It’s the people’s turn in Abia; Politicians have enjoyed enough – Otti

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has declared that the State under his watch, is the turn of the masses to enjoy the dividends of democracy, arguing that politicians who presided over the affairs of the state since the return of democracy in 1999, have helped themselves enough with the common patrimony. Otti who made the declaration while hosting a delegation of the Course 17, Syndicate 2 of the National Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, at Government House Umuahia, said he was on a mission to make the masses and not just a handful of privileged politicians, have a taste of good governance. The governor told his audience that his recent decision to wipe off backlog of pension arrears owed retirees since 2014 was a demonstration of his passion for the masses, who had been shortchanged by the ruling elite. He said that “never again shall Abia pensioners be owed their pension”, adding that he had also directed that they be paid along with workers on the 28th of every month, a directive, he affirmed, had taken effect from April. “This is the people’s time, politicians have helped themselves enough for the past 24 years”, Otti thunderered.

Contempt: A/Court grants EFCC’s stay of proceedings against Yahaya Bello …fixes May 20 for hearing

The Court of Appeal, Friday, granted an exparte motion for stay of proceedings filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) against the contempt proceeding instituted by the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, against the Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede. Justice Joseph O.K. Oyewole, consequently granted the EFCC’s application to serve the processes in the Appeal by substituted means on the former governor. Consequently, the matter was adjourned for hearing of the motion on notice to May 20, 2024. The EFCC boss who was summoned to appear before the Kogi State High Court on May 13, 2024, to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for disobeying the Orders of the court, had appealed the Ruling of the trial Court and sought a stay of the proceeding of the Court. The EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for carrying out “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the Court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion. Justice I. A. Jamil, delivering a ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that “the said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act. That same act of the Respondent amounts to Contempt. EFCC operatives had laid siege on the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as early as 8am on April 17, 2024, with a bid to arrest him, despite a court order restraining them from taking such action, pending the determination of the Originating Motion. Justice Jamil’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, Esq, where he prayed the court for an order to issue and serve the Respondent (EFCC Chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of committal should not be made on Olukoyede.

Court adjourns Rivers LGs/Govt, AGF, Police, DSS, others case till May 22

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned hearing in the suit seeking to stop the Rivers State Government from withholding the financial allocations of the 42 Local Government Councils in the state, to May 22. The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, adjourned the matter to enable parties already served with the court’s documents respond accordingly, just as he ordered service on the 1st to 4th and 6th respondents who were neither in court nor represented by any lawyer. At the last adjourned date, the court, while ruling in an ex-parte application, refused to issue an interim order against the Rivers State government and other respondents pending the hearing of the main suit. He ordered the plaintiffs to put the respondents on notice and ordered all parties to maintain the status quo by not doing anything that would render the suit nugatory. However, when the matter was called on Thursday, while the 1st – 4th and 6th were absent in court, M. N. Umoh, Olumide Fusika, SAN, Damian Okoro, SAN, and Sammie Somiari, SAN, appeared for the 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th respondents respectively. The four lawyers all admitted service of court order to maintain status quo and asked for time to respond, adding that they are still within the time allowed by law to file their responses. When asked by the judge if they were also served with the court’s order directing all parties to maintain status quo, all but the 5th defendant admitted service. Justice Omotosho told the respondents that he had declined to grant the interim order but after plaintiffs’ counsel, Clement Ijom stated that salaries of teachers, primary health workers and other local government staff depend on the allocation, he then ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the matter. Subsequently, the judge ordered the respondents to file in their responses, while the suit is served on the remaining respondents. The Inspector General (IG) of Police, Commissioner of Police (CP) Rivers, Director General (DG) State Security (SSS), Director SSS Rivers, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Chairman Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Rivers State Government, AG Rivers State and Finance Commissioner in Rivers are 1st to 9th respondents respectively. The plaintiffs, on the other hand, include Dr Chidi LLoyd, Chairman, Emohua Local Government, Hon Alwell Ihunda Chairman, Port Harcourt Local goyvernment, Dr Nwanosike Samuel, Ikwerre Local Government, amongst others. They are suing the respondents over the financial allocation to the council as well as their personal security. Pending the hearing and determination of their motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, the plaintiffs had filed an ex-parte application seeking to restrain the Rivers State Government from withholding their financial allocation. They had also prayed the court to restrain the security agencies from withdrawing the security personnel attached to them. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/537/2024, and filed by their lawyer, Aliyu Hussein, the local government Chairmen, also sought an order prohibiting the defendants from preventing the enforcement or implementation of the newly amended Rivers State Local Government Law N:5 of 2024 pending the determination of the motion. In a 33 paragraph affidavit in support of the application deposed to by Dr Chidi LLoyd, Chairman of Emohua Local Government, the applicants claimed to have been duly elected in a democratically conducted election for a term of three years under the provisions of the Rivers State Local Government Law. They asserted that they are autonomous and constitutionally recognized as one of the tiers of the government and that Rivers State House of Assembly Enacted Rivers State Amended Law to guide their affairs and activities. They claimed that Rivers State Government, AG and Finance Commissioner who are not happy with the amended law have approached the IGP, CP, DG SSS and Director SSS seeking the withdrawal of policing and other security services from them in order to frustrate the implementation of the amended law. The Chairmen alleged that the Police Commissioner in the state who has the responsibility to advise the IG on the policing and security needs of Rivers State is under substantial control of Rivers State Government and would implement the directive of the state government. They further asserted that it would be impossible for them to carry out their respective functions and duties without the policing and security services of the IG. The Council chairmen asked the court to restrain the defendants, especially the Rivers State Government, from taking the law into its hand. They promised to undertake to pay for damages if their suit turns to be frivolous.

