Nigerian Army Links Boko Haram To Hezbollah

Nigerian troops in the Joint   Task Forces in Kano today said that investigations into the discovery of weapon cache found in a home occupied by Lebanese foreign nationals in Kano shows that Boko Haram Islamist militants have connections with the Lebanon-based Hezbollah

A press release signed by the spokesman for the JTF Captain Ikedichi Iweha stated that investigations conducted so far shows that there is a local cell of the Hizbollah in Nigeria.
 

See full text of Press Release:
On 28 May 13 a combined team of the JTF involving the NA of the 3 Brigade here in Kano and the Kano state DSS conducted a thorough search of this house located at No 3 Gaya Road offBompai Road Kano belonging to one Abdul Hassan Taher Fadlalla a Lebanese national who is currently out of the country. After painstaking search of the whole premises, the search team uncovered an under ground bunker in the the master bed room where a large quantity of assorted weapons of different types and caliber were recovered.

The bunker was specially constructed for this purpose. It is worth mentioning to say that the weapons include anti tank weapons, rocket propelled guns, anti tank/anti personnel mines among other dangerous weapons.

All the weapons and ammunition recovered were properly concealed with several layers of concrete and placed in coolers, drums and bags neatly wrapped.  

These discoveries were not accidental but the out come of an ongoing robust counter terrorism investigation by the Department of the State Services Abuja in the past several months. The investigation also confirms the existence of a Hizbullah Foreign Terrorist Cell in Nigeria. Consequently, the DSS on 16 May 2013 arrested one Mustapha Fawaz the co-owner of the popular Amigo Supermarket as well as the wonderland Amusement Park all in Abuja. Thus, his arrest and confession unveiled other members of the foreign terrorists network which led to the interception of one member of the syndicate named Abdullah Tahini a Lebanese national at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport  with undeclared amount of sixty thousand United States Dollars on him enroute Beirut. There after on 26 May 2013 one Talal Roda also a Lebanese with Nigerian Passport was arrested in this same house.

All those arrested have confessed to have undergone Hizbullah terrorist training and further implicated one Fauzi Fawad, also a co-owner of Amigo Supermarket and wonderland Amusement Park. However, the fellow is now at large. The arms and ammunition were targeted at facilities of Israel and Western interest in Nigeria, however, the security agencies are making frantic efforts to unveil the true situation. At the end of investigation, all those involved will be prosecuted.

Justice Okeke, In Retirement Speech, Says Supreme Court Justice Interfered With His Job In A Case Involving Her Daughter

Okechukwu Okeke

Retiring Justice Okechukwu Joseph Okeke of the Federal High Court has said in a valedictory speech that underlines the fault lines in Nigerian justice that he would like to be remembered as a victim of the Nigerian judiciary.

In an address to the court in Lagos on Monday, the judge, who was appointed to the bench in 1992, looked back on his 20 years as judge with gratitude to God for seeing him through the vicissitudes of his judicial life in the country. 

“I wish to place on record for posterity to the issue that was awash in both the electronic and print media on 26th and 27th April, 2013 of my travail,” he told the audience.  “This issue was that the National Judicial Council had issued a serious warning to Hon. Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court of Nigeria over various petitions written against him.  I hereby publicly state that I am the said JUSTICE OKECHUKWU JOSEPH OKEKE of the Federal high Court of Nigeria.”

Identifying the specific petitions, which he said were written by Senior Advocates of Nigeria for their clients, and listed in the agenda of the meeting of the National Judicial Council held on April 24 and 25, 2013, he pleaded with the NJC “in the interest of justice and the benefit of the citizens” of Nigeria to publish them along with his responses to them in any national newspaper, unedited, to enable Nigerians form their opinion on the merit or demerit of the said petitions.

Justice Okeke spoke about his travails beginning with an application filed by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in Charge No. FHC/L/297C/2009: FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VS DR. (MRS) CECILIA IBRU, in which the corporation applied for a writ of execution concern Federal Government properties listed as No. 1 – No.27 in Schedule VI of the official Gazette No.94 Volume 98 (Exhibit MSU 2, arising from the forfeiture judgement of Justice DD Abudu in October 2010.

The case was argued on March 1, he said, and satisfied that a case has been made for the exercise of the Court’s discretion in favour of the applicant, the application was granted.

“On 6th March, 2013, I received a call from the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court that Honourable Justice Clara Ogunbiyi of Supreme Court of Nigeria was furious with me for granting leave to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria which led to the ejection of her daughter and son in-law from No.5A George Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.”

That was followed the following day, March 7, by a legal application for the order to be set aside.   

That was followed the following day, March 8, by a visit by Funke Ogunbiyi.  “She introduced herself as a daughter of Honourable Justice Clara Ogunbiyi of Supreme Court of Nigeria, and she was living with her husband at No.5A GEORGE STREET, IKOYI, LAGOS.  That her mother Honourable Justice Clara Ogunbiyi directed her to tell me to discharge the Order of 1st March, 2013 as there was no basis for the Order.”

Justice Okeke said he advised her that since they had filed the Motion on Notice for the setting aside the Order of 1st of March, 2013, their Counsel should meet the Registrar of the Court for a date for their Motion.

In his ruling on March 27, Justice Okeke held that in view of the order of Hon. Justice Saliu Saidu on February 13 striking out the name of AMCON as a defendant in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1346/2010, the Judgment Creditor/Respondent did not suppress the pendency of any suit, and that execution had been levied.  He therefore dismissed the application to set aside the order he had previously made on March 1, and advised the Interveners/Applicants to take their case to the Court of Appeal.

“Hell was let loose on me.  The Interveners/Applicants and their Counsel wrote a petition against me which they back dated 18th March 2013 to the National Judicial Council.”

This, Justice Okeke explained, formed the background to the stories in the media on April 26 and 27 2013 claiming that he had been “seriously warned.”
The judge then published two different letters dated May 21, 2013 that he received from the NJC.  The first one seriously warning him to “desist from such acts that are prejudicial to the integrity of the Judiciary and the administration of Justice.”

The other, referring to his notice of retirement dated January 29, 2013   in which he notified the NJC of his retirement Service of Federal Judiciary, with effect from 19th May, 2013, when he would have attained the retirement age of 65 years, wished him “happy retirement, after putting in years of dedicated and meritorious service to particularly the Federal Judiciary.”

Reviewing these facts, Justice Okeke reiterated his faith in God.  “If not for His Love, care and protection, some powerful elements in Nigeria who blocked my progress in the judiciary would have succeeded in their evil plot to disgrace me out of the judiciary,” he said.
He also gave thanks to a broad spectrum of people in his professional life, as well as members of his family.  

“They all believe in my honour and integrity,” he told the audience, pointing out that each time a petition was written against him on concocted stories they stood by him like the Rock of Gibraltar. “They were my advisers and financial backbone in the course of my judicial career…If I come to this world again I pray that the almighty God bless me with such highly dependable and resourceful parents, brother and sister.”

Of his career, he said, “As I bow out I will like to be remembered as a victim of injustice in the Nigerian judiciary.”

SaharaReporters has not been able to confirm from the NJC if it will publish the full text of the petitions it received about Justice Okeke, as he has requested, as well as his written responses to them.

