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 Politics › Step Down Now... NBA Tells Arrested Judges by odiks(op): 5:19pm On Oct 20, 2016*. Modified: 5:48pm On Oct 20, 2016 |
…I was a victim of corruption in judiciary, says retiring C-Appeal Justice The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on Thursday, asked all the judges being investigated over their alleged involvement in acts of corruption to recuse themselves from further judicial functions or proceed on compulsory leave, until their innocence is fully and completely established. The legal body said such step was not only necessary in order to protect the sanctity and integrity of judicial processes that may involve the judges concerned, but to also safeguard the public image of the judiciary as an institution. NBA, which made its position known at a valedictory court session that was held in honour of a retiring Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Sotonye Denton-West, further urged the National Judicial Council, NJC, to take very urgent steps to restore the sanctity of the courts. It will be recalled that among Judges whose homes were raided by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, between October 8 and 9, included two Supreme Court Justices- Iyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta. Others included Justices Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja, Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court, Muazu Pindiga of Gombe High Court, Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, and the Chief Judge of Enugu State, I. A. Umezulike. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is equally probing some judges allegedly involved in fraudulent transactions. Meanwhile, the National President of the NBA, Mr. A.B Mahmoud, SAN, in an address he presented at the special court session, said: “My Lords, distinguished ladies and gentlemen permit me digress a little. I am sure that many here will be expecting me to make further statements on the ongoing events affecting the nation’s judiciary. “I have in the course of the last two weeks or so made several statements and remarks on these developments. Our position is therefore well known. We have emphasized our commitment to safeguarding the independence of the nation’s judiciary. “We have also spoken firmly on our commitment to rid the judiciary and indeed the bar of all corrupt elements. I will like to say we remain resolute on these. In the course of the last several days, the NBA has continued to hold high level consultations with all segments of the bar and other stakeholders and indeed the administration on how to address what has obviously become a major concern to all Nigerians within and outside the country. “That is corruption in the judiciary. On Thursday 13th of October at the meeting of bar leaders comprising past NBA Presidents, Past General Secretaries and past Attorneys –General of the Federation, we reviewed very carefully the developments after listening to detailed briefings from both the Attorney General and Minister of Justice as well the Secretary of the National Judicial Council. “One of the resolutions we took was to set up a Task Force to urgently review the current developments and come up with clear specific recommendations on how best to clean up the nation’s judiciary and rebuild confidence of Nigerians in our law courts. I am expecting the report of that task force in two weeks. “In the meantime we have continued with our consultations and engagements. We will be coming up with bold and clear recommendations which we will pass to the National Judicial Council and the Government. “In the interim however, particularly having regards to what appears to an ongoing accusations and counter accusations between the some of the Judges and other personalities or agencies, it appears to the NBA that it is extremely important that the NJC takes very urgent steps to safeguard the public image and sanctity of the courts. “WE THEREFORE STRONGLY RECOMMEND that, without prejudice to the innocence or otherwise of the Judges involved in the ongoing investigations, they should be required to recuse themselves from further judicial functions or required to proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is fully and completely established or until the conclusion of all judicial or disciplinary proceedings. “We believe this will be necessary in order to protect the sanctity and integrity of judicial processes that may involve the judges concerned and safeguard the public image of the institution”. Similarly, Chairman of Akure branch of the NBA, Mr. Oso Adetunji, in his own address, said there was need to deal with corrupt judges without desecrating the sacredness of the judiciary as an institution. “The task before us as a nation is not to debate whether there are corrupt judges in our judiciary, the task is how to remove or deal with the few corrupt ones on the Bench, without destroying the judiciary. “A corrupt judge on the bench is a cancer to the system. It eats deep into the system and will eventually kill the system if not removed. But let us remove such cancerous judges with care and due processes so that in our attempt to kill the cancer, we don’t inadvertently kill the system too. “Let us deal with the corrupt judges in the judiciary without desecrating the sacredness of the institution. In dealing with the corrupt judges in our midst, let us treat the system with decency and dignity, so as to preserve the awe with which the ordinary man holds the court. “Let every corrupt judge first be subjected to the disciplinary procedure of the NJC, disciplined and removed before subjecting him to the ridicule and treatment of a common criminal. It is not for him. It is for the sake of the system. I would be happy to see a corrupt judge handcuffed, paraded and docked. But for the sake of the system, let such be arraigned and docked as dismissed judicial officers. After all, the Nigeria Police Force will not submit its officer, no matter how junior he is, for prosecution without first removing his uniform. “We all know that the NJC does not have the statutory power to prosecute. It is only saddled with the power to by virtue of section 292(1), Paragraph 20 (b) (d) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, to discipline a judge. “Let the NJC first discipline, by removing a judge from office, before handing him over for prosecution. To be able to this, the NJC must embark on a confidence building process by repositioning itself for this task. “We suggest that petition against and judicial official be treated thoroughly and with dispatch. It must act without fear or favour or favour. Spouses of any politically exposed person should not be elevated to the Bench. Where the spouse of any politically exposed person is serving before his or her spouse was elevated to the Bench, let such spouse step down from the Bench”, Adetunji added. Meanwhile, Justice Denton-West who bowed out of the appellate court bench having clocked the 70 years mandatory retirement age, in her speech, said she was a victim of corruption in the judiciary. Justice Denton-West, who was the first female judge in Rivers State, said: “I would be failing in my duties as a senior citizen of this country, if I fail to comment on the recent goings in the judiciary. Indeed I know and believe that there is corruption unfortunately even in the folds of the judiciary. I have personally been a victim of corrupt acts from the judiciary on some occasions”. However, she called on the authorities to revisit the remuneration of justices. “The workload is heavy. Something should be done to give comfort to both serving judges and those that have retired. We spend almost all our time to make the society liveable, so, giving us a liveable life should not be too much. The judiciary still remains the common hope of all. So please may everybody treat the judiciary with respect”, she added. Among dignitaries at the event included Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/dss-raid-nba-asks-arrested-judges-step-aside-pending-trial/ 3 Likes 2 Shares |
| Politics › RE: Justice Inyang Okoro’s Letter - His Lordship Has Shot Himself In The Foot by odiks(op): 8:12pm On Oct 19, 2016 |
