₦airaland Forum

FOR allegedly neglecting and discriminating against the South-East geopolitical zone over the years by successive governments, former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has instituted a Fundamental Rights Class Action against the Federal Government.

Agbakoba did so for himself and on behalf of the zone.

In the suit he filed before the Federal High Court, sitting in Enugu, at the weekend, the constitutional lawyer is claiming from the Federal Government the sum of N1 trillion to be shared among the five states in the geopolitical zone, as compensation for the alleged discrimination and neglect, which he listed as the total neglect of the South-East by the government in terms of infrastructure and general federal presence, abandonment of the Niger Bridge, failure to build the Second Niger Bridge and Failure to exploit the oil/gas reserves in the Anambra Basin, thereby stalling the applicant’s legitimate expectation from employment and derivation funds for development.

Others are: Abandonment of the Enugu Colliery, failure to develop trade-friendly ports and Customs policies and establishing ‘ease-of-business’ platforms to assist the applicant’s trading brothers and sisters to do better and operate on a higher and modern scale in trading, as well as failure to have an operational international cargo airport at Owerri, the Imo Stte capital, to aid trading.


Others include: Failure to dredge the Lower Niger and build a port at Onitsha to aid trading, disparity in states’ structure, which puts the applicant’s South-East zone behind every other zone, over-policing and police menacing, abandoning of the zone to gully erosion, as well as failure to respond to calls to check widening gullies in the zone.

Agbakoba is, therefore, praying the court, in the case which the Federal Attorney General is also co-respondent, for an order directing the 1st respondent to forthwith prepare and release for immediate execution a comprehensive South-East Development Master Plan (SEDM) for urgent turn-around of infrastructure in zone, and the phased execution of such master plan to be pursued with dispatch and vigour.

The applicant is also urging the court for an order directing the government to, forthwith, prepare and send to the National Assembly for enactment, a bill to establish the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) and for ancillary matters, which shall be charged with the execution of the said master plan and the general development of the zone.

He also wants an order directing the government to put all its machinery, including but not limited to legal and political apparatuses, in motion, with a view to urgently creating two additional states in the zone to balance with the seven states in the North-West, and thereby bring to an end the discriminatory practices against the South-East in terms of legislative representation, political and judicial appointments and federal allocation accruing to the zone.

Besides, the applicant is further seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the 1st respondent, whether by itself, its agents, servants or privies, or, otherwise, howsoever from further acts of discrimination against the applicant or any member of the group and class he represents.

Agbakoba brought the suit on the following grounds: *The government has discriminated and continues to discriminate against him and the group and class he represents, as a Nigerian, as well as by reason of his being of the Igbo ethnic group and of the South-East geopolitical zone.

*The total neglect of the applicant’s geopolitical zone by the Federal Government in terms of infrastructure and general federal presence making the Applicant feel not part of the Nigerian.

The SAN argued that Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, protect the right of the applicant to freedom from discrimination based on his ethnic grouping and place of origin.

Other grounds are: *That the conduct of the affairs of the Nigerian state is discriminatory against the applicant, running contrary to Section 14(3) of the Constitution, which provides that the composition of the government of the federation, or any of its agencies, and the conduct of its affairs shall reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, and ensure that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in the government of the federation.

*That the grant of the reliefs sought will restore the applicant’s social, political and economic dignity and equality with regards to people of his Igbo ethnic group and South-East geopolitical zone in the federation of Nigeria, by protecting the applicant from further discrimination by the Nigerian state based on his being of the Igbo ethnic group and South-East origin.

In a 99-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the human rights activist, Agbakoba averred: “The origins of the discrimination have roots deeply grounded in Nigeria’s historical, political and economic development and the inherent contradictions within the Nigerian state itself from foundation, which were left unresolved before pushing for independence.

“I admire my compatriots in other geopolitical zones, and expect to be integrated and made relevant in the affairs of the 1st respondent just like them. I reject the status of a poor cousin with which the South-East has been unfairly burdened.