Full text of the speech:

ADDRESS OF THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE OKECHUKWU JOSEPH OKEKE, (KNIGHT OF SAINT PAUL) ON THE VALEDICTORY COURT SESSION OF FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA IN HIS HONOUR HELD ON MONDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF MAY, 2013 AT THE LAMBO HALL, FEDERAL HIGH COURT COMPLEX, IKOYI, LAGOS.

My Lord, The Honourable Justice Ibrahim Ndahi Auta, OFR, FCI.Arb, The Chief Judge of Federal High Court,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.                                     

First and foremost, I give thanks to the almighty God for His grace and guidance that sustained me from birth till now, more particularly through the vicissitudes of my judicial life in Nigeria.  If not for His Love, care and protection, some powerful elements in Nigeria who blocked my progress in the judiciary would have succeeded in their evil plot to disgrace me out of the judiciary.  To Him I ascribe all honour and praise.  May His name be glorified for ever and ever, Amen.

I welcome you all, who in spite of your busy schedule still found time to attend this rescheduled valedictory session in my honour.
My beloved parents the late Chief Joseph Ikeokwu Okeke and the late Mrs. Christiana Nwanyioye Okeke brought me up in the strict Anglican family life.  The provided for me from primary school education to university level.  My school fees were promptly paid and my welfare adequately catered for.  They instilled discipline, hardwork and love in their children and dependants.  We still live as a family and everyday of our life, we give glory to God for all mercies seen and unforeseen.

My teachers were simply wonderful and dedicated.  Without them I doubt what I would have become.  Specific mention must be made of the late Rev. Canon H.D.O. Chiwuzie, my Principal at Anglican Grammar School (now Oraukwu Grammar School) Oraukwu, and the late Mr. B.E. Okon, my Principal at Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar.  Professor C.O. Okonkwo SAN, the late professor G.O. Ezejiofor SAN, Professor D. Ewelukwa, the late Hon. Justice (Prof.) Okay Achike JSC, CON, the late Chief C.O. Akpamgbo, SAN, Hon Justice

Tony Ezeani, J.H.C Okolo SAN, the late Professor Chijioke Ogwurike and Chiobi Ekpechi, Esq all of whom taught me law.  I owe them immense gratitude.  Barrister E.I. Odoma of E.I. Odoma and Co., 12 Beach Road, Jos in whose Chambers I served by one year compulsory service of the National Youth Service Corps.  He took me as a brother and made my service year enjoyable and memorable.  May his noble soul continue to rest in peace.

Honourable Justice Francis Omenye Nwokedi, the late Hon. Justice T.C Umezinwa, the late Hon. Justice Obumneme Onwuamaegbu, Hon. Justice Francis Awogu, Hon. Justice H.C. Olike, Hon. Justice Obiora Nwazota, the late Hon. Justice Byron Onyeama, Hon. Justice J.G.O. Aneke and Hon. Justice G.U. Ononiba, OFR all encouraged me as a legal practitioner.  Honourable Justice Anthony Ikechukwu Iguh, JSC CON remains my judicial father in the course of my career as a legal practitioner and judicial officer.  Thank each and every one of them for their positive roles in my life.

My judicial career started on 9th November, 1992 when I was appointed a Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria by His Excellency General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR President Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.  I thank him for giving me the opportunity to serve my country as a judicial officer.

On the 23rd day of December, 1992, I was sworn in by the late Honourable Justice Mohammed Bello, the Chief Justice of Nigeria.  He advised that progress in the judiciary would be based on hard work and integrity, and not by godfatherism or whom you know or other connections.

In the Federal High Court of Nigeria, I pay special tribute to the late Honourable Justice Mohammed Babatunde Belgore, an astute administrator and erudite jurist who gave confidence and hope to all his judges.  May his soul continue to rest in peace.  He was a father figure.  Honourable Justice R. N. Ukeje, OFR, who created many judicial Divisions of the Federal High Court including yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Honourable Justice Abdulahi Mustapha OFR, FCI.Arb, the Chief Judge who restored the pride of Judges of the Federal High Court.  Honourable Justice Dan D. Abutu OFR, FCI.Arb, an understanding Chief Judge, may the Almighty God continue to bless him, Honourable Justice Ibrahim Ndahi Auta OFR, FCI.Arb, the Chief Judge who sustained the effort of affording all Judges equal opportunity to attend foreign and local courses and seminars.  May the Almighty God strengthen, bless, guide and protect him and all members of his family.

My other colleagues on the Bench of the Federal High Court have been fantastic.  It has been a great pleasure working with them.  I will not fail to specifically mention Hon. Justice Abubakar Abdulkadir Jega JCA, Hon Justice A. Abdullahi Babandi Gumel JCA, Hon Justice Halidu Tanko Soba (Retired), Hon Justice J. Tsoho, the late Hon. Justice Chukwura Nnamani, Hon. Justice Lambo Akanbi, and Hon. Justice P.I. Ajoku who on different occasions during my trial periods which included intimidations and harassment between 2003 and December, 2007 encouraged me.  They gave me words of inspiration, boosting my morale and made me to shelve my plan of premature retirement.  To each of them I say thank you.

The staff of the Court are worthy of working with, but specifically Mr Bello Okandeji current Deputy Chief Registrar in Lagos, Mr M. A. David, Barrister E.C. Onyekwere, Mrs. Rebecca Ogidikpe, Mr. Tari Bubaraye Timinitokoni, Mr. Yemi Alayaki, Mr. Rasag Sule, Mrs. Franca Ikeazota, Mr Emmanuel C. Chukwuma, Barrister Hussaini Dadan-Garba, Mrs. Helen Ogunleye, Mrs. Susan C. Mozue, Mrs. Ifeoma okafor and Mrs. Nkanga Imaobong who worked with me in different divisions.  They are very reliable, hardworking and trustworthy.  I thank each of them.

My brothers and sister Engineer B.A.C. Okeke, Consultant Electrical Engineer; Sir Iloka A. Okeke, retired Director of Agriculture, Anambra State, Mr. S.E. Okeke retired Assistant General Manager, First Bank of Nigeria plc, Chief (Sir) Dr. G.U. Okeke MON, Chairman/Chief Executive G.U.O Group of Companies, Chief Chinedu D. Okeke, businessman and Chief (Mrs) Ifeyinwa E. Ekwenze, business mogul.  They all believe in my honour and integrity.  Each time a petition was written against me on concocted stories they stood by me like the Rock of Gibraltar.  They were my advisers and financial backbone in the course of my judicial career.  I thank them all.  If I come to this world again I pray that the almighty God bless me with such highly dependable and resourceful parents, brother and sister.

