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

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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

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.”

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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.

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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.

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Shock As Adeleke Employs Roadside puff-puff Hawker As Govt House Chef

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday shocked a female puff-puff seller during a rally in Osogbo by buying all her snacks with ₦50,000 and offering her employment as a chef at the Government House.

This happened when Osun public servants trooped out in their thousands in what they called an appreciation solidarity rally in support of the governor for his support and care since he took over state governance.

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It was observed that the governor, who sat in the bus, had sighted the woman who was among the crowd cheering him.

He immediately beckoned to the woman carrying a plastic container filled with puff-puff on her head and asked how much it would cost to buy all the snacks.

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The female hawker, who was visibly surprised and star-struck at the level of her proximity to the governor, found it difficult to even tell the governor how much she sold the snacks.

Surprisingly, Adeleke handed her a bundle of ₦50,000 to the cheers of the crowd.

The lucky woman knelt down in appreciation of the governor’s generosity.

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Excited onlookers quickly rushed to share the snacks in the plastic already purchased by the governor.

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The governor invited the vendor inside the vehicle where one of his officials questioned her academic background, and she revealed that she holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education.

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Adeleke further asked about the dishes she could prepare and instructed his aides to take her contact details for employment as a chef in the Government House.

Confirming the development, the Commissioner II at the Osun State Civil Service Commission, Olaniyan Taofeek, shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “The moment Gov. Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller into a Government House chef.”

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A Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media, Oni Gbenga Lawrence, also corroborated the incident in a post on X, stating: “Moment Governor Ademola Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller to Government Chef… not only ₦50k but he invited her into his car and employed her as chef in the Government House.”

The Guardian correspondent, who was at the scene of the welcome rally, made efforts to interview the lucky vendor, but they did not yield as she was not allowed to alight from the bus throughout the event.
(The Guardian)

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Katsina Govt Revokes Licenses Of All Private, Community Schools

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The Katsina State Government has withdrawn the operating licenses of all private and community schools in the state, with effect from August 13, 2025.

The announcement came through a circular issued by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and signed by Commissioner Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa.

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The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Sani Danjuma, released the document in Katsina on Saturday.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: Kastina Commissioner Assassinated

According to the circular, the move is part of the government’s effort to strengthen quality assurance and standardization within the education sector.

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The withdrawal of licenses is aimed at ensuring that schools operate in line with approved standards and provide quality education to students,” Danjuma said.

The circular also outlined a review of fees for license application, registration, and annual renewal.

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“Owners of affected schools are required to obtain fresh licenses by submitting proof of payment to the ministry on or before September 30, 2025.”

The statement also added that school operators have been warned not to increase tuition or other charges without government approval.

The ministry further promised to issue additional guidelines soon, including categorization of schools and the revised fee structure.

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JUST IN: Oldest Missionary To Nigeria, Ruth Elton, Is Dead

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British-born Nigerian missionary, Ruth Elton, reputed to be the oldest missionary has passed on at the age of 91.

Ruth Elton, born 7 September 1933, was a British-born Nigerian missionary whose lifelong dedication to faith, healing, and revival left an indelible mark on communities across western and central Nigeria.

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It was learnt that Elton died on Saturday at Sharon compound, Alafia Bamin Quarters in Ilesa, Osun State.

She was the only daughter of Pa Elton and her remains have been deposited at the mortuary.

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Ruth Elton, daughter of Sydney Granville Elton (Pa Elton), who is referred to as one of the founding fathers of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, had approached a Kaduna court and nationalised as a Nigerian.

At old age and despite the happenings in Nigeria, she still held in high esteem her father’s prophecies that although Nigeria could be known globally for corruption, it would only for a while as new dawn would beckon when the country would be known worldwide for righteousness and prosperity.

Elton moved to Nigeria in 1937 with her parents and served as a Christian missionary across Egbe, Okene, Koton Karfe, and other parts of Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, and Osun States.

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A naturalised Nigerian, having renounced her British citizenship in the 1970s, she embraced the country completely and became fluent in Ebira and Yoruba.

Elton, who remained single, believed that she had made a true mark in the country and apart from her missionary work, she saw her efforts in taming infant mortality, especially in Okene, Kogi State as a generational impact.

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Relating her experience on infant mortality in the country, Elton recently noted that many newborn babies had passed on due to lack of proper care and hygiene, adding that the practice of force-feeding babies contributed to the challenges, especially in the face of poor awareness.

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