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Tag: Hope Uzodinma

  • Court adjourns suit seeking Uzodinma’s sack

    Court adjourns suit seeking Uzodinma’s sack

    The Federal High Court Abuja, has adjourned until July 20, a suit filed by Reform and Advancement Party (RAP) and its 2019 governorship candidate, Mr Okere Kingdom asking the court to restrain Gov. Hope Uzodinma from acting as Imo governor.

    When the matter was called on Wednesday, Kingdom told the court that he filed an application praying the court to abridge the time within which the defendants would file their responses.

    Under the rule of law, the defendants have 30 days to respond but the plaintiff told the court that he made the application for the court to abridge the time due to the urgency of the matter.

    Kingdom, who is also a lawyer, maintained that the matter was of constitutional importance because Uzodinma was occupying the seat of Imo governor illegally, having not participated in the 2019 election as a candidate of any political party.

    All the defendants objected to the application on the grounds that they needed the time given by the constitution to respond.

    Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr Alhassan Umar, SAN, told the court that in line with the principles of fair hearing, the defendants needed to take sufficient time as allocated by the law to respond.

    He argued that the plaintiff could not take the required time to file his processes only to ask the court to abridge the time for the respondents.

    The judge, Justice Okon Abang adjourned the matter until July 20 to hear the application.

    The judge also directed that hearing notices should be served on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the party was not represented in court.

    RAP and its 2019 governorship candidate, Mr Okere Kingdom approached the court seeking judicial interpretation on whether the All Progressives congress (APC) indeed sponsored Gov. Uzodinma in the 2019 Imo governorship election.

    Kingdom said that the suit was predicated on the judgment of the Supreme Court which affirmed Uche Nwosu as the duly nominated 2019 Imo governorship candidate of the APC.

    He said that one of the issues he wanted the court to determine was whether Uzodinma lawfully participated and was sponsored by the APC to contest the 2019 Imo governorship election in accordance with Section 177 (c) of the 1999 Constitution.

    “This is having regard to the tenor, clear and unambiguous legal implications/consequences of the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in appeal no: SC/1384/2019 which upheld the decision of both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court and affirmed Uche Nwosu as the authentic and duly elected/nominated 2019 Imo State governorship candidate of the APC.

  • Imo Speaker, deputy move into official quarters one year after living in hotels

    Imo Speaker, deputy move into official quarters one year after living in hotels

    The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Collins Chiji and his Deputy are now set to move into their official quarters after one year of patronising various hotels in the state.

    The move, according to the Commissioner for information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba is based on a recent intervention from Governor Hope Uzodinma.

    Emelumba who disclosed this in Owerri in a chat with some journalists said the development further underscores the determination of the state government to restore the dignity of government and governance which was completely eroded in the past.

    According to the commissioner, the situation in the past was such that serious government business was conducted either in a bush bar, a guest house or a hotel which made the whole process of governance look unserious.

    “The government of Sen. Hope Uzodimma believes in dignity of government and governance. A situation where the speaker and his deputy were living in hotels was unacceptable to him.

    This is why he has made it possible for the official residences of the leaders of the legislative arm to be renovated. In a few weeks they will move in.”

    Emelumba said that with the development all the heads of the different arms of government would have settled in their official quarters thereby restoring the lost glory and dignity of governance.

  • Uzodinma releases 36 prisoners in Imo

    Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo has released 36 prisoners as part of efforts to decongest the prison following the threat of COVID-19 pandemic.

    The governor also directed the Acting Chief Judge of the State, Mrs Ijeoma Aguguo, to immediately commence accelerated trial and release of inmates who are on awaiting trial on minor charges or allegations.

    A statement in Owerri on Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Declan Emelumba, said the government also directed that the prison trials must observe all COVID- 19 safety measures, including wearing of face masks and social distancing.

    The governor directed that prisoners affected in the release are those serving three years with less than six months to go.

    Others are convicts who have spent up to 25 per cent of their prison terms and minor offenders with thee months to six months imprisonment.