By Ugochukwu Nnamdi Ukamba I had seen Hon. Justice Inyang Okoro’s letter to His Lordship, Mahmud Mohammed, Mahmud Mohammed, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and decided to ‘unlook’ because I try to restrict my engagement on social media to discussing issues and not people. A good friend tagged me on a thread that was discussing the issue ostensibly to get my attention and perhaps elicit my opinion which she had considered ‘pedestrian’ on another thread discussing the DSS actions. I am not afraid to offer pedestrian opinions because one day those opinions will mature and ‘take flight’. His Lordship’s letter raises some concerns that I hope we have, shorn of our emotional and political reactions, directed our minds to. I do hope His Lordship sought the opinion of Counsel before writing or dispatching that letter because, unwittingly, he appears to have shot himself in the foot -I think he may have shot His Lordship, Mahmud Mohammed, the CJN also. The concerns: 1. How has His Lordship carried himself in the discharge of his judicial functions that politicians are comfortable enough to sit with him to openly discuss the prospect of rigging the decisions of the Supreme Court? First, Mr. Rotimi came to His Lordship and thereafter Mr. Umana, in the presence of a ‘Pastor’, offered gratification. (or was the visit the other way round?) Maybe I am a little old school but I know that before now, it was unheard of that a judicial officer would be found in the same vicinity as a litigant (or person remotely connected to the litigant) in a pending litigation. Except His Lordship is suggesting that politicians routinely visit all his other learned brothers to discuss pending matters, I don’t see how that is a brilliant excuse for his current travails. 2. So politicians walked into His Lordship’s home, offered him a bribe to secure his assistance to influence a decision that might be assigned to him and His Lordship’s best response was ‘it doesn’t lie within my power to grant your request’. The law resides in His Lordship’s bosom and His Lordship knows or ought to know that the alleged conducts of Rotimi and Umanna amounted to criminal conducts contrary to sections 98A and 126 of the Criminal Code Act. The punishment in each of those sections are 7 years each. Had His Lordship complied with the provisions of our law and arrested (or caused to be arrested) the named politicians, the courts would have been able to try and sentence them appropriately. Our country would have been rid of at least two corrupt people for at least 14 years. No, His Lordship decided to ‘unlook’. 3. His Lordship said Mr. Rotimi also told him that he (Rotimi) had spoken with the CJN and that the CJN had agreed to make His Lordship a member of the panel that would hear the appeal. Inherent in that statement is the fact that Mr Rotimi has the power to influence the CJN’s decision. If Mr Rotimi was offering His Lordship money to get His Lordship on Rotimi’s side, would it be a far stretch to assume that Mr. Rotimi also offered the CJN money and perhaps the CJN accepted seeing that, according to His Lordship, the CJN had already agreed to do Mr. Rotimi’s bidding? 4. According to His Lordship, after this invidious attempt by politicians to ‘hijack’ justice, His Lordship only made ‘a verbal report’ of the incident to the CJN. Perhaps, over a light banter at dinner. We should all be collectively worried that a Justice of the Supreme Court (the final court of the land, the court with powers to uphold a death sentence on a human’s life) does not think that an incident, such as the grave allegations he has just made, is worthy of a formal petition to either the CJN or relevant law enforcement agencies. We should be more worried that these incidents allegedly happened in February 2016 and we are only just hearing of it in October -we perhaps would never have heard of it if His Lordship is not going through the present travails. 5. The, not-so-minor, reference of His Lordship to Mr. Rotimi trying to influence the outcome of the election appeal emanating from Abia State ‘at all cost’ is also very curious considering that Mr. Rotimi’s party wasn’t even part of the Abia Poll. Perhaps this was a freudian slip. Again, I do hope His Lordship sought legal counsel before writing this! Ugochukwu Nnamdi Ukamba is a Legal Practitioner based in Lagos. http://ynaija.com/re-justice-inyang-okoros-letter-lordship-shot-foot/ 6 Likes
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| Politics › Amaechi To Sue Justice Okoro Over Bribery Allegation by odiks(op): 5:13pm On Oct 19, 2016 |
Minister of Transportation and former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said he will take steps to seek legal redress over bribery allegation against him by embattled Supreme Court Justice, Justice John Inyang Okoro.http://leadership.ng/news/555189/amaechi-to-sue-justice-okoro-over-bribery-allegation 8 Likes 1 Share
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| Politics › Re: Justice Inyang Okoro Lied... With Reference to Abia Guber Case by odiks: 11:47am On Oct 19, 2016 |
Indeed.... Something is not adding up here |
| Politics › Inibehe Effiong view On The Bribery Allegations By Justice Inyang Okoro by odiks(op): 5:43am On Oct 19, 2016*. Modified: 6:05am On Oct 19, 2016 |
I have read the letter dated 17th October, 2016 by Justice John Inyang Okoro addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC). I cannot speak for the trio of Messrs. Rotimi Amaechi, Umana Umana and Ebebe Ukpong. But as someone with common sense, with an inquisitive mind the following are my observations in the interim: 1. Every truthful Nigerian is very aware of the sham that was criminally executed in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States on April 11, 2015 in the name of governorship elections. Both local and international observers agreed that there were no credible elections in the two States. 2. The Court of Appeal nullified the so-called elections in the two States. Umana Umana and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) were the Petitioners in Akwa Ibom State while Dakuku Peterside (an ally of Amaechi) and the APC were the Petitioners in Rivers State. 3. The Petitioners ordinarily had no reasons to panick given the gamut of documentary and oral evidence they adduced against the symbolic elections as affirmed by the Court of Appeal. When the cases went to the Supreme Court, the stakes was clearly higher for the beneficiaries of the make-believe elections who were taken aback by the judgments of the Court of Appeal. 4. Justice Okoro knew that there was no way he would have been made a member of the panel of the Supreme Court that heard the appeals from the Akwa Ibom State election since he is from the State. One wonders why he said in his letter that he had decided to do all within his powers not to be in the panel for Akwa Ibom State. Importantly, as at the time he claimed the duo of Amaechi and Umana visited him separately, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) was yet to constitute the panel that heard the said appeals. 5. I find it rather intriguing that My Lord Justice Okoro did not make a formal report in writing to the CJN over the alleged visits but only reported orally; no public statement was issued and no report was ever made to the security agencies. Does it mean that Justice Okoro and the Hon. CJN considered the alleged visits 'harmless' and proper or as an internal affair which did not require publicity or the intervention of the law enforcement agencies? Why is Justice Okoro saying this now? 6. Justice Okoro in his letter did not disclose the exact date and time that Umana allegedly visited him in his residence. How plausible is the allegation that Dr. Ebebe Ukpong, the pastor who he said led Umana to his house, interjected when Umana mentioned that he would like to see the Justices who would be part of the panel because that was not the purpose for their visit? Did they go there to pray with Justice Okoro or to see how his apartment looks like if indeed they visited him? Justice Okoro did not state the purpose for the visit as disclosed to him by the person who led Umana to his house. 7. What would make anyone in this country to keep cash of USD 38,000 (thirty eight thousand dollars) and N3.5m of legitimate income in his apartment and not in the bank in view of the strict spending inhibitions under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and the associated risk of keeping such huge sums at home? Why did My Lord not deposit the money in his bank accounts? We are talking about nearly N20 million Naira being kept at home by no less a public servant but a judicial officer. 