News
2007: 300 Election Petitions Pending At Appeal Court
The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law says more than 300 election petitions arising from the 2007 general elections are still pending at Court of Appeal nationwide.
This was contained in a statement issued by the civil society group and made available to newsmen yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra.
The statement was signed by the group’s Chairman of Board of Trustees, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi and Mr Justus Ijeoma, Head, Publicity Desk, respectively.
The statement, which was also forwarded to Justice Ayo Salami, President of the Court of Appeal, was entitled: “Lingering Cases Arising From the 2007 Elections’ Disputes Are Undermining the Competence of Your Lordship and the Reputation of the Nigerian Judiciary”.
It noted that the pending cases might not get their legal merit since the judges handling them would be constrained by time limitation.
It said: “We had drawn the attention of Your Lordship, Justice Ayo Salami, to the continued pending of more than 40 cases arising from the 2007 general elections, especially the legislative polls’ disputes, lying before the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal.
“Since then, credible sources have hinted that there might be about 300 similar electoral court cases pending before various Divisions of the Hallowed Court of Appeal in Nigeria, which arose from the 2007 polls.
“Going by the amendments to the Constitution of Nigeria 1999, the INEC Establishment Act of 2004 and the Electoral Act of 2006, which we understand, are at their final stages of passage into law, litigants may not enjoy the fruits of their petitions.
“It is now less than five months before next general elections, believed to have been scheduled to hold in January 2011 and less than 10 months to the end of the present dispensation, yet many of the matters are still pending,” it said.
The statement also noted that situations whereby the judiciary would be battling with old electoral legal order in the presence of new electoral legal order does not speak good of our judicial system.
It said: “If the said amendments are perfectly effected, say in couple of weeks, the Nigerian Judiciary will be the first organ of government to defile and possibly mess up the new order by dishing out judgments or verdicts based on anachronistic judicial precedents.
“It is too elementary to inform Your Lordship that judicial precedents can be outlawed by new legislative enactments.
“Also, existing legislative enactments can be altered by new legislative enactments considered suitable to changing socio-political situations.
“This will seriously affect the parties in the said matters, especially the non-incumbents, who ordinarily would have won their cases in courts.
“In other words, it has got to a point where technical verdicts will be the order of the day going by the disturbing present circumstances, unless something urgent and credible is done by Your Lordship,” the statement added.
It appealed to President of the Court of Appeal to prevail on judges handling the petitions to ensure that all matters were considered on their own merits.
It also appealed to judges to stop flimsy adjournments and the president should establish more panels to dispense with all 2007 petitions before the last quarter of 2010.
News
Retirement: Ignore PSC’s Directive, Remain In Office, IGP Tells Officers

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has instructed all police officers affected by the recent directive from the Police Service Commission (PSC) to disregard the order.
The PSC had directed officers who have served 35 years or reached 60 years of age to retire immediately.
A wireless message from the office of the Force Secretary, dated February 11, 2025, stated that the IGP “strongly directs all officers affected by the PSC’s directive to stay action, pending further instruction.” Officers were told to comply strictly with this order.
Last week, PSC spokesman Ikechukwu Ani, explained that the commission’s order followed a review of its previous stance from the 24th plenary meeting in September 2017, allowing force entrants to use their enlistment date rather than their initial appointment date.
The commission cited inconsistencies with Public Service Rule No. 020908, which mandates retirement after 35 years of service or upon reaching 60 years of age.
However, the PSC clarified that it does not have the constitutional authority to determine the appointment or retirement of IGP Egbetokun.
News
Be Consoled, God Who Gives, Also Takes, Fubara Tells Principal Secretary

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has extolled the sterling motherly virtues of late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta, and urged the children not to deviate from those valuable lessons she had taught them.
Late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta (79 years) is the mother of Dr Ayebaesin Jacob Beredugo, the Principal Secretary to Governor Fubara.
