TheNewsGuru

Tag: Deputy

  • Sack: Umahi, deputy, others seek stay of execution of judgment

    Sack: Umahi, deputy, others seek stay of execution of judgment

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi and others have sought an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, staying the execution of its judgment directing them to vacate their offices over their defection to another political party.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, on Tuesday in a judgment, ordered Umahi, his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, and the 16 lawmakers to vacate their office and seats, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justice Ekwo also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to immediately receive from the PDP, the names of its candidates to replace them.

    Meanwhile, on Thursday in a motion on notice filed by their counsel, Chukwuma Ma-Chukwu Ume, SAN, the applicants prayed the court for an order staying the execution of the orders made against them.

    The applicants also prayed the court to stay the execution of its order directing INEC to receive another names in their place or hold a governorship election in accordance with Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution.

    Umahi and Igwe, in the motion on notice dated March 9 is equally seeking an order staying the execution of the order of court directing INEC to immediately declare the persons nominated by the PDP as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi respectively.

    They further urged the court to stay the execution of its order restraining the INEC from recognising or continue to recognise them as governor and deputy governor of the state.

    They equally asked for an order staying the execution of an order restraining them from putting themselves out as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi respectively pending the hearing and determination of the appeal dated and filed on March 9 by the appellants.

    Ekwo was further urged to grant an order restraining the PDP from submitting any names to the INEC for the purpose of declaring them as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi in replacement of the applicants and if already submitted and accepted, an order of injunction restraining the INEC from using or putting same into effect until the determination of the appeal filed by the applicants.

    They are further seeking an order restraining the INEC from conducting elections into their offices and or declaring the names of any candidate presented by the PDP as the governor and deputy Governor of Ebonyi pending the determination of the appeal filed by them.

    The motion which was brought pursuant to Order 26 Rules 1 and 2(1) and Order 32 Rules 1 and 4(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, is predicated on eight grounds.

    The grounds includes the fact that the applicants who are dissatisfied with the judgment of the court have appealed the said judgment to the Court of Appeal by filling their notice of appeal dated March 9.

    That the notice of appeal has been dully served on all the parties and the court.

    That they have also commenced the process for the compilation and transmission of the records of the appeal in the appeal.

    It is their prayer that unless execution of the judgment of the court is stayed, the outcome of the appeal filed by them will be rendered nugatory.

    The lawyer said that the appeal by his clients raised substantial, recondite and arguable issues of law with reasonable chances of success.

    He further argued that the rights of his clients would be highly jeopardised if the judgment of the court was allowed to be executed before their appeal is heard and determined.

    Ume said one of the serious grounds of the appeal was the substantial issue of jurisdiction, which he stated, constitute exceptional circumstances in consideration to which the law permit the grant of stay of execution pending the hearing and determination of the applicants’ appeal.

    Similarly, the 16 lawmakers of the Ebonyi House of Assembly who were ordered to vacate their seats had equally filed a motion of stay of execution of the judgment.

    Counsel to the lawmakers, Ume, iin a motion on notice dated March 9, prayed the court for an order staying the execution of the judgment as it affects the lawmakers.

    The lawmakers, he said, had equally filed an appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court.

    The motion for the stay of execution of the judgment was also rooted on eight grounds and it sought an order of court restraining the PDP from submitting any names to the INEC for the purpose of declaring them as members of the Ebonyi House of Assembly in their replacement.

    It said if already submitted and accepted, they sought an order of injunction restraining the INEC from using or putting same into effect until the determination of the appeal filed by them.

    They also sought an order restraining the INEC from conducting elections to fill the vacancies created by their removal and or declaring the names of any candidate presented by the PDP as members of the Ebonyi House of Assembly pending the determination of the suit filed by them at the Court of Appeal.

  • Court throws out suit seeking Uzodinma, deputy’s removal

    Court throws out suit seeking Uzodinma, deputy’s removal

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to nullify the election of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and his deputy Prof Placid Njoku and to declare the governor’s seat vacant.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo held that the applicant, Mcfyne C. Chikwedu, had no locus standi, adding that the suit was “patently non-justiciable.”

    The judge noted that Uzodimma’s election had been affirmed by the Supreme Court and his court was not an election tribunal that could sit on appeal over elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He ordered Chikwedu to pay INEC N250,000 as costs “for bringing such a frivolous and meaningless suit to this court for adjudication.”

    INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) were the first and second defendants in the suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1085/2020.

    The July 19 judgment followed Chikwedu’s suit alleging that the governor did not meet the constitutional requirement to be declared winner of the March 9 election.

