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Tag: Fubara

  • Why Rivers lawmakers can’t impeach Fubara – PDP

    Why Rivers lawmakers can’t impeach Fubara – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the 27 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers at the Rivers House of Assembly can’t impeach Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, because they are no longer members of the House.

    Mr Debo Ologunagba, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, said this at a new conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
    Ologunagba said that the directive by the state APC chapter for the lawmakers to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor was in vain.
    He said that the APC lawmakers had since vacated their seats at the House, by virtue of Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution.
    “The lawmakers claiming to be APC members lost their seats after their defection from the PDP, the political party platform on which they were elected into the House.

    “For emphasis, Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution provides that: a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if … (g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political Party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected.

    “It should be noted that Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution is self-executory. The import of this provision is that the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who defected, have vacated their seat by reason of that defection,” he said.

    Ologunagba advised APC to come to terms with the fact that Rivers was home to PDP and that the people of the state were not ready to leave the party.

  • APC tells Rivers lawmakers to impeach Fubara immediately

    APC tells Rivers lawmakers to impeach Fubara immediately

    The political crisis in Rivers State has deepened as the All Progressives Congress (APC) directed the state lawmakers to, immediately, commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

    Should they decide not to follow the order, the party will invoke relevant sections of its constitution to discipline them as APC members.

    Majority of the lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They are loyalists of Fubara’s predecessor who is now the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
    Rivers State APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, gave the order for the impeachment at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Tuesday.

    He said the Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, must impeach Fubara immediately.

    Okocha said the decision of the party followed the remarks by Fubara that the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the political crisis rocking the state was only a political solution and not constitutional.

  • Fubara undisputed political, PDP leader in Rivers, says Sekibo

    Fubara undisputed political, PDP leader in Rivers, says Sekibo

    Former Minister of Transportation, Chief Abiye Sekibo, says that Gov. Siminalayi Fubara is the undisputed political head and  leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers.

    Sekibo told NAN on Saturday during a thanksgiving service in Ibaka Town, Okirika, Rivers, commemorating Fubara’s election and Supreme Court victory.

    He said that former governor, Peter Odili, was correct in his assertion that Fubara was the political leader of the state.

    “The PDP’s by-law and constitution recognises the state governor as the leader of the party in the state.

    “Therefore, Gov. Fubara, who is today the governor of Rivers state, holds the political leadership position in the state.

    “What our father, Odili said reflects the position of the law and people of the state. There is nobody that can controvert what Odili said,” he said.

    Sekibo cautioned against attempts to disrupt the Fubara-led government or incite unrest in the state, urging those contemplating such actions to cease immediately.

    “Anyone, who decides to break the law and order in the state because they feel that they own the state must first contend with Rivers people.

    “The people of Rivers state are solidly behind Gov. Fubara and that is where all of us stand,” he said.

    Mrs Ibim Semenitari, the former Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), expressed the tiredness of Rivers people with ongoing political intrigues in the state.

    Semenitari, an ex-Commissioner of Information in Rivers, said the peoples’ endorsement of Fubara was due to his commitment to development across various sectors.

    “We are gathered here to thank God for Gov. Fubara’s victory as well as express our gratitude of having a governor who has a peaceful disposition.

    “We are tired and don’t want any more crises. We want our state to progress under the leadership of Gov. Fubara that is committed to driving development across the state.

    “We are currently witnessing a political tsunami where people organically come out on their own to celebrate and declare their support for the governor,” she said.

    Semenitari said that the thanksgiving service were wholly funded by the people and at no expense to the state government, demonstrating their love and support for Fubara.

    Speaking, the Commissioner of Information in Rivers, Mr Joe Johnson said that hundreds of thousands of people across the state had attended the thanksgiving rallies.

    According to him, the massive turnout was a reflection of the people’s confidence in the governor’s ability to usher in development and alleviate suffering in the state.

    “People and doubters are beginning to discover for themselves that Gov. Fubara is the best thing to have happened to people of the state.

    “This mammoth crowds, including traditional rulers and clergies participating, symbolises the residents’ trust in the governor to bring an end to years of hardship and oppression in Rivers.

    “The overwhelming support shown during these events, in spite Gov. Fubara’s disassociation from funding them, underscores the widespread admiration and endorsement he enjoys,” Johnson said.

