The Court of Appeal sitting in Kano has nullified the June 30th judgment of Birkin Kudu Division of Jigawa State High Court which erroneously sacked Chief Victor Ike Oye as the APGA National Chairman.
In an unanimously judgment delivered Tuesday this morning, the Appellate court disagreed with the lower court which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Mr. Jude Okeke, its faction of the party and their “purported” gubernatorial candidate Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji.
The Appeal Court ruled also that the Jigawa State High Court has no territorial or substantive jurisdiction to hear the suit abinitio.
The proceedings of the Jigawa State High Court is a nullity. All five issues for Determination resolved in favour of the Appellants.
Appeal is here by allowed.
The proceedings and judgment of Musa Ubale J. of Jigawa State High Court is a nullity.
A bill seeking to ban open grazing in Enugu state has been presented before the State House of Assembly.
The Bill was presented to the lawmakers by the Leader of the House, Ikechukwu Ezugwu, who said the bill is for the security of lives and property in of people living in the state.
The lawmaker, while citing relevant sections of the House Order, gave the assurance that the bill will pass through all the procedures of lawmaking, including the public hearing stage.
Rt. Hon. Ezugwu who epresents Udenu Constituency cautioned the media and the public against politicising the legislation, which was only presented and as such has not been deliberated by the lawmakers.
According to him, the politicising of the bill would truncate the peace being enjoyed by the residents of the state, which is not needed at this time.
“Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I am going to move for the first reading of the bill, which is just mere mentioning of the bill. The bill has to do with security.
So, while thanking members of the press, there is no speculation about bills, more especially when it has to do with security.
“We haven’t said anything about the bill, you (journalists) don’t know the content of the bill and we don’t know what would be the end-product of the bill.
“During the public hearing, anybody that is interested in the bill should come and make his or her input to guide us in passing the bill.
“Please, please and please, we need peace in Enugu state and we need peace in Nigeria”, Ezugwu added.
In his remark, the Speaker of the House, Edward Ubosi, urged his colleagues to go through the bill, in order to make good contributions to the legislation that will boost security in Enugu state.
The Appeal Court sitting in Kano State has declared the proceedings and judgment of Musa Ubale J. of Jigawa State High Court a nullity saying that the Jigawa High Court has no territorial or substantive jurisdiction to hear the suit on Anambra Gubernatorial matter.
Let me start by making myself clear for the umpteenth time. I have no regrets, neither apologies to make, for believing in and supporting the cause of Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB.
If you’re an Igbo person and you’re comfortable with how ndi Igbo are being treated in present day Nigeria then you don’t deserve to be called an Igbo person.
The first question one must ask then is why was IPOB founded? The how they are operating is secondary. And even when we get to the how, we should still ask, why did the Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari send the security forces to shoot and kill peaceful demonstrators agitating for self-determination and calling for referendum? Why did he not only proscribe them but also labelled them terrorists? He literally pushed these youths into actions that sometimes went out of hand.
And why did they become hostile to their Southeast governors and most politicians from the zone? The mere fact that the Southeast governors quickly proscribed them too to please Buhari without trying to argue to remove that terrorist tag made these young people believe they had been betrayed. From that moment onwards they decided to do it their own way and started overdoing things.
Again, one will say that the call to boycott elections everywhere in Igbo land is a wrong call but have we truly asked why they insist on that call? If their votes wouldn’t count why wasting their time? Come to think of it, which election anywhere in the Southeast has truly been free-and-fair?
Why don’t our so-called leaders pause to think – these youths are agitating for the right things to be done, why are we forcing them to continue being part of a fraudulent system?
If you ask me, these members of IPOB have far more conscience than our politicians who are only selfishly leading us astray. They will easily rig elections without blinking and turn to malign the youths calling to an end to such fraudulent lifestyle.
On the coming of ESN, let me make it abundantly clear once more – if it was for the purpose it was formed, which is to stop terrorists herdsmen from continued invasion of the Southeast to butcher, main, rape and generally desecrate our land while insulting the culture of the land, the formation of ESN is 100% welcome.
The Southern Nigeria governors have unanimously banned open grazing of cows in any inch of surface in Southern Nigeria. The Federal Government should stop these herdsmen from trespassing and ESN will cease to exist.
However, let’s now talk about the excesses of IPOB.
