Connect with us

News

Rivers Congresses: Confusion In Court As SANs Battle To Represent PDP’s Acting Chairman, Others

Published

on

A mild drama played out at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, as three Senior Advocates announced representation for the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum, in a suit challenging the conduct of congresses of the Rivers State chapter of the PDP.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had last month issued an order restraining the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies from stopping, truncating, frustrating or disrupting the wards, local governments and state congresses of the party slated for July 27, 2024.

He subsequently adjourned to August 15, for a hearing in the suit brought by six loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.

Advertisement

When the matter was called on Thursday, shortly after K. C. O. Njemanze, SAN, announced his appearance for the plaintiffs, two other SANs Chief Ferdinand Orbih and Kamaldeen Ajibade stood up at the same time to announce representation for the 1st to 4th defendants the PDP, Damagum, National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and National Organizing Secretary, Hon. Umar Bature.

Intervening, the court ordered the senior SAN to take the first shot, and accordingly, Orbih announced his appearance, when he was done, Ajibade subsequently did the same for the same parties.

READ ALSO: Panic As Hackers Seize GTBank Website, Intercept Customers’ Data In Massive Phishing Operation

Advertisement

But, the drama did not end there as another senior advocate, Sunday Ibrahim Ameh, also stood up to announce representation for the same set of defendants in the matter.

Justice Lifu, not wanting the commotion to escalate, prompted the members of the inner bar to resolve the issue among themselves, following which Orbih applied for a short adjournment to enable them to do the needful.

Since the request for adjournment was not opposed by any counsel, the court subsequently fixed August 30, for a hearing.

Advertisement

The justice of this case demands an adjournment and consequent upon the agreement of counsel, this matter is adjourned till August 30, for final report on the counsel representing the 1st to 4th respondents, sequel to a meeting to be so held”.

Justice Lifu directed that “if the meeting fails,0” then the senior lawyers should file a motion alongside an affidavit proving that they were actually engaged by the parties in the suit.”

READ ALSO: Fubara Swears In 5 New Commissioners, 2 Special Advisers

Advertisement

While stating that all pending motions would be heard at the next adjourned date, the judge invoked the powers of the court to extend his previous ex-parte order restraining PDP and security agencies from stopping the Rivers State congresses, pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.

Meanwhile, due to the stalling of the case, the court could not take the application of some persons seeking to be joined as defendants in the suit.

Their lawyer, Chief D. O. Okoro, SAN had at Thursday’s proceedings drawn the court’s attention to the motion for joinder.

Advertisement

The applicants include; David Omereji, Prince Solomon Eke, Isoboye Tobin, Goody Pepple, Okijah Chigozirim, Ogoloma Amachree, Goodfriday Nweke, Alfred Letam, Wechie Raymond, Mrs Erebie Micheal and Ogenma Idalumimulu.

It will be recalled that Justice Sobere Hambo, had last month while ruling in an ex-parte application brought by the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, David Omereji and 10 others restrained the party alongside three national executives from holding the planned congresses at any other location or date pending the determination of the motion on notice already filed.

READ ALSO: Customs Release Guidelines For Zero Duty On Food Items

Advertisement

But, Justice Lifu in his ruling a week later, ordered the PDP, Damagum, Anyanwu and Bature to proceed with the conduct of the said congresses initially slated for July 27.

According to the ruling, the PDP and the three national officers must adhere strictly and honour the provisions of the guidelines, adjusted timetable and schedule of activities 2024, duly issued and published by the party, pending the determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed along with the motion ex-parte.

Justice Lifu had also restrained the party and its officers from allowing any person who did not obtain a nomination form or ad-hoc form within the time stipulated in the guideline from running for any elective office of the PDP or ad-hoc or national delegates positions, pending the determination of the motion on notice already filed.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Minister Lists Factors Limiting Power Sector Growth In Nigeria

In granting the request of the plaintiffs, the Judge had ordered them to enter into a fresh undertaking to indemnify the defendants if, by the end of the day, the court discovered that it was misled into granting the restraining orders.

The said amount for damages according to Justice Lifu would be assessed by the court.

Advertisement

The six PDP members who filed the ex-parte application are; Hon Aaron Chukwuemeka, Dr Benibo George, Solomon Ogbonna, Lenebari Inaania, Enia Harris and ThankGod Owhorji.

The defendants in the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ ABJ/ CS/106/12014 are; PDP, Damagum, Anyanwu, Bature, INEC, Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Director General, State Security Service (SSS) and DSS as 1st to 10th defendants respectively.