  • Fubara plotting to procure orders to declare Rivers Assembly illegitimate – APC

    Fubara plotting to procure orders to declare Rivers Assembly illegitimate – APC

    Rivers state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has accused the governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara of plotting to procure interim orders from some judges to declare the Martins Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly as illegitimate.

    Tony Okocha ,the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the APC in Rivers State made the accusations public on Thursday during a press briefing in Port Harcourt.

    Okocha refused to mention the names of the supposed  judges but promised to release their names by the time he files a petition to the Nigeria Judicial Council, NJC concerning the matter.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Fubara dares to surprise anyone in the state who has got plans to distract him as he governs the state in line with the political solution as agreed with President Bola Tinubu few months ago in Abuja.

     

  • Just in: Ex-PDP chairman, Secondus, others declare support for Tinubu, Fubara

    Just in: Ex-PDP chairman, Secondus, others declare support for Tinubu, Fubara

    Members of the PDP presidential council for the general elections in Rivers state in 2023, including Uche Secondus, a former national chairman of the party, have pledged their allegiance to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

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    Abiye Sekibo, the Director-General of PDP-PCC Rivers State and a former Minister of Transportation, announced on Thursday, March 28, during a press conference in Port Harcourt.

    Others present at the briefing include; Secondus; former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Austin Opara; Celestine Omehia, former deputy governor of the state, Tele Ikuru; Senator Lee Maeba; and former Secretary to the Rivers state government, Dr. Gabriel Pidomson among others.

  • Nothing will cut short my popular mandate – Fubara

    Nothing will cut short my popular mandate – Fubara

    Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has said that nothing will cut short his administration, claiming that people of the state can attest that he won the 2023 gubernatorial election.

    Fubara disclosed this while addressing members of the Family Support Group, who were on a solidarity visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

    Represented by the Head of the Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, the governor said the government is for youth, women, men, and every well-meaning Nigerian who wishes the state well.

    A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, reads: “The whole land of Rivers State stands in affirmation that we won the election fairly and deserve to serve out our full tenure. There is not going to be anything that will cut short the popular mandate that you all gave to this administration.

    “Just about within weeks of assuming office, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, flagged off the Port Harcourt Ring Road project that will traverse six local governments. It will be completed within 36 months. But I think it will be completed before the time because the progress of the work we have seen is beyond what we were thinking.

    “The official main Trans-Kalabari Road will start very soon and will begin from Port Harcourt. A lot of plans have been made for that road, and very soon, you will see contractors on site, and Rivers State will be opened.

    “Just yesterday, you heard in the news also that the governor has commenced the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road. That road was initially done with one lane, but now, he is going to dualise it. The government has already awarded the contract.”

  • Rivers political crises to end soon – PDP

    Rivers political crises to end soon – PDP

    Mr Sydney Gbara, State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers, said the political crises in the state will soon end.

    Gbara told NAN in Port Harcourt on Saturday that majority of Rivers people no longer enjoyed the drama making rounds in the state’s political space.

    He said that every reasonable Rivers citizen currently yearned for peace and also wanted Gov. Siminialaye Fubara to be allowed to work and demonstrate his capabilities in the administration of the state.

    The party image maker commended the governor for demonstrating self comportment by not allowing room for distractions in the midst of hightened political disagreements.

    “The governor even in the midst of pockets of disagreements with his predecessor and some organs of the government, had remained focused, delivering back-to-back life touching policies, programmes and projects for the people.

    “His policy is directly touching lives and building capacity.

    “We shouldn’t be surprised when we see that people are beginning to have a rethink and throwing-in support for him because as they say, if you can’t beat them, join them,” he said.

    He also described as timely, recent resignation and declaration of support by a councillor representing the ward of the former governor and Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike.

    The councillor, Mr Achor Nna, had publicly pledged loyalty to Gov. Fubara.

    According to him, more of such declarations for the governor is envisaged in coming days, not just from councillors but across political stratas including members of the State House of Assembly.

    On conduct of local government elections, Gbara said that the governor was the leader of the party (PDP) in the state.

    He noted that whenever the governor deemed necessary, the party would readily make available its machineries for the election.

    He, however, said the governor was making plans for local government elections, adding that the party on its part would remain neutral regarding governor’s decisions in that regard.

    Attributing ongoing political crises in the state to personal interest, Gbara urged the people especially the youth, to rally round the governor whom he said had demonstrated patriotism and inclusivity in his policies.