My wife Lade Uche C. Okeke and children Barrister Nnamdi Isa Okay-Okeke, Mr. Chigozie Nwabueze Okay-Okeke, Barrister (Mrs) Adaobi Nneamaka Nduaguba, Barrister (Mrs) Obianuju Nwakaego Ezeamama and Miss Uchenna Ijeabalum Okay-Okeke appreciated my predicament as a Judge of the Federal

High Court who was subject to normal transfers and punitive transfer.  They missed my company, but their comfort was never compromised.  Even when some mischief makers carried a wicked story that I abandoned my family at Onitsha, my wife and children dismissed the story, and encouraged me to continue my herculean judicial duties.  I thank them all for their prayers and support, God bless you all.
I served in the Federal High Court in the following Divisions to wit:
1.      Lagos          (January to December 1993)
2.      Kaduna        (January 1994 to September, 1997) as the pioneer Judge
3.      Lagos          (October 1997 to September, 2000).
4.      Abuja          (October 2000 to December, 2002).
5.      Yenagoa      (January 2003 to March, 2008) as the pioneer Judge.
6.      Lagos          (April, 2008 to 18th May, 2013) when I retired as provided by
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended).

I thank all learned counsel and people of goodwill who appeared before me for their understanding.

As I bow out of office with my head high and fulfilled, I give glory to Almighty God.

I find solace in the Hymns Ancient and Modern 301 by John Bunyan:
                  1.      He that is down needs fear no fall,
                           He that is low no pride;
                           He that is humble ever shall
                           Have God to be his guide.
                  2.      I am content with what I have,
                           Little be it or much;
                           And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
                           Because thou savest such.

                  3.      Fullness to such a burden is
                           That go on pilgrimage;
                           Here little, and hereafter bliss,
                           Is best from age to age.”

I wish to place on record for posterity to the issue that was awash in both the electronic and print media on 26th and 27th April, 2013 of my travail.  This issue was that the National Judicial Council had issued a serious warning to Hon. Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court of Nigeria over various petitions written against him.  I hereby publicly state that I am the said JUSTICE OKECHUKWU JOSEPH OKEKE of the Federal high Court of Nigeria.

It is pertinent to state that these petitions are to wit:

1.      SUIT NO. FHC/L/CP/1405/2011: Chief Anthony Obinwa V. Alhaji Olapade Olagunju Mohammed & ors.  The petitions dated 20th December, 2011 and 29th December, 2011 were drafted by a learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is a member of the National Judicial Council for his clients.

2.      FHC/L/CS/1132/2008: The Institute of Certified Teachers (Limited by Guarantee) & Ors V. Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria & Anor.  The petition was drafted by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria for his clients.

3.      SUIT NO. FHC/L/CS/145/2012: Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim Iman Vs First Guarantee Pension Limited & Ors.  This Petition was drafted by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria for his client.

The aforementioned petitions were listed in the agenda of the meeting of the National Judicial Council held on 24th and 25th April, 2013.

I plead with the National Judicial Council in the interest of justice and the benefit of the citizens of this great Country Nigeria to publish in any National Newspaper unedited the said petitions and my responses to them.

Such publication will be in compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, and afford the citizens the opportunity to form their opinion on the merit or demerit of the said petitions.

My travail is the application filed by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria in Charge No. FHC/L/297C/2009: FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VS DR. (MRS) CECILIA IBRU.

On 28th day of February, 2013 Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria applied for

“AN ORDER, granting leave to the Applicant to apply for the issuance of a writ of execution (possession) by the Registrar of this Honourable Court in respect of all those Federal Government properties listed as No. 1 – No.27 in Schedule VI of the official Gazette No.94 Volume 98 (Exhibit MSU 2, being part of the properties forfeited to the Applicant by the Respondent vide the Order of Honourable Justice D.D. Abutu delivered in this matter on 8th October, 2010”.

On 1st March, 2013, the application was argued.  I was satisfied that a case has been made out for the exercise of the Court’s discretion in favour of the applicant.  The said application was granted as prayed.

On 6th March, 2013, I received a call from the Honourable the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court that Honourable Justice Clara Ogunbiyi of Supreme Court of Nigeria was furious with me for granting leave to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria which led to the ejection of her daughter and son in-law from No.5A George Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.  I explained the position to him.  In his characteristic policy of non interference with his judges in the discharge of their duties, he advised me to hear any application for discharge of the Order of 1st March 2013 whenever filed.

On the 7th day of March, 2013, Engr. (Chief) Michael Afolabi Dada, Engr. Charges Ndubuisi O. Amadi, Mallam Lawan Sheikh Muhammad, Mrs Comfort Nduka Odili-Iwuaor, and Mr. Anthony Abiodub Abikoye as INTERVENERS/APPLICANTS applied for:

“1.     AN ORDER setting aside the Order of this Honourable Court made on the 1st day of March, 2013 granting leaving to the Judgment Creditor/Respondent to appy for the issuance of a writ of execution (possession) in respect of No.5A GEORGE STREET, IKOYI, LAGOS STATE.

2.      AN ORDER setting aside the execution levied on the property on 6/3/2013 based on the said Order of this Honourable Court issued  the 1st day of Marc, 2013.
                                             10
3.      AN ORDER restraining the Judgment Creditor/Respondent and the Deputy Sheriff from taking further steps and/or lving further execution pending the determination of all pending suits in respect of the above subject matter”.

On 8th day o March 2013, one Funke Ogunbiyi came to my Chambers at about 9.0 am completed the visitor’s form in which she stated her address as No5A GEORGE STREET, IKOYI, Lagos AND Phone No. 08099912659.  She was led into the Chambers.  She introduced herself as a daughter of Honourable Justice Clara Ogunbiyi of Supreme Court of Nigeria, and she was living with her husband at No.5A GEORGE STREET, IKOYI, LAGOS.  That her mother Honourable Justice Clara Ogunbiyi directed her to tell me to discharge the Order of 1st March, 2013 as there was no basis for the Order.  I advised her that since they have filed the Motion on Notice for the setting aside the Order of 1st of March, 2013 that their Counsel should meet the Registrar of the Court for a date for their Motion.

It is pertinent to reproduce paragraph 5 of the affidavit of urgency and paragraph 21 of the main affidavit in support of their Motion on Notice dated 7th March, 2013 in which Mr Anthony abiodun Abikoye (the 5th Intervener/Applicant) deposed thus:
“That the Judgment Creditor/Respondent did not disclose the pending suits and the motion for interlocutory injunction to this Honourable Court”.

In ground C of the application to set aside the Order of 1st March, 2013, the Interveners/Applicants’ Counsel Chukwuma Onwuemene Esq. of FALANA & FALANA’S CHAMBERS STATED thus:

“While the Attorney General of the Federation was joined as a Defendant in the SUIT NO: FHC/L/CS/640/2008, the Judgment Creditor upon its creation was joined as a party SUIT NO: FHC/L/CS/1346/2010, but the latter surreptitiously concealed the facts of the pendency of the suits from this Honourable Court”.

The Judgment Creditor/Respondent (Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria) in its counter affidavit of 14th March, 2013 sworn to by Jegbefume Oberaifo, a legal practitioner at Lexavier partners, Counsel to the Judgment Creditor/Respondent deposed in paragraph 3(h) thus:

“The Respondent is not party to Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1346/2010 as it was joined as a party and immediately struck off from same vide an Order of this Honourable Court dated 13th February, 2013.  A copy of the Order dated 13th February, 2013 striking out the Respondents name from the aforementioned suit is herewith attached and marked as Exhibit MSU 3”.

