Metro

Court Stops Rivers Govt From Withholding LG Allocations

Published

1 year ago

April 26, 2024

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, stopped the Rivers State Government from withholding financial allocations of the 42 Local Government areas in the state, pending the determination of a suit that was brought before it.

The court, in a ruling Friday, ordered the local government Chairmen in the state and nine others, who had filed the suit to maintain status quo, pending the determination of the matter.

The ruling followed an ex-parte application in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/537/2024, argued by Mr. Aliyu Hussein, counsel to the plaintiffs.

Cited as plaintiffs in the matter are: Dr Chidi LLoyd, Chairman, Emohua Local Government, Hon Alwell Ihunda, Chairman, Port Harcourt Local Government, Dr Nwanosike Samuel, Ikwerre Local Government Area; Barrister George Ariolu, Chairman, Obio-Akpor Local Government; Dr Obbinna Anyawu, Chairman, Etchi Local Government Area; and Hon Chidorom Nwaiwu, Chairman, Omuma Local Government Area.

Others include Dr Hope Ikiriko, Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area; Barrister Benjamin Isreal Eke, Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government; and Dr Roland Sekibo, Chairman of Akuku-Toru LGA.

The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, stopped the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Police Commissioner in Rivers, Director General, State Security Service, SSS and its Director, who were cited as defendants in the matter, from withdrawing the security personnel of the LG Chairmen, pending the final resolution of their motion on notice.

Justice Omotosho held that the Rivers State Government should not frustrate or prevent the LG Chairmen from discharging their duties and rendering services to their respective councils till the determination of the suit.

The plaintiffs approached the court, praying for an order of interim injunction to restrain the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Rivers State Government, Attorney General of Rivers and Commissioner for Finance, from withholding the revenue accrued to them.

They also sought an order from the court to restrain the IGP, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, the SSS, its Director, and the AGF, from withdrawing the security personnel attached to them.

They equally prayed the court to prohibit 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 Chairmen 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 recognised as one of the tiers of the government, adding that the Rivers State House of Assembly enacted the Rivers State Amended Law to guide their affairs and activities.

They claimed that the 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 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 IGP on the policing and security needs of Rivers State, is under substantial control of the Rivers State Government and would implement the directive of the state government.

They held that it would be impossible for them to carry out their respective functions and duties without the policing and security services of the IGP.

They prayed the court to restrain the defendants, especially the Rivers State Government, from taking the law into their hands.

In his ruling, Justice Omotoso ordered all parties in the suit to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.

The judge warned that no party should take any step that would make the motion on notice nugatory.

“The plaintiffs are hereby ordered to serve the motion on notice seeking an interlocutory injunction on the defendants to enable them to have the opportunity to respond to the same.

“That this matter is adjourned to the 2nd day of May 2024 for the hearing of the motion on notice,” the court held.

PUNCH

Metro

Again, Armed Men Attack Natasha’s Family Home, Police Arrest One

Published

10 hours ago

June 18, 2025

Editor

The Kogi State Police Command has arrested one suspect following another attack on the family home of the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The suspect, identified as Jose Suberu, was reportedly apprehended at the scene of the attack in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area, on Tuesday.

Confirming the development to The PUNCH on Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, said the suspect had confessed to being part of the attack.

“Yes it’s true and one suspect, Joe Suberu was arrested at the scene. Efforts are on to arrest the fleeing others,” Aya said.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Media Office, it was revealed that the armed men vandalised several windows.

“However, with the swift intervention of officers from the local police station, community vigilantes, and concerned youths, the attackers were repelled and one suspect was apprehended,” the statement read.

The media office further alleged that Suberu, a native of the community and described as a ritualist, confessed that this was his third time participating in attacks on the senator’s family residence.

He was reportedly linked to political opponents of the lawmaker.

A mob reportedly attempted to lynch the suspect before he was rescued and handed over to the police.

A cutlass and charms were recovered from him.

“A cutlass and charms were recovered from him. Other suspects involved in the attack, reportedly armed with dangerous weapons, remained at large at press time,” the statement added.

Recall that a similar attack occurred at the family compound in April, but no arrests were made at the time.

Metro

Benue Killings: ‘This Is Genocide, Not A Dispute’, Tor Tiv Tells Tinubu

Published

10 hours ago

June 18, 2025

Editor

The Tor Tiv V, James Ayatse, has told President Bola Tinubu that the killings in Benue State are not clashes between herders and farmers, but a planned attack aimed at taking over land.

Speaking at a meeting with Tinubu and stakeholders in Benue on Wednesday, the traditional ruler said many people had misunderstood the crisis and wrongly advised Benue citizens to stay calm and live peacefully with their neighbours.

Ayatse said, “We do have grave concerns about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue State.

“Your Excellency, it’s not herders-farmers clashes, it’s not communal clashes, it’s not reprisal attacks or skirmishes.”

He described the violence as a “calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign” by herder terrorists and bandits that has lasted for decades.

He added, “Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment… We are dealing with something far more sinister than we think. It’s not about learning to live with your neighbours; it is dealing with a war.”

Metro

You Have Capacity To Restore Permanent Peace, Tor Tiv Tells Tinubu

Published

10 hours ago

June 18, 2025

Editor

The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, has said that President Bola Tinubu has the capacity to restore permanent peace in Nigeria and Benue in particular.

Ayatse stated this on Wednesday in Makurdi at a town hall meeting with Tinubu following the recent killing of more than 200 persons in an attack on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue.

The traditional ruler and Chairman of Benue Traditional Council said his people had made a lot of sacrifices to keep Nigeria united and wondered why they were being isolated for extermination.

He said, “Many of our people died during the Civil War; we paid the supreme price to keep this country united.

“There is genocide going on in our land. It is not clash, but a well-orchestrated, well-coordinated attack aimed at wiping out our people.

“We know you are a courageous leader. You are a focused leader. You are a determined leader. You have the courage and the political will to end this menace.

‘You have taken hard decisions and actions that many people before you did not dare.

“You have handled the subsidy removal challenge of this country. The exchange rate investment decisions, you have taken them.

“I believe you can give us peace. All we ask of you is peace.”

The paramount ruler said the people, who were largely farmers, needed peace so that they would continue farming.

He, however, expressed concerns that the farmers had been chased away from their farms by the bloodthirsty invaders.

The Tor Tiv told the President that Tiv people in Nasarawa State were suffering the same fate, as they too had been chased away from their ancestral homes in some LGAs.

According to Ayatse, Tiv people’s lands have been taken from them, and they have been labelled as settlers.

“They have been in Nasarawa State before the 18th century. They cannot be settlers. They need to go back to their ancestral homes to continue with their lives,” he said.

Ayatse lauded Tinubu for coming personally to identify with Benue people in their moment of grief.

He assured the president that the people of Benue who supported him in 2023 would continue to stand with him.

NAN