The formation of ESN gave birth to a chaotic situation where the sudden emergence of Unknown Gun Men forced issues completely out of hand. Till this day, I don’t know who operatedare as UGM. I condemned in totality and still condemn every activity of the UGM. I still don’t believe that IPOB had the resources to have trained and directed the operations of UGM. If they did, it’s terribly wrong.
The chaos that brought about complete security breakdown in Igbo land could have been avoided at all costs. Many Biafrans lost their lives in the process and no sane person should support loss of innocent lives, not to talk of being involved in direct cause of such unnecessary deaths.
At this point it was very clear that IPOB was not enjoying majority support in their base. Such dangerous degeneration should have deeply worried the leaders of the freedom fighters.
But somehow the extraordinary rendition of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu miraculously solved the integrity questions within a twinkle of an eye. I was personally very proud being onye Igbo from what happened at the Abuja High Court on July 27. I was even more elated with what happened all over the world in solidarity demonstrations.
With Ohaneze appearing fully represented in court and with such massive support from ndi Igbo, leaders of IPOB should have hugely capitalised and started getting rid of any excesses from their methods thenceforth.
I believed that the re-arrest of Kanu has fast-tracked the agitation to the point of well-articulated actions to press home. The lawyers, particularly Aloy Ejimakor, were ticking the right boxes and getting serious attention of the international community. If the international community weren’t observing before, Kanu’s kidnap in name of re-arrest made then turn their diplomatic telescope on Nigeria and activities of IPOB. Buhari committed the blunder of breaking international laws while abducting a British citizen from a foreign land and Kanu’s lawyers are making full course meals out of the untoward.
Now, who are in charge of decision-making for IPOB? Why should they ever sanction activities that will make the same international community see some terrorist traits in their actions?
Who sanctioned sit-at-home when Biafran children are taking NECO exams? Have we moved from no election to no education?
Now, talking of sit-at-home, why sanction that to take place every Monday, knowing that it can’t be sustained? Why weaken your support base and apparent loss of control by imposing a law that its compliance will be impossible to maintain after one edition?
How does IPOB intend to force sit-at-home every Monday, knowing no government would permit that?
At this hard times, how does impoverishing umu Igbo fighting to survive affect Buhari and his Fulani-dominated government?
Why were they destroying shops and goods of Biafrans in that manner knowing that phones would be videoing from all angles and posting on social media for the same international community to watch and definitely rethink their support?
Let me tell IPOB what will happen next Monday. Security forces, including the army, will be on the streets of all Southeast and will shoot at sight anyone trying to interrupt movement and businesses. More bloodshed and more chaos in the Southeast. That will seriously harm the international sympathy being garnered since Kanu’s abduction from Kenya.
Can we all reason together? Yes, staging sit-at-home on only court appearance days of MNK may appear most ideal but that will push the Federal Government to instruct the court to give next adjournment to 12 months, thereby lengthening incarceration of their leader. Hence, I believe staging such sit-at-home protests outside court dates are truly necessary.
But how can that be achieved?
I sincerely believe that once every week is too frequent and will not last, which will severely weaken IPOB control. I however equally believe that once a month will not be too much to ask if we all genuinely want Kanu to regain freedom.
Now, how do we achieve compliance without a head-on collision with the state governments? Simple – it has to be every first/last Saturday of the Month. That way, the state governments can look away while businesses can afford to stay shut just one day in a month. But IPOB must not use force to instill compliance. No more bloodshed and breakdown of security in the Southeast. They can organise peaceful demonstrations by just marching without any weapon along one chosen street in each state capital with placards saying, #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.
If IPOB lose the support of international community with unnecessary actions, that will only give Buhari the latitude to keep Kanu in illegal detention until he hands over. And depending on who takes over, even keep Kanu longer. This is a very critical moment in their struggle. Their leadership must not derail!
I’ve been married to Mrs Tina Bright for over 12years with 2kids,a girl and a boy. I married her traditionally and white wedding and took her to introduce to my Pastor Moses Adeeyo. The General Overseer of World Bank Assembly in Eneka , obio/akpor LGA Rivers State. We started attending the church and became full financial members.
My wife was given an immediate appointment 7months ago, she moved out of the house with our 2kids before I got back from work.
I searched everywhere and called everyone even the G.O. unknown to me that he was the architect of my problems. After sometime he stopped picking my calls and blocked my phone line. I’ve been looking for her until I saw this pictures yesterday online.