    The governor advised the released prisoners to reciprocate government’s gesture by not returning to crime.

  • Uzodinma to rename Imo state University after Abba Kyari

    Uzodinma to rename Imo state University after Abba Kyari

    Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has hinted that plans are in place to rename the state-owned Imo State University to Mallam Abba Kyari University.

    The Governor made this call when the management staff of the university led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adaobi Obasi paid him a visit at the Executive Chambers of the Imo State Government House.

    The Governor went on to say that Mallam Abba Kyari played a pivotal role in the liberation of Imo State and no gesture is too big for a man who died as a patriot.

    The Governor also said that consultations are underway with relevant stakeholders both in the education sector and in the State to critically look at the situation and take a decision.

    The Governor urged the management staff of IMSU to live up to expectation, while pointing out that his Administration is very committed to quality education in the State and that Imo State University as the epicenter can not be left behind.

    The University management through the VC commended the Governor for a job well done so far. She also called on all and sundry to support His Excellency to succeed.

  • COVID 19: Uzodinma orders total lockdown of Imo

    Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma has ordered complete lockdown of the state as part of measures to prevent the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease from entering the state.

    Uzodinma gave the order in a state broadcast on Saturday in Owerri.

    He said the move was in line with his commitment to protect the loves of the people of the state.

    The governor ordered that all markets be closed indefinitely and also prohibited all forms of marriage ceremonies.

    He also announced the ban on burial and funeral ceremonies and declared that all forms of religious worships in churches and mosques, including crusades and open evangelism were prohibited.

    Uzodimma further directed that road blocks be mounted at all land borders into the state to ensure those coming in would be screened and given a clean bill of health by officials attached to the check points, before allowed entry.

    He also directed all civil and public servants in the state, except those on approved essential duties, to stop work immediately.

    He said a combined team of military, police and other security agencies would be deployed to the streets to ensure strict compliance with the directives.

    The governor, however, noted that though the new measures might cause some inconveniences or hardship to the people, they were inevitable to assure success in the fight against COVID-19.

    The governor assured the people that the state was ready for any emergency as according to him, “a team of specialist doctors are now on ground and well equipped to handle any emergency just in case the virus finds its way into the state.”

    Further measures announced by the governor to contain the virus included, training of health educators to go to rural communities to educate them as well as the distribution of hand sanitisers to all the communities in the state.

    Uzodimma stated that these measures would be reviewed on weekly basis and if it became necessary to relax them or take more measures, the government would act accordingly.

    The governor who assured that his administration would be at its best toward surveillance, prevention and control, called for vigilance and strict adherence to safety norms.

    “I wish to reiterate my earlier advise that the best safety measures against the disease are social distancing, regular washing of hands with soap, sanitising our hands regularly as well as periodic check of body temperature to be sure that it is not above 38 degrees Celsius.” he said.

    While acknowledging that the number of those infected by the disease in the country is on the increase, Uzodimma said it had become expedient for government to take further measures to ensure that Imo was safe from the Coronavirus pandemic.

  • Uzodinma escapes death, as angry youths attack Governor’s convoy

    Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma was on Sunday attacked by some angry youths in Mmahu in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Governor’s bulletproof SUV was pelted with bottles by the angry youths, who were shouting “Onye Oshi Vote, Onye Oshi Vote”.

    Unrest has continued to trail the Supreme Court judgement on the State governorship election.

    The youths of Mmahu community who upon sighting the Governor’s convoy started shouting “Onye Oshi Vote, Onye Oshi Vote,” started throwing bottles and weapons on the bullet proof SUV of the Governor.

    Uzodinma was however not allowed to come down from the car as security operatives whisked him away immediately.

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court adjourns hearing on Imo election immediately after resumption

    The Supreme Court, again, on Monday adjourned till Tuesday the hearing of the application seeking the review of its judgment which upturned the outcome of the last governorship election in Imo State.