  • Hearing in Fubara’s chief of staff’s motion against arrest warrant suffers setback

    Hearing in Fubara’s chief of staff’s motion against arrest warrant suffers setback

    Hearing of motions on notice filed by Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, seeking an order vacating the arrest warrant against him and others could not proceed on Monday.

    The matter, which was on number six on the day’s cause list before Justice Emeka Nwite, was subsequently adjourned until March 4.

    The development occurred shortly after counsel for the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Simon Lough, SAN, told the court that he had not been served with Ehie’s motion filed by Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN.

    On Sunday, Justice Nwite had fixed today for the hearing of two separate applications filed by Aladedoye and Femi Falana, SAN, on behalf of Ehie and five others declared wanted by the police.

    The judge had, on Jan. 31, issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Ehie and others over their alleged involvement in the burning of part of the Rivers House of Assembly on Oct. 29, 2023.

    Those ordered to be arrested along with Ehie (1st defendant) are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benneth, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo as 2nd to 6th defendants.

    Justice Nwite gave the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought by Lough.

    The court granted the ex-parte application on the grounds that the six defendants had been at large to stand their trial in a seven-count charge preferred against five other suspected arsonists currently being prosecuted before a sister court.

    While Falana filed a motion seeking an order to set aside the Jan. 31 order, Aladedoye filed an application for a stay of execution of the arrest order.

    When the matter was called on Monday, Aladedoye, who appeared for Ehie, said his application dated Feb. 9, was served on the police same day.

    But Lough responded that he was not aware of Aladedoye’s motion, although he acknowledged the receipt of Falana’s application and had responded appropriately.

    He sought an adjournment to enable him respond to Aladedoye’s motion.

    But the judge confirmed Aladedoye’s affidavit of service in the court file.

    Lough, who restated that he was not aware of the application, said if he was in receipt of it, he would have responded.

    Falana, representing the 2nd to 6th defendants, prayed the court to allow his motion to be taken since the police had responded, but the judge said since both motions were on the same subject, it would be better to take them together.

    Shortly before adjournment, Aladedoye called the attention of the court to series of advertisements done by the police in the media, declaring Ehie and others wanted.

    He urged the court to make an order restraining the police from further publishing such adverts in the media pending the hearing and determination of the application.

    But Lough, who said that the adverts were done just when the order was made, assured that his office would await the court decision.

    Justice Nwite fixed March 4 for hearing.

    NAN reports that in a motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/112/2024 dated Feb. 2 and filed Feb. 7 by Falana, Ehie’s co-defendants sought two orders, including “an order setting aside the order made on the 31st January, 2024 for want of jurisdiction.

    “An order of this honourable court staying the execution of the order made on the 31st January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of this application.”

    Giving six grounds of argument, Falana argued that the I-G (complainant/respondent) had not filed any criminal charge or motion before the court.

    The senior lawyer argued that the court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the ex-parte application as the alleged offences of conspiracy, attempted murder, murder and arson took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

    “He submitted that the court lacked the vires to grant an application to arrest and declare his clients wanted in respect of the alleged offences.

    “The complainant/respondent (I-G) did not adduce evidence of terrorism in the affidavit in support of the application.

    “The complainant/respondent did not cite any section of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013 (as amended) alleged to have been contravened by the applicants,” he argued.

    Also, Aladedoye in a motion on notice dated and filed Feb. 9 on Ehie’s behalf, sought two orders, including “an order staying execution or further execution of the order(s) of this honourable court made on the 31st of January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicants.

    “An order of injunction restraining the complainant from carrying out or further carrying out the orders of this honourable court made on the 31st January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicant in this case.”

    Giving three-ground argument, Aladedoye said that a notice of appeal had already been filed against Justice Nwite’s orders.

    According to the senior lawyer, the notice of appeal contains grounds which challenge the jurisdiction of this honourable court.

    He argued that their appeal would be rendered nugatory if their application was not granted.

     

  • Court to hear Fubara’s chief of staff’s motion against arrest warrant on Monday

    Court to hear Fubara’s chief of staff’s motion against arrest warrant on Monday

    A Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed Monday for the hearing of motions on notice filed by Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, seeking an order vacating its earlier arrest warrant order against him and others.

    Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after counsel for Ehie and five others, Femi Falana, SAN, and Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, filed separate applications to the effect

    While Falana filed a motion seeking an order to set aside the Jan. 31 order made by Justice Nwite, Aladedoye filed an application for a stay of execution of the arrest order.

    The judge had, on Jan. 31, issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Ehie over his alleged involvement in the burning of part of the state’s House of Assembly on Oct. 29, 2023.

    Justice Nwite, who gave the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought by counsel for Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Simon Lough, SAN, also ordered the arrest of five other accomplices.

    Those ordered to be arrested along with Ehie are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benneth, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo.

    The court granted the ex-parte application as canvassed by Lough on the grounds that the six defendants had been at large to stand their trial in a seven-count preferred against five other suspected arsonists currently being prosecuted before a sister court.

    The I-G had, in a charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024, arraigned Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37; Prince Lukman Oladele, 47; Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, 40; Osiga Donald, 42; and Ochueja Thankgod, 35, before a sister court presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon on Jan. 25 in Abuja.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.

    The I-G, who arraigned them on a seven-count criminal charge bordering on terrorism and murder, declared Ehie and five others, said to be at large, wanted.

    Ehie, who was recently appointed as CoS after he resigned as member and factional speaker of the assembly, was alleged to be among the suspects being charged by the I-G.

    His resignation was said to be part of the agreements reached in the bid to reconcile Fubara and former Governor, Nyesom Wike, now the FCT Minister.

    But in a motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/112/2024 dated Feb. 2 and filed Feb. 7 by Falana, Ehie and others sought two orders, including “an order setting aside the order made on the 31st January, 2024 for want of jurisdiction.

    “An order of this honourable court staying the execution of the order made on the 31st January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of this application.”

    Giving six grounds of argument, Falana argued that the I-G (complainant/respondent) had not filed any criminal charge or motion before the court.

    The senior lawyer argued that the court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the ex-parte application as the alleged offences of conspiracy, attempted murder, murder and arson took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

    “He submitted that the court lacked the vires to grant an application to arrest and declare his clients wanted in respect of the alleged offences.

    “The complainant/respondent (I-G) did not adduce evidence of terrorism in the affidavit in support of the application.

    “The complainant/respondent did not cite any section of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013 (as amended) alleged to have been contravened by the applicants,” he argued.

    Also, Aladedoye in a motion on notice dated and filed Feb. 9, sought two orders, including “an order staying execution or further execution of the order(s) of this honourable court made on the 31st of January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicants.

    “An order of injunction restraining the complainant from carrying out or further carrying out the orders of this honourable court made on the 31st January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicant in this case.”

    Giving three-ground argument, Aladedoye said that a notice of appeal had already been filed against Justice Nwite’s orders.

    According to the senior lawyer, the notice of appeal contains grounds which challenge the jurisdiction of this honourable court.

    He argued that their appeal would be rendered nugatory if their application was not granted.

  • Terrorism charges: Court to rule on 5 Fubara loyalists’ bail on Monday

    Terrorism charges: Court to rule on 5 Fubara loyalists’ bail on Monday

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, fixed Feb. 5 for ruling on bail applications filed by five suspected persons accused of burning down part of the Rivers House of Assembly on Dec. 29, 2023.

    Justice Bolaji Olajuwon fixed the date after lawyers to the prosecution and that of the defence adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the bail plea.

    Justice Olajuwon also dismissed the application filed by Chime Ezebalike and Prince Lukman Oladele, who are 1st and 2nd defendants, challenging the competence of the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police to institute a terrorism charge against them.

    The judge struck out an application filed by Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, seeking an order to strike out the charge against him and others for want of jurisdiction.

    She also struck out the CoS’ prayer for an order striking out his name anywhere it might have appeared in the charge sheet marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024.

    Olajuwon, in a short ruling, held that Ehie, having not been joined as a defendant in the charge lacked the legal right to make such plea.

    Ehie, who was recently appointed as CoS after he resigned as member and factional speaker of the assembly, was alleged to be among the suspects charged by the I-G for burning down the Rivers House of Assembly.

    The five suspected arsonists of the Rivers assembly were, on Jan. 25, arraigned before Justice Olajuwon on seven-count charge bordering on  alleged terrorism, among others.

    Ehie, whose name was mentioned in the charge, was alleged to be at large with five other suspects.

    The five suspected arsonists (defendants) arraigned are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge  and were ordered to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.

    NAN