On 27th day of March, 2013, in my Ruling I held that in view of the Order of my learned brother Hon. Justice Saliu Saidu made on 13th February, 2013 striking out the name of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria as a defendant in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1346/2010 THAT THE Judgment Creditor/Respondent did not suppress the pendency of any suit, and that execution had been levied. 

I therefore dismissed the application to set aside the Order I made on 1st March, 2013, and advised the Interveners/Applicants to take their case to the Court of Appeal.

Hell was let loose on me.  The Interveners/Applicants and their Counsel wrote a petition against me which they back dated 18th March 2013 to the National Judicial Council.  In paragraph 16 of the said petition they stated thus:

“The Order for our ejection from our property was made by the Honourable Justice Okeke in spite of the knowledge of the pending suits by his Lordship and the AMCON’S Counsel, Mr. Francis Chuka Agbu SAN”.

The National Judicial Council by letter reference No. NJC/F.3/FHC.5/1/675 dated 5th April, 2013 forwarded the said petition to me for my comments within one month from the date of receipt of the letter.  The letter was received at 10.00am on 18th April, 2013.  Knowing fully well that the National Judicial Council was to meet on the 24th and 25th April, 2013 and that I had in January, 2013 given the Council notice of my retirement from service with effect from 19th May, 2013, I worked on Saturday and Sunday 20th and 21st April, 2013 to respond to the petition.  My response reached the National Judicial Council on Monday the 22nd day of April, 2013.

This is my story on the so called petitions for which I was seriously worned in the electronic and print media on 26th and 27th of April, 2013.
However, on Tuesday, the 21st day of May, 2013, I received letter reference No. NJC/F.3/FHC.3/1/679 dated 6th May, 2013 from the National Judicial Council paragraph 2 of which reads thus:

“The National Judicial Council at its Meeting which was held on 24th and 25th April, 2013 noted the various petitions and your responses to same.  At the end of deliberation, Council decided to seriously warn you to desist from such acts that are prejudicial to the integrity of the Judiciary and the administration of Justice when handling the cases that are brought before you in future, please”.

On the same Tuesday, 21st day of May, 2013 I also received letter reference No.NJC/RJO/1/304 dated 13th May, 2013 captioned and reads thus:
“RE: NOTICE OF RETIREMENT

Reference your letter dated 29th January, 2013 in which you notified the national Judicial Council of your retirement Service of Federal Judiciary, with effect from 19th May, 2013, when you will attain the Constitutional retirement age of 65 years.

2.      The National judicial Council had at its recent Meeting, which was held on 24th and 25th April, 2013 deliberated on the subject matter and noted your retirement from Service with the effect from the afore-stated date.

3.      Further, Council wishes you happy retirement, after putting in years of dedicated and meritorious service to particularly the Federal Judiciary”.
As I bow out I will like to be remembered as a VICTIM OF INJUSTICE IN THE NIGERIAN JUDICIARY.
Thanks, May the Almighty God bless you all.

Igbeke vs. Okadigbo:Leaked Supreme Court Decision To Favour Senator Okadigbo

Margery Okadigbo

Saharareporters has obtained a copy of a Supreme Court judgement in the election petition litigation between Senator Alphonsus Igbeke and Senator Margery Okadigbo.
The case in question, argued before Nigeria’s Supreme Court and topic of much discussion and legal debate, was expected to be decided today, May 31st, 2013. But days before the long-anticipated decision was to be announced in Abuja a source sent Saharareporters a copy of the ruling in advance claiming that justices of the Supreme Court had sold the judgement to the highest bidder.
The conflict, which arose after the Court of Appeals decided in 2011 that Senator Okadigbo was the rightful Peoples Democratic Party representative for the Anambra North Senatorial District, has dragged on for several years,
Senator Igbeke appealed against the ruling of the Court of Appeals, believing wholeheartedly that it was he who was the rightful candidate, and that he was the deserving recipient of the senatorial seat. A high court had earlier ruled in support of Igbeke, but the court of appeal ruled otherwise.
Today judgement will be relying heavily on a previous ruling of the court  which dismissed similar application from two other candidates challenging Mrs. Oksdigbo's candidature. The panel of Supreme kurt justice are going to say that they cannot go back after a ruling on the same matter by the Court.
However today’s leak of such sensitive information can only contribute to the high-stakes suspicion that the Supreme Court as a three-ring circus, has engaged in acts of corruption of selling the ruling to the highest bidder, this will further taint and tarnish the image of the justice system at its highest level Nigeria.
 The lead ruling which is expected to favour Senator Okadigbo will be read by Justice Suleiman Galadima of the Supreme Court.
The 29-page ruling refuses to touch Senator Igbeke’s substantive pleading, instead it will uphold an objection in support of Senator Okadigbo

EFCC Press Release: Sylva Loses Bid To Reclaim Passport

By Wilson Uwujaren

Former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva today failed in the bid to repossess his international passport as Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja threw out his application for lack of merit.

Sylva had approached the court for the release of his passport claiming that he needed the document to enable him travel to the United Kingdom to be with his wife who is due to undergo a surgical procedure.

At the last sitting, his counsel told the court that the former governor had given an undertaking that as soon as he returns from overseas, he will deliver the passport back to the Registrar of the court.

The defence counsel further told the court that the accused person surrendered himself voluntarily to the court in June 2012 when the he was arraigned. He reminded the court that the passport was released to the accused last year to enable him travel and that upon his return, he promptly brought the said document to the court.

Prosecution counsel, John Ainetor however opposed the application. He asked the court to dismiss the application in the interest of justice. He said the accused did not need any medical attention personally, but only wanted to accompany his wife who he claims needed medical attention.

The EFCC counsel also revealed that there were pending allegations against the accused person and his wife and that the trip was a ploy to escape current investigation and possible trial.

Justice Bello in his ruling on Thursday May 30, 2013 dismissed the application on the grounds that the London doctors will deal directly with accused wife and so the application lacks any urgency. The judge also held that the letter from the London Hospital was addressed to No. 38 Malbrone Avenue, London where the wife of the accused is residing and so had no link with the former governor.

8 policemen hospitalised, 47 youths nabbed over Ondo crisis

EIGHT policemen deployed to quell the uprising that erupted in Ile Oluji area of the state over the desperate plan by some youths to eject the traditional ruler, Oba Suulade Adedugbe from the palace who were critically wounded have been referred to the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital in Ile Ife for medical attention.

They  were alleged to have been shot by the violent youths who invaded the Oba’s palace.

Meantime,  47 persons have been arrested by the police over the crisis.

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Ile Oluji is also said to be  hospitalised following the injury he sustained while trying to quell the crisis.

This is coming as the state government yesterday set up a judicial commission of enquiry to probe the violence that led to the death of three persons.

According to the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Rotimi Adelola, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is to look into the recent disturbances and crises in Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government of Ondo State, especially the disturbance of May 27 and 28,  2013 and or any similar disturbance in Ile Oluji.

It has Justice Nelson Adeyanju as Chairman, Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu, Chief Olugbenga Ale as members and Mr. Fredrick Oye as Secretary

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry is to “ recommend appropriate sanction, take stock of the losses or damages occasioned during the crises, make appropriate recommendations to government on the subject of the terms of references or any other matter connected with the crises.”