    Dismissing his contention, the judge observed that there was no connection between the plaintiff and the defendants.

    Taiwo held: “If I may ask, was he (Chikwedu) a contestant in the Imo Governorship Election in 2019?

    “He only described himself in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the affidavit in support of the originating summons thus: ‘(1) That I am the plaintiff in this suit and an indigene of Ikeduru LGA of Imo State. (2) That by virtue of my position I am conversant with the facts of this case.’

    “These averments are not enough to cloth the plaintiff with the toga of locus standi.

    “It is a notorious fact that the issue of the Imo State governorship election has been litigated up to the Supreme Court, the apex court in the land on the 14th of January, 2020 and it was held among other things that Senator Hope Uzodimma is the winner of the Governorship Election of Imo State and that the Certificate of Returns be issued to him.

    “This court cannot shut its eyes to these facts…This case has no legs to stand on. It is dead on arrival and nothing can be done to resuscitate it.

    “I need to state that cases of this nature ought not to be permitted to see the light of day if not for the constitutional provision as to fair hearing.

    “I am of the well-considered view that parties should desist from bringing such time-wasting suits to court knowing fully well that they have no chance to succeed. The time of the court is very precious.

    “This case is dismissed in its entirety. This is the judgment of the court.”

    The applicant had sought a declaration that Uzodimma’s election was unconstitutional for violating Section 1 and 179 of the 1999 Constitution.

    He also sought, through his counsel F. I Aliuna, an order compelling INEC to withdraw Uzodimma’s Certificate of Return and conduct a fresh election within 90 days from the date of the nullification.

    He further prayed for an order dissolving the Imo State Executive Council, Imo State Boards and Commissions, Imo State Local Government Interim Management Committee as constituted and all other appointments so far made by the governor, and his deputy and to direct them to immediately handover to the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly.

    He prayed the court to direct the Chief Judge of Imo State to swear in the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly as the Acting Governor with immediate effect pending the election and swearing-in of a substantive governor.

    INEC opposed him via its counsel, Anthony Onyeri, on the ground of a lack of locus standi. The AGF did not enter an appearance.

    Upholding INEC’s preliminary objection, the judge dismissed Chikwedu’s suit “in its entirety.”

  • Another history made as WTO DG, Okonjo-Iweala appoints two women to deputy leadership positions

    Another history made as WTO DG, Okonjo-Iweala appoints two women to deputy leadership positions

    World Trade Organization head Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Tuesday named two women to the WTO’s four deputy leader jobs for the first time in its history.

    The new director-general, herself the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO appointed of the United States and Costa Rica’s Anabel Gonzalez, along with Jean-Marie Paugam of France and China’s Zhang Xiangchen.

    The WTO has counted one woman deputy director-general previously, but Okonjo-Iweala stressed that this was “the first time in the history of our organisation that half of the DDGs are women.”

    “This underscores my commitment to strengthening our organisation with talented leaders whilst at the same time achieving gender balance in senior positions,” said the WTO chief, who took office on March 1.

    “I look forward to welcoming them to the WTO.”

    In making the appointments, Nigeria’s former finance and foreign minister maintained the previous balance of one deputy from China, one from the United States, one from the European Union and one from a developing country elsewhere.

    The new DDGs replace Yonov Frederick Agah of Nigeria, Karl Brauner of Germany, Alan Wolff of the United States and Yi Xiaozhun of China.

    The deputies each take charge of four or five fields at the Geneva-based global trade body, such as legal affairs, market access, development, agriculture and commodities, and intellectual property.

    Ellard has served at the US Congress as majority and minority chief trade counsel.

    Gonzalez is a former foreign trade minister who also served as a senior director at the World Bank and as director of the agriculture and commodities division at the WTO.

    Paugam was France’s permanent representative at the WTO and has held senior positions in the French economy and finance ministry.

    Zhang is a vice minister in China’s Ministry of Commerce who was recently Beijing’s permanent representative to the WTO.

    The organisation is holding a meeting of its general council on Wednesday and Thursday. The council is the WTO’s highest-level decision-making body in Geneva, featuring representatives from all 164 member states.

  • Reps accept petition by Diaspora Tiv indigenes, earlier rejected by Gbajabiamila’s Deputy

    Reps accept petition by Diaspora Tiv indigenes, earlier rejected by Gbajabiamila’s Deputy

    A petition by a group of Tiv indigenes from Benue State in the diaspora which generated controversy last week has been accepted by the House of Representatives.

    The lawmakers received the petition during Tuesday’s plenary at the lower chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    It was filed by a group – Mzough U Tiv Amerika (MUTA) on the insecurity in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States.