“It is in the interest of justice and a united and harmonious Nigeria for injunction to lie against the 1st respondent to reverse the neglect of the South-East zone and award general damages to be shared among the states of the South-East as mitigation for huge losses occasioned by over forty years spent by the South-East in the wilderness of marginalisation.”

http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68929:alleged-marginalisation-of-seast-agbakoba-slams-n1t-suit-on-fg&catid=43:news&Itemid=799

Akainzo:
It is your idea of how police or SSS should carry out investigations that is very clearly laughable. So to you the SSS should maintain a queue of cases, solve one then move to the other.

No wonder you support mediocrity.

krendo:
Raymond Dokpesi recieved a text message containing 4 million used for Abuja Bombing
Mr Okah recieved a forwarded e-mail message saying "we have done it, tell them to run away"

How come they never ever tell us who sent these messages?
I can not immagine a man who committed a crime as horrific as bombing Abuja going to sit down somewhere may be in a cybercafe sending an e-mail  instruction to his planners 5 hours later that they have done it, you can now run away. When the bomb was already all over the news as soon as it is detonated.

The people running this SSS are as dumb as they are wicked.

Imagine arresting Mr Ernest Orlu because his elder brother committed a crime.

Nigerian SSS is surely making Mugabe and his security services look like saints.

Abagworo:
The more obvious it becomes that Okah has a hand in the bombings,the more the north is vindicated.

krendo:
I think the lawyers should approach a court and seek injunction compelling SSS to grant them access to their client, the injunction should also compel SSS to state in clear details what these boys were arrested for.

The reason they are acting all this film is simple, their investigation methods is very basic and they have no evidence whatsoever. What they seem to be doing is sending forwarded sms messages and e-mail messages to those they want to arrest.

They usually have evidence of BOMB suspects who recieved text messages or who recieved forwareded messages but never have bomb suspects who sent these messages. It makes you wonder whether if it is the same people making the arrest who are sending these messages in the first place?

Gbawe:
It is the common nature of those who support GEJ .

oyb:
we expect the fg to conduct investigations in a professional manner that will leave no room for doubt or leave us with impressions of a badly orchestrated witch hunt , which is how the whole 'investigation' is shaping out

secret trials - does that bode well?

Akainzo:
Nope, the investigation should NOT stop!
However since he has come to the realization that this are criminal acts, equity dictates that he should order an investigation into the previous bomb blasts.
I do wonder why GEJ was not interested in investigating the people that bombed his own country home? Or maybe he does know.

oyb:
dude, sorry o, no ves, thank you for confirming that the lives of nd people are worth far less than those of abuja residents

i will save this for future reference

the point is that your fg is following this case simply because they were humiliated in the eyes of the world, and your hero has also seen an opportunity to truncate his opposition

kep defending mugabesque thuggery because your person is calling the shots

oyb:
it is only because this was an act of terrorism in the eye of the foreign media we are seeing all this demo.

did three people not die in the warri bombings? why was our cinc and sss silent then ?
hypocrites playing to the gallery

marvix:
This is Nigeria my brother, what if the young boy was there to describe the suspects, do you even realise the weight of this investigation.

Someone may really be interested in knowing who and who the SSS have in custody, the investigation here still involves people the SSS may not know abt, the masterminds may be working on eliminating the direct accomplices of those in custody.

Who says a secondary school student can not be making calls describing the details of the suspects, the SSS may have felt compromised by his position and would need to fully debrief him check who actually he was talking to.

We want Nigeria to move forward yet we dont want people to their jobs.

The SSS is interested in solving and getting to the root of this matter, terrorists acts are not the same thing as armed robbery or even bank robbery, what more can I say?

I have always said that HENRY OKAH is innocent and will finally WALK FREE from this evil government . . . .

I love what OKAH represents!!!!!