8. How does the allegations made against Amaechi and Umana affect the merits of the case of corruption levelled against Justice Okoro by the State Security Service (SSS)? My Lord knows too well that his reference to the duo cannot avail him as a defence in any court of law in Nigeria. Is this not an attempt to divert attention from the allegations of corruption levelled against My Lord by the SSS? 9. What evidence has Justice Okoro presented to prove that indeed Amaechi and Umana visited his residence or should we accept his allegations and believe same simply because he has said so, more so that Amaechi, Umana and Ebebe Ukpong have already denied the allegations? 10. Before Justice Okoro's letter, it is on record that officials of the Akwa Ibom State Government and officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State have been restless and apprehensive over the arrest of Justice Okoro. In one instance, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, Esq., the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State (just before he was sacked two days ago) went on radio, Planet Fm 101.1 Uyo on Tuesday 11th October, 2016 attacking President Buhari and the SSS and even called for the President's impeachment over the arrest of Justice Okoro and others. One wonders why the case of Justice Okoro with the SSS has troubled the government of Akwa Ibom State in this manner. In conclusion, I allign myself with the position taken by the Attorney General of the Federation that those judges who are alleging malice and vendetta should defend themselves in court. It is now a norm for politicians in Nigeria to shout that they are being witch-hunted and persecuted whenever allegations of corruption are made against them. It seems judicial officers have learnt this unproductive tendency from allegedly corrupt politicians. The on going efforts to sanitize the Judiciary will surely come with a price. However, there is no alternative to a corrupt free judiciary. I totally agree with the view of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais on corrupt judges; “A corrupt judge is more harmful to the society than a man who runs amok with a dagger in a crowded street. The latter can be restrained physically. But a corrupt judge deliberately destroys the moral foundation of society and causes incalculable distress to individuals through abusing his office while still being referred to as honorable.” Thank you. Inibehe Effiong https://mobile.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=979305645531003&id=100003547312161&refid=17&_ft_=top_level_post_id.979305645531003%3Atl_objid.979305645531003%3Athid.100003547312161%3A306061129499414%3A2%3A0%3A1477983599%3A-3416707687046307769 13 Likes 2 Shares |
| Politics › Re: Judicial Officers’ Arrest: Justice Okoro’s Baseless Allegation Against Umana by odiks: 5:34am On Oct 19, 2016 |
This Same man that killed justice in Abia State...... https://www.nairaland.com/3397090/justice-john-inyang-okoro-dark God's judgment has visited him. His letter shows the desperation of a drowning man which to me is an after thought. His end is very near. These stories won't help his case. 2 Likes |
| Politics › My People Were Neglected For 8 Years In Enugu – Ekweremadu by odiks(op): 7:43pm On Oct 15, 2016 |
The Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, said former Gov. Sullivan Chime’s administration in Enugu state, neglected the people of Aninri Local Government Area for eight years. Speaking on Saturday in Aninri during the flag-off of nine rural projects funded by the state government, Ekweremadu said that the Chime’s tenure was the darkest in the lives of Aninri people. He said that during the period, the state government had no presence in the entire council, adding that projects executed in the area were by the federal and local governments. “Eight years ago all development projects in this area were done by the federal and local governments, but we now have a governor that is ready to work for our people. “Between 2007 and 2015, no indigene of Aninri was employed in the state civil service and from statistics, we have the least number of civil servants in the state,” he said. The deputy senate president said that the local government area had only 400 workers in the state service, adding that no permanent secretary was from the area. “This neglect of our people for eight years was that bad but God has raised someone who will raise us. “For instance, at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), we only have four staff members from Aninri while Udi, Awgu and Oji River Local Government Areas have 360, 85 and 60 staff, respectively, in the institution,” he said. Ekweremadu said that it was the governor of the state, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who drew his attention to the anomalies, and said that the governor had taken steps to redress the ills. “The governor has appointed our son as permanent secretary and another one as director of works in IMT. The state commissioner of works is also from Aninri and more are coming,” he said. According to him, it is gratifying that our people are now feeling the impact of the state government and we will continue to support the governor. Ekweremadu appealed to the people of the area to unite and move the place forward, adding that greater things were ahead. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/people-neglected-8-years-enugu-ekweremadu/ Is this True? 2 Likes
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| Politics › Shiek Ismail Mangu: Arrest Aisha Buhari Immediately Over Her BBC Interview by odiks(op): 9:12am On Oct 15, 2016 |
Meanwhile, excerpt of Aisha's interview has sparked fierce condemnation in Kano State.Culled from Saturday Thisday http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/10/15/aisha-buharis-public-criticism-of-husband-gets-a-pushback/ 2 Likes 4 Shares
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| Politics › Re: Release Of Chibok Girls Diversionary, Address Hunger, Fayose Tells FG by odiks(op): 5:41pm On Oct 13, 2016 |
Is this man okay at all? 7 Likes 1 Share |
| Politics › Release Of Chibok Girls Diversionary, Address Hunger, Fayose Tells FG by odiks(op): 5:40pm On Oct 13, 2016 |
Ekiti-Ekiti state Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has the described the celebration of the Federal Government over the release of 21 Chibok girls by the Boko Haram, as not only diversionary, but a tactic employed to divert the attention of Nigerians away from the hunger and outrage generated by crackdown on judges. The governor said “Nigerians have had enough of anti-corruption war” saying it is high time President Muhammadu Buhari addressed massive hunger that is killing many people in the country. Fayose said this on Thursday at the commissioning of a three-block classrooms built at the Erelu Adebayo Children’s Home in Iyin Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area as part of activities marking his second year in office. In his words, “What they came out today to tell Nigerians that 21 abducted Chibok girls have been released by the Boko Haram group is diversionary. Nigerians have never had it so bad. People are very hungry. What they did today is just to divert attention from what they did last week by clamping judges and justices into detention. While no one is saying corruption should be condoned, but the due process must be followed. “The Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government that they labelled as inept, did better than this. The exchange rate of the naira to the dollar is unacceptable. The situation has led to hyper-inflation where what people used to buy for N30,000 can not be bought with N100,000. Look at the elections that have been conducted since they came to office, all the gains recorded by the previous government as far as democracy is concerned are being eroded,” he said. Fayose said: “Food security is number one, they should stop fooling us; our economy must be urgently addressed because Nigerians voted for the government in power so that they can enjoy better lives. “There is hunger everywhere, many husbands had turned to wives in their families. Nigeria is hard to live in and we pray that God will change this change for us. “It is not good for a government to be catching thieves and kidnappers everyday while its citizens are hungry. Everybody is now a thief in Nigeria, we need prayer in Nigeria and we need divine intervention. “Our people are suffering under the APC government, I am not afraid of what man can do to me. They have taken our rights away from us but I am not afraid because if you want to catch me you must slaughter God. “We have had enough of diversionary tactics, they are using the report of Chibok girls’ release to cover up the undue arrest of our judges. Trampling on our rights is trampling on the Constitution. “We want food on our table because propaganda does not amount to food on the table of our citizens. Let them continue to conspire, I will continue to rule them. “Those waiting for me, tell them that they will continue to wait in vain. I am going somewhere, God is taking me to somewhere in Nigeria whether my adversaries like it or not, Fayose said. He accused the Buhari Administration of resort to propaganda to deceive Nigerians whom he said urgently need food on their tables. The governor announced the donation of N250,000 to purchase uniforms for the inmates in the orphanage and another N250,000 for their food supplements placing a curse on any official who diverts the money into his/her private pockets. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/release-chibok-girls-diversionary-address-hunger-fayose-tells-fg/ 1 Like |
| Politics › Re: Two More Judges Arrested As DSS Freezes Accounts by odiks(op): 5:07am On Oct 13, 2016 |
Meanwhile here is a copy of the search warrant for justice Ademola circulating online 2 Likes 1 Share
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| Politics › Two More Judges Arrested As DSS Freezes Accounts by odiks(op): 4:34am On Oct 13, 2016 |
Two more judges were yesterday arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), taking the number of judges so far picked up to nine. Justices Bashir Sukola and Ladan Manir of the Kaduna State High Court, were arrested in Kaduna and taken to the DSS Headquarters in Abuja at about 8.30pm. A top source said they were immediately taken in for interrogation. Six other judges are under probe. The DSS, it was learnt yesterday, has frozen the accounts of some of the judges under investigation. In some of the accounts are “huge lodgments”, a source said yesterday. The agency has received more petitions against the judges. Many of the petitioners, it was learnt, are willing to testify against them. There were strong indications last night that the judges might be arraigned in court next week because the DSS has set a deadline in order not to extend the investigation of the judges beyond this week. All of them are to face trial, the source said. Under probe are two Supreme Court Justices – Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro – the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya, who was picked up in Sokoto; Justice Adeniyi Ademola (Federal High Court); the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; Justice Kabiru Auta of Kano State High Court; and Justice Muazu Pindiga (Gombe State High Court). The source, who spoke in confidence because he is not allowed to talk to the media about the investigation, said: “Some accounts have been frozen through orders of the court. This affects some of the judges. Not all of them. “We found some huge lodgements that are questionable in some accounts and in addition to that we also observed the inflow of their salaries over a long period without them making any withdrawal at all. “What that means is that they don’t live on their salaries at all. Those accounts have been frozen but as I said not all of the judges are affected.” On why the judges were yet to be charged to court, the source added: “We are waiting for the action of the NJC. We expect the NJC to suspend them, otherwise it’s like taking a sitting judge to court. “In the Service, when anybody is being investigated for any serious crime, the first thing we do is to place such a person on suspension. “After the investigation, such a person would face trial and get dismissed from service on conviction and later face prosecution in the law court.” Asked what will happen if they are not suspended, the source quipped: “The NJC does not have the luxury not to suspend them. “We wrote the NJC on Monday but we haven’t received any response.” There has been a rumour of a hot exchange of words between the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Lawan Daura on Monday during a session with the President. “There was no such meeting,” the source said. The secret service is said to have discovered that a governor, who is sympathetic to the judges, was behind the online publications against the DG of DSS. The source said: “There is no truth in that at all. There was never such a meeting. The President does not even have such luxury of time. “Maybe what they are referring to was the visit of the Chief Justice to the DSS headquarters on Sunday afternoon. “The CJN paid a solidarity visit to the detained judges and expressed some concern. He probably saw the DG too when he learnt that he was in his office at the time of his visit. “The CJN did not even know that they would be released on bail later that Sunday evening. “We know it is the handwork of a governor to launch vitriolic media attacks on the DSS. We also know those being used. But Nigeria is greater than all.” The source gave insights into more petitions being received against the judges by those described as “victims” of bribe. He expressed confidence that the trial of the judges might begin next week because the DSS has set a timeline to conclude the investigation on or before the end of the week. The source said: “We are almost through with investigation. The ongoing investigation is not supposed to go beyond this week. “We have written the NJC about what has happened and we expect the NJC to take some decisions about the affected judges this week. Once that is done, hopefully by next week or thereabouts, we should arraign them in court. “For now more facts in the form of petitions are coming in about the judges. It’s like everyone who has had cause to go to court for one reason or the other has been a victim. “Some victims have even indicated their readiness to testify in court.” The source added that contrary to insinuations, steps were taken to accord the seven judges arrested at the weekend the desired respect before their arrest and while they were in custody. The sourced added: “Justice Ademola Adeniyi requested that his lawyer should be present before his residence could be searched. “The counsel came, examined the search warrant and confirmed the validity of the warrant. He thereafter asked the judge to cooperate with the DSS team. “Some of the judges also allowed their lawyers to witness the search of their homes.” http://thenationonlineng.net/two-judges-held-dss-freezes-accounts/ 7 Likes 2 Shares
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| Politics › Udom Emmanuel Paid The Highest Bribes To Supreme Court Justices: Sahara Reporter by odiks(op): 8:23pm On Oct 12, 2016 |
FLASH: Akwa Ibom state governor paid the most bribes to Supreme Court justices to get a favorable judgement -Investigators https://mobile.twitter.com/SaharaReporters/status/786274402883076096?p=v 2 Likes 1 Share
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| Politics › Ikpeazu Vs Ogah: How Much Have You Spent Let Me Pay You, Ikpeazu Begs Ogah by odiks(op): 1:56pm On Oct 12, 2016 |
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s political dilemma is becoming pitiable to the point of initiating peace talk with Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah with his fronts as gathered by Abia Facts Newspaper. Abia Facts Newspaper can authoritatively disclosed that a meeting held at the instance of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu on Monday 10th October, 2016 between Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu and Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah. The meeting which held in the residence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Abuja had the following people in attendance Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Prince Chris Igwe and Prof Chibuzo Ogbuagu all representing Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, also present were Amb Okey Emuchay, Chief Uzo Egbo and Chief Otah Kalu representing Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah. The representives of Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah were completely surprised when the team sent by Ikpeazu asked them to present invoice of all the expenses incurred by Ogah so that he can be paid off and for him to drop the tax case against Ikpeazu. We gathered Ogah’s team replied by telling them they will report back to Uche Ogah who will direct them on the next line of action. What does Gov Okezie Ikpeazu and his team know that we don’t know based on their reconciliation moves ? Have they concluded that Ikpeazu may lose at the Supreme Court that they are humbling themselves now to beg? Abians watch and see… http://www.abiafactsnews.com/ikpeazu-vs-ogah-how-much-have-you-spent-let-me-pay-you-ikpeazu-begs-ogah/ |
