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Tag: Imo

  • JUST IN: Tribunal dismisses Nwosu, Araraume, Uzodinma’s petitions, upholds Ihedioha’s election as Imo gov

    JUST IN: Tribunal dismisses Nwosu, Araraume, Uzodinma’s petitions, upholds Ihedioha’s election as Imo gov

    The Imo State Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the petition of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and its governorship candidate Senator Ifeanyi Araraume for lacking in merit.

    The tribunal in its sitting today, Saturday, September 21, 2019 also dismissed the petition of the candidate of the Action Alliance Party, Mr. Uche Nwosu, for incompetence.

    The Judges unanimously struck out the petition of the All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma for been based on hearsay evidence. Tribunal finds that the petitioners did not prove the unlawful exclusion of results as they are contending.

    Three petitions were filed by the governorship candidates of the Action Alliance (AA), All Progressives Congress (APC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), asking the tribunal to nullify the election of Mr Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on the ground that he was unlawfully declared as the governor of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    However, the three petitions have now been dismissed as lacking in merit and election of the PDP candidate, Emeka Ihedioha upheld by the 2019 Imo Governorship election petition tribunal.

  • GULF OF GUINEA: IMO, International Oil Players, Pledge Support for NIMASA

    GULF OF GUINEA: IMO, International Oil Players, Pledge Support for NIMASA

    … Nigeria Critical to Regional Stability – Kitack Lim

    … INTERTANKO, ICC, Chevron, Others Commend Agency

    The initiatives of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) aimed at ensuring security in the Gulf of Guinea have received a major boost from the international business community. Key players in the global oil and gas as well as shipping businesses praised the initiatives at a maritime security meeting in London chaired by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and pledged their support.

    Members of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) committed to a collaboration with the IMO in support of NIMASA’s efforts to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea.

    The agreement was reached at an IMO-sponsored Maritime Security and Facilitation (MSF) meeting, which had in attendance officials of the United Nations specialised maritime regulatory agency, led by the Secretary-General, Kitack Lim; the management of NIMASA led by the Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; representatives of OCIMF, INTERTANKO, ICS, INTERCARGO, Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), and President of Chevron Worldwide, Mr. Mark Ross.

    Lim, who chaired the meeting, called for stakeholders’ collaboration to overcome the challenges in the Gulf of Guinea. While acknowledging the efforts of NIMASA to tackle insecurity in the region, the IMO Secretary-General pledged the organisation’s support for Nigeria.

    He stated, “We at the IMO are very much interested. It’s gladdening to note that something is being done about the issue of security in the Gulf of Guinea. Something is happening much more than ever before. We want to cruise together. I think we can make a big difference with collaboration from all stakeholders.

    “The global maritime security conference in Abuja is also very important. It is a ground-breaking conference to chart a way forward for securing the Gulf of Guinea. IMO will actively participate.”

    Dakuku informed the meeting that the C4i Centre, which is already in operation, made use of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to identify Non-AIS complying vessels. It also uses COASTAL RADAR and External System Integration, including the Nigerian Navy’s Falcon Eye Intelligence and Lloyds List Intelligence, among others.

    He said, “The Nigerian government acknowledged the challenge of security in the region and decided to take more actions to curb criminal activities on our waters. The Deep Blue Project and the hosting of the global security conference are part of efforts to complement ongoing actions of the Nigerian Navy, which is the largest in that region. 17 interceptors for the Deep Blue Project will arrive Nigeria later this month. Some of the special mission aircraft will also arrive Nigeria in November, while the four unmanned aerial vessels will arrive Nigeria March 2020. Total deployment of all C4i projects will be by November 2020.”

    Dakuku stated that Nigerian laws do not allow private armed guards onboard vessels in the country’s territorial waters. He called for constant engagement on the Deep Blue Project, and more support for the ICC Yaounde to enhance information sharing capacity in the Gulf of Guinea.

    Stakeholders at the meeting acknowledged the attempts by the Nigerian government to combat maritime crimes and promised to back those efforts with more assets to fight piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. They also promised to support the hosting of the Global Maritime Security Conference (GMSC) in Abuja.

    The NIMASA Director-General said, “Over 80 countries have confirmed participation, 28 Navies across the globe have also confirmed participation, with 15 Chiefs of Naval Staff personally leading their delegations to the conference.