    The Peoples Democratic Party’s Emeka Ihedioha, is by his application filed on February 5, 2020, seeking the review of the apex court’s February 13, 2020 judgment which removed him from office after about seven months of being inaugurated as the Imo State governor.

    The apex court, in the disputed verdict which Ihedioha alleged was obtained by fraud, installed the All Progressives Congress’ Hope Uzodinma, as Ihedioha’s replacement.

    The judgment review application was on February 18 adjourned till Monday for hearing.

    But a seven-man panel of the court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, however, further adjourned the application till Tuesday, following a request by Ihedioha’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).

    Agabi said, “The matter was adjourned till today for hearing. But incidentally, we were served a process by the respondents in court this morning, which we must look at in order to respond.

    “If it is convenient to you my lords, permit us to come back tomorrow (Tuesday) so that we can look at the issues that may arise.”

    Responding, Uzodinma’s lawyer, Damien Dodo (SAN), said applicants were served Monday morning because they only filed and served their papers last Friday.

    Dodo said save Agabi’s request, he was ready to proceed.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission’s lawyer, Taminu Inuwa (SAN), too said he was ready to proceed with the hearing.

    But the panel decided to adjourn the hearing till Tuesday.

  • WATCH YOUR BACK: UZODIMMA WARN IGBO LEADERS ON PDP PROTESTS

    Igbo leaders in PDP have been warned to watch their backs while indulging in the PDP instigated mindless protests against the supreme court of the land or they will soon realise too late that they have again made themselves available as willing sacrificial lambs of the country

    The warning came on Sunday by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state through a statement he personally issued in owerri

    The governor said he had observed with troubling curiosity that in all the PDP protests staged in Abuja against the supreme court only igbo leaders were in the forefront, with no leader from other parts of the country among them

    According to the governor although the PDP is pretending that the supreme court judgement on the Imo governorship election petition was the main reason for the protests the truth is that there is more to it. He insisted that they also used the process to cast aspersions on the federal government thereby publicly dragging the integrity of major institutions of government to the mud

    He accused those leading the protests of harbouring a hidden agenda because according to him ,they know that the Emeka Ihedioha never won the governorship election so they know that the Imo governorship election petition is dead and buried

    Uzodimma further noted that the real aim of the protests was to publicly descerate both the supreme court and the federal government, with the ultimate objective of toppling the government

    ” The protests is a script; a veiled version of Revolution Now agenda, to topple the federal government and it is unfortunate that Igbo Leaders are wittingly and unwittingly lending themselves to the actualisation of this perfidious agenda, thereby making themselves willing sacrificial lambs and also endangering the lives of innocent Igbos all over the country

    ” I think if these igbo leaders should do a sober soul search , they will realise that the people from the North west who remained calm and law abiding when the supreme court sacked all the elected officials,from governor to National and State assemblies of APC and gave same to PDP, were neither cowards nor fools but patriotic Nigerians who respect the laws and institutions of the land.

    These Igbo leaders should try and look beyond their noses and maybe they will see that they are being set up as intemperate ,volatile, lawless group of people who can be used to rock the boat because they can be goaded into hasty actions and will not play by the rules of civility and democracy. If they look carefully they will also see that it was not by accident that no prominent leader from any other part of the country was marked present at those protests ” the governor stated

    He said it was a shame and highly regrettable that it is Igbo leaders who will be remembered for the very unpatriotic act of openly inviting foreign powers to interfere in the internal affairs of the country

    According to the governor it is an open secret that the protests are hugely funded from somewhere to discredit the entire electoral process, not because of the Imo judgement but because the PDP has a grouse to settle with the entire 2019 elections and will do everything to bring down the entire federal government apparatus,emphasising that it was sad that Igbo leaders were being used to to carry out such a heinous act

    He said if Igbos decide to exit themselves from a family bus with enough seats to accommodate every family member, they should have themselves to blame when they find u themselves on the fringes of the family business.