Abagworo: Government exonerated MEND and accussed northerners,why then are they trying Okah and not northerners?Framing texts like "done,tell them to leave now" cannot deviate the fact that FG initially tried accusing [size=15pt]northerners[/size].

Creamish:
. . .wow . . .see where my mates dey!! . . . . . and im busy asking for recharge card!!

Abagworo:
What I have been able to deduce from all these events is that MEND is having an internal crisis which has nothing to do with the Niger Delta struggle,North or Dokpesi.GEJ might be deeply involved with one of the factions and believes he can use his power to win this internal war.Okah is a very intelligent and powerful man and therefore cleared his tracks and can never be found wanting.

My conclusion is that a dialogue is the only solution and secondly the president should forget about 2011 for Nigeria's good.

krendo:
Does anyone have a video of orubebe present at Jonathan's innauguration? declaration.

Jarus:
MEET THE MEN:
1, Oluwadamir, 3 posts, all on Saraki. https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?action=profile;u=530980
2, Parakoyi, 5 posts, 4 on Saraki, https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?action=profile;u=537316;sa=showPosts
3, bisilawal, 2 posts, all on Saraki, https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?action=profile;u=539898;sa=showPosts
4, daudaalabi, 1 post, on Saraki, https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-464754.0.html
5, kolayusuf, 8 posts, all on Saraki, https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?action=profile;u=539695;sa=showPosts
6, suleyaha, 6 posts, all but one on Saraki, https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?action=profile;u=540883;sa=showPosts

THEIR EFFORTS SO FAR:
1, Governor Bukola Saraki: ThisDay Emerging Tiger, https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-450898.0.html
2, Dr Bukola Saraki Urges Youths To Participate in Politics: https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-455052.0.html
3, Dr Bukola Saraki: KPSEF condemns destructive criticism by opposition https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-455797.0.html
4, Dr. Bukola Saraki Distributes Office equipment, https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-464252.0.html
5, Dr Bukola Saraki: Only credible candidates for LG polls, https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-464754.0.html
and many more

youngmonie:
http://www.thetimesofnigeria.com/TON/Article.aspx?id=2886

On September 17, two weeks before the Abuja blasts, Orubebe traveled to South Africa and had dinner with him and his wife, Azuka, at his residence on September 18.
After dinner, a close family source said Okah dropped off Orubebe in his car at the popular Redeem Christian Church of God located at 118 Annie road, Randburg, South Africa.

During the visit, Orubebe stayed at the prestigious Southern Sun hotel on Katherine Street located in the heart of Sandton, Johannesburg’s premier business and financial hub. A mere 30 minutes’ from the O.R Tambo International Airport.

krendo:
which is why you should advise your President to stop chasing a ghost and concentrate on building Nigeria

At the rate he is going they will soon arrest a batalion of people in the name of hunting down Jomo gbomo.

krendo:
http://saharareporters.com/news-page/mend-repeats-warning-abuja-residents


[size=18pt]MEND Repeats Warning To Abuja Residents[/size]

Posted: October 19, 2010 - 13:12
Posted by siteadmin

By SaharaReporters, New York
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has issued a new alert requesting stoppage to all forms of media enquiries to it as a result of what it described as "security concerns". [size=25pt]MEND also repeated its warnings to Abuja residents not to attend President Jonathan's political gatherings.[/size]
The statement appeared hurriedly written but it came from MEND's traditional e-mail address.

See full text of press release issued by "Jomo Gbomo":

Out of security concerns,the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta MEND until further notice will no longer entertain any enquires.Henceforth,we will release to the media only warnings and statements of claim.

We hereby repeat our warnings to the residents of Abuja,the heart of the country and to all persons who will be interested in attending the political campaign organised by the president Goodluck Jonathan. This is due to the split he has initiated in our country that had enjoyed a united front politically, and the corruption and split in the Niger Delta community.


Lastly,the arrest and detention of our respected brothers of the land and the assassination of their character has become a great concern that cannot be ignored.