    “The side event to be hosted by the ICC will have different working groups and agreements at these sub cells will be presented at plenary during the event.”

    Mr. Sam Megwa of OCIMF, who had led a team to visit Nigeria this year, also acknowledged the steps by NIMASA and the Nigerian government to curb piracy and maritime crimes. He urged the Agency to put appropriate measures in place to ensure sustainability of the security projects.

    Megwa stated, “Our visit to Nigeria was quit inspiring. The most important thing is that Nigeria has acknowledged that there is a challenge and actions are being taken now. NIMASA was open to us as we saw all equipment for the C4i, among others.

    “The Agency is doing so much but emphasis must be placed on sustainability of the project through proper governance. All we want is improved security situation in the Gulf of Guinea.”

  • Laying the markers for a new Imo, By Steve Osuji

    Laying the markers for a new Imo, By Steve Osuji

    By Steve Osuji
    It may seem early in the day but the signs are good; very good indeed. It is such an exhilarating feeling to observe all the good behaviours and best practices one had written about and wished for in the last three decades unfold before one’s eyes.
    It is not only that it is happening in one’s lifetime, but the fact that one is a participant observer. Not a better feeling in a long time one must confess. Again, the natural reaction is to argue that it’s too early to call but then, it is said that morning tells the day. And as Igbo say, a good farmer can tell a ripened corn by sight. You need not pinch the sheaf to know it’s ready for harvest.
    The blitzkrieg of activities of last week finally left me with no doubt that Imo is on to a big deal this time.
    First, an extraordinary Executive Council (Exco) meeting which had in attendance, paramount monarchs of Imo; industry leaders and heads of all the banks in the state was convened.
    Purpose of this expanded (and extended) Exco is to intimate critical stakeholders about Executive Order 005. This implies that Imo State henceforth adopts the Single Treasury Account (TSA). Apart from the Federal Government, Kaduna is the only other State in Nigeria which has adopted a similitude of the TSA.
    Hitherto, Imo was akin to an economic and financial gangland where the fastest to draw the gun kills the other. There were over 250 bank accounts purportedly operated by the state government: every ministry, department, agency and even individuals opened multiple and parallel accounts on behalf of government.
    State revenue was a bazaar with a plethora of collection contractors. It was largely collect and keep; finders-keepers. While Government House, aka first family sat firmly on FAAC and lump-sum IGR takings, other denizens of the jungle scrambled over the remains of the feast. That was how come Imo State’s IGR record was a joke – about the least in the southeast. And Imo was supposedly an oil-producing state.
    In just a couple of weeks, the Dr. Abraham Nwankwo-led Imo State Financial Advisory Committee has its interim report ready. Dr. Nwankwo was Director-General of Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO) for about a decade. Prior to the DMO job, he had a stint as Senior Advisor in the World Bank. There couldn’t have been a better choice for the job.
    In just a couple of weeks again, the intractable Imo Pensions scheme has been unraveled as the Pensions Review Committee in conjunction with consultants presented an interim report.
    Verdict: the last proper payment of pension was in 2014; no accurate database of the pension system in Imo State; payment of pension became a racket in the last four years as the system was managed by various contractors. It was a huge payday for jobbers while retired workers lived in pain and penury.
    It has therefore been decided that Imo must urgently migrate to electronic database platforms for her pension scheme. This means that there shall be electronic capture of pensioners. This means that no more carrying of appointment and retirement letters, no more tedious and expensive verifications, no more long queues and delays in payment of pensioners, no more fraud in the pension scheme and the ability of the government to plan and project its pensions outlay over many years is most salutary.
    This is the new regime that will kick in for Imo pensioners this year. Imo pensioners are indeed in for a good time under Governor Emeka Ihedioha. Contributory pension will follow after the system has been revamped and benchmarked under current best practices around.
