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‘Why We Declared Amaechi Governor’
Two years after Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State was declared the validly elected governor of the state, Supreme Court Justice, George Oguntade, Friday at a lecture gave reasons for the decision of the apex court.
The court, he said, was motivated by the desire to do substantial justice in the case of the governor versus the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Amaechi, he stated, was wrongfully excluded from the erection as he was the validly nominated candidate of the party in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Electoral Act.
He said the same principle guided the court also in the case of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and the PDP who was expelled by the party in an apparent attempt to render the judgment of the apex court nugatory.
Oguntade, who voiced his frustration at the lawlessness exhibited by the ruling party in its bid to frustrate the court judgment, said if he had his way, the party would have been committed for contempt.
“After Araraurme won the case in the Supreme Court, PDP then said, well you have won the case but we have expelled you from the party. If I had my way, I do not know why PDP should not be committed for contempt.”
Oguntade, who wrote the dissenting judgment in the case of Gen. Mohammed Buhari, and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), said he decided to deliver the lecture entitled: “Dissenting Judgments and Judicial Making”, because of the role dissenting judgments play in the development of the law.
“It is my firm view that in a nascent democracy as Nigeria’s, where our public law can he regarded very much as still in its infancy, judges must be encouraged to exercise independence of mind in the interpretation and application of law so as to protect the rights of the people.”
The Justice also went down memory lane to comment on the case of the former vice president, Aliku Abubakar and INEC when he was excluded from contesting the 2007 on the strength of a committee set up by former President Olusesun Obasanjo.
The former vice president, Oguntade said, was treated unfairly as he was denied the provisions of Section 34 (2) of the Electoral Act which provides for 90 days of campaigning before election as he (Atiku Abubakar) only had four days to campaign.
For law and order to prevail in the nation’s democracy, Ohasanjo, he emphasis, needed to be told in categorical terms that he had no power to constitute himself as the accuser, the prosecutor and the judge.
The court, he said, was motivated by the conviction that nobody should be denied the right to contest an election unless convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The judge who will be retiring from the Supreme Court early next year on the attainment of the statutory age of 70 years, spoke at the inaugural Justice Adolphus Godwin KaribiWhyte Convocation lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies (NIALS), University of Lagos.
Distinguised guests at the lecture included the Justice Minister, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN); retired Supreme Court Justice; Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, Director-General of the Institute, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN) and Chief George Uwueche (SAN).
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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