The Commission of Inquiry which has 14 days to submit its findings is to be inaugurated today, at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office.

Also, the governor, Dr Mimiko yesterday, at a Democracy Day lecture said the crisis in Ile Oluji has some undertone and has nothing to do with the citing of a Federal institution in the area.

He confirmed that a policeman who was shot by the youths was operated upon at OAUTH in Ile Ife, yesterday.

Meantime, soldiers from the 323 Artillery Regiment in the state have been deployed to the troubled town to compliment the efforts of the policemen.

Also, the palace of the Oba was said to have been vandalised by the irate youths.

There was partial curfew in the town yesterday as both commercial and social activities were completely paralysed following the violence in the town.

Police sources said that the youths picked up have started fingering their sponsors and are being detained at the state SIIB in Akure.

Reports said that the Oba has returned to the palace and he is under police protective custody.

The Ondo State Government in a statement on the crisis signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Eni Akinsola, said there was no truth about a Polytechnic in Ile Oluji as rumoured by some people in the community, a rumour that resulted into a violent protest in the week.

Akinsola said:  “The state is not contemplating a new polytechnic now as it is busy repositioning its two universities in Okitipupa and Akungba and the polytechnic in Owo.

“ We have also found out that the federal government has also not decided on citing any higher institution in the state now. We are therefore shocked to hear that the crisis is linked to a rumoured location of a polytechnic to and away from the town.”

Mimiko challeges Amaechi over NGF video

FACTIONAL Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday, challenged the Governor Rotimi Amaechi faction to release to the public the video recording of the three-hour exercise.

Speaking at this years Democracy day lecture in Akure, Mimiko said that the Amaechi faction only released a 10 minutes part of the video that favours them.

The governor said: “Nigerians should ask the Pro-Amaechi’s group why he presided over an election which he is also contesting. I specifically raised that issue and insisted that he must resign but his supporters maintained that he should supervise the poll as a sitting chairman.

“They asked me whether I resigned my position while seeking a re-election for a second term in office and I replied them that it was not the same thing because the NGF is like an association not a democratic institution which had its existence entrenched in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“When it was obvious that we could not guarantee the source of the ballot boxes and papers brought by Amaechi, I protested again that we should conduct the election openly by raising up our hands in support of our preferred candidate, again, they rejected it.

“The ballot papers they produced were without serial numbers and we discovered this was a fraud, hence there were protests.

“They never captured all these facts in their video but merely recorded the fraction of the process which was in line with their pre-determined agenda.”

The Democracy lecture was delivered by Prof Bola Akinterinwa the Director General Nigerian Institute of International Affair NIIA with the title “”Democracy, security and Development, the challenges of Ondo state as a catalyst Agent”

Also the National Chairman of Labour Party Mr Dan Nwayanwun has faulted the purported emergence of Mr Rotimi Amaechi as the factional chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum(NGF).

Nwanyanwu said in Akure that the claim of Rivers State governor as NGF helmsman defiled all known moral and legal requirements.

However Dr Mimiko said the governors had a shouting match over the desperation of the former chairman to retain the seat at all means.

Father of 3 commits suicide after sack

A father of three, who was identified as Patrick Essien, was reported have committed suicide, yesterday, in Benin after he was allegedly sacked from the transport company where he worked.

His dangling body was found in the roof of the toilet at the residence at Imasabemwen Street, off Siluko Road.

Some co-tenants, who spoke to journalists, said the deceased had complained earlier that he had been sacked, although they could not volunteer the name of the company.

According to them, a co-tenant, who went to the toilet to ease himself, peeped in after knocking several times without getting any response. That was when he saw a body dangling from the roof.

They said the late driver had been living at the residence for the past 14 years without any wife or children but that he told them he had a wife and three kids somewhere.

According to them, “we saw him this morning. He said he was sacked and we later found him dead in the toilet.”

His corpse was later taken away by the police.

In a related development, a 74-year-old man, Clement Omorogbe, has been jailed by an Egor Magistrate Court for raping a minor in November 2010.

Presiding Magistrate, Eboh Braimoh in her judgment, said there were increasing cases of rape and sentenced the accused to serve as deterrent to others.

We shall kill Nigerians in Pakistan if… – Families of kidnap victims

Families of the five Pakistani nationals on board an oil vessel, Mt Matrix 1, abducted last Saturday at 40 nautical miles off the Bayelsa coast have told the management of the company, Matrix Energy, in Warri, Delta State, not to pay any ransom to the abductors to get them released, promising to take revenge on Nigerians in their hundreds in Pakistan, if any of the victims was killed.

The abducted victims include the Captain, Chief Officer, cook and two others. They were conveying automated gasoline oil, AGO, from Lagos to Eket, when they were abducted at 9pm.

Sources said that relevant security agencies in Bayelsa State and Warri in Delta State, had been informed of the incident.

The source added  that the company had begun negotiation with the abductors, but that details of negotiations with the company on ransom were not disclosed.

APC is for national cohesion – Buhari

Retired Gen. Muhammad Buhari, leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said the evolution of All Progressive Congress (APC) was not for personal aggrandisement, but for national cohesion.

He stated this at the inauguration of constituency projects by member representing Zaria at the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbass Tajuddeen in Zaria, Kaduna State on Wednesday.

*Buhari

Buhari, represented by CPC Chairman in Kaduna State, Alhaji Ahmadu Yaro-Cocacola, said APC, if elected, was determined to foster national unity and restore hope to Nigerians.

He appealed to electorate to remain humble and peaceful during and after 2015 general election with a view to electing credible candidates into various elective positions for the good of the nation.

Buhari lauded the efforts of the lawmaker for bringing the dividends of democracy close to the door steps of his people and called on other members to emulate him.

In his speech, the Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Sen. Sani Sale, appealed to the people to join the waggon of what he described as liberation vanguard.

He said that CPC lawmakers had distinguished themselves in honour and service to humanity, hence the need for people to rally round the party.

Responding, Tajuddeen said that the gesture was aimed at giving all manner of people a sense of belonging, and gave the assurance that more dividends of democracy for his constituency were in the pipeline.

The ceremony featured presentation of gifts to winners of inter primary and secondary schools quiz and football competition.

It also featured the inauguration of ICT/skills acquisition centre, wall fence and solar bore holes, among others. (NAN)

UNILAG Law Students Hold Gani Fawehinmi Annual Conference Without Blink Of Light

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s40cL4vx6o8

Participants at the University of Lagos [UNILAG]'s annual Gani Fawehinmi Chambers' Conference held on 24th May, 2013 fan themselves with book-covers as there was no blink of electricity light throughout the program.

Troops uncover armoury in Kano, arrest Lebanese

Arms recovered by Nigerian Troops in Kano

 SPECIAL forces drafted from the Nigerian Military, Tuesday night, raided a residential building-cum-warehouse packed with sophisticated military hardware at Bompai, a highbrow area located within the precinct of police and immigration headquarters in the troubled northern commercial city.