    The committee on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is hard at work. The State health Insurance Scheme to cover the entire 305 wards of Imo State is being aggressively pursued. It is a tacky issue but not an insurmountable problem. As the bureaucratic knots are being carefully untied, the governor let it be known that “We have the political will to wring change in this state.” It is always a reassuring charge to members; especially hi-impact members of his team who are burning for a rapid reform of the odious status quo.
    Debris of the mis-governance of the past eight years is being removed on all fronts. The taps in Owerri city had been dry for many years. This has necessitated urgent rehabilitation of the Otamiri Water Scheme. It had been dysfunctional and abandoned for years. Work has commenced and taps will run again in Owerri soon.
    TSA, pension scheme, National Health Insurance Scheme, Public Water Supply, a return to the UN system through the return of UNICEF: If you didn’t see the connection here, what about the return of the World Bank Group to Imo State after a long hiatus?
    The immediate past administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha was of course not up and doing in paying counterpart funds; in addition, its officials were alleged to have sought to compromise the Bank’s team which supposedly led to their retreat for about two years. It was nigh impossible dealing with the last government, they determined.
    Last week, a team from the World Bank/International Development Association led by Mr. Salisu Dahiru met with Governor Ihedioha in Government House Owerri. They were later to flag-off the Ezemazu-Urualla Gully Erosion control project in Ideato North. It is a project under the World Bank/NEWMAP programme on erosion and watershed management.
    Notwithstanding the shenanigans of past officials of government, the new government of Governor Ihedioha promptly paid up the counterpart fund of N500m required to kick in this N9.8b project, World Bank’s biggest in Nigeria. The leader of the WB team couldn’t hide his surprise: what they had chaffed over for about eight years has been resolved in about four weeks of a new government. It is a mark of leadership, a landmark achievement and it is unprecedented, he remarked.
    The markers are right and the signposts are pointing in the right direction. It’s about leadership and governance; it’s about the grundnorms and rule of law as a mantra for good governance.
    Consider these facts: no serious leader would govern a state without an Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. Though the cabinet is not emplaced, the governor sought leave of the State Assembly to appoint one. And he reached for the very best of Imo in Nnawuchi Ndukwe, (SAN). They don’t come much better.
    Again, you can’t begin to run a modern government without a bureau for procurement. Thus one of the first offices set up by the Ihedioha administration is the Bureau for Public Procurement and Price Intelligence (BPPPI). And only the best mind in the land had to run it. The lot fell on Dr. Pascal Egwim, an ex- Regional Logistics Manager for Shell in Africa and a lead Procurement Consultant for Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Procurement; to name just a few accomplishments.
    There is Prof. Chudi Uwazurike, a multi-disciplinary academician, administrator and politician heading Diaspora affairs.
    Engr. John Obinna Chukwu, retired Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers has been virtually dragged on board; a technocrat with deep experience in public works. He will lead the massive road projects to be embarked upon soon as the rains recede.
    The best hands and minds are consulted daily for the Imo Rebuild project. Kanu Nwankwo was tapped for stadium main bowl re-grassing; Olympian sprinter, Charity Opara co-opted to see to new tartan track project. Prof. Jude Njoku and company sorting the miasma that has been made of university education in Imo and another team lead by Hon. Charles Enwererm and Prof Peter Okorie wringing the change in Imo technical and vocational education.
    Things we thought could never be done are already happening. LGA elections have been set for December this year; State election commission has already been put on notice by the governor. We must not exceed the statutory period stipulated by law for interim conditions to last in LGAs, the governor warned ISIEC
    Imo is about to bask in the euphoria of reason and commonsense, we are about to say goodbye to the era of tomfoolery and bare-faced brigandage; the markers are being rigged in the right places for the rebuild of Imo.