  • Imo: Okorocha is finished politically, says Uzodinma

    Imo: Okorocha is finished politically, says Uzodinma

    Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State Senator Hope Uzodinma has pronounced Governor Rochas Okorocha dead politically.

    He said the governor should apologise to Imo indigenes for his misrule rather than looking for scapegoats for his failure.In a statement in Abuja, Uzodinma said Okorocha should hide his face in shame rather than blaming him and the National leadership of the party over his failed plot to install his son in-law as governor of Imo State.

    The lawmaker, who was reacting to the comment by Okorocha that the APC failed to win the Imo governorship election due to the candidacy of Uzodinma, reminded the governor that even as “a sitting governor he failed to win a senatorial election and got a Returning Officer to announce him winner under duress.

    “I thought by now Okorocha should be hiding his face in shame after he lost his bid to install his son in-law and win his senatorial election.

    “Despite all the billions he spent to stop me and the APC in the state from the results from the polling units I won the election and we will prove it.

    “But Okorocha has lost his deposit and he is finished politically. He is an expert in running people down but God has punished him today.

    “This same man worked against the APC and he has the gut to speak about others. I challenge Okorocha for a walk in the streets of Owerri if Imo people will not stone him.

    “Thank God all his conspiracy against us has ended and he has buried himself politically.“I expect by now he should be apologising to the people of Imo State for the crime against God and humanity he committed.“I will reclaim my mandate which Okorocha and Ihedioha stole last weekend and then i will have something to tell Okorocha,” he said.

  • 2019: Gbemi Saraki, Teslim Folarin, Hope Uzodinma, others, join APC

    Thirty-four State Chairmen of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They include incumbent senator Hope Uzodinma, and former senators Gbemisola Saraki and Teslim Folarin.

    The defectors were led to the APC National Secretariat, Abuja by Cairo Ojougboh where they were received by the National Chairman of APC, John Odigie-Oyegun.

    Mr. Ojougboh, who was the Deputy National Chairman of the Sheriff faction of the PDP, said the decision of the defectors to join the APC had been on for seven months.

    Mr. Odigie-Oyegun, who received the defectors in company of governors of Kaduna, Kano and Kogi states and the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) Boss Mustapha, described the development as the first in the history of the party.

    “This is the first time this magnitude of event is happening since the amalgamation of the party and since the APC came into being.

    ´´It is the first time we are receiving a total party with all the structures all over the nation fusing into the APC.

    ´´We have three of our Governors from three of our most potent states and the SGF to be here and to receive you all, because seeing is believing,’’ he said.

    Mr. Odigie-Oyegun added that the entrance of the defectors to the APC proved that PDP was a dying party, adding that people do not join a losing party.

    He advised the defectors to ensure they formally register as members of the party at the ward level, assuring that they would be accorded same privileges as old members.

    ´´Fortunately, you are men and women of quality, attainment and achievement, and so it will be easy for you to fit into your proper place and role in APC,” Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said.

    John Odigie-Oyegun, APC Chairman

    He, however, gave the defectors the party´s Constitution to study and for them to be abreast with it.

    Mr. Uzodinma, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, thanked the APC leadership for accepting them into the party.

    He represents Orlu West Constituency of Imo in the Senate.

    “We have seen the goings on in our country.

    ‘’We think that as a country, it would take the very good sense of judgment and the participation of all of us to solve the problems of our people and develop our country.

    “We are here, officially, to let everyone know that we are now collapsing into APC.

    ‘’We ask for only one thing, the enabling environment and equal participation which you had graciously approved,” Mr. Uzodinma said.

    He added that the coming of the defectors was deliberate, saying that it was to become part of the population of the APC and part of governance of the country.

    He also said their entrance into APC would change the narrative for the better and in the interest of their people.

    Governor Ganduje of Kano state said the defection was historic because the most accepted faction of the PDP joined APC.

    “It is our luck that we are taking the better part of PDP,” he said, adding the with the new entrance, APC was sure of victory in the 2019 general elections.

    He assured that being politicians of repute, the new members were in a familiar terrain.