| Politics › DSS Did Not Disobey The Law On Judges’ Arrests – Jiti Ogunye by odiks(op): 7:56pm On Oct 10, 2016 |
Legal practitioner, Jiti Ogunye, sees nothing wrong in the manner in which the Department of State Service (DSS) executed its arrest of three Nigerian judges in the early hours of Saturday, October 8. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Mr Ogunye explained the execution of the warrant of arrest, and quoted Section 148 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which states that a search warrant can be issued and executed at any time of the day including a Sunday or a public holiday. He was reacting to the claim by constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, who had earlier on the programme, described the arrest of the judges as “most condemnable by any right thinking member of the society”. Ozhekhome faulted the timing and manner of the arrest, claiming that the law does not allow for homes of suspects to be searched during the night or for doors to be broken in order to gain access. Mr Ogunye berated Ozekhome for quoting an old law which, according to him, has since seized to be relevant. “People are not familiar with the law and those who should enlighten the public manipulate the law and they don’t disclose what the law has said.” On the “gestapo” manner in which the arrest was done, he went further to read from Section 149 of the Act, where the law permits law enforcement agents to “break open any outer or inner door or window of any house or place of the suspect to be arrested” if access to such building cannot be obtained or is denied. He argued that it has become impossible to deny that Nigeria has serious ethical issues in the judiciary, bordering on corruption. In justifying the need to fight corruption, Mr Ogunye noted that corruption is the bane of the Nigerian society, “it has affected our development, stunted our growth and destroyed our country”. Constitutional Mandate Mr Ozekhome had also earlier argued that democracy only thrives on its adherence to the rule of law and the Nigerian government, by allowing the arrests, has gone against the values of democracy and the DSS has gone beyond its constitutional mandate. “The DSS by our constitutional organogram has its own functions and these are to take care of the internal security of the country. “Its counterpart the DIA, Directorate of Intelligence Agency, is in charge of matters concerning military, while the NIA, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, is in charge of security matters that extend beyond the boundaries of Nigeria. “The three legal entities that are allowed by our laws to go into corruption matters are the EFCC, the ICPC and the Nigerian Police, particularly under Section 4. “So, their action is faulted fundamentally on the ground that they were going beyond their constitutional and statutory mandate,” he said. Again, Mr Ogunye disagreed with Mr Ozekhome’s argument. “This law was made during the military era and it has wide implications,” he argued, adding that the law also added that the DSS can be saddled with any issue the President feels affects the internal security of the country. “The corruption of the judiciary that wants to destroy the third arm of government can be deemed, and in fact I will deem it, as something that is affecting the security of the country,” he said. http://www.channelstv.com/2016/10/10/dss-did-not-disobey-the-law-on-judges-arrests-jiti-ogunye/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43Ip4tWmIts 1 Like 1 Share |
| Politics › Re: Return Justice Sylvester Ngwuta "Loot" Back To Kogi Gov. Group Begs DSS by odiks: 6:04am On Oct 10, 2016 |
Pls justice Inyang Okoro should return the one he collected on Ikpeazu versus Otti case. The money is for civil servants salary in Abia State 26 Likes 1 Share |
| Politics › NJC Meets As More Supreme Court Justices Face Imminent Arrest by odiks(op): 5:04am On Oct 10, 2016 |
• Eight more judges under investigation, seven still in detentionhttp://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/10/10/njc-meets-as-more-supreme-court-justices-face-imminent-arrest/ 11 Likes 2 Shares
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| Politics › Re: Justice John Inyang Okoro, The Dark Hand That Killed Justice In Abia - Abiafact by odiks: 12:19pm On Oct 09, 2016 |
E don happen.... They will all be exposed. One by one them do dey go 2 Likes |
| Politics › Re: TA Orji Remains One Of The Worst Governors Nigeria Ever Produced – Tony Ukasanya by odiks(op): 9:52am On Oct 03, 2016 |
catal:That's the irony my brother |
| Politics › TA Orji Remains One Of The Worst Governors Nigeria Ever Produced – Tony Ukasanya by odiks(op): 8:31am On Oct 03, 2016 |
The founding Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Chief Tony Ukasanya, has said that former governor of the state, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, is one of the worst perforyming governors Nigeria has ever produced.http://sunnewsonline.com/ta-orji-remains-one-of-the-worst-govs-nigeria-has-ever-produced-ukasanya-apc-chieftain/ 6 Likes
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| Politics › My View On Edo Election - Inibehe Effiong by odiks(op): 4:21am On Oct 01, 2016 |
It is clear from the just concluded gubernatorial election in Edo State that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has devised an intelligent policy in order to uphold the integrity of elections and the Card Reader. INEC has resorted to cancelling results from polling units where the total votes cast exceeded the total of voters accredited by the Card Reader. This practically leaves those opposed to credible elections with the aid of the Card Reader with a fait accompli. By cancelling such results, the election was determined based exclusively on electronic accreditation. In any case, the total number of votes cancelled due to non usage of the Card Reader did not impact on the election. The Card Reader has come to stay. While the National Assembly is making efforts to give the Card Reader a definite legislative backing to undo the harsh effects of the Supreme Court judgments on the issue, INEC's policy is commendable. My impression is that the Edo election was largely credible. I will give three reasons: First, the margin between the two leading candidates shows that there was indeed a real contest. The APC scored 319,483 while the PDP came second with 253,173. This is in contrast to the fraudulent and arbitrary culture of allocation of phantom votes as witnessed during the 2015 governorship elections. Second, the election was generally peaceful and devoid of violence. No single life was lost in Edo State. This is also in contrast to the bloodbath witnessed in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States during the last election. The Supreme Court upheld both elections. Third, the fact that there was no over voting shows that the election was largely credible. Edo State has 1, 900, 223 registered voters, while 662,039 of the registered voters were accredited with 613, 244 voters casting their votes in the election. Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have up to October 19, 2016 to file a petition against the election of Mr. Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They should ventilate their grievances in court. Since they are raising allegations of corrupt practices and violence, they should approach the tribunal with evidence and prove same beyond reasonable doubt. Obaseki and the APC can conveniently cite recent decisions of the Supreme Court on governorship elections. The precedents are there and known to all. Only the courts can determine whether an election complied substantially with the law. If the 2015 governorship elections in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Abia States complied with the law I do not know what will invalidate the September 28 election in Edo State. Though the election was not without flaws, the process was substantially credible, free and fair. I commend the people of Edo State for their peaceful conduct. This should be a lesson to the people of other South South States and the country at large. I rise. Inibehe Effiong http://www.naijaperminute.com.ng/2016/09/30/opinion-view-edo-election-inibeheeffiong/ https://mobile.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=963760213752213&id=100003547312161&refid=17&_ft_=top_level_post_id.963760213752213%3Atl_objid.963760213752213%3Athid.100003547312161%3A306061129499414%3A2%3A0%3A1475305199%3A3948063026641451193&__tn__=%2As 1 Like |