  • Buhari’s aides occupying offices illegally – CUPP

    The Coalition of the United Political Parties on Thursday says it has filed a suit to challenge the continuous stay in office of some aides of President Muhammadu Buhari, who have refused to vacant office without fresh appointments.
    The spokesperson for CUPP, Mr Imo Ugochinyere, at a press briefing on Thursday said the coalition in the suit was seeking orders declaring the offices vacant, the aides as illegal occupants and impostors and that their continuous stay in office was in violation of the constitution.
    He said, “The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, is still in that office, Senator Ita Enang is still parading himself as Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate); Mr Abba Kyari is still parading himself as the Chief of Staff to the President; Mr Femi Adesina is still appearing on television programmes as Special Adviser to the President on Media, likewise Mr Garba Shehu, who is parading himself as a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.
    “These among other officials of the Presidency are still illegally occupying their former offices without any lawful authority as the President has not made any announcement to the nation that he has appointed or reappointed officers into those positions.
    “Section 151 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended clearly provides: Any appointment made pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be at the pleasure of the President and shall cease when the President cease to hold office.”
    Affirming that Buhari’s first term expired in the midnight of May 28 before he was sworn in again for a second term with fresh oath of office and a new mandate, Ugochinyere maintained that all political appointments made in his first term, except statutory ones, had ceased to exist.
    “These officers who are parading themselves as officers of the government without formal appointments have violated the Code of Conduct Act which demands that political office holders must declare their assets before commencement of service to the government (this violation our lawyers are already working on seeking order for prosecution of these officers for carrying out functions of government without declaring their assets).
    “The impunity with which this government has been known continues as long as the President, despite the clear provisions of the constitution, allows his aides to continue in office.
    “President Buhari’s inability to appoint personal/presidential aides or indeed any other appointments over one month after taking the oath of office is a sign the President is still not yet ready to govern and lacks understanding of the urgency needed to fix Nigeria. This was the same path that landed Nigeria in recession in 2015. How a President seems to want to do the same thing over again yet expects to receive a different result is worrying.”
    He counselled all affected aides to stay away from their former offices until and unless they were armed with fresh appointment letters or risk criminal prosecution and trial for violation of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
    He also called for refund of all salaries, wages and allowances they had received while “illegally occupying” the office to the national treasury without exceptions.
     

  • Imo: Tribunal grants AA’s request to withdraw Nwosu’s petition against Ihedioha’s election

    The Imo State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Owerri has granted the request of Action Alliance (AA) to withdraw from the petition filed by its governorship candidate in the 2019 election, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.

    The party had, in a letter dated May 27 and signed by its Legal Adviser, Anaukyaa Peter, requested its counsel, Okey Ehieze, to discontinue his appearance in the suit no: EPT/OW/GOV/IM/02/2019, in which AA is the second petitioner.

    Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Michael Adewara, Monday, said that the Tribunal has no option but to grant the request of the petitioner.

    The Tribunal, however, rejected the request of the respondents, Emeka Ihedioha and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to have the case struck off.

    But Nwosu in reaction said that he was not perturbed by the ruling.

    In a statement signed by the Director, Media and Publicity Ugwumba Uche Nwosu Campaign Organization, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, the AA guber candidate said that as disappointing as this decision was, he assured his supporters that there was absolutely no cause for alarm, as the ruling has in no way vitiated the credibility of the petition.

    Nwosu maintained that he was the undisputed winner of that election, and expressed optimism that the learned justices would serve justice by declaring him the winner of that election.

    He said, “We are not unaware of the jubilation going on in the camp of the PDP, and the suspicious interest they have shown in this matter. While we sympathize with Imolites over the possible squandering of our commonwealth to procure individuals and accessories, that may help them perpetuate their illegal reign, we encourage all Imolites of goodwill to remain steadfast and firm, as the best news for Imolites is yet ahead.

    We are also delighted to inform Imolites that attempts by the PDP and Chief Ihedioha to prevail on the tribunal to strike off our matter was resisted by the learned justices. With this development, His Excellency Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is still very much on course to retrieve his mandate from the thieving locusts,” he added.

  • Imo police bursts gun fabricating factory, recovers arms

    The Commissioner of Police in Imo, CP Rabiu Ladodo said the command had arrested one Eze Ajoku, a 63-year-old man in Agwa, Oguta LGA who specialized in fabricating guns.

    The CP who disclosed this on Wednesday, said the suspect was among the 22 other arrested, including a serving police Inspector, for various crimes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and illegal possession of fire arms.

    He listed items recovered from the fabricating factory to include one locally made pistol, one 9MM live ammunition, two double barrel pipes and eight single barrelled pipes.

    The CP said other exhibits were nine riffle engine stock, two live ammunition and expended cartridges, one drilling machine, nine saw blades among others.

    Ladodo further disclosed that a serving Police Inspector, Salvation Kpun attached to OPS department in Imo was arrested at Works Layout Owerri in connection with armed robbery.

    He added that a fleeing member of his gang, also a serving soldier, was being trailed by the police.

    The CP warned that there would be no hiding place for criminals in the state, adding that following the recently launched Operation “Puff Adder” the command was ever ready to combat crime in Imo.

  • BREAKING: Six Imo lawmakers defect to PDP

    BREAKING: Six Imo lawmakers defect to PDP

    Six lawmakers at the Imo State House of Assembly on Monday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party.

    The lawmakers announced their defections in a letter they addressed to the Speaker and read by the clerk of the House during plenary.