It was learnt that the warehouse belonged to an alien from the Middle East and located in Gaya Road, Bompai GRA and within a striking distance to the Police state headquarters and the headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

Security sources close to the military confirmed, on condition of anonymity, in Kano that the highly coordinated military operation was carried out following a tip-off by a suspect under investigation.

The elite troops were said to have stormed the residence, picked up the occupants and in the ensuing search on the suspected bungalow, large cache of arms and ammunition were discovered in the sitting room and some wardrobe in the house.

The military source revealed that, “large quantities of the military hardware were buried in the house, while some were neatly concealed. It took a trained officer in counter-terrorism to discover the hidden mass weapon of war.”

Recovered

The security source further revealed that items recovered from the 72-hour operation includes: 40 air-to-surface missiles, 50 cluster bombs, 200 rocket-propel launcher, eight AK-47 rifles, 200 military hand grenades, uncountable number of live ammunition and certain military hard wares deployed to destroy Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC.”

The dependable source said that the weapons of war were evacuated to the headquarters of the 3rd Motorised Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Kano, alongside two other arrested nationals of the same Middle East extraction, in connection with the shocking discovery.

The source stated that preliminary investigation revealed that “three countries have been indicted and the military high command is working to ascertain the culpability.”

Eyewitness account

However, a civilian eyewitness, who lives in the neighbourhood, said he counted over “300 AK-47 riffles and I saw soldiers packing ammunition using shovels into some large containers from the house.”

The account gave the name of the suspect as one Ta’al, who appeared to be in his late 50s, stressing that “Ta’al had been staying in the house for the past five years alone without his family, and lived a secluded life as he hardly associate himself with people in the neighbourhood.

“The suspect hardly received visitors and drives a white Toyota Hilux, and doesn’t keep late night.”

However, the military authorities are keeping sealed lips over the development as effort to get their side of the story proved abortive.

When contacted, JTF spokesman in Kano, Capt Ikediche Iweha, neither denied nor confirmed the discovery, but pleaded understanding, saying that “we are going to issue a statement.”

Amaechi’s suspension: PDP’s merry-go-round

The PDP as a party has often not looked back in bringing vengeance upon its high profile members who turn aside from the establishment.

President Goodluck Jonathan once hailed them as the field commanders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. However, such depiction is no guarantee that the governors can never cry. In the present dispensation a number of governors belonging to the party have been subjected to difficult times arising from infighting in the party.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State who was yesterday (Monday) suspended from the party may not have been the first governor to be hounded from or by the party, but he is the first to be suspended by the party.

The reason for Amaechi’s suspension by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh was his alleged refusal to heed party directives, ostensibly the party’s instruction that the suspension of the executive of Obior Akpor local government be rescinded.

Instructively, the suspension carried out by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a fall out of the crisis that emerged following the internal war triggered by a section of the party to wrest control of the party from the governor.

The faction led by the Minister of State, Education, Nyesom Wike took control of the state executive of the party upon a court judgment that recognized the congress purportedly organized by the faction.

Ngige, Ladoja, Haruna, Mbadinuju and Amaechi

The decision to suspend Amaechi follows a directive from the new executive of the party led by Felix Obuah ordering the governor and the House of Assembly to reverse the suspension of the Obior Akpor executive.

Chinwoke Mbadinuju
The first executive governor of Anambra State was the first governor of the fourth republic to be forced out of the PDP.

As governor of Anambra State, Dr. Mbadiniju was faced with managing difficult relations with the motley crowd of godfathers in the state.

He perhaps never contemplated with the aspiration of one of the rising godfathers, Chief Chris Uba who through his brother, Dr. Andy Uba, now a senator, sought total domination of the political space in the state. Mbadinuju, once an aide of former vice-president Alex Ekwueme, also brought mischief upon himself through what some claimed to be bad governance in the sense of accruals of salaries of civil servants and teachers who went on strike for more than one year.

As the 2003 election got closer, Mbadinuju was in 2002 officially refused the PDP re-election ticket by the national secretariat and he was forced to decamp to the Alliance for Democracy, AD, on whose platform he made an abortive bid for re-election.

Noting his circumstances, at that time, Mbadinuju in an interview with The Nation said:In 2003, after completing my first term, there were two of us, Governor Rabiu kwankwaso of Kano State and I who could not make it back, even though we sought reelection. We were not allowed to go back. This was despite that I had won the primary of my party three times. But the power that-be did not want me back in office.”

“I was penciled down for ambassadorial appointment to Germany. But Obasanjo deleted my name from the list for reasons that were inexplicable. The PDP, after realising that I was wrongly excluded, decided to forward my name for ambassadorial position. That was my fate. The PDP decided to abandon me despite that I remained a loyal member of the party.”

Dr. Chris Ngige
Dr. Chris Ngige who was helped by the national secretariat of the PDP to succeed Mbadiniju, however, fell out with the party after only three months in office. An attempt by a member of the Board of Trustees, BoT Chief Chris Uba to force Ngige into a forced resignation received a backlash in the form of an outpouring of goodwill for the embattled governor even from within the national secretariat of the party.

The PDP sided with the Ubas against their governor and Ngige became something like an orphan within his own party. Remarkably, Ngige was at that time one of the most tested party administrators having been Assistant National Organising Secretary before he was picked by the Uba brothers for the Anambra project.

The national chairman of the party at that time, Chief Audu Ogbeh was forced into resigning his office partly on account of the crisis triggered by the party’s disowning of Ngige.

In a comment on the episode, Ogbeh said:
“I did what I thought was best because at that time, I had ample information that they were going to kill Ngige before Christmas 2004 and that was the subject of my letter,” Ogbeh said with respect to his controversial letter to President Obasanjo on the party’s hounding of Ngige.

Senator Rasheed Ladoja
Senator Rasheed Ladoja came to office on the goodwill of the apostle of amala politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, who for some still undecipherable reasons had been promoted by President Olusegun Obasanjo as the point-man of the party in the Southwest.

However, following his inauguration in May 2003, Ladoja sought to minimize the influence of Adedibu in the governance of the state and tighten the outflow of state patronage towards Adedibu.

The governor was seriously resisted and Adedibu in cahoots with state institutions and the national party moved against Adedibu.

Ladoja was impeached on 12 January, 2006 by 14 members of the House of Assembly whose number fell short of the 18 required under the law by the 32 member House of Assembly to impeach a governor.

Remarkably, the PDP through its National Publicity Secretary at that time, Mr. John Odey upheld the illegality albeit for political considerations.

The impeachment was eventually upturned by the higher courts and by the time Ladoja returned to office, his deputy who did not waste time in kowtowing to the PDP had already been drafted as the party’s nominee for the 2007 gubernatorial election.

Boni Haruna
Boni Haruna was before his emergence as governor of Adamawa State, a staff in a media company owned by Atiku Abubakar. Atiku eventually chose him as his running mate in the 1999 gubernatorial election which they won.

However, luck smiled on Haruna when Atiku was chosen to become vice-presidential candidate by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

As governor, Haruna’s loyalty to Atiku remained steadfast even as a staff, and it was no surprise that as the hawks around Obasanjo pummeled Atiku in the run up to the 2007 general election that Haruna suffered collateral damage.

Haruna was forced to abandon the PDP for the then Action Congress in 2006 and claimed that he was hounded out of the party.