The Rivers State Governor, who described Dr Beredugo as a brother, trusted ally and key stakeholder of his administration, urged him to be consoled in God and bear the loss with fortitude.
Governor Fubara gave the advise at the funeral service in honour of late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta at the Cathedral Church of St Luke, Anglican Communion in Nembe City, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday.
The Rivers State Governor said: “We are here as a government to show that in this difficult time, we stand with him. We know that there is no consolation here that can fill the gap of this loss, more especially the loss of a mother.
“But, we want to draw his mind to the good Book: that it is the Lord that giveth, and it is also the Lord that taketh. And he takes for a reason.
“We live in a corrupt world, and when you are a saint in the world, when it pleases the Almighty and He believes that He doesn’t want you to be corrupted, He takes away the soul to a better place where death is no more, where you don’t have to look for food again, where you have peace.”
Governor Fubara expressed strong belief that given the way Mama had lived and the good virtues that had been read out and said about her, there is no doubt that she will be in a good side in heaven.
The Governor decried the current condition of the cathedral where the funeral service held and committed the support of the Rivers State Government to ensure the completion of the building in memory of late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta
“We have been made to understand that the Cathedral needs strong support. We are willing to support the completion of the Cathedral. We will support the building in memory of Mama with the sum of N50million”
Delivering the sermon on the topic; “Hope in the face of death”, Bishop of the Diocese of Western Izon, Rt. Rev. Victor Okporu, said those who are confidently expecting positive future must also believe in Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, and be prepared to spend eternity with Him.
Reading the biography of the late Madam Ayebadieye Edward-Igbeta, brother of the decreased, Mr Godwin Ekine, said his late sister was an embodiment of love, care, peaceful and kind-hearted, and touched lives through her generosity and compassion.
Friends and well-wishers from Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states, some of whom shared fun memories of the late matriarch, were later hosted to a funeral reception at King Koko’s Square in Nembe Town.
Also at the burial were the State Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu; Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo; member representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Boniface Emerengwa; and Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Edison Ehie.
Others are Head of Service, Dr George Nwaeke; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, Dr Tamunosis Gogo-Jaja; Chief Hanny Woko; Amaopusenibo Fubara Hart; Chief Theodore Georgewill; members of the State Executive Council; Special Advisers; top politicians, leaders and stakeholders in the State; among others.
News
Old Boys Plan Rehabilitation Of GSS, Okehi
The Chairman of the Old Boys Association of Government Secondary School (GSS), Okehi Etche, Rivers State, Prof. Sir, Umunna Offor, has stated that the association would soon visit their alma-mater and rehabilitate decayed infrastructure and facilities in the compound.
The chairman made this assertion while speaking with some newsmen after an extensive meeting of the Old Boys in Port Harcourt, recently.
Sir Offor stated that since they left the secondary school, some years ago, most of the facilities and infrastructure built by then Rivers State Government had decayed and worn out.
“ However, being responsible ambassadors and Old Boys of the college, we would not fold our arms and expect government to rebuild everything in the school compound, hence, we have decided to come together and graciously assist our alma mater’, he said.
“The meeting was basically for like-minds to gather to find a way to help the school, it is a thing of joy to see and receive old school friends and comrades who have gone far in life and have excelled in their respective chosen fields”.
Speaking in the same vein, Engr, Lasbrey Amadi; (FNSE), who is also an old boy and former member of the House of Representatives, said the association would be working in synergy with the administrators of the school to ensure that in no distant time; there would be a massive face-lift in the physical infrastructure in the school compound.
Veering into politics in Nigeria of today, Engr, Amadi, said that god-fatherism in politics had seriously killed the gains and beauty of democracy in Nigeria and quickly urged politicians to always play-down the issue of god-fatherism in politics and ensure good governance in the country.
In his comment, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Association, Mr Goodluck Nwaobilor, said the door of the association is still wide open for new members who finished from the school to join and work towards taking the association to higher level.
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