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IYC: Fresh Crisis Brews As Omare Prepares Contempt Suit Against Oweilaemi

Published

4 years ago

March 21, 2020

Editor

Fresh crisis seems to be brewing in the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) following Eric Omare’s directive to his lawyers to file a contempt suit against Peretubo Oweilaemi for allegedly flouting the declarations contained in a judgement delivered by the Bayelsa State High Court.

Omare was recently declared the authentic President of the IYC by the State High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The court ended a prolonged leadership crisis in the judgement that stopped Peretubo Oweilanmi from parading himself as the president of the radical IYC.

Oweilaemi, however, in one of his statements said he had appealed the judgement.

Oweilanmi had in the statement said, “I am pleased to inform the general public especially the numerous Ijaw youths at home and in diaspora that we have successfully appealed against the said judgment in Appeal No: CA/PH/ /2020.

“Those who want to ferment trouble in the Council should be informed that the legal battle has been drawn. I appeal to Ijaw youths to maintain peace at all times, while we take this necessary step to correct the legal blunder. Like I said before, there is no cause for alarm”.

However, IYC Spokesman, Henry Iyalla, in a statement confirming that Omare was prepare a contempt, faulted the claims of Oweilanmi that he had successfully filed an appeal against one of the judgements delivered by Justice E.G. Umukoro.

He said by his utterances, Oweilaemi implied that one of the two Bayelsa State High court judgements aganist him had been set aside by the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt.

NATION quoted Iyalla as saying, “The statement demonstrated a crass ignorance of law and legal procedures and it is amazing that it came from a lawyer. It calls to question the quality of legal education in Nigeria.

“In the first place, it is important to note that the court in the two different cases to wit: YHC/37/2017: Eric Omare & Ors v. Pereotubo Oweilaemi & Ors and SGA/04/2017 declared that the election that was done at Okrika where Oweilaemi and 10 others emerged as National Officers of the IYC was null and void. In law, when an action is said to be a nullity and of no effect, it means that it never existed abinitio.

“It therefore means that in all these three years Oweilaemi and co have just being wasting their time moving from one place to the other in the name of IYC. The court in the second judgement delivered on Tuesday March 17, 2020 also declared all their actions null and void.

“This point is also implied in the first judgement. The implication is that all Clan, Parliament, chapter and zonal structures set up by Oweilaemi and his Exco are null and void.

“Their participation in any activity of the IYC in their status including the ongoing electoral process would vitiate the process and the electoral committee headed by Bekewei Ajuwa, who is a Lawyer must take special note of this fact.

“Mr. Oweilaemi in the said publication claimed that he has appealed one of the judgements with a non-existing appeal number. For the records PHC/../2020 which Oweilaemi quoted is not an appeal number. It is the height of legal ignorance for Oweilaemi to quote the above as appeal number in his statement. And if i may ask, which judgement did Oweilaemi appeal against? Is it the one in Suit No. YHC/37/2017 or SHC/04/2017?

“Let Ijaw youths and the general public know that Oweilaemi has not even started the process of filing appeal against any of the judgements not to talk of filing an appeal. The appeal procedure involves filing a Notice of Appeal at the court that delivered the judgement.

“Then parties would be invited to compile records of appeal. After compilation of records, the records would be transmitted to the court of Appeal. It is at this point that an appeal number is given by the court of appeal which may take months. So if I may ask, which one has Oweilaemi done? I state without doubt that Oweilaemi’s appeal only exist in the figment of his own imagination”.

He, however, said even if Oweilanmi filed an appeal as he claimed, it would not change the fact that he was never a president of IYC, adding that a mere filing of an appeal would neither stay the judgement of the court nor reverse it.

He continued, “Therefore, it amounts to contempt of court for Oweilaemi to be signing documents and parading himself as President of IYC.

“This is the reason the President of IYC, Eric Omare, Esq has directed his Lawyers to file contempt charges against Oweilaemi and some of his Exco members who are still parading themselves as IYC Exco members. The IYC is not a lawless organization neither a banana republic, so Oweilaemi as a Lawyer must respect the rule of law.