In an interview with Vanguard in 2007, Haruna said that it would have been foolish of him to remain in the party given what he claimed as the antagonism of the party to him claiming that the 2004 tribunal judgment against his 2003 re-election was instigated by the party and the presidency in order to deny Atiku a home base ahead of the 2007 contest.

My life under threat, Amaechi cries out … as PDP suspends him

Hours after he was suspended from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, yesterday, solicited prayers from citizens of the state against desperate persons who he claimed were after his life.

The suspension of Amaechi from the party was agreed during an unscheduled and unusually early morning meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party at the residence of the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The meeting, Vanguard learnt, commenced at 8.00 a.m.

The meeting came two days ahead of the regular meeting of the NWC which normally holds on Wednesdays. It was also three days after Amaechi beat the odds with his re-election as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF. He had been allegedly opposed by the PDP Governors’ Forum, PDP-GF ahead of the election.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State

The governor spoke amidst strong opposition from his loyalists and some party chieftains over what they described as the continued reign of lawlesness in the party. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in a sharp reaction called on the founders of the party to mobilise against what he described as the party’s slip towards disintegration.

The suspension of the governor was, however, welcomed by the newly inaugurated Rivers State executive of the PDP that is opposed to the governor.

The governor’s suspension was hinged on what the party described as his refusal to order the reinstatement of members of the Obio Akpor Local Government executive who were suspended from office by the orders of the Rivers State House of Assembly upon allegations of corruption raised against the LG executive.

Hours after the suspension was announced, the party at a press conference said that it had constituted a committee headed by Mr. Joe Gadzama, SAN, to probe allegations raised against Amaechi.

Other members of the committee are PDP National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; Inalegwu Onche, Friday Nwosu, Udorji Amedu, Ola Kukuyi, Wakil Mohammed, Yusuf Jangwe, Mrs Bola Doherty, Mr. Tanimu Adamson and Anicho Okoro as Secretary.

The time frame for the committee’s assignment was, however, not given.

NGF crisis assumes new dimension

However, Vanguard gathered, yesterday ,that the crisis rocking the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has taken a new dimension, with the Governor Jonah Jang-led parallel faction appointing Mr. Osaro Onaiwo as Sole Administrator of Jang’s office in Maitama, Abuja. He is to act pending the appointment of a substantive director-general.

In the statement conveying the governor’s suspension issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday, the party said:

“The National Working Committee at its emergency meeting on Monday, May 27, 2013 considered the petition submitted by the PDP Rivers Executive Committee against His Excellency, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Executive Governor of Rivers State for violating Articles 58 1 (b), (c ), (h) and (m) of the PDP Constitution following his refusal to obey the lawful directive of the Rivers State Executive Committee to rescind his decision dissolving the elected Executive Council of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“The National Working Committee after preliminary hearing, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 59 (3), 59 (5) and 29 (2.b), hereby suspends the Executive Governor of River State, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as a member of the PDP and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the Party.
“This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the party to enforce discipline at all levels within the party.”

My life under threat — Amaechi

Reacting to his suspension during an interactive session with youths of the state, Amaechi called for prayers saying that desperate people who he claimed did not follow the due process of hearing from him could also be after his life.

He, however, vowed that God who kept him in the face of the six-month intrigues that preceded his inauguration in 2007 would also see him through. The interactive session with the youths with the theme: “Consolidating on Rivers of our Dreams” took place at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt.

Noting the desperation of his foes, he said: “The way these people at the federal level are desperate, they may come after my life. So when you pray, remember to pray for me to remain alive.

“Who has power to suspend Obio/Akpor council? Now you see political witch-hunting; it is so ridiculous, my party must rise above political witch-hunting. The Governor did not suspend Obio/Akpor council, I hope you know. My power is to dissolve and remit it to the House of Assembly, but I have not done that yet, what the Assembly has said is ‘we are investigating corruption’ then the party says we should not investigate corruption, is that fair?”.

Amaechi said the NWC issued a press statement to suspend him without any invitation and fair hearing. “I was not invited by the National Working Committee of PDP, I was not given fair hearing. What I heard was ‘why did I refuse to reinstate the suspended Obio/Akpor Council executive? Who suspended them?’, he asked.

His question received the enthusiastic response of the youths who chorused: “The Rivers State House of Assembly.”

Again the governor asked, ‘who has the power to investigate Obio/Akpor council executive?”. The Youths again replied: “The State Assembly.”

“If they are not guilty, then they will re-instate them, but if they are guilty, then we will ask for the dissolution of the council.  We have not even gone half, and the Party (PDP) says re-instate them. It means that the party likes corruption. Let the Assembly resume and commence investigation, let’s see what goes on. Whether there is corruption or not, it is the business of the Assembly.  I have been a Speaker, and I know the powers of a Speaker and the legislature.  I used it when I was a Speaker”, Amaechi said.

“What is the police still doing at the Obio/Akpor Council building?  The court gave an order to the Police to vacate Obio/Akpor Council, they disobeyed, and the police are still stationed there”, he said.

“The Federal Government does not care, they only stationed police at Obio/Akpor council, even if everybody dies, they don’t care.  Now the whole state will be grounded, because the police have refused to vacate the Obio/Akpor Council Secretariat. They don’t want to know, we are not important to the federal government, we are not important at all”, Amaechi lamented.

“You know what it took for us to stop militancy in the state. But only last week, they now organized militants to return to the streets of Port Harcourt, is that not shameful. You all know how the militants spent our money, raped our women, killed our parents and young men.  Immediately the militants stopped protesting, the police said, nobody should protest again”, Amaechi stated.

“Internal democracy is important in our party,  they fought me with everything, and I still won the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election, what should they do?  They should have joined me to thank God.  Because what it means is that God has spoken.  It happened when I was in Ghana, I fasted and prayed for six months, 6am to 6pm, and God made me Governor.

I will not leave PDP — Amaechi

“I will not leave the PDP. I will go to court. The plane (aircraft) issue is same politics, pure politics. For one year plus, a minister refused to sign import permit. I’m sure you are aware of the House of Representatives Committee report on the plane issue.”

On the NGF election, Governor Amaechi said:  “You will see it on the internet when the Governors were voting, all the governors were there and you will also see the counting. We (Governors) agreed to vote, and all the governors voted, so any governor who said he didn’t vote is lying against the nation because all of us are on oath to govern properly. So we should not lie, every governor voted, you will see the video. If we leaders of Nigeria today are refusing to accept the results of a properly organized election supervised by the Director-General of the Governors’ Forum, and somebody brought a paper that was signed in April.  If you check that list, it was signed in April and you brought it on May 24 after the Governors have finished voting their chairman into office; that list is not part of our election. There is a rumour that they want to go to court to stop me as NGF chairman. We are ready to meet them in court but they should not go through the backdoor to get an order ”, Amaechi said.

Meantime, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari has described the suspension of the governor by his party as worrisome, adding that it was witch hunting.

“We are concerned as we believe this is political witch-hunt. It is worrisome. The reason given is the suspension of the Obio/Akpor council. This is purely a legislative matter and one in accordance to the laws of local government councils in Rivers State.”

