TheNewsGuru

Tag: Suspension

  • Court upholds Sowore, Fabiyi’s suspension as AAC Chairman, Deputy

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the suspension of Omoyele Sowore and Malcom Fabiyi as the National Chairman and Deputy National Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC).
    In a judgment Friday, Justice Inyang Ekwo equally upheld the appointment of Dr. Leonard Nzewa as the party’s acting National Chairman.
    Justice Ekwo granted all the reliefs sought in the suit filed by Nzewa, among which was for the court to affirm the decision of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend Sowore and Fabiyi for six months at its meeting held on March 27, 2019.
    Sowore, who is the publisher of online news platform, Saharareporters, was the party’s presidential candidate in the February 23, 2019 election.
    The party’s NEC suspended him, Fabiyi and some others for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities.
    Justice Ekwo dismissed the objection filed by Sowore and Fabiyi against the suit on the grounds that they failed to personally depose to the counter-affidavit filed against the suit.
    The judge held that the deposition made on their behalf by Dr. John Adeoye would not be considered because Adeoye was not a party to the suit.
    He noted that it was an elementary principle of law that it was only a party to a case that could depose to an affidavit evidence in defence of his or her case.
    Justice Ekwo said the reasons given by Sowore and Fabiyi for being unable to depose to the affidavit,was untenable.
    On Adeoye’s deposition to the effect that Sowore and Fabiyi were unable to depose to the counter-affidavit personally because they were outside the country when the suit was filed, he said such an excuse did not portray them to be serious in defending the case.
    The judge noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to file any defence in the case.
    The judge ruled: “It is my opinion that Dr. John Adeoye is not a party in this case and cannot give evidence. I find that the evidence of Dr. John Adeoye goes to nought.
    “Anybody who does not take a suit instituted against him seriously must prepare to bear the brunt of his carelessness.
    “I find that the evidence of the plaintiff has not been challenged or controverted. I thereby ascribe probative value to it.
    “On the whole, the case ought to succeed, and I so hold.”

  • All you need to know as bickering over Reps Minority Leadership continues

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    The struggle for the position of Minority Leader of the House of Representatives is not yet over as the suspension of seven principal actors in the saga by the National Working Committee of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP on Thursday has added a new dimension to the crisis.
    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan on Friday had announced the suspension of the House Minority Leader Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu (Anambra, PDP), Hon. Toby Okechukwu (Enugu, PDP), Hon. Gideon Gwani (Kaduna, PDP), Hon.Oluwole Oke (Osun, PDP), Hon.Anayo Edwin( Ebonyi, PDP) and Hon. Adekoya Adel Majid (Ogun, PDP).
    He had earlier summoned them to appear before the PDP NWC saying that the summon is in line with section 10 of the party’s constitution.
    On Tuesday, the plenary session of the House became rowdy as choice of lawmakers to fill the positions of minority leadership generated altercations amidst the 9th Assembly lawmakers.
    The party having the highest number of minority representatives the Peoples Democratic Party PDP were said to have submitted a list to the speaker to choose a Minority Leader without considering the other elected members of other minority parties elected into the House and it resulted in a chaos.
    As the crisis festered, the Speaker Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila made efforts to douse the tension created by his choice of Hon. Elumelu against the list submitted by the PDP Caucus and members of minority parties in the House.
    To this effect, he thereafter inaugurated members of some Ad-hoc Committee chosen from all the parties that won election into the House to ensure that peace is restored and the crisis resolved amicably.
    He also announced the constitution of members of body of principal officers of the House who mostly were chosen from the ruling All Progressives Congress APC.
    He appointed Hon. Hassan Ado Doguwa, Hon. Tahir Monguno, Hon.Ohiozoje Akpaterson and Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha as House Leader and Chief Whip, Deputy Leader and deputy Whip respectively.
    Moreover, the newly constituted House Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs led by Hon. Kadijat Ibrahim held several news conferences saying that the House is not in crisis.
    However, the announcement of the suspension of of the lawmakers by the PDP including the new Minority Leader Hon. Elumelu has added a new twist to the crisis.
    Interestingly, the three PDP contenders to the minority leadership position Hon. Kingsley Chinda (Rivers), Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (Delta) and Hon. Chukwuka Onyema (Anambra) are third term members of the House.
    While Elumelu and Onyema were elected into the House for their first term in 2007 and they didn’t win re-election in 2015, Hon. Chinda was first elected in 2011 and has been consistently re-elected therein.
    Nonetheless, the latest suspension of five lawmakers by the PDP the main opposition party has thrown some spanners into the works of the lawmakers and has indeed ignited a fresh dimension to the crisis.
    Elumelu in his reaction to the suspension said that the PDP did not give him and hs suspended lawmaker colleagues the opportunity of fair hearing
    He said that the invitation sent to them by the PDP NWC to appear before it only got to him a few hours before the suspension as he had travelled to Delta State after plenary on Thursday.
    As it is, the new Minority Leader cannot function effectively as he has lost the support base of his party the PDP whose membership is the highest in the number of opposition legislators.
    He cannot truely be called a Minority Leader in the true sense of the word since he does not enjoy the support of other members of minority parties in the House.
    He won’t be able to summon any caucus meeting of the PDP members nor even address a gathering of members of the minority parties in the House.
    It will not be unexpected if members of these other parties decide to team up with one of the contenders of the minority leadership who lost out in the process to truncate passage of legislation from this officer.
    Already some of the lawmakers have been reacting to the leadership crisis at the lower chamber of the legislature expressing their resolve to slug it out with anyone that dares to change the status quo.
    One of them, Hon.Ossai N.Ossai (Delta, PDP) has vowed to resist any attempt to change the current state of affairs as it concerns the minority leadership.
    The lawmaker in an interview with journalists said that the National Assembly can only elect those who are ready and willing to protect the nation’s interest into leadership position.
    Other groups have also been reacting to the crisis.
    One of the groups Wike Continuity Movement in a statement said that the announcement of Hon Ndudi Elumelu as PDP Minority Leader against the initial nomination of Hon O K Chinda by the PDP leadership in the house was an insult to democracy.
    It described it as a temporary setback which can never work and already dead on arrival.
    It said;”Darkness can never overcome light. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
    It added that except the speaker of the house does not want peace. If the senate can approve the PDP list, why cant the House of Representatives do same.
    This act goes a long way to show that someone was trying to sabotage the will of the PDP Members in the House to satisfy those that betrayed PDP during the elections of the House of Reps Leadership.
    Although the devil can prepare a war he can not finish, but at last God will always take glory.
    We urge the National Working Committee of PDP not to take this lightly, as a stitch in time saves nine.
    PDP can not be a slave to the ruling party”.
    Some other lawmakers have also been reacting to the development in like manner.
    One of the lawmakers Hon. Luke Abejide representing Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State said that due process was not followed as minority leadership position isn’t just for a particular party but other political parties should be considered.
    He added that the choice of who becomes the leader of the minority parties in the House should be the collective decision of all of these parties.
    Moreover, members of the minority parties in the House have addressed a press conference decscribing the suspension of the 7 PDP lawmaker by the party as aberration.
    While reaffirming their support for the Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila they added that not only the 7 lawmakers but other minority party members ought to have been suspended by the leaders of these minor parties as they chose the foremost ranking member as their leader.
    And so, now that the PDP has suspended the seven lawmakers that were seen as the principal instigators of the crisis in the House, the stage is now set for a guerrilla warfare in the green chamber of the apex legislature.
    Glaringly, this present crisis all boils down to the age-long struggle for power and who gets what when and how in terms of position will continue to affect the successes and otherwise of this legislative institution- the 9th House of Representatives of Nigeria.
  • NSE lifts suspension on trading in Conoil shares

    NSE lifts suspension on trading in Conoil shares

    The embargo earlier placed in the trading in the shares of Conoil Plc, an energy firm on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), has been removed.
    On Tuesday, the NSE announced the suspension of the company from its trading platform alongside 10 others as a result of their failure to release their financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the first quarter of 2019.
    Nearly 48 hours after the suspension, Conoil released the results and declared the payment of N2 to its shareholders for last fiscal year.
    In a notice to on Friday, 05 July 2019, the stock market regulator said it has now removed the restriction in the trading of the company’s shares on its platform, having released the results.
    Head of Listings Regulation Department at NSE, Mr Godstime Iwenekhai, said in today’s statement that investors can now begin to trade equities of the firm.
    “We refer to our Market Bulletin dated July 2, 2019, with Reference Number: NSE/RD/LRD/MB34/19/07/02 wherein we notified dealing members of the suspension of 11 listed companies for non-compliance with Rule 3.1, Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing, Rulebook of The Exchange (Issuers’ Rules) (Default Filing Rules”), which provides that: ‘If an Issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the Cure Period, The Exchange will: (a) send to the Issuer a ‘Second Filing Deficiency Notification’ within two business days after the end of the Cure Period;
    “(b) suspend trading in the Issuer’s securities; and (c) notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the market within 24 hours of the suspension.”
    “Conoil Plc, which was one of the 11 companies that were suspended has now filed its Audited Financial Statement for the year ended December 31, 2018 to the exchange.
    “In view of the company’s submission of its Audited Financial Statements, and pursuant to Rule 3.3 of the Default Filing Rules, which provides that: ‘The suspension of trading in the Issuer’s securities shall be lifted upon submission of the relevant accounts provided the exchange is satisfied that the accounts comply with all applicable rules of the exchange.
    “The exchange shall thereafter also announce through the medium by which the public and the SEC was initially notified of the suspension.
    “Dealing members are hereby notified that the suspension placed in the trading of the shares of Conoil Plc was lifted today, Friday, July5, 2019,” the statement said.

  • Minority Leadership: Elumelu reacts to suspension by PDP

    Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndidi Elumelu on Friday expressed shock over his alleged suspension by the National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over his emergence as the Minority Leader of the House.
    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila had announced Elumelu as the Minority leader as against Hon Kingsley Chinda who was favoured by the National Working Committee (NWC), a development that did not go down well with the PDP who summoned Elumelu and his colleagues to appear before the party.
    In suspending Elumelu and his colleagues, the PDP NWC hinged its decision on the alleged refusal of Elumelu, and other PDP lawmakers to appear before the committee on Friday morning at the Wadata House.
    But in a statement made available on Friday, the Minority Leader said they got the invitation to appear before the party late on Thursday when they had travelled out of Abuja.
    He said that out of the respect for the party, he instructed his Special Assistant to notify the party in writing, conveying their inability to honour the party’s invitation as directed and sought for another day to appear only for the party to hastily suspend them, in flagrant contravention of the principles of fair hearing. Hon Elumelu said he and his colleagues selected to lead the opposition parties in the House of Representatives didn’t contravene the laws regulating the selection of members into leadership positions and wondered why his party suspended them from the party they have strengthened over the years.
    The Minority Leader noted that their selection as leaders by their colleagues of the minority parties was in strict compliance with Order 7, Rule 8 of the House of Representatives.
    He said: “As loyal party members, we had thought that the PDP NWC would have availed us the opportunity of fair hearing, robust and constructive engagements before taking such drastic action on elected representatives who have over years, strengthened and protected the corporate interest of the party and Nigeria in general.
    “We have become good ambassadors of the PDP and we don’t deserve this kind of treatment. Our alleged suspension negates the spirit and letter of fair hearing which is at the heart of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution and extant laws of the land.
    “We love PDP and we are ready to meet with the party leadership as we have no other party to call our own than the PDP. We, therefore, call on the NWC to rescind its decision of suspending us, in the interest of the PDP, the National Assembly and Nigeria as a whole.”

  • Obosi killings: Chiefs disagree with monarch over suspension of Chidoka, others

    Some members of Obosi Council of Chiefs have disagreed with the traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Chidubem Iweka II, over the suspension of Chief Osita Chidoka and two others from their fold.
    Iweka on Saturday announced the suspension of Chidoka, Chief Linus Mgbakaogu and Chief Hyacinth Udemba for their alleged involvement in bringing the corpse of two Obosi youths killed during the March 9 re-run election to the palace.
    Their sack from the council, convey in a statement by Dr Benneth Mozie on behalf of the monarch and his chiefs in council, said the act was a sacrilege in the tradition of Obosi kingdom which forbids the king and his council from seeing human corpse.
    He said: “On arriving at the palace, these chiefs in council instructed that the corpse be off loaded and dumped in the palace, an insulting and dishonouring act; an abomination of the gravest magnitude.

    “After due consultations and deliberations with all relevant ancient traditional bodies of Obosi, the Igwe Iweka II in council, hereby announces the indefinite suspension from his cabinet of the above mentioned three chiefs.
    “This suspension is for their acts of sacrilege against the revered age-old customs of the people and Obosi ancient kingdom.”
    But some members of the title holders and ruling class or members of the Igwe’s cabinet (“Ichie”), said the suspension could not hold as there was never a meeting where the monarch and his cabinet deliberated on the issue of the two slain Obosi youths or made a resolution to suspend the three members.
    Chief Anthony Nwabude, the Traditional Prime Minister of Obosi (Onowu Obosi), who was at the palace when the suspension was announced, told journalists that there was no time the content of the statement was discussed or resolved by the council.
    Nwabude, an octogenarian and one of the oldest members of the council, said he could not sit back and watch a decision he was not part of foisted on him without talking.
    He said: “There was never a meeting where the cabinet met to discuss and come up with the resolution that was read.
    “Since the killings, the cabinet has never met to discuss it; so, I am not in support of it.”
    Chief Charles Umolu (Akpe Obosi), described the suspension as a “sham”.
    Umolu said he was surprised that the monarch could hurriedly suspend Chidoka, Mgbakaogu and Udemba, who actually calmed the irate youths who were grieving over the death of their brothers without condemning the killings.
    Umolu said that the statement read to the media was already prepared before the meeting and was signed by someone who was not a member of the council.
    “The entire exercise is a sham, how can you suspend people without inviting them to give them fair hearing, many people were not invited, moreover, we are about 31 cabinet members and it is grossly inadequate for seven persons to take such decision for us.
    He said: “I was invited but could not make it, but I told them in writing that the suspension of cabinet chiefs should be the least of our worries, considering that Obosi had lost over 76 youths since 2011 due to growing cultism.
    “The press statement was prepared before the meeting, the person that signed and read it is an impostor because the Igwe cannot get members to sign it.
    “However, monarch cannot de-robe anybody; he lacks such powers because the traditional chiefs are representatives of their families.”
    Reacting, Mgbakaogu one of the affected persons, dismissed the news of his suspension as a kangaroo exercise, saying he remained the (Atta Obosi).
    Mgbakaogu said the monarch could not suspend any member of the cabinet without convening a general meeting of the council.
    He accused him of delving into partisan politics which had made him to mishandle the affairs of Obosi.

    He said: “Two Obosi sons were killed because of election and the youths of the town insisted on taking their corpse to their king in protest of numerous deaths we have witnessed, and the three of us were there to witness what happened.
    “The Igwe has had running battles with Obosi community and presently there is a panel of inquiry looking into these issues, we are still expecting the white paper from Anambra Government.
    “I am not surprised at the purported suspension which cannot stand, I have been in the traditional cabinet for nine years and eight months, long before he became an Igwe, so I remain Atta Obosi.”

  • BREAKING: NSE suspends trading in Diamond Bank shares

    Trading in the shares of Diamond Bank Plc has been placed on full suspension following the court sanction of the Scheme of Merger with Access Bank Plc.

    The Nigeria Stock Exchange, in a notification to its dealing members posted on its website on Wednesday, said that the full suspension takes effect from March 20 (today).

    “Dealing members are hereby notified that following the court sanction of the Scheme of Merger (Scheme) between Access Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc, trading in the shares of Diamond Bank has been placed on full suspension,” it stated.

    The Exchange said that the suspension was required to prevent trading in the shares of the bank in order to determine shareholders who would qualify to receive the scheme consideration.

    It noted that Diamond Bank obtained the court sanction of the scheme on March 19, being the effective date of the scheme.

    The NSE stated that the bank’s shareholders passed a resolution approving the merger between Diamond Bank and Access Bank Plc at the court ordered meeting of the bank held on March 5.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Exchange will de-list Diamond Bank from the daily official list at the exchange after the merger.

    NAN reports that the shareholders of Diamond Bank and Access Bank at an Extraordinary General Meetings of both banks gave approval for the merger.

    Access Bank Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, told shareholders at the EGM that the merger enabled Access Bank to acquire a bank with 17 million retail customers and the most viable mobile payment platform.

    Wigwe said that the expected revenue and cost synergies were material and promised significant long term value.

    He said the bank, after the merger, would attract more opportunities such as trade finance from international partners.

    “With the final merger of both banks and the status of the resulting entity as ‘the largest bank in Africa’s largest economy,’ this greatly bolsters the bank’s brand, opening doors of opportunity both in local and international markets,” he said.

    He said the merger was expected to produce the largest banking group in Africa based on its number of customers with more than 29 million customers.

    “The resulting entity which will maintain the brand name Access Bank, but with Diamond Bank colors, will have more than 29 million customers, 13 million of whom are mobile customers,” he said.

  • PDP drags judge who ordered suspension of Bauchi Guber Result Collation to NJC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has petitioned the National judicial Council over the violation of the Constitution and Electoral Act by Justice Ekwo Inyang of the Federal High Court by sitting on a matter that ought to have been handled by an election petition tribunal, as created by the provisions of our laws.

    The party noted that in granting an exparte order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from concluding the governorship election in Bauchi State, Justice Inyang violated Section 87(11) of the Electoral Act, which states that no court has the power or jurisdiction to stop any election pending the determination of a suit.

    In an affidavit sworn to by the PDP’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, in Abuja, the party notes that issues of collation of results and declaration of winner, is a post-election event and, therefore, falls under the Electoral Act and Constitutional provisions for the election petition tribunal.

    The affidavit states, “Despite this clear provision of the law, Justice Ekwo decided to hear the application of Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar and his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), within twenty four hours on 19th March, 2019 and issued an order on INEC not to continue with the election until the case before him is finally decided.

    “That the collation of results is a post-election event and under section 87(11) of the Electoral Act, no court has the power or jurisdiction to stop any election pending the determination of a suit.

    “That an election includes voting, collation of results and the declaration of results.

    “That as a result of the order on the Independent National Electoral Commission, the conclusion of the Bauchi State Governorship election which was to take place on 19th March 2019 was stalled.

    “That the order of Justice Ekwo was made contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended dealing without fair hearing and also section 87(11) of the Electoral Act.

    “That the Chief Justice of Nigeria has constituted the various Election Petition Tribunals in Nigeria to handle such cases and the assumption of jurisdiction by Justice Inyang Ekwo is an affront to the constitution and electoral wishes of the people of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area and Bauchi State”

    The PDP insists that not only did Justice Inyang violate the clear provisions of the Electoral Act, the motion granted is also an affront to the electoral wishes of the people of Bauchi State who have clearly chosen their next governor in voting for the PDP’s candidate, Sen. Bala Mohammed.

    The PDP urges the NJC to save our democracy by taking an urgent step against the violations by Justice Inyang.