    A member of the House representing Gwer East/ Gwer West Constituency of Benue, Mark Gbillah, presented the petition at the plenary presided by the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    He explained that he was submitting the petition on behalf of the group because Tiv indigenes of the affected states had been sacked from their ancestral lands.

    “Without misunderstanding, please go ahead and lay your petition and it will be given proper and due attention,” Gbajabiamila told the lawmaker before he presented the petition.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Gbillah brought the petition back to the house about two weeks after the move was rejected by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Idris Wase.

    Wase, who presided over the plenary held on March 11 in the absence of the speaker, had declared that Nigerians in the diaspora have no right to send petitions to the House on issues happening in Nigeria.

    He has, however, denied his action despite compelling video evidence.

    Meanwhile, the lawmakers had since tendered apology for rejecting the petition.

    The recent attack on Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, at his farm also formed part of issues deliberated during Tuesday’s plenary.

    Condemning the incident, the lawmakers described the attack on the governor as an indication of anarchy and full-scale lawlessness in the country.

    They, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for promptly ordering an investigation into the incident and asked the security agencies to ensure that those involved were brought to justice, to serve as a deterrent to others.

  • Ondo 2020: Akeredolu ‘peppers’ seven lawmakers loyal to deputy, excludes them from car gifts

    Ondo 2020: Akeredolu ‘peppers’ seven lawmakers loyal to deputy, excludes them from car gifts

    Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu may have devised another way to get back at the seven lawmakers who opposed the impeachment of the Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.

    According to reports, Akeredolu last week appreciated the 19 out of the 26 lawmakers with the 2020 model SUV KIA Sportage deliberately leaving out Ajayi’s loyal seven.

    According to the governor, his administration had kept its promise of providing the cars to the lawmakers despite the dwindling resources of the state.

    Meanwhile, the seven concerned lawmakers have knocked the governor for his decision to exclude them from the car largesse.

    However, one of the aggrieved lawmakers and deputy speaker of the Assembly, Mr Iroju Ogundeji, condemned the action of the governor against the seven legislators, saying they were denied the cars because they did not support the impeachment.

    He said, “They are using their power on us because we did not support the impeachment but I know the time shall pass. They even refused to obey the court that dismissed our suspension.

    Similarly, another lawmaker, Tomide Akinribido, said their exclusion was to penalise them for their refusal to sign the impeachment notice against the deputy governor.

    “It is not the governor’s personal gifts, this is statutory and the governor should not play politics with it,” Akinribido said.

  • BBNaija: Trikytee emerges new Head of House, picks Laycon as Deputy

    BBNaija: Trikytee emerges new Head of House, picks Laycon as Deputy

    TrikyTee has beaten seven other Housemates to emerge Head of House (HoH) for the first time in eight weeks.

    The eighth Head of House game was keenly contested with Kiddwaya out of the game due to suspension.

    During the game, Dorathy, Neo, TrikyTee, Ozo, and Vee won the challenge.

    It was not only historic but also saw Ozo opening the Golden chest.

    The tie saw Big Brother asking the Housemates to begin the game again but this time for only 50 seconds.

    However, TrikyTee emerged victorious to clinch the head of House title.

    He nominated Laycon as his deputy after Biggie gave him the option to choose a deputy that is not necessarily the opposite sex.

    In a new twist, the HoH and DHoH gain immunity from possible eviction and access to the luxury lounge for the week.

    Biggie also gave the deputy Head of House the choice of not sleeping in the HoH luxury lounge.

    Big Brother, however, announced that Kiddwaya’s suspension from the Head of House games as well as enjoying any privileges of the Head of House ends tonight.

    As usual, the games began with Biggie explaining the games to the Housemates.

    The Housemates were glad to have Biggie’s voice back with them, so they paid rapt attention.

    The Housemates had to play the same HoH game, which required them to move across a numbered mat within 2 minutes.

    This week, Biggie made a few changes calculated to waste the housemates’ game time such as spelling words with straws, sketching a picture of a human, and several others.

    The Housemates did their best to avoid them, but really, no one can control the fall of the die.

    As before, to start the game, the Housemates had to throw a ‘6’ on the die. They would then move forward on the mat depending on the number they roll on the die the second time.

  • Obaseki passes vote of confidence on deputy

    Obaseki passes vote of confidence on deputy

    Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki has declared his deputy, Philip Shaibu, with whom he is running for re-election under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on September 19 has been so loyal and helpful to his administration.

    He spoke at the palace of Ogieneni of Uzairue Clan in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo state, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Imonikhe Kadiri, Omogbai IV, in continuation of his re-election campaigns in Edo North Senatorial District.