He claimed that the Holy Spirit told him that she is his wife. Is the Holy Spirit and author of confusion.? My wife of 12yrs is now his. Pls Couples be careful in world Bank Assembly be careful of Pst MOSES ADEEYO.
A yet to be identified gunmen on Monday attacked the Nnewi Police Area Command, Anambra State, carting away some arms.
It was gathered that the unknown gunmen stormed the Nnewi station around noon with seven vehicles and engaged the police in a gun duel that lasted for over one hour.
The incident it was learnt caused pandemonium amongst residents of the industrial city as the gunmen overpowered the police and carted away their arms.
The sit-at-home directive by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) turned bloody on Monday as two persons were killed in Nnewi, Anambra state.
This is even as the directive has grounded commercial activities in the states across the South-East, with major roads deserted and public places, including schools under lock.
Owing to the fear of possible attacks, it was learnt that most residents remained indoors after stocking up their homes ahead of the plans to close businesses in the states.
IPOB had on July 30 ordered a sit-at-home in the South-East every Monday, until Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, is released from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The proscribed group said the lockdown tagged ‘Ghost Monday’ will also affect schools and marketplaces.
It threatened to shut down economic activities in the region, adding that violators of the order would be visited with violence.
Residents said gunshots were heard at Izuchukwu Junction in Nnewi as early as 6:00 am, only for them to later see the lifeless bodies of two young men.
Also three buses were set ablaze in the industrial city of the state by unknown gunmen.
An unconfirmed report however claimed the victims were shot dead by army operatives while enforcing the sit-at-home order.
We sent their pictures to IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful who claimed they were not members of the group.
“This is not IPOB or ESN security outfit, it’s those who want to bad name to IPOB. We are not enforcing sit-at-home order, people complied by themselves,” Powerful said.
Few days ago the media space was awash with news of Barrister Monday Ubani, former 2nd Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) who spoke strongly to condemn the judicial heist in Anambra state in the run up to the November 6, governorship election in the state
Barrister Ubani had demanded for the enforcement of disciplinary measures as recommended by Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal in Anambra against some judges and lawyers who delved into alleged frivolous post primary-election cases filed by some parties.
It will be recalled that Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme who was livid with anger while delivering judgment in the case had recommended that the National Judicial Council, (NJC) should discipline two judges for unprofessional conduct of dabbling into the Anambra State gubernatorial election controversy; and also the NBA should in the same manner, discipline the senior lawyers who filed the suit on behalf of their clients for professional misconduct
Ubani therefore insisted that the disciplinary measures as recommended by her Lordship be commenced by the NBA and NJC to act as a check to the incessant embarrassment the legal profession is presently facing in all spheres especially by those who are supposed to know and observe the ethics of the profession whether at the Bench or at the Bar
Ubani also said that the most litigious state in Nigeria in electoral matters since the beginning of the democratic process in the country had remained Anambra state
Ubani cited the case of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) gubernatorial primary election case that has just ended at the court of Appeal in Awka.
He said the journey of the case started somewhere in Jigawa State that is several hundreds of kilometres away from
Anambra, the state that has the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
He added that both the lawyer and the judge that decided on the case knew that the Jigawa State High Court do not have the territorial jurisdiction but went ahead to decide the case not minding the consequences of such brazen decision that is fatally flawed
Continuing, Barrister Ubani said as if that was not enough, another set of lawyers and a judge this time around, somewhere in Imo State as “undertakers” undertook to decide the APGA leadership matter that should be decided in Anambra State affirming one Jude Okeke as APGA acting Chairman while one Chukwuma Umeoji was declared as the gubernatorial candidate for the November 2021 gubernatorial election
Ubani said all these bizarre rulings and judgements were given despite the fact that a High Court in Anambra State presided by Justice Charles Okaa had corrected these anomalies and upheld the recognition of former Central Bank Governor of Nigeria, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo as the validly and legally elected APGA candidate for the November 6 gubernatorial election in the State
Barrister Ubani stated, regrettably, that it was this impunity that gave ample room to Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal in Awka an opportunity she never wasted to lash out at the erring legal professionals who, according to her, go from one part of the country to another in search of judgements to enable some politicians to run for public office which in the legal parlance is called “forum shopping”
Commending Justice Nwosu-Iheme courage and forthrightness, Ubani remarked that the nation can heave a sigh of relief knowing fully well that there are still remnants in Nigeria that can stand and speak truth to the Nation irrespective of whose ox is gored.