“I wish to also advise Oweilaemi very strongly, first as a kinsman and secondly as a professional colleague that he is risking his professional bar certificate as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria by his consistent disregard for the judiciary.

“In one of Oweilaemi’s statements, he referred to the first judgement as a ‘black market judgement’. Mr. Oweilaemi may soon go and explain to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) what that meant in a case that he was represented by a Lawyer from beginning to conclusion.

“I advise Ijaw youths to completely disregard Oweilaemi’s imaginary appeal. It doesn’t exist anywhere and even if he appeals, it doesn’t change the legal position that he doesn’t and never existed until the two judgements are set aside. It would take a minimum of four years for any of such appeal to be heard.

“However, I am confident that all the judgements would be upheld on appeal because Oweilaemi has no case. It was a clear and obvious case, that is the reason why in one of the cases, for complete two years, he couldn’t call a single witness.

“There is no appeal that can be heard and determined before the end of the tenure of the 7th Leadership of he IYC; hence Eric Omare is the Sheriff and Captain of the IYC ship. Swallow your pride, Mr. Oweilaemi and work with President Omare”.

(NATION)

(PHOTO: File)

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JUST IN: 36 Speakers Back State Police

Published

1 hour ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

Speakers of the 36 Houses of Assembly in Nigeria on Thursday expressed support for the National Assembly’s ongoing efforts to alter the 1999 constitution to create state policing in the country.

The Speakers made their resolution known at the end of their meeting in Abuja.

The Senate and House of Representatives are currently working to amend various constitutional provisions, including those regarding state police, financial autonomy for local government, fiscal federalism, and mayoral status for the FCT.

Details shortly…

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Military Declares Nigerien Terrorist Wanted For Zamfara Killings

Published

2 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday declared wanted, a terrorist leader, Halilu Buzu, from Buzu in the Republic of Niger.

Buzu who resides in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State, operates an illegal gold mine in Zamfara and is a prominent cattle rustler and arms supplier.

Major General Edward Buba, the Director Defence Media Operation disclosed the development on Thursday during a bi-weekly media briefing on military operations conducted in the country during the past week.

Buba said, “Troops are actively fighting in various theatres of operation across the country and are focussed on destroying both the military capability as well as the will to fight off the terrorists and their cohorts across the country.

“Accordingly, troops are hunting senior terrorist leadership that is of operational importance in terms of coordination of the terrorist attacks against troops and citizens. Troops are also hunting those that are of symbolic value including all those declared wanted.

“Troops are in hunt of one, Halilu Buzu, a terrorist leader that hails from Buzu in the Republic of Niger. He settled in Subbubu Forest and lives in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State. His camp and illegal gold mine are located at Kawayi in Anka LGA of Zamfara State, where he has a lot of boys working for him.

“Halilu is also a prominent cattle rustler and illegal gold miner. Last week, his boys killed 19 villagers at Farar Kasa. He is a High-Value Target and therefore declared wanted. Meanwhile, he is one of several others that we would be declaring wanted.

“Additionally, Halilu is a major arms supplier, trusted by arms dealers for supplying arms from Libya. When troops close in on him, he moves across the border into the Republic of Niger for refuge. At this time, we are through appropriate channels calling on the Nigerian authorities to apprehend and hold him accountable for his atrocities.

“These categories of terrorists are relentlessly targeted by troops, such that we will be able to strike them out and take them off the battlefield as soon as possible. It is clear that the fate of the terrorists perpetrating insecurity in our nation will be violent and short. Troops will stop at nothing to take them out of the battlefield.”

The DMO further announced that soldiers fighting the counter-insurgency war and carrying out other security operations across the country, killed 227 terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, oil thieves, and other criminals in the past week. Additionally, they arrested 529 criminals, rescued 253 kidnapped hostages, and recovered numerous weapons.

Buba said, “During the period under review, troops discovered and destroyed 18 dugout pits, 34 boats, five drums, four receivers, four reservoirs, and 97 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 198 cooking ovens, nine vehicles, three pumping machines, two speedboats, one outboard engine, and 57 illegal refining sites. He added that troops also recovered 1,442,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 154,650 litres of illegally refined AGO.”