Jomo Gbomo.

FORMER leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, who is standing trial for the October 1 bomb blasts in Abuja, could be the same person as Jomo Gbomo, a letter by his wife, Azuka, has revealed.

Okah, who testified in his own bail application at a Johannesburg magistrate’s court on Monday, however, claimed he did not know Jomo Gbomo. He is facing charges of engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activities, and delivering, placing and detonating an explosive device.

Prosecutor, Shaun Abrahams, told the court that Okah was one of the people involved in sending an e-mail warning of the attack.
"Do you know anyone by the name of Jomo Gbomo or JG?" he asked the 45-year-old Okah. “No,” he responded.

Abrahams quoted from a letter, allegedly written by Okah’s wife, Azuka, entitled “a close look at Jomo Gbomo” said that Gbomo was Okah’s pseudonym. Nigerian authorities had traced the emails to Gbomo.

Abrahams said the content of the letter revealed Gbomo’s activities since 2007, adding that her description of the man was actually that of Okah.

Okah denied this and told the court that his wife was a writer, who downloaded a lot of documents from the internet, adding that the letter was not originally written by his wife, but was downloaded from the internet.

“I put it to you that the email was sent by your brother, Charles, the one who was arrested on Saturday,” Abrahams said.
But Okah said he did not know whether his brother sent the email.

Charles Okah was arrested in Lagos for allegedly being the man behind threats on behalf of the Movement for the Emancipation the Niger Delta (MEND) rebels.

His wife also told the AFP that four others – Okah's son, Boloebi, 23; his son’s friend, Sola Ladoja; a house aide and a friend – were also arrested along with Charles.

The state had accused Okah of giving instructions for the bombs to be detonated in Abuja.

Okah spent most of the third day of his bail application explaining why he had included a list of high-calibre weapons in his diary. The list included anti-tank land mines, machine guns and air missiles.

The state alleged that Okah had intended to buy the weapons as listed.

However, Okah dismissed this, saying that the list was merely notes he had written while reading warfare books, for intellectual purposes.

Abrahams also grilled Okah about papers found at his house on October 2, which referred to him as a “distinguished businessman, chosen leader of MEND,” but Okah said “this is the first time I see this document.”

He denied this, saying that he was an “accepted” leader of the people in the region.

“I am a respected leader of the people of Niger Delta,” Okah said, adding that “just like Julius Malema, he is accepted here in South Africa as the leader of the youth; he is not the leader of any movement.”

He maintained he was a sympathiser “to the cause,” but not of MEND.

Abrahams asked why his wife would refer to him as the leader of MEND in a letter addressed to the media, but Okah said “I think she did it for clarity, because a lot of the media refer to me as a leader of MEND.”

Okah, who had looked confident throughout his cross-examination, became agitated as the state questioned him about a quotation for weapons and his business in Nigeria.

When asked to explain why the same weapons were listed in his diary and in the quotation, Okah said the weapons “would be useless in the Niger Delta unrest,” while Abrahams told him “you wanted to source the material.”

Okah told the court of how he arranged for journalists to go into guerrilla camps.

Abrahams, however, used Okah’s statement to emphasise how the militant group, MEND, used the media to communicate its attacks.

Confirming that he was a war expert, Okah said he received about 200 calls per day from people concerned about what was happening in the Niger Delta.

He was questioned about his statement from a diary which read: “we need heavier equipment and money.”

He answered that this was a general feeling among people who knew what was going on in that region.

Okah, a Nigerian, also has South African citizenship.



http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/12311-okah-is-jomo-gbomo-wife-claims-in-letter

bk.babe97y:
Man, just shut the hell up before I e-slap u into a coma! U monkey that would not support Jonathan now screaming "Hallelujah", typical Ibo!

The only reason this man can speak the truth is cause he's Yoruba! Do u want me to remind u Ojukwu's take on this issue?