    Obaseki said: “My deputy, who is your son, has been so loyal and helpful to my administration. We are here to seek your prayers and support for our re-election.”

    The monarch, who conferred chieftaincy titles on Obaseki and his deputy, stated the Governor had done well in almost four years, thereby deserving re-election.

    The traditional ruler said: “Your deputy is from this place (Uzairue Clan) and he is my son.

    “Considering what you have done in the last four years, you have done very well. In terms of infrastructural development, I believe you have done well for Edo State.

    “You (Obaseki) have good men around you. I promise you that Uzairue people will give you 100 per cent votes.

    “I will also like to make some pleas to you. I want your government to upgrade the Uzairue Market to a modern one.

    “In the area of road construction, I wish to plead with you to do more for my people. We are impressed with your government, that is a fact and I won’t lie.

    “I like the way you do your things; you must not share money. Your good deeds will speak for you. All we need is prayer.”

    The monarch also admonished Obaseki to be much closer to God and ask Him whatever he wants, assuring he would get it.

  • Edo Speaker, Okiye reveals why his deputy was removed

    Edo Speaker, Okiye reveals why his deputy was removed

    Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, has revealed reasons his deputy, Yekini Idiaye, was impeached on Wednesday.

    Okiye accused his deputy of plotting with leaders of the All Progressives Congress and the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, “to illegally and violently take over” the Assembly.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) had earlier reported that the Assembly impeached Idiaye during plenary on Wednesday and immediately replaced him with the member representing Orhionmwon II Constituency, Roland Asoro.

    Idiaye and some lawmakers had on Monday pledged their support for the APC governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    The Speaker, in an address aired via social media shortly after the impeachment of Ndiaye, called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to call members of his party to order.

    The address was titled, ‘The Urgent Need To Call The Imo State Governor and Leaders Of APC In Edo State To Order Over Their Plan To Violently And Illegally Takeover The Edo State House Of Assembly’.

    Speaking during the address, Okiye said, “We have it on good authority, the dubious plans by the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the stakeholders of APC in Edo State to import a fake maze to take over the Edo State House of Assembly working in cohort with the former deputy speaker who recently declared his support for the governorship candidate of APC to congregate in a separate location to illegally and violently take over the Edo State House of Assembly as brought to our notice.

    “And so, we call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the presidency to urgently call this governor and others working with him to execute this illegal plan to desist and allow the laws of the state to guide them.

    “The state polity is already heated up by the political tension from the various electioneering campaign. Their planned action is likened to lightening a match in an already tensed political environment which conflagration is capable of causing crisis in the state and may scale beyond imagination.

    “We call on Edo State people, whose mandate and interest the state legislature holds and protect, to rise against this attack and plot to subvert their will and subjugate them using external forces.

    “We urge lovers of democracy across the world and institutions that uphold democracy and value, as well as pro-democracy groups to denounce this planned illegality that seems to distract a duly constituted authority.

  • COVID-19: Why I won’t hand over power to my deputy – Akeredolu

    COVID-19: Why I won’t hand over power to my deputy – Akeredolu

    Ondo Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has vowed not to hand over to his Deputy, Agboola Ajayi, in acting capacity.

    Akeredolu has since gone into isolation and undergoing treatment at home after he tested positive to COVID-19.

    Akeredolu said there was no reason for him to hand over to his Deputy, who he described as the greatest threat to his administration.

    Speaking through his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, Akeredolu said his deputy has since left the APC and governance.

    Akeredolu stated that he could not handover the rein of government to someone who attempted to pull down his administration.

    According to him: “Those of us in government and believe strongly in this government see the deputy governor as the greatest threat to good governance in Ondo state and you can’t attempt to handover to people like that. Agboola Ajayi is the greatest threat to this government.

    “I don’t know how and we got into this, what we witnessed in 1983, the level of treachery that was deployed against late Adekunle Ajasin.

    “Except for those who have the opportunity to witness what we are seeing in Ondo state , one may be tempted to say that was the height or nothing could surpass level of treachery but what we are seeing today represent the fact what Omoboriowo did in 1983 was a child play compare to what Agboola Ajayi is doing now.

    “You don’t rock a boat that has taken you across the ocean. It is a non issue and we are not even considering handing over to Agboola Ajayi and I know as a matter of fact that no one who believes in good governance in the state will even advise Akeredolu to hand over to his deputy. What would be the compelling reason when governance is not grounded?

    “We cannot toy with what we have build over the years. We cannot risk it and attempt to hand over to someone who has exhibited mindless level of betrayal and an unquestionable level of treachery.