| Politics › Re: “Thank You For Not Changing The Change’’ – Aregbesola Tells Edo Electorate by odiks: 6:33am On Sep 30, 2016 |
anigbajumo:Chai.... Pdp is finished |
| Politics › Ekiti Cuts Relationship With Bank Over Fayose’s Frozen Accounts by odiks(op): 6:59am On Sep 23, 2016 |
Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has ordered the state to stop transacting business with Zenith Bank. The action is not unconnected with the face-off between him and Zenith on the freezing of his personal accounts domicilled in thebank by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to a circular from the Office of the Accountant General on Tuesday, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must comply with the order within 48 hours. The circular was addressed to the head of Service, permanent secretaries, general managers, administrative secretaries, heads of Non-Ministerial Departments and agencies and tertiary institutions. The MDAs and institutions have begun implementation of the order to meet up with the deadline. The circular, which was signed by the Accountant General, Mrs. O.O. Owolabi, is titled: “Stoppage of banking relationship with the Zenith Bank Plc.” It reads: “The state government has directed immediate stoppage of all banking relationships with Zenith Bank. “All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are expected to adhere strictly to this instruction and sever transaction with the bank within 48 hours. “By extension, workers’ salaries cease to be remitted to salary accounts domicilled with the bank forthwith. They are, therefore, advised to supply alternative bank accounts with their respective MDAs for transmission to this office within 60 days. “Kindly, give the contents of this circular the widest publicity it deserves. The governor is poised to address the state on the matter in due course. Thank you.” The fear of job loss has gripped Ekiti indigenes working in the bank, especially the main Ado-Ekiti branch on Secretariat Road and the campus branch at Ekiti State University (EKSU). The workers are apprehensive of a repeat of the backlash of Fayose’s strained relationship with Ecobank, which led to the shutdown of the bank’s two branches. Ecobank sacked scores of Ekiti indigenes following the government’s crackdown, and closed its operations. The EFCC on May 24 froze two Zenith Bank accounts belonging to Fayose for alleged laundering of about N1.2 billion believed to be part of the arms fund from the ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) The cash was allegedly released to the governor to fund his campaign in the 2014 governorship election. Fayose claimed Zenith Bank funded his campaign but the bank denied the allegation. The governor sued the EFCC and the bank at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, seeking an order to de-freeze the account, which the court declined. The matter was adjourned till September 30. http://thenationonlineng.net/ekiti-cuts-relationship-bank-fayoses-frozen-accounts/ |
| Politics › I’m Not Square Peg In Round Hole – Udoma by odiks(op): 5:44am On Sep 23, 2016 |
…Cautions lawmakershttp://sunnewsonline.com/im-not-square-peg-in-round-hole-udoma/ 3 Likes 1 Share
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| Politics › PDP: Abia, Ekiti Governors Disagree On Peace Move by odiks(op): 7:55pm On Sep 22, 2016 |
***Its a step in right direction – Ikpeazu ***Only Appeal Court has final say – Fayose ABUJA – Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr. Ayo Fayose have openly differed on the peace move initiated by the two feuding factions of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Sheriff respectively. It will be recalled that both factions had for months been locked up in a legal tussle on who was rightly placed to lead the opposition party. But last week Tuesday saw the two warring sides announce a truce, saying they would work together to move the party forward. But speaking on the matter with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday, governors Ikpeazu and Fayose disagreed on the reconciliatory measures. While Ikpeazu applauded the move, Fayose however said that only the Court of Appeal had the final say. Observing that the long period of the crisis had negatively affected the party, Ikpeazu still believed that the party would bounce back stronger than it was. “In every crisis there are downsides because nobody will wish and pray for crisis. I think also that moments of crisis are also opportunities for strength, renewed vigour and to reinvent our vision.” “So, ultimately, I think the PDP has the resilience and what it takes to bounce back as a party. At the end of the day, I think the party will be the victor and the Nigerian nation”, he said. The governor also revealed a move to bring back the founding fathers and all those who had left the party back to the fold. He also dismissed the insinuation that the governors had a leadership role to play in the party. “There is no doubt that party politics everywhere involves everybody whether you are a founding father or a new member. Political party is built around people and everybody has equal stake. “Our interest is Nigeria. Therefore, all strata of people’s opinion, I think will be put into consideration because they are equally important.” “The important thing is Nigeria and the important thing is democracy. Whether you are a BoT member or a party person, it doesn’t really matter. PDP Governors Forum is not political party.” But on a different note, Ekiti governor, Fayose insisted that the court of appeal must determine the next move, arguing that the governors had not been informed of the reconciliatory moves by the warring parties. “That move, you see, I’m not against anything called resolution within the party but everybody must wait for Court of Appeal to resolve this matter.” “Matters are in court, nobody has withdrawn any matter and they are resolving. What are you resolving? When matters are in court you allow court to lay them to rest. The moment this thing doesn’t go with one side, they will tell you we are still in court.” “But allow the court to take a stand and reconciliation would be made easy. I’m not against anybody reconciling with each other but when you see that meeting, ask the conveners if governors were briefed.” “I was not briefed. I am not the only person in the party but then, I have a stake”, he said. Responding to a question of whether the cases in court cannot be withdrawn during reconciliation, Fayose said: “Let’s wait till then. But my opinion is the Court of Appeal must resolve this matter. “When you resolve the matter, you know that I am wrong and you are right and reconciliation will be made easy.” http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/pdp-abia-ekiti-governors-disagree-peace-move/ |
| Politics › Re: Jubilation In Kogi As S’court Upholds Bello’s Election by odiks(op): 4:06am On Sep 21, 2016*. Modified: 4:23am On Sep 21, 2016 |
Love this part..... The Supreme Court held that Section 141 of the Electoral Act 2010, relied upon by the ex-governor to seek a fresh conduct of the election, was no longer a law in Nigeria, having been set aside in 2011 by a Federal High Court in a matter between the Labour Party, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission. It is now settled in law that a candidate who never participated in all the stages of the election can be declared winner. Uche Ogah's case vs Ikpeazu comes to mind. Secondly, section 140(2) also stands nullified as declared by the FHC judgement which nullified section 141 of the Electoral act.