On the breakdown of the weapons recovered, he aded that, “they included 89 AK47 rifles, 40 locally fabricated guns, 59 dane guns, two pump action guns, eight locally fabricated pistols, 6 x 36 hand grenades, three IEDs, one RPG 7 tube, one RPG 7 charger, 4 AGL rounds, one barrel of QJC Gun, one barrel of PKT with receiver, one barrel of Dushka Gun, 250kg bombs used by NATO and Eastern Bloc aircraft, and one MRAP.”

He further noted that troops prevented oil thefts amounting to over N1.3 billion in the Niger Delta region.

He also revealed that in the course of the operations, troops recovered 231 assorted weapons and 6,441 assorted ammunition.

Buba emphasized that troops are actively fighting in various theatres of operation across the country and are focused on destroying terrorists’ military capabilities.

Buba concluded by stating that troops are relentless in their pursuit of terrorists and criminals, determined to take them off the battlefield and bring an end to their atrocities. He commended the troops for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the safety and security of the nation.

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Ministry Pushes For Walking, Cycling As Safe Means Of Transportation

Published

2 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Olorunola Olufemi, has emphasised the need for sustainable, safe, and efficient transport modes in response to rapid urbanisation and population growth.

Olufemi highlighted walking and cycling as key components of a healthier and more sustainable urban transport system.

The permanent secretary stated this at a two-day capacity building programme ‘Safer Roads for Pedestrians and Cyclists in Nigeria’ in Abuja, on Thursday.

Olufemi, who was represented by the Deputy Director, of Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration of the Ministry, Akhidenor Cynthia, pointed out that Nigerian cities were predominantly characterised by informal transport systems, which have significant negative impacts on residents’ health, socio-economic status, and the environment.

The permanent secretary, who spoke on the theme ‘Walking and Cycling as tools for unlocking sustainable mobility and development in Nigerian cities‘ stressed the the need to create safer roads for pedestrians and cyclists to improve overall well-being and urban harmony.

He said, “The rapid population growth urbanisation with limited provision of quality transport system to meet the growing need makes it imperative to adopt more sustainable safe and efficient modes of transport which walking and cycling symbolise.

“Our city’s transport landscape is largely dominated by transport informalities with attendant externalities that impact the health, socio-economic and environmental wellbeing of residents.

“Today, we come together with a shared purpose to create a future where our roads are safer for pedestrians and cyclists, ensuring their wellbeing and promoting a sense of harmony in our country.”

He added that the ministry as the lead government agency, has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable transport and implementing various industry reforms.

He introduced the project as part of the efforts by the FG which is aimed to integrate walking and cycling into urban mobility plans.

The organiser of the programme, Chief Executive Officer, of Ochenuell Mobility, Emmanuel John, highlighted the long-standing neglect of cycling as a means of transport due to inadequate attention and development.

John emphasised that the lack of proper infrastructure, limited policy initiatives, and insufficient public awareness have left many people feeling unsafe about cycling on roads.

To address these issues, he said the NGO was introducing a draft for a national cycling policy.

He said, “Generally, cycling has not received the desired attention over the years. For that reason, people seldom use it as a means of transport.

“However, due to the lack of infrastructure, limited policy development, lack of knowledge and public awareness, many people are afraid of cycling on the road because they feel it is unsafe.

“The lack of safety is a function of infrastructure, poor policy implementation, and a poor regulatory enforcement system that will ensure your safety.

“In the course of this programme, we are presenting a draft of the national cycling policy to stakeholders. On June 3, we will present a second draft during a larger stakeholders meeting.”

The project is being carried out as a collaboration between seven Nigerian organisations in collaboration with the United Nations Habitat and the UN Road Safety Trust Fund.

The Nigerian Stakeholders include the Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Health, Federal Road Safety Corps, Africa Urban Cycling Organisation, Transportation Growth Initiative, Greenlight Initiative, Driving School Association of Nigeria, and Ochenuell Mobility.