On his part, the Chief of Staff Government House, Mr Tony Okocha said the action of the party made no sense. “The suspension makes no sense.  How can you suspend the governor if you talk of rule of law? There are indices of the rule of law. Nobody called the governor for hearing on any issue. The whole thing makes no sense.”

When contacted for comment, the Publicity Secretary of the Chief Godspower Ake-led faction of the PDP in the state, Mr George Wogba said they had not been formally informed of the action of the party.

The Felix Obuah led PDP on its part supported the suspension.  Publicity Secretary of the faction, Mr Nwanosike Samuel who spoke also said the governor did not win the NGF election.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Otelemaba Amachree declined comment on the development.  His media aide, Mr Jim Opiki said his boss would not want to say anything on the development at the moment.

Former National Deputy Chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) Chief Asukewe Iko-Awaji, faulted the suspension saying it was a violation of democratic tenets.

“I don’t want to talk much about PDP as a party, but what you must know is the role of a party and that of government; they are different. That PDP suspends Amaechi does not remove him from office as governor”, he ended.

Stakeholders react

Reactions to the development also flowed from several stakeholders in the polity yesterday. Among those who spoke yesterday were the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC; the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP; former Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West; constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Austin Opara; member of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Segun Babatope; former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Junaid Mohammed; civil rights activist cum lawyer, Bamidele Aturu; spokesman of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin among others.

CPC

“In the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), we are appalled by the sordid affair that the recently concluded chairmanship election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) degenerated into. What started as a spat between the Party’s National leader and Nation’s President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the NGF’s re-elected Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has now snow-balled into the suspension of the latter! We are aware that the PDP’s national leadership was miffed by Governor Amaechi’s victory, despite the high-wire opposition that the Presidency mounted to forestall it. The anti-Amaechi governors that are being prodded by the Presidency are clearly unaware of the buffoonery of their claims that a pre-election endorsement easily translated to the votes garnered by their candidate (Chief Jonah Jang) at the Governors’ election. This, again, attests to the opprobrious level that the PDP ‘s degeneration can be!”

Presidency has been reduced to pettiness —David-West

“Jonathan is very confused because in a democracy there are provisions for separation of powers. And that was what happened on the dissolution of Obi Akpor Local Government Executive Council. It was not Amaechi that did it, rather it was an act of parliament and the parliament is allowed under the law to do so. There were allegations of financial mismanagement by the community and the parliament came in to perform its duties as required by the laws.”

The people advising Jonathan are misleading him. How they can unleash crisis on the state because of disagreements with Amaechi. He is just confused on how to oust Amaechi.”

PDP’ll suffer it at the end —Sagay

“We all know that he was suspended because he contested and defeated the PDP’s and president’s candidate at the elections. Whenever the PDP goes about displaying contempt and persecuting its leading lights, then it has embarked on a path of self destruction. How can a man be treated like that for exercising his legal and human rights. The PDP has always displayed contempt for the rule of law and democracy. The PDP will suffer more and not Amaechi because Amaechi is a good example and a good model. He is a shining model and the party is a contravention of that. They have succeeded in adding to Amaechi’s status as one of the leading lights of the party. In other words the party will suffer for this at the end.”

Amaechi won the NGF election — Junaid Mohammed

What has happened is unfortunate and it will be sad if the media believes anything coming from this Presidency and its handlers about this Nigerian Governors Forum crises.”

I want to believe many Nigerians know what is happening today is not accidental, it is being manoeuvred for the simple purpose of tenure elongation for President Jonathan come 2015. I believe in a democracy, nobody should be afraid of election, nobody should be rattled with the outcome of the NGF election. When things like this happens, democracy is being dismantled little by little.

NGF crises is heating up the polity — Odumakin

Nigerian Governors Forum, (NGF) is not a constitutional body but a think-thank for the governors. The Governors were elected to govern their state and not unionise. Infact most of the Governors have abandoned their state projects because of the politics of NGF and playing unionism over the place. It is a shame that 35 governors will bend the rules and they cannot hold a peaceful election among themselves and now they want to tie the nation down.

Amaechi should allow himself to be led — Opara

It is an indication of selfishness on the part of some players who believe that they must lead. Their principle and theory is that they must rule and not be follower. Otherwise, there are 36 members in the forum and 19 members are standing behind one person and simple arithmetic shows that the person is the winner. My belief is that if you don’t have the majority, then you follow, must you always lead? I believe the crises in the Governors forum is because somebody believes he must lead and never be led. My advice for Governor Amaechi is that he should be fair and follow the Governor Jang leadership because he enjoyed the same when he led the majority. He should subject himself to the leadership of Governor Jang so that we can have peace in this country.

Party position is supreme —Babatope

Nobody can be greater than the party, nobody can be bigger than his party, the party is supreme and that is the norm all over the world. Because of this NGF crises, we now have a situation whereby opposition parties are rooting for the destruction of the country. I think the best thing the party can do in that circumstance is to suspend such person and send him to the disciplinary committee.

I am appealing to the party to ensure Governor Amaechi is given all the democratic rights to defend himself before the National Working Committee of the party. Governor Amaechi is a brilliant man, but in a situation whereby advises to Amaechi, the party must ensure he is disciplined.

CNPP

We have already cautioned Mr President not to pander into the hands of anti-democrats, as Amechi’s victory is victory for democracy and harbinger of what we expect in 2015. The era of African BIg Man is gone forever in Nigeria.

A bad omen —Peterside

This is an inauspicious moment to suspend a popular governor who is not only marking his 48th birthday today but was also a few days ago, re-elected by his colleagues in Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF as Chairman. This news is baffling and a major blow to lovers of democracy because it violates the right of an individual to associate freely, to vote and be voted for in any democratic process. The NGF is not an extension of PDP, and thus cannot be governed by the constitution of the PDP. This is also a major impediment to PDP’s future as a party. As Governor Amaechi is seen in Nigeria today as one of the most outstanding governors. What would it benefit a political party to suspend its most performing governor?

It is unfortunate — Seconte Davis, (PDP Rivers)

This is the only time I have heard that somebody is punished for winning. If canvassing for the support of his colleagues is a crime, why is the defeated ‘anointed candidate’ not equally suspended since he has opposition members like Peter Obi and Olusegun Mimiko who supported him.
Those who play or want to play God should not forget that power belongs to God and he gives it to whomever and however it pleases him

Femi Gbajabiamilla, Minority Leader, (ACN Lagos)

It tells you how low a government will go when desperate. This is an accidental government. There is supposed to be an art and a science to governance but this one possesses neither. First it is the state assembly members that were purportedly suspended and now its the governor.

Datti Ahmed (CPC, Kaduna), Deputy Minority Whip

We in the opposition are very happy about what is happening in the PDP. It is nemesis and it shows that PDP is on its way to the  grave.
Everyday is for the thief and one day is for the owner. It is the injustice that they have done that is haunting them.  They are expelling the democrats among them.  Let them suspend more; we are waiting for them. This is the right time for them to join t’he opposition.”

Kingsley Chinda (PDP)  Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency.

“I have said that party is superior to its members. Without discipline we cannot progress. However, fairness, equity and due process must be complied with.”