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| Politics › Jubilation In Kogi As S’court Upholds Bello’s Election by odiks(op): 4:02am On Sep 21, 2016 |
Hundreds of supporters of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, burst into wild jubilation on Tuesday in Abuja after the Supreme Court upheld the election of Bello as the governor of Kogi State. The apex court’s judgment therefore ended the controversies created by the death of the Kogi State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the November 2015 poll, Prince Abubakar Audu, after the former governor had established a commanding lead over the then incumbent, Capt Idris Wada (retd.), of the Peoples Democratic Party. The apex court, in unanimous judgments in four separate appeals, agreed that Bello was properly substituted to replace Audu as the candidate of the APC in the governorship election on November 21 and the supplementary poll held on December 5, 2015. In the first appeal filed by a member of the House of Representatives and APC deputy governorship candidate, James Faleke, the court dismissed the case for lack of merit. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, in the judgment, disagreed with arguments made by counsel for Faleke, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), on Bello’s emergence as a replacement for Audu, but fixed Friday, September 30, 2016, to give reasons for the decision of the apex court. In the judgment on the second appeal, filed by the immediate past governor of the state, Wada, delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, the court also dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit and substance. The court equally refused to order a fresh governorship election in the state as canvassed by the appellant. The Supreme Court held that Section 141 of the Electoral Act 2010, relied upon by the ex-governor to seek a fresh conduct of the election, was no longer a law in Nigeria, having been set aside in 2011 by a Federal High Court in a matter between the Labour Party, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission. In two other appeals, filed by African Democratic Congress and LP, the apex court, in a similar way, dismissed them for lacking in merit. While Justice John Okoro, who delivered judgment in the appeal filed by ADC, held that the appeal lacked merit, Justice Musa Mohammed, upheld the preliminary objection of Bello against the LP’s appeal and struck out the appeal on the ground of incompetence. The apex court upheld the concurrent findings of the Court of Appeal delivered on August 4, 2016, and that of the state governorship Election Petitions Tribunal delivered on June 6, 2016. The Supreme Court fixed September 30, 2016, as the date to give reasons for the four judgments. Olanipekun, who stood for Faleke, had earlier in his oral submission, urged the court to invoke Section 187 of the constitution to declare his client the winner of the election on the combined effect of his joint ticket with the late Audu because the election had been technically concluded at the time Audu died. He said INEC did not declare the election inconclusive following the death of Audu, adding that as of November 23, INEC said it was not aware that Audu was dead. “We want to submit that the constitution is not subject to the nuances of anybody, including INEC; the commission doesn’t have any constitutional discretion to announce results. If it does, INEC will set the country on crisis,” he stated. Wada, in his submission by Chris Uche (SAN), had urged the court to invoke Section 141 of the Electoral Act against Bello’s declaration as the winner of the election on the grounds that he (Bello) did not participate in the stages of the election. According to him, the circumstances of the case had led to a legal conundrum, which led to the interpretation by the Supreme Court. Uche said, “This is the first time a candidate will die before the declaration of results. This is the first time someone will be sworn in as a governor without participating in all the stages of an election. This is the first time a candidate of an election would be inheriting the vote of a dead candidate. “Electoral votes are not inheritable commodities. There are nemeses in the judgment of the lower court. It was wrong for the first respondent to be returned. The political conundrum in Kogi State would have been avoided if INEC had called for fresh election for the people of the state to choose their governor instead of allowing a man, who didn’t have up to five per cent of the votes, to be declared governor. “Yahaya Bello was a stranger and became an illegal occupant and that is the reason why he shouldn’t be there.” Alex Izinyon (SAN), representing INEC, had said the issues at the lower courts were very narrow, adding that the appellant (Faleke) and the second respondent were members of the same political party. He said, “The election was declared inconclusive not because of the death of Audu but because of the 91 polling units that were in dispute. It was thereafter that the death of Audu came in. “The declaration has not been made by INEC. So, how does the appellant (Faleke) get the source of his claim? If it is done so, there will be anarchy because everybody will declare himself elected. “There should be no self-declaration, he wrote a letter to INEC. It is the party, APC that should be written to. We know what happened when somebody declared himself elected during the June 12, 1993 presidential election. “I urge the court to dismiss the appeal because it lacks merit.” In his submission, Joseph Daudu (SAN), representing Bello, adopted what he described as “the very eloquent argument of Izinyon for the first respondent (INEC).” He said, “I humbly urge that the appeal (by Faleke) should be dismissed because it lacks merit. Declaring the appellant governor will lead to anarchy. The appellant has to rely on a document in which INEC has to declare somebody winner. There was no declaration. Section 192 of the constitution has not matured and cannot be invoked. “As things stand, the appellant’s claim to governorship is inchoate. The appellant has not disputed why INEC declared the election inconclusive. I urge your Lordship to dismiss the appellant’s case for lacking in merit.” Meanwhile, Bello said on Tuesday that the decision of the Supreme Court, affirming his election, “has long been settled in heaven.” He also called on key political actors in Kogi State, including ex-governor Wada and Faleke, to join him in rebuilding the state. Speaking on Tuesday with journalists at the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro in Abuja, the governor said he would take tough measures to restore the state to its former glory. He said, “The decision of the Supreme Court has long been settled in heaven, the Supreme Court just affirmed it. I thank my great party, the All Progressives Congress, for giving me the opportunity to serve. I also thank President Muhammadu Buhari, the best President in the world, for being on the path of truth and equity. I will fulfil the great vision of late Abubakar Audu because his spirit is alive. “I appreciate the Supreme Court for asserting its independence. I call on all Kogites, especially Idris Wada and James Faleke, to assist me in rebuilding Kogi State, which has bled enough since its creation 25 years ago. God has saddled me with the responsibility. “Tough decisions will be taken to bring back the state to the right path. Please support me and I call on the restive ones to drop their violence because it will not take them anywhere. We should all join hands with the President to build Nigeria.’’ Bello said he would restructure the civil service because of the menace of ‘ghost’ workers. Also, the APC has congratulated Bello on his victory at the Supreme Court. The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in his reaction to the judgment, told journalists at the party secretariat on Tuesday, that the party had sent its congratulation to the Kogi State governor. He said, “We have congratulated the governor; we will soon issue a statement to that effect.” Faleke, in his reaction, said he was satisfied that he and his team fought a good fight. In a telephone interview with The PUNCH, Faleke said, “The Supreme Court has given its judgment. We are satisfied that we fought a good fight, and to the people of Kogi State, we are heroes of democracy because we did not abandon them in their time of need.” Also, the Kogi State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria expressed satisfaction with the judgment, describing it as a welcome development and a victory for the rule of law. The state Chairman of ALGON, Taufiq Isa, said with the judgment, the Supreme Court had clarified who was the authentic governor of the state. http://punchng.com/jubilation-kogi-scourt-upholds-bellos-election/
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| Politics › Re: Tax Suit: Tension In Abia As Appeal Court Delivers Judgment Sept 23 by odiks: 2:49pm On Sep 18, 2016 |
Gozzzy:T.A is far better than this man. No matter what you say against T.A Orji, he did not owe civil servants for 8 months. At worst he owed for a month which he clears before the end of the following month. |
| Politics › Re: Tax Suit: Tension In Abia As Appeal Court Delivers Judgment Sept 23 by odiks: 10:40am On Sep 18, 2016 |
guideman:He is owning civil servants in his state 8 month salary arrears and that according to the Governor of Anambra State is the height of wickedness. The former governor T.A is a saint compared to this man. |
| Politics › Re: Tax Suit: Tension In Abia As Appeal Court Delivers Judgment Sept 23 by odiks: 10:36am On Sep 18, 2016 |
