 2016, approved the retirement of a Deputy Controller-General and an Assistant Controller-General of Prisons from the service.
“They are Aminu Suley, mni and Ali Bala Salami, mni respectively.
“The letter signed by the Secretary of the Board, Alh. A. A. Ibrahim dated 28th June, 2016 indicated that the decision was taken due to the officers’ seniority in service to the new Controller-General of Prisons and in consonance with military and paramilitary convention.
“While wishing them good luck in their future endeavours, the (CDFIPB) commended the officers for their contributions to the development of the Nigerian Prisons Service.”

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/206696-nigeria-retires-top-prisons-officers-service.html

FAYOSE never bargained for this. suddenly he has gone days without his usual media theatrics and media statement through his media adviser.

EFCC has gotten more than enough evidence to nail both Fayose and Obanikoro.

The video footage says it all, dey will have their day in court. will see how they will use corrupt lawyers to deny this evidence.

Lagos Airport Video Footage Shows How Obanikoro Loaded Plane With ₦1.29b For Fayose


Fresh insights into how a former Minister for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro allegedly loaded a chartered aircraft with N1, 299, 490b for transfer to Governor Ayodele Fayose through an associate, Abiodun Agbele has been revealed.
The cash was transferred through HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.
The first flight was filled with N724.5million cash to the extent that there was no seat for any crew member or the ex-Minister.
It was during the second flight with N494.990m that Obanikoro, his Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant Colonel A.O Adewale, and crew member joined the trip to Akure Airport.
Records indicated yesterday that for each of the trip, Obanikoro paid $12,500 making a total of $25,000.
The EFCC has retrieved the footage details of Obanikoro’s movement at the airport and the flight schedule of the aircraft.
According to fresh evidence obtained by the EFCC, the ex-Minister had defied security gate at the airport in Lagos to move a bullion van to the apron of the chartered wing to off-load the cash.
Although the security men at the airport resisted the use of the security gate, the ex-Minister ordered soldiers to break all barriers for the bullion van to get to the apron.
A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Contrary to his attacks on EFCC, we have retrieved the footage and details of how he ordered soldiers to break the barriers at the reserved security gate at Lagos Airport for a bullion van to go to the apron of the chartered service wing.
“He defied security men at the airport and refused to subject the bullion van to any screening contrary to aviation rules. In fact, apart from financial crimes, the ex-Minister, and his accomplices have outstanding allegations against them for violating aviation safety rules or regulations.
“The aircraft made two shuttles to Akure Airport on June 17, 2014. Our investigation revealed that during the first flight, about N724.5million was offloaded from the bullion into the aircraft. The cash occupied all the space to the extent that there was nowhere to sit by the crew and the ex-Minister.
“But when the balance of N494.990m was loaded into the aircraft for the second trip, Obanikoro, his ADC, one highly-placed person from the South-West, and the crew were able to make the trip.
“Let him continue to make noise in the United States instead of coming home to clear his name. We have interacted with the aviation staff on the ground on the said date. We have identified the owner of the aircraft to be a member of the sacked management of Skye Bank Plc.”
Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that the ex-Minister paid $25,000 for the two flights to Akure at $12,500 each.
Another source confirmed that the aircraft belonged a member of the sacked management of Skye Bank Plc.
“We have evidence of the payment of $25,000 to Gyro Air Limited for the two flights to Akure. And Zenith Bank confirmed how Fayose’s associate, Agbele, brought the cash into its branch in Akure to keep as sundry funds.”
Responding to a question, the source said: “From our findings, the Minister and Fayose fought over N80million missing from the total cash.
“They had a shouting match until reasons prevailed between the two politicians on the whereabouts of the N80million.”
An Investigating Officer of the EFCC, Tosin Owobo during the week opened up at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti on how the N1, 299,490,000.00 was wired into Governor Ayodele Fayose’s accounts by one of his associates, Abiodun Agbele.
Owobo, who swore to an affidavit, said: “That the total sum of N 1, 219,490,000 (One billion, two hundred and nineteen million, four hundred and ninety thousand naira) was conveyed to Akure Airport by Senator Obanikoro through a chartered aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.”
“That on the 17th day of June 2014, Mr. Alade Oluseye in the company of one Abiodun Agbele a front of the Applicant (Fayose), went to the Akure Airport wherein they took cash delivery of the sum of N724,500,000.00 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his acclaimed Aide-de-Camp Lieutenant Colonel A.O Adewale.
“That on the 18th day of June 2014, another sum of N494, 990,000 was also delivered to Mr. Alade Oluseye by the said Minister in the same manner.
“ That the total sum of N 1, 219,490,000 (One billion, two hundred and nineteen million, four hundred and ninety thousand naira) was conveyed to Akure Airport by Senator Obanikoro through a chartered aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.”

http://saharareporters.com/2016/07/10/lagos-airport-video-footage-shows-how-obanikoro-loaded-plane-₦129b-fayose

PDP has a long way to go with their crisis. MAKARFI group had been bragging INEC observed their primaries hence they are the authentic PDP.