 

Advertisement

News

JUST IN: Tinubu Decorates New Service Chiefs

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday decorated the new service chiefs with their respective ranks at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The ceremony, which began shortly after 2pm saw the President perform the decoration alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima and the spouses of the decorated officers, each dressed in their respective service uniforms.

Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff; and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas and Chief of Naval Staff.

Advertisement

The Senate had, on Wednesday, confirmed the four nominees after a two-hour closed-door screening session where they were grilled on strategies to strengthen national security and improve coordination among the armed forces.

Tinubu had earlier written the red chamber, seeking an expedited confirmation process “to ensure continuity in the nation’s security leadership.”

READ ALSO:Reps Approve Tinubu’s $2.35bn External Loan Request

Advertisement

It was observed that the ceremony was attended by senior government officials, lawmakers family members of the service chiefs and top officers from the various arms of the military.

The President, Vice President and the officers’ spouses took turns pinning the new ranks on each of the decorated chiefs.

The decoration came barely one week after the Presidency announced a sweeping reshuffle in the military hierarchy.

Advertisement

In the statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, it said the shake-up was part of efforts to inject new direction into the nation’s defence architecture.

READ ALSO:Tinubu Under Fire Over Presidential Pardon For Drug Offenders

The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General E. A. P. Undiendeye, retained his position.

Advertisement

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, later told our correspondent that the changes were not connected to recent rumours of a coup plot, saying, “The President acted within his authority as Commander-in-Chief. Service chiefs can be hired and fired by the President.”

On Monday, Tinubu had met privately with the new service chiefs at the Villa.

They arrived in a black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van escorted by a green Toyota Land Cruiser, and the session lasted about 40 minutes.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:FULL LIST: 175 Beneficiaries Of Tinubu’s Pardons

Presidency sources said the President charged them to take decisive action against insurgents and bandits, particularly in the North.

Last Friday’s reshuffle followed an October 19 report alleging that some officers were plotting to overthrow the government — a claim later dismissed by the Defence Headquarters as “false and mischievous.”

Advertisement

The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, said the alleged arrests linked to a coup were “issues of indiscipline” within the ranks, describing the report as “intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.”

Continue Reading

News

JUST IN: Eurozone Growth Beats Expectations In Third Quarter

Published

on

The eurozone economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter of 2025, official data showed Thursday.

The EU’s data agency said the 20-country single currency area recorded growth of 0.2 per cent over the July-September period from the previous quarter.

READ ALSO:Atiku Slams Tinubu Over U-turn On Pardon For Convicts

Advertisement

The figure was higher than the 0.1 per cent forecast by analysts for Bloomberg and FactSet.

More details later…

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

PHOTOS: Police Inspector, Others Die In Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Multiple-truck Crash

Published

on

At least four persons were feared dead while several others sustained injuries in a multiple-vehicle crash involving five articulated trucks on Kara Bridge, inward Mowe, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday.

A police inspector attached to the Lagos State Police Command was said to be among the victims.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, who confirmed the incident on Thursday during a visit to the scene, said emergency response teams worked through the early hours to rescue victims and clear the wreckage.

Advertisement

“We have a case of multiple accidents at the border between Ogun and Lagos State. Five vehicles were involved, all articulated vehicles. Precisely, three people have been rescued from the scene of the accident.

READ ALSO:Ten Feared, Others Injured In Oyo Road Accident

As early as 5 a.m., we have been on it, and we have other agencies here assisting us. We have LASTMA, the Road Safety Corps, and other security agencies,” Ishola said.

Advertisement

He explained that preliminary investigations showed the crash was caused by a trailer that suffered brake failure.

At the beginning, we have a trailer that failed to brake, and it is important that everybody in charge of their vehicle ensures proper maintenance,” he stated.

The commissioner also confirmed the death of one of his officers who was part of the police advance team deployed to the scene.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:41 Killed In Mexico Bus Accident

“It’s very unfortunate that we lost one of our police inspectors who came with our advance team to salvage the situation,” he said.

Ishola cautioned motorists, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, against reckless driving, which he described as a leading cause of fatal crashes on highways.

Advertisement

We want road users, especially those driving articulated vehicles, to stop this kind of recklessness. If they are not reckless in their driving habit, we won’t have this kind of accident,” he warned.

Rescue operations involving the police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, and other agencies were still ongoing as of press time, while efforts to remove the damaged vehicles and restore traffic flow continued.

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending