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Tag: Sack

  • MC Oluomo reacts to NURTW sack, says laughable

    MC Oluomo reacts to NURTW sack, says laughable

    Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo has reacted to his sack as chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos council, and the dissolution of the council’s executive by the National Administrative Council (NAC).

    Akinsanya said the NAC’s action was laughable as all the union members in the state have pulled out of the national body.

    The dissolution statement was jointly signed by NURTW National President, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, and General Secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Ya’u.

    The duo announced the Lagos State Council Secretary, Seyi Bankole, as the new head of NURTW in Lagos.

    MC Olu Omo reiterated that his earlier suspension was unconstitutional.

    According to him, the dissolution has no effect because the activity of the state council has been suspended by the Lagos State government.

    He wondered why the NURTW President is acting outside the constitution and hell-bent on destroying the union activities in Lagos just as he did in some states in the Southwest.

    “That is part of the maladministration of the President that we talked about in our former briefings; the dissolution doesn’t make any sense. However, people must know that we do not have any problem with the national body but the President,” he said.

    Akinsanya said the union members are waiting for the announcement of the Lagos State government on the appointment of park managers in the state.

    “We’ll be waiting to see how the person appointed to run the affairs of the union will act. The union has already been suspended. Is the national body saying they are more powerful than the state government? Announcing the sack of people already pulled out of the national body is a joke and laughable,” he said.

    Akinsanya urged members of the union in the state to remain calm.

  • Why Gov. Obaseki sacked 513 Edo sports council staff

    Why Gov. Obaseki sacked 513 Edo sports council staff

    Governor of Edo state Godwin Obaseki, has sacked 513 staff of the defunct state sports council as part of a transition plan for the setting up of the Edo State Sports Commission, the state government has explained.

    In a memo titled: “Transition Plan for Staff of Edo State Sports Council to Edo State Sports Commission,” Obaseki said the sack which took effect from March 21 affected junior, senior and management categories of workers who do not possess the competence to remain in the employment of the state.

    “We have carefully reviewed the organisation structure for the new Sports Commission and assessed the existing staff of the defunct Council against the required competences required to operate in the Commission.

    “Following the assessment for the establishment of the Edo State Sports Commission, we have completed the assessment of staff of the defunct Sports Council, who possess the requisite skills sets to transit to the new Sports Commission,” the statement said in part.

    It added that the affected sacked staff would be immediately paid their one month in lieu of notice, while their pension payment would commence in April 2022.

    However, the affected workers staged a protest on Wednesday, describing the move by the state government as sudden as sudden and inconsiderate, adding that some of them have been asked to reapply as casual workers.

    One of the protesters, and former Paralympian Patience Igbiti, who had been a permanent staff of the Edo state sports council for over 20 years said she rejected job offers abroad to groom young talents in the state and now feels betrayed by the government.

    She said: “I have been here for over 20 years as a permanent staff and all of a sudden you disengage me. I have rejected jobs abroad to train people for my state, where do you now want me to start from?”

    A visually-impaired athlete Friday Aibangbe, who was also sacked noted: “I believe that the Governor did not consider us at all. We worked for him and voted for him and fought for him, now he has disappointed us. Do I go and start begging money? They should have human face. It is very sad; it is very painful.”

    The protesters were later addressed by the newly appointed Commission Chairman Yusuf Ali, who promised to take their complaint to the government.

    “I wouldn’t have wanted this to be how we met for the first time. I am a former athlete myself and you know me very well. I have always fought for the welfare of athletes; that is why I am here to see how we can solve this,” Ali said.

  • Defection: We are not aware of court judgment sacking us – C’River Speaker

    Defection: We are not aware of court judgment sacking us – C’River Speaker

    The Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, Mr Eteng Jonah-Williams, has said that he is not aware of any court judgment sacking him or any member of the house.

    Jonah-Williams disclosed this in an interview with NAN in Calabar on Monday.

    He said the affected members had not been served with any court order.

    “As far as I am concerned, I am not aware of any court judgment sacking me or any member because we have not been served with any court order as we speak,” he said.

    Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the seats of 20 lawmakers from Cross River vacant over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo dismissed the defence argument that PDP (plaintiff) had no locus standi to institute the case.

    Meanwhile, Mr Francis Ovat (PDP), representing Obubra 2 State Constituency, has hailed the judgment as sound.

    “If you are elected into a political party and you hold the people’s mandate, it is wrong for you to jump from one party to the other.

    “Elected officials should learn to stay in one party.

    “If there is any rancour or crisis in their party, they should stay in the party and resolve it.

    “Jumping from one party to the other kills democracy.

    “The judgment is a good one and it came right on time,” Ovat said.

  • Defection sack: Umahi withdraws stay of execution motion

    Defection sack: Umahi withdraws stay of execution motion

    Sacked Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi, on Wednesday, approached a Federal High Court (FHC). Abuja, to withdraw a stay of execution motion he filed due to a mistake in the application.

    Chukwuma Ma-Chukwu Ume, SAN, counsel to Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, told Justice Inyang Ekwo at the mention of the suit.

    When the case was called, Ume informed the court that he had withdrawn the earlier motion to replace it with a new one.

    He said the development was due to the fact that a mistake occurred in the earlier stay of execution motion, especially in the spelling of Umahi’s name.

    The senior lawyer said that though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) served them with their counter affidavit yesterday (Tuesday), they sought to replace their motion with another due to the spelling error.

    Counsel to the PDP, James Onoja, also informed the court of their intention to respond to the new motion on stay of execution filed by Umahi and Igwe.

    Other parties, in addition, said they were yet to respond to the applicants’ motion.

    Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 21 to enable the respondents to file a counter to the application for stay.

    Ekwo had, on March 8, in a judgment, ordered Umahi, his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, and 16 lawmakers to vacate their office and seats, following their defection from the PDP to All Progressives Congress (APC).

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

    However, reported that on March 10, Governor Umahi and others had sought an order of the FHC Abuja, staying the execution of its judgment directing them to vacate their offices over their defection to another political party.

    In a motion on notice filed by their counsel, Ume, 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 equally sought 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, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal dated and filed on March 9 by the appellants, among others.

  • 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.

  • Umahi: Other serving governors that defected will be sacked, says Shehu Sani

    Umahi: Other serving governors that defected will be sacked, says Shehu Sani

    A former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani has reacted to a court ruling which sacked the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi.

    Sani said the court ruling would also affect other serving governors who defected.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo of an Abuja Federal High Court had sacked Umahi as governor of Ebonyi State and his Deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe from office.

    The judge sacked Umahi and his Deputy over their unlawful defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He ruled that the governor and his Deputy’s defection was unlawful, unconstitutional, null, and void.

    The judge ordered them to vacate their offices immediately.

    Ekwo held that the vote that brought the governor and his Deputy into office belonged to the PDP and that they cannot hold onto the votes having elected to jettison the party that nominated them.

    Reacting, Sani, in a tweet, wrote: “The Court sacking of Ebonyi Governor will affect other serving Governors that defected.”

  • EPL: Marcelo Bielsa addresses Leeds squad after exit

    EPL: Marcelo Bielsa addresses Leeds squad after exit

    Marcelo Bielsa addressed the Leeds United squad this morning after Sunday’s sacking.

    The Daily Mail says the 66-year old gathered the squad together at around 9.15am to bid farewell after his sacking on Sunday.

    He wanted to talk to them as a group rather than on a more emotionally-charged individual basis.

    Despite strain telling on some relationships after a draining run of results, Bielsa is still viewed with huge respect within the dressing room for the work he has done and the coaching he has imbued in his players.

    He is due to head back to Argentina after saying his farewells and will be replaced by 48-year old American Jesse Marsch once his work permit is cleared.

    Bielsa departs after a poor run of form, with just one point gained from the last 18 on offer, and with the side in 16th, two points above the Premier League relegation zone and in serious danger of going down.

    His 140-match tenure marks him as the second-longest serving manager, behind Simon Grayson (169), since David O’Leary’s stint at the turn of the millennium.

    Moreover, his record of 74 wins, 24 draws and 42 losses leaves him with a win percentage of 52.86 – the second-highest in history among Leeds managers with more than five games – narrowly behind legendary figure Don Revie (53.24).

  • Lampard reveals Guardiola motivational message after Chelsea sack

    Lampard reveals Guardiola motivational message after Chelsea sack

    Everton manager Frank Lampard admits he received a motivational message from Pep Guardiola after his sacking by Chelsea.

    When Lampard was sacked by Chelsea in January 2021, Guardiola was one of the first people to get in touch to offer support.

    Manchester City’s manager left a voice note, complimenting him on the work he had done at Stamford Bridge and how it would guarantee him opportunities in the future.

    The pair had exchanged numbers a few years earlier – Lampard had been to watch City train – but didn’t have anything other than an amicable relationship, so the words that Guardiola left were not just unexpected, they were huge fillip for the 43-year-old.

    “I’ve a huge respect for Pep,” said Lampard.

    “I went up against him as a player, his teams were incredible; so to have that contact with him which, in all honesty, he instigated was a great thing. It gave me a real eye opener into what top managers and top people do.

    “I think Alex Ferguson is a great reference point. He not only was one of the greatest managers of all time but he also had a real sentiment and emotional factor which means he has a strong link and support to any other coach, manager and person trying to walk anywhere near his path.

    “The greats have that. They have real people skills. So when Pep contacted me or when we’ve had brief discussions on different matters, it is something I really appreciate. I look forward to seeing him in those terms.”

  • The reason why Man Utd sacked Solskjaer – Rangnick

    The reason why Man Utd sacked Solskjaer – Rangnick

    Manchester United interim manager, Ralf Rangnick admits Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked over concerns the team would fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.

    United have dropped 11 points from their last 24 and fallen to sixth in the Premier League, with West Ham still fourth while eighth-placed Tottenham and sixth-placed Arsenal each have two games in hand. Wolves have also entered the running and are now seventh following an impressive 2-0 win at Spurs.

    “It has always been a concern since Ole left the club,” Rangnick said of the possibility of United failing to qualify for the Champions League. “That was one of the reasons why he probably had to leave the club and of course, results like today’s don’t make things any easier.

    “Against Villa, Burnley and today we were one or 2-0 up and gave away two points. This can happen once but it shouldn’t happen three times and with those points the situation would be different but it’s not. This is what we have to face.

    “We have to realise the truth and obviously with results like today’s it doesn’t make it any easier to finish fourth at the end.”

  • Why Manchester United will sack Rangnick – Merson

    Why Manchester United will sack Rangnick – Merson

    Manchester United interim manager, Ralf Rangnick, would be sacked if the club does not finish in the Premier League top-four position this season.

    This was disclosed by Arsenal legend, Paul Merson.

    It would be recalled that Rangnick came under fire in recent weeks, with Man United putting in a number of underwhelming performances – including an FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford to Middlesbrough.

    One-hundred percent Rangnick won’t be in charge of Man Utd next season

    The German also watched as his team failed to beat Southampton in a Premier League tie on Saturday after playing a 1-1 draw.

    The result against Southampton means Man United is now in the 5th position on the Premier League table with 40 points from 24 matches.

    Merson said: “One-hundred percent Rangnick won’t be in charge of Man Utd next season. I have got as much chance of being in charge. I just don’t see it.

    “I read something that said they have improved. I don’t see that. I don’t see happiness there. I hear so much coming out of Man Utd, at the moment, which is just extraordinary. It never happened before and that is my worry.

    “I don’t see him being there and the way it’s going at the moment, if they don’t get in the top four, I would be shocked if he went upstairs. I know that was part of the deal, but I don’t think it is a good thing. I think this needs to be nipped in the bud sooner rather than later at Manchester United.

    “I would have had someone in as soon as possible. You pay £70m to £80m for football players and some of them don’t even play. Why would you not break the bank for managers if you need to get a manager out of a club? In my opinion, they are very important.”