     

  • Amaechi apologises to Nigerians over suspension of free train ride

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Friday apologised to Nigerians over the suspension of the Iju-Abeokuta free train ride during the 2019 general elections.

    Amaechi tendered the apology during the monthly rail inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan modernisation project in Ibadan.

    He said that the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) suspended the three months free train ride due to security and safety of passengers.

    “It was suspended by the Chinese and the excuse they gave me was that they cannot allow it run because of safety, since they have not completed the second line but they are almost through with it.

    “It is almost completed from Iju to Abeokuta. I want to apologise to Nigerians that they suspended it when they left the country, which I didn’t envisage, they will go back soon,” Amechi said.

    Speaking on his passion for the project, Amaechi said that the responsibility was given to him by President Muhammadu Buhari, which must be delivered to create jobs and boost the economy.

    “I know you will say I’m stressed up but as a minister, I have a responsibility passed to me by Mr President and I must deliver on it.

    “Also, the economy of Nigeria can be driven most importantly, if we can link the seaport to hinterland because when cargoes come, they must go.

    “The more you are able to move goods and services to hinterland, the more you will create jobs and the more you create jobs, the more growth that you will have and that is my drive,” he said.

  • Suspension: Oshiomhole has outlived his usefulness in our party – Imo APC

    …demands his immediate resignation

    The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday called on the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, to tender his resignation letter for suspending the governors of Imo and Ogun states.

    At a press conference in Owerri, the APC chairman in the state, Daniel Nwafor, said that the suspension of Governors Rochas Okorocha and Ibikunle Amosun was null and void.

    Nwafor said that since Oshiomhole emerged the national chairman of the ruling party, he had been disregarding the constitution of the ruling party.

    Saying that the state chapter of the APC would not honour the “purported suspension” of Okorocha from APC, Nwafor said that the former governor of Edo state had outlived his usefulness in APC.

    Describing Oshiomhole as a man who had no respect for the rule of law, Nwafor said that the APC national chairman was known for not obeying court orders and judgments.

    According to Nwafor, the suspension of Okorocha did not follow due process.

    He said that according to the APC constitution, the suspension of any member starts from the ward level and not from the National working committee.

    Nwafor said “I am here with the APC chairman from Ogboko ward where the governor hails from. There was no letter from the NWC to him to query the governor for any offence. The truth is that Oshiomhole is a man who has no respect for rule of law. He has a penchant for disobeying valid court judgments and orders.

    “We demand his immediate resignation from APC. Adams Oshiomhole has outlived his usefulness in APC. As a party, we will not honour that purported suspension. It is null and void and of no effect. Governor Rochas Okorocha remains the leader of APC in Imo state.”

    The state chairman said that APC in the state had no governorship candidate, even as he maintained that the APC governorship candidate in the state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, was not known by the party.

    He said that available records by the party showed that Uzodinma was not a registered member of APC in his ward in Oru East Local Government Area of the state.

     

  • Onnoghen heads to court over suspension

    The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, is set to challenge his suspension by President Muhammadu Buhari in court on Monday (today).

    Recall that President Buhari last Friday suspended the embattled Chief Justice following an order from the Code of Conduct Tribunal and appointed Justice Ibrahim Mohammed as the acting CJN.

    This is just as the National Judicial Council (NJC) on Sunday called for an emergency meeting over the controversial suspension that has since attracted a global attention.

    But a senior advocate, who is a member of Onnoghen’s legal team, told the Punch that it had become necessary to do so as the suspension of a CJN by a President was unprecedented.

    He said, “We will be going to court to challenge the suspension of the CJN. The President relied on a CCT order despite the fact that the Court of Appeal had restrained all parties from removing the chief justice.

    “The CJN was not even served with the court processes before he was removed by the President. So, all these will be challenged in court. When the processes have been filed, the documents will be made public.”

    When asked why the CJN waited for three days before challenging his removal, the source said, “He was suspended late on Friday and you know courts do not sit on Saturday and Sunday.”