    “This is not done and unthinkable, undebatable and if that is the reason he has been sponsoring write ups to say there is likely to be vacuum, the governor must hand over to him, he’s only joking, it is not going to happen because the governor is hale and hearty.

    “COVID -19 is not a death sentence and the governor is strong enough to workand for the deputy to insinuate, incite or instigate people to be stirring the water to say that the governor should have over to him, confirms our fears in the last ten months that Agboola Ajayi has been striving to take over power through the backdoor and God will not allow him.”

    Reacting, Ajayi said that COVID-19 status of the governor has not make him become incapacitated.

    Ajayi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Babatope Okeowo, said he is unbothered if his boss makes him acting governor adding that he does not see that happening considering that they had parted ways politically.

    “The constitution is so explicit about it that when the President or the Governor is incapacitated, the vice or the deputy takes over but in this case the governor is not incapacitated. It is only when he is incapacitated that the doctrine of necessity will be come into play.

    “For now, there is no need for any anxiety about the governor’s state of health. He has said that he will been treating files while in isolation. That means governance won’t be affected.

    “And you know the political situation in Ondo State now. Both the governor and the deputy governor are in different political camp, so we don’t expect it and we are not bothered about it because before now the governor had sideline the deputy governor in the day to day running of the activities of government. There is nothing unusual in what he did.

    “In the constitution, he ought to have transmitted letter but when you look at it from political angle, the governor will not do it and we are not bothered. We are bothered because we know we are in a different political parties.

    “So, since he is not incapacitated, there is no need for doctrine of necessity and we are not bothered with that.

    “Even when President Buhari was sick, the Attorney General of the Federation said he can work from anywhere as President. The late Abba Kyari was the one taking files to him in London where he was recuperating.”

  • COVID-19: Wike Suspends LG Chairman, Deputy indefinitely over violation of ‘sit-at-home’ order

    COVID-19: Wike Suspends LG Chairman, Deputy indefinitely over violation of ‘sit-at-home’ order

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has threatened that the state government will not hesitate to acquire any beer parlour or public drinking joint caught operating.

    On Thursday, March 26, 2020, the Governor in a television broadcast directed closure of all businesses in the state and ordered residents to sit at home.

    This was part of efforts to protect the state from the coronavirus pandemic, which eventually found its way into the state some hours after the televised address.

    On Monday (yesterday), Mr Wike, in another broadcast, expressed his displeasure over the non-compliance of the state government’s directive.

    He said some markets have continued to violate the sit-at-home order, saying, “We have no choice than to make some painful, but necessary decisions to further prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state.”

    According to him, after a meeting of the State Security Council, it was agreed that, “With effect from Tuesday March 31, 2020, there will be a dusk to dawn curfew from Obiri-Ikwerre Junction (Ozuoba, Rumualogu) to Choba and from Education Bus Stop to Agip Junction, Ikwerre Road.

    “All beer parlours and public drinking joints are hereby closed because they have suddenly become an extension of night clubs that were earlier shut down.

    “Any beer parlour or public drinking joint found to be open shall be acquired by the State Government.

    “All landlords are advised to warn their tenants who use their property as beer parlours or public drinking joints to adhere to this directive.

    “Traditional Rulers, Youth Leaders and Community Development Committees are to ensure that beer parlours and public drinking joints in their areas remain closed.

    “Any Traditional Ruler who allows markets to be open in his domain will be deposed.

    “Government is investigating the illegal operation of markets at night at Woji and Elelenwo Communities. Further violation by residents of these two communities will attract declaration of curfew.

    “Further flagrant violation of the closure of markets will attract a state-wide declaration of curfew. We must understand that people must be alive before they eat food.”

    However, he said those in the medical and pharmaceutical, food and beverages, essential oil and gas, petroleum products, and media sectors would be exempted from the lockdown.

    He noted that, “All these categories of staff must identify themselves with valid identity cards.”

    According to him, to make this easy for people in the state, “government is looking into the setting up of food markets across the state.”

    “As a result of the flagrant violation of the closure of markets in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Local Government Council Chairman and his Deputy, are hereby suspended indefinitely,” he declared.

    Concluding, the Governor said “government will continue to do what is right no matter who is involved. As you are all aware, no conventional war has grounded global life and economy like coronavirus has done.

    “I want to sincerely express my heartfelt gratitude to our health professionals on the frontline of this fight. Let me also thank all the security agencies, individuals and organisations who are collaborating with us to make Rivers State safe.

    “I am confident that with our collective resolve our dear state will contain the spread of this virus.”