House of Reps Reveals Steps to address Fuel Scarcity  

Amid the return of long queues at petrol stations, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream and midstream, has assured that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has about 1.5 billion litres of petrol that can last for 30 days in storage. The downstream and midstream committees, led by Hon Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Hon Odianosen Henry OOkojie,respectively, disclosed this during a press conference. Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State, stated that in the last few days the downstream and midstream committees reached out to the stakeholders in the distribution value chain; the NNPCL, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and engaged extensively with them, with a view to ascertaining the cause of the resurgence of the fuel queues across the country. The lawmakers expressed concerns over the temporary presence of fuel queues in petrol stations across the country, which has adversely affected the lives and businesses of Nigerians. However, she, expressed optimism that normalcy would return in a few days. According to Ugochinyere, from investigations, they found out that there is availability of petrol products, at least, about 1.5 billion litres of petrol that can last for 30 days. He noted that it is as a result of logistics that the queues have resurfaced and these logistic issues range from difficulty in transporting products from the mother vessel to the respective petrol stations. Ugochinyere said, “Good day gentlemen of the press. Standing before you are the Chairmen of the House of Representatives Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and (Midstream), myself, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and my brother, Hon. Odianosen Henry Okojie respectively. “The purpose of this press briefing is to give an update on the scarcity of petrol products and what the Committees are doing to ensuring that the right things are done as the representatives of the people. Ladies and gentlemen, it is so painful that Nigerians have been subjected to great hardship and pains as a result of the scarcity of petroleum products in the past few days. “This development has led us as representatives of the people, to engage with the regulators of the relevant sectors with a view to finding out the cause(s) of this scarcity and providing solutions to same. “We have in the last few days reached out to the stakeholders in the distribution value chain; the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and engaged extensively with them, with a view to ascertaining the cause of the resurgence of the fuel queues across the country. “We hereby express our concerns over the temporary presence of fuel queues in petrol stations across the country. This has adversely affected the lives and businesses of Nigerians across the country. As elected representatives of the Nigerian people, we are greatly disturbed by this development. However, we are convinced that this is temporary and in a couple of days, we shall get over it. “From our investigations, we have found out that there is availability of petrol products. We have on good authority that we have in our storage facilities, at least, about 1.5 billion litres of petrol that can last for 30 days. It is however saddening to note that it is as a result of logistics that the queues have resurfaced. These logistic issues range from difficulty in transporting products from the mother vessel to the respective petrol stations. Movement of products from offshore marine vessels to the stations, disruption from Escravos channels.

Tinubu Govt Approves Salary Increase For Civil Servants

The Federal Government has approved an increase of between 25% and 35% in salary increase for Civil Servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures. A statement signed by the Head of Press of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Emmanuel Njoku, said the increases take effect from 1st January 2024. Njoku added that the government has also approved increases in pension of between 20% and 28% for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme with respect to the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures with effect from 1st January 2024. The Salary Structure is the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS). It will be recalled that those in the Tertiary Education and Health Sectors had already received their increases which involved Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) for Universities. For Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, it involved the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS). The Health Sector also benefitted through the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS).

Senate Session Disrupted by Seating Spat in Renovated Chamber

The much-anticipated return to the revamped Hallowed Chamber for the Senate’s plenary session was overshadowed by a bitter dispute over seating arrangements, resulting in a chaotic interruption of proceedings. Anticipation ran high as Senators gathered in the newly refurbished Hallowed Chamber for their first plenary session post-renovation. However, the mood soured quickly when Senate President Godswill Akpabio began acknowledging Senators who celebrated birthdays during the recess. Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u of APC Zamfara North wasted no time in expressing his discontent with his allocated seat, confronting Senate Leader Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele of APC Ekiti Central. What began as a private grievance escalated rapidly into a public confrontation, inciting reactions from fellow Senators and plunging the chamber into disarray. Senator Ya’u vehemently argued that his seat, positioned at the far right of the chamber, failed to reflect his seniority as a former Deputy Minority Whip during the 9th National Assembly. Senator Danjuma Goje of APC Gombe Central echoed similar sentiments, lamenting the perceived disregard for hierarchy in the seating arrangement. In an attempt to restore order, Senate President Akpabio intervened, urging Senator Bamidele and the aggrieved Senators to address the issue with the presiding officer. Following this intervention, Akpabio proceeded with his welcome address, albeit after a delay caused by the altercation. Subsequently, Senator Bamidele called for an emergency executive session, presumably to diffuse tensions and salvage the disrupted proceedings. As Senators work to resolve internal conflicts, the nation’s legislative agenda hangs in the balance, awaiting their undivided attention.