He noted that all hope is not lost for Nigeria as a nation because there are still men and women like Justice Nwosu-Iheme everywhere
Ubani therefore appealed to the NJC and NBA to act swiftly in saving the judiciary while applying appropriate disciplinary action on those bringing its name to disrepute!
The apex leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye, has reacted to media reports that he has left Nigeria to escape the plots of the Nigerian Government to arrest him.
Akintoye confirmed that he is truly in the Republic of Benin, but not on the run, as widely reported.
In a statement made available to News Men on Sunday by his Communications Manager, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, the Emeritus Professor of History said he is in the Francophone country to coordinate and supervise how to legally rescue the detained Yoruba Nation Activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called “Ighoho”, from government remand as soon as possible.
Akintoye, a member of the Nigerian Senate in the Second Republic, said just like Ighoho, he has committed no offense against the Nigerian Laws to warrant being arrested, intimidated or harassed.
Like a valiant soldier, Akintoye vowed to return to Nigeria as soon as Ighoho is released by the government of Benin Republic to continue the struggle for the actualisation of Yoruba Nation, saying “it is No Retreat, No Surrender”
“Myself, the President-General and Professor Wale Adeniran (Chairman) of Ilana Omo Oodua, are currently in the Republic of Benin as reported, but not on the run.
“We are here to supervise and coordinate, by all legal and and other means, the struggle for the release of our son and patriot, Sunday Adeyemo Igboho, detained by the Government from custody.
“By demanding peaceful self-determination for the Yoruba Nation, i am not breaking any law, since self-determination is recognized by the International and Nigerian laws to be an inalienable right of every Nationality, large or small, in the world.
“I have earned a solid reputation as a highly respectable advocate of a peaceful self-determination struggle. I have even written a book on the subject which is already being used as a manual by Yoruba self-determination advocates and organizations.
“Irrespective of what the Nigerian Government may be planning against me, I want to say without any fear or intimidation that I will be returning to Nigeria immediately Ighoho is released from the custody. I can’t be intimidated because I’ve not committed any offense, just like Sunday Igboho.
“Let me tell all Yoruba People across the world that there’s no cause for alarm. I didn’t flee to anywhere. I am in Benin Republic running your errands. The struggle is no retreat, no surrender.
The renowned Scholar also debunked the media reports stating that Igboho has been abandoned, and that the Activist is personally funding the court cases against the Governments of Nigeria and Benin Republic to secure his (Ighoho) and his aides’ release, saying “socio-cultural and self-determination groups within and beyond the shores of Nigeria under my supervision paid for every dime spent in Cotonou, Lagos and Abuja respectively till date on the court cases.”
He said “the only court case not under my co-ordination and supervision, and which the Yoruba socio-cultural and self-determination Groups are not paying for is the one in Ibadan High Court, Oyo State.
“The Lawyer handling the Ibadan case, Chief Yomi Aliyu, SAN, said we should leave it to him, and that we should not bother on the funding, but the Yoruba Groups and Patriots under my supervision are completely responsible for the funding of the court cases in Abuja, Lagos and Cotonou”, the statement, says.
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, is enthusiastic over the success of its e-registration exercise even before it kicks off on Monday, August 9, 2021.
This, according to its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in a press release on Sunday, is because of the “unprecedented massive surge by millions of Nigerians ready to participate in its nationwide electronic membership registration”.
Full text of the release:
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has witnessed unprecedented massive surge by millions of Nigerians ready to participate in its nationwide electronic membership registration ahead of the pre-launch of the exercise slated for Monday, August 9, 2021.
This is as Nigerians, in their millions, across the six geo-political zones, surged with enquiries in their interest to register as members of the PDP barely 24 hours after the official logo and notice of the exercise appeared on the party’s handles as part of the public sensitization ahead of Monday’s pre-launch.
Chairman of the PDP e-Registration Committee, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state is billed to performthe pre-launch for public unveiling and demonstration of the procedure for the exercise at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday, August 9.
The PDP appreciates the massive interest by Nigerians to join the PDP while assuring that the e-registration process is simple and people-oriented.
The PDP notes that the interest by Nigerians to register as members of the party is in furtherance of their determination to rally on our platform to rescue our dear nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and return her to the path of national cohesion, unity, stability and economic prosperity, which they enjoyed under the PDP administrations.