Fyno:Don't mind them. They won't understand what civil servants are going through under this man. The man is so heartless and worse still his praise singers continue to sing his praises. This man is owing civil servants in his state 8 months salary arrears inspite of the huge allocations he collects from the Federal Government. My parents who are civil servants in his state were last paid in January, only God knows what he does with the state allocation.... Yet, his praise singers thinks that it shall be well with him..... How can it be well with him? Like I said earlier when this case started and I repeat again...... If am lying against the Governor maybe just to smear his name and accuse him of owing workers salaries when he is not..... may God judge me but if am not may God bring him to judgment and visit him with the kind of suffering he has caused my parents. 4 Likes |
| Politics › Has President Buhari Changed? By Dele Sobowale by odiks(op): 4:50am On Sep 18, 2016 |
“Change starts with me”, President Buhari, September 8, 2016. “When a government begins to fear the mob, it is as much as to say it fears itself.” John Fowles in THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN. Oddly enough, there are two answers to that question: yes and no. There is abundance evidence to prove that the President who launched another campaign to officially change Nigerian attitudes and values, and his accomplice in that regard, the Minister of Information and Culture, might not be the right people to be preaching to us – their Fellow Countrymen. To begin with, not all changes are beneficial to society. The change from a nation which had a diversified export base, up till the late 1960s to one which became enslaved to one product, crude oil, was largely brought about by long years of military rule – starting from 1966. Buhari was one of those who forced that change on us – without our consent. Now, the chicken has come home to roost. One of the major beneficiaries of government by armed robbers of peoples’ sovereignty is now faced with cleaning up the sh*t which he and his colleagues started. Nigerians are best advised to read the scripts prepared by the Ministry of Information and Culture with a great deal of caution. At the moment, the sincerity of its authors is seriously in doubt – on account of their individual and collective antecedents. A few examples, well documented, will illustrate the point being made here. Let’s start with some recent occurrences. Back in 2014, when it was politically advantageous to the All Progressives Congress, APC, then out of power, to support the activities of the Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG, group, President Jonathan’s administration regarded them as, at best, a public nuisance, and at worst, a security risk. Each time their marches were disrupted by the Nigerian Police, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, speaking on behalf of the party and its presidential candidate, fired off public announcements condemning the GEJ government for violation of the fundamental human rights of the BBOG. Anyone reading those passionate defences of one of the basic rights of free people in a democracy would have been led to believe that Buhari and Mohammed actually believed in those principles. Today, the BBOG, and others who believed in their right to free association, and who voted for APC on account of that, had been swindled. Officially now, and under APC, BBOG has been labeled a “security risk”. Has Buhari changed? Certainly; but, it is a change for the worse for a democracy and it does very little credit to a President trying to preach a change of attitude when he has been caught in a socially disruptive change of principles. A greater leader than he would ever turn out to be, Ghandi had advised about the things that would destroy any society. One of them is “Politics without principles”. Even if one wants to overlook that one, difficult as it is, how can one, given the economic recession ravaging the country, that the same Buhari blasted Jonathan for maintaining a large presidential fleet of aircrafts – which made Presidential Airlines the second largest in Nigeria and bigger that four private airlines put together. One would have expected that among the first Executive Orders given in May 2015 was the reduction in fleet size. On the day, Buhari and Mohammed were going through the song and dance about value-change, it was obvious that their values have taken another change for the worse. The cost of maintenance of the fleet, previously astronomical, had become killing because everything in the crafts must be imported at N425/US$1. The Buhari who campaigned in 2014/2015 has clearly changed right in front of our eyes and he is behaving more and more like Jonathan. Unfortunately, for us, the man has not changed totally. Had he continued to adopt the wasteful habits of GEJ and ignoring calls to rescue the Chibok girls, we could have shrugged our shoulders and resigned ourselves to four years like the locust years under PDP. But, the Buhari of 2016 is in many respects like the Buhari of 1984/85 – who was summarily removed by his colleagues in a bloodless coup. It was bloodless because nobody was willing to lift a finger to save him. Why? Start with nepotism and bigotry, personal defects which we mistakenly thought he had discarded once he opted for politics under democratic rule. In 1984/85, Buhari’s appointments to high office totally disregarded the principle of Federal Character and the religious diversity of Nigeria. Out of the first twenty-five appointments he made during that period, only seven were Southerners or Christians. Apart from the fact that he was a Northern Muslim, his Deputy, Tunde Idiagbon was also a Northern Muslim. The Governor of the Central Bank, Alhaji Ahmed, graduate of History, was a Muslim, so was his Deputy Alhaji Otiti. All the service Chiefs, except one, were Northerners and Muslims; so were the heads of security agencies except the Inspector General of Police. Bigotry could not have been better defined. His removal was widely hailed in the South because the General Babangida regime which followed his own was more equitable. May 2015 presented Buhari an opportunity to demonstrate that he had shed both nepotism and bigotry. Recently, Dr Junaid Mohammed introduced some of the top appointees made since then. Any change? Certainly not. Of the first ten or so, the two southern names appearing were Femi Adesina and Ita Enang. These two were followed by another dozen or so from the North. Lately, after distributing the plum jobs unfairly, he had started to “compensate” the South by sweeping crumbs from the “Masters’ tables”. The job of Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, was given to someone who some still regard as reflective of nepotism. That is still his sense of fairness. That is the sort of change he and Mohammed want us to adopt in this hypocritical crusade. Was the budget padded or not? Buhari was the first to announce abroad that it was and vowed to punish the culprits. Now Honourable Jibrin had taken up the refrain, shouting at the top of his lungs that the budget was indeed padded. Suddenly, it is Buhari’s presidency which is now denying that the budget was padded. What sort of value-change can occur when the presidency cannot tell the people the truth and stick to it? Permit me to end where I started. No parent in Nigeria, who loves his kids, can fail to share the agony of the parents of the Chibok girls. We cannot all join the marches in Abuja; but we can offer them moral support and encouragement. As the father of six girls, I probably would have gone mad if one of them is a captive of Boko Haram. No government which regards the agitators as security risk can ever preach any sermon to which I will listen. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/president-buhari-changed/ |
| Politics › Oshiomhole To Wike: Pay Your Workers’ Salaries by odiks(op): 4:31pm On Sep 16, 2016 |
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday told his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, to pay workers’ salaries before “squandering the people’s lean resources” on the Edo State governorship election. Oshiomhole said it was laughable that Wike talked about governance when he has been unable to pay his state workers’ salaries for several months. He advised Wike to spend the money meant for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) election campaign in Edo State to pay backlog of salaries owed civil servants in River State. Speaking through the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Oshiomhole said there was no reason why Wike would expend the people’s resources on Edo election out of sheer desperation to acquire regional powers. “In the circle of governance, where men are truly called men, someone like Governor Wike cannot muster any courage to be called a man when he has continuously held Rivers workers in scorn without paying them their due salaries and emoluments. “Even though Edo State is not economically viable as Rivers State, we do not only pay our workers’ salaries, we have since increased our workers’ minimum wages from N18, 000 to N25, 000. “That this salary increase is happening at a time when Governor Wike is lamenting over paucity of funds, should explain in greater details our uncommon creativity and prudent management of resources. “The last time we visited Rivers State, we were appalled by the plights of Rivers workers whose lamentations Governor Wike has consistently ignored. Our piece of advice to him as a younger brother was to properly guide him so he doesn’t go astray by the temptations of an election that his party is bound to lose. “ “Rather than waste Rivers people’s money in Edo State, keep Rivers people’s money for them. He should be reminded that Edo voters are not gullible like voters elsewhere and their level of sophistication would make the September 28 election a smooth sail for the All Progressives Congress. It is our responsibility to caution Governor Wike before he exports his gangsterism to Edo State.” http://thenationonlineng.net/oshiomhole-wike-pay-workers-salaries/ 2 Likes 2 Shares |
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