Even if PDP resolved their internal wrangling and impasse today it will surely affect their political fortune in both Edo and Ondo states.

I don't just see them perform miracles to win Edo or better still Ondo with all these uncertainty and infighting....!!

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would await the final outcome of court cases in deciding on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate for the governorship election in Edo.
Nick Dazang, Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
The two factions of PDP led by National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ahmed Markafi and disputed National Chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff, conducted separate primaries to pick candidate.
The Makarfi’s group, supported by all organs of the party, including the Governors’ Forum and the Board of Trustees, conducted its primary on June 20 in Benin and elected Osagie Ize-Iyamu as candidate.
On June 29, in another primary also in Benin, but was not supervised by INEC as required by the Electoral Act, Sheriff’s faction picked Matthew Iduoriyekwemwen as the party’s candidate for the Sept. 10 election.
Insisting on final pronouncement of the court of the issue, mR. Dazang said, “as at now we have not received the certified true copy of the July 4 judgment of a Federal high Court, Port Harcourt, on the matter.
“We are waiting for that judgment and other judgments so that we can study them.
“The commission, after studying the judgment and the advice from its lawyers, will then take a position, but we are still waiting for the last judgment which was the one on July 4.
“It will be like from next week by the time we receive them and when the commission sits, a position will be taken.
“It is when the commission has done that that it will then decide on any faction or candidate it is going to accept.’’
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja had on June 30, affirmed Mr. Sheriff as the PDP National Chairman and ordered INEC to recognise any candidate presented by him.
But, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on July 4 held that the May 21 national convention that removed Sheriff as chairman and constituted the National Caretaker Committee was duly constituted.
The court also declared that the dissolution of the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee by that convention was valid.
In the judgment, Justice Abdullahi Liman, declared that the appointment of the caretaker committee to oversee the party’s affairs was legal and in line with the provisions of PDP Constitution.
(NAN)


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/206583-edo-2016-inec-says-wont-accept-makarfi-sheriffs-candidates-except-court-rules.html

Barring any last minute change in plans, an amicable resolution of the ownership crisis surrounding the Ajaokuta Steel Complex might be reached early August when the Nigerian government and Messrs Global Steel Holdings Limited, and Indian firm, are scheduled to sign terms of settlement.
The signing of the terms of settlement will free Ajaokuta Steel Complex from all contractual encumbrances that had left it uncompleted and non-functional for decades, PREMIUM TIMES has learned.
Negotiations for amicable resolution of the ownership crisis of the foremost steel company has dragged on since 2008, leaving the country’s steel and industrial sectors largely paralysed.
Those familiar with the negotiations told PREMIUM TIMES President Muhammadu Buhari had already given approval for the execution of the “modified concession agreement with Global Steel Holdings Limited, following reports of the mediation meetings forwarded to him from the Justice ministry.”
The mediation meetings, reliable sources said, recently held in London, United Kingdom.
The London meetings followed months of negotiations between the Federal Government and Global Steel Holdings, coordinated by an international mediator, Phillip Howell-Richardson.
The Nigerian government’s team to the series of meetings was led by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, whose ministry is responsible for the steel sector, our sources said.
The team also comprised top officials of the Ministry of Solid Minerals development and Ministry of Justice.
The Chairman of GSHL, Prammod Mittal, led the consortium’s team to the meetings.
Insiders said part of the agreements reached during the last meeting was that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex reverts to the Nigerian government fully, while its sister company, Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) would be retained by GSHL under existing concession agreement but with Ajaokuta plant gaining priority access to the iron ore from NIOMCO.
President Buhari has repeatedly promised to diversify the Nigerian economy and create jobs through agriculture and extraction of solid minerals.
Mr. Fayemi, who resumed work as Minister of Solid Minerals Development on November 11, 2015, had in many fora restated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that the AjaokutaSteel Complex is revitalised.
The multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta Steel Company is regarded as one steel complex with capacity to help trigger the much-needed industrialisation of the country as well as stimulate growth in the iron and steel sub sector.
Several investors had expressed interest in the completion and running of the plant, including the Russian and Ukranian original builders of the plant; a Chinese consortium and many indigenous steel companies.
Sources at the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development said once all encumbrances have been removed, government would conduct a transparent bid exercise that would be determined purely by technical competence and financial capacity.
Global Steel could not be reached for comments Friday, but the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development confirmed serious negotiation was apace.
Olayinka Oyebode, the chief press secretary to Minister Fayemi said he was aware of the ongoing negotiation, but that he had no mandate from to divulge its details.
The mediator, Mr. Howell-Richardson, was not available when PREMIUM TIMES called his office. His staff, Nicky Doble, said only the mediator could discuss the matter.
Mr. Howell-Richardson’s cellphone failed to connect the multiple times our reporter called.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/206565-exclusive-nigeria-indian-firm-reach-agreement-ajaokuta-steel-company.html