Edo Guber: Court strikes out suits against Ighodalo’s candidacy for PDP

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Tuesday, struck out two separate suits challenging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate for the coming Edo State gubernatorial election. In the ruling, Justice Ekwo held that those who instituted the suits from the political camp of former Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shuaib, have no locus standi. The court held that the plaintiffs failed to exhibit sufficient, direct, and tangible personal interest that could lead the court to nullify the primary election. The first suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, was filed by Adizetu Umoru, while the second suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, was filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer. The plaintiffs had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), PDP, Umar Damagu (acting national chairman), Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), and its National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 6th defendants respectively. The three plaintiffs, in their separate motions filed on February 19, sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held in February. 4, for the purpose of conducting the PDP’s primary in Edo State, slated for February. 22 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the main suit. Justice Ekwo, however, held that the plaintiffs did not establish how their individual interests were affected or jeopardized by the primary election. Specifically, the judge said that the plaintiffs did not establish whether they were eligible to participate in the election but prevented or whether wrongdoings were displayed during the election.

We didn’t shoot pro-Yahaya Bello protesters in Abuja —EFCC 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) refutes claims of firing at supporters of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, during a demonstration at its Abuja headquarters.  According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, there was no such incident as depicted in a video circulating on social media. He said the operatives only dispersed the protesters who went to the commission’s headquarters to disrupt activities. The EFCC spokesperson added: ”No arrests were made as claimed by the group. “Two groups demonstrated at the commission today. The first group came with a letter of commendation in support of the EFCC anti-corruption fight. ”They presented their letter, which was received by the Director of Public Enlightenment Department, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, who promised to deliver their message to the chairman. ”Not quite long, another group came. These people were violent and destructive; the men of the commission had to chase them away. “It is not true, nobody was arrested and there was no shootout.” Bello’s supporters had gone to the EFCC office to protest his alleged political persecution. The pro-Bello protest was staged by the Kogi Youth Coalition. They claimed they were attacked by the EFCC operatives. The group claimed that the first group of protesters were allowed into the commission but the pro-Bello group were denied entry. Videos of the protesters struggling to make their statements while being harassed and scampering for safety flooded social media with a picture of a badly damaged vehicle. The group claimed that about 10 members were arrested while many were injured.

Senator Wamakko’s Brother, Liman Tambari Is Dead

Former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko’s older sibling, Alhaji Liman Tambari Wamakko, has reportedly died. Reports revealed that Wamakko passed away on Sunday evening in Sokoto. The deceased reportedly died at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto after a short illness. The funeral prayer for the late Liman Tambari was conducted by the Chief Imam of Wamakko Central Mosque, Liman Shehu Ardo Wamakko. The younger brother of the deceased, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga, SSG Muhammadu Bello Sifawa, and former Minister of Police Affairs Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi were in attendance at the funeral prayer. Also present were former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Tanzania, Amb. Sahabi Isah Gada, members of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, and Special Advisers. Others included Galadiman Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Aliyu Attahiru Galadanci, traditional rulers, politicians, and Ulamas, along with numerous other important personalities from within and outside Sokoto State. Shortly after the burial of the late Ubandoma, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko explained that death is inevitable. He admonished, “Therefore, every soul will surely test it one day. “It is inevitable for all mortals to depart this world only at God’s appointed time.” According to Tribune, the Senator reminisced about the past, remembering that their family once consisted of eleven members, which included the late Ubandoma Liman Tambari. However, only three of them remain today. He beseeched the Almighty Allah to pardon all the sins of the departed and grant him Jannatul Firdausi as his eternal resting place. Sen. Wamakko also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to all those who attended the funeral of his older brother, praying for Allah to bless them abundantly. Mallam Muhammadu Dangande Wamakko, the Chief Imam of Dinkyal Jumu’at Mosque in Wamakko Local Government Area of the state, offered a special prayer for the peaceful repose of the deceased’s soul. At the age of 86, the late Liman Tambari Wamakko left behind three wives and 15 children.

Ighodalo Denies Involvement In Shaibu’s Impeachment

The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has refuted claims that he has a hand in the impeachment of the state’s former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu. Ighodalo, who described the allegation as fake, added that the claims were cooked up to tarnish his reputation. This was contained in a statement released by his media team on Monday. The statement read, “While we would not usually join issues in response to every passing comment, it has become imperative to address the recent spurious allegations by former Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu. “It is necessary for the record, to state in no uncertain terms, that Mr. Asue Ighodalo has had no role or involvement in any form whatsoever in the very public process leading to Mr. Shuaibu’s impeachment and subsequent removal from office by the Edo State House of Assembly. “These claims are completely without merit, and Mr. Ighodalo categorically denies any such involvement. These allegations are a clear attempt to unjustly tarnish his reputation and divert attention from the actual issues at hand.” He, however, called on the public to disregard the claim, saying, “We urge the public and the media to regard these false statements with well-deserved scepticism.”