    Five of the lawmakers until their defection on Monday were members of the Action Alliance and the sixth person was a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

    The AA lawmakers who defected to the PDP were Mike Iheanaetu (Aboh Mbaise), Victor Onyewuchi (Owerri West), Ken Agbim (Ahiazu Mbaise) Lloyd Chukwuemeka (Owerri North) and Bruno Ukoha (Ezinihittte Mbaise)

    Chiji Collins (Isiala Mbano) defected from APGA to PDP.

    It was gathered that the defection of Collins was to enable him to emerge the next Speaker of the Assembly.

  • Certificate of return: I’ve forgiven Ibeabuchi – Okorocha

    Certificate of return: I’ve forgiven Ibeabuchi – Okorocha

    Immediate past Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, says he has forgiven Prof. Innocent Ibeabuchi, the returning officer for the Imo West senatorial election, in the 2019 general elections.

    Okorocha said this in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, and made available to newsmen in Owerri, on Friday.

    The statement came shortly after Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to isuue Okorocha the Certificate of Return as Senator-Elect for Imo-West

    Okorocha said that he had forgiven Ibeabuchi, who had alleged that he declared him winner under duress.

    He thanked the court for affirming his victory, describing Justice Abang as one of the exemplary ambassadors of the judiciary in Nigeria.

    The former governor dedicated his victory to the people of Imo West Senatorial district and Imo state in general, for their unflinching support and steadfastness.

    He said that he would continue to play politics devoid of rancour, malice and bitterness.

    Abang had ruled that the INEC had no right under any known law in the country to withhold the certificate of return of a candidate who had been announced and returned as winner of an election by the returning officer.

    The Judge had also ordered the INEC to immediately issue a certificate of return to Okorocha, as winner of the said election.

  • Ihedioha sets up committee to review Imo laws

    Ihedioha sets up committee to review Imo laws

    Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha has begun the process of reviewing all laws made by the House of Assembly.

    The governor, who has set up a committee to review the laws, said the review is to strengthen the laws and make them in tandem with the expectations and desires of the people.

    Ihedioha, who spoke yesterday at a retreat for members-elect of the House of Assembly in Oguta, said the committee, which will be headed by the Chief Judge, Justice Pascal Nnadi, will harmonise all laws enacted by the House of Assembly to give the state a new beginning.

    He urged the members-elect to be abreast of their responsibilities, stressing that he does not intend to run a propaganda government, but a government based on rule of law and due process.

    “As a government, we will take a radical departure from the past. I will not run a government of propaganda, but one anchored on due process and rule, and so you must be ready to do your work. I will fire you with executive bills and we must adhere strictly to the budgetary process.”

  • BREAKING: Imo chairmen, councillors barricade Assembly

    BREAKING: Imo chairmen, councillors barricade Assembly

    Elected Council Chairmen and Councillors in Imo State on Monday, stormed the Imo State House of Assembly, barricading the entrance to protest reported plan by the Lawmakers to terminate their tenure.

    The aggrieved Chairmen and their supporters arrived the Assembly complex in a large crowd of supporters as early as 9am but were prevented from gaining entrance into the premises by a detachment of Policemen deployed to the House of Assembly to forestall possible breakdown of law and Order.

    Speaking to newsmen, the leader of Okigwe legislative council, Godwin Nwankwo, said that they had inkling that the lawmakers wanted to carry out the action at a plenary scheduled for Monday.

    Nwankwo who is also the chairman of Association of elected councillors in Imo state, said that their intention was to be part of the plenary and observe the proceedings.

    He said, “We heard rumours that the lawmakers want to repudiate the laws they made. They want to appropriate and reprobate. This is a law that they made that local governments are to serve for three years. We are lawmakers and not lawbreakers. The way they are elected is the way we are elected. All elections are the same under the constitution. They have no power to dissolve us.

    The Speaker of the assembly, Chinedu Offor, who neither confirmed nor denied it, asked how the Chairmen got to know about the intention of the House when they were not spirits.

    He asked our correspondent to wait for further clarification.

    Offor said, “How did they know what we want to do? Are they spirits?

    Asked if the lawmakers have the intention of sacking the chairmen and councillors, Offor said, “Wait until we finish.”

    As at the time of writing, the lawmakers are said to be having an executive session in preparation to going into plenary.