Nation
Again, FG Stalls Orubebe’s CCT Trial
The Federal Government again yesterday stalled the commencement of the trial of a former Minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, with a proposal to amend the four counts of N70 million bribery and false assets declaration preferred against him.
Earlier on November 9, 2015, the prosecution asked for two weeks to prepare its witnesses when asked to commence the trial shortly after the accused pleaded not guilty to the four counts.
The Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal had then adjourned till Thursday for the commencement of trial.
However, the prosecution, led by Peter Danladi, rather than call its first witness, proposed to orally amend counts two, three and four, an application which the defence lawyer, Selekowei Larry (SAN), opposed.
Danladi, while applying for the amendment of the charges, cited section 216 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which he said allowed the prosecution to amend or alter the charges it filed at any time before judgment was delivered.
He said: “The matter was adjourned till today for hearing. But before we proceed, we are applying to amend counts two, three and four.
“The applications is brought pursuant to section 216 of the ACJ Act and pursuant to the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable tribunal.”
The prosecuting counsel was about to give details of his proposed amendment when Larry raised an objection.
In opposing the application, Larry said it could only be done through motion on notice and not orally.
He said: “This is serious business. You ýcan’t just jump up and say you want to amend the charges. You have to notify us about what you want to do. You have to do it through motion on notice. You cannot come and take us by surprise. We have to know what you are doing.
“This is a court of record. Whatever they want to do let them do it properly by way of motion on notice.”
In response, Danladi said the use of word, “anytime” in section 216 of the ACJ Act showed that an application for amendment of charges by prosecution could be done orally.
However, while the tribunal chairman agreed that the prosecution had the right to amend the charges as it wished, it needed to put the defence on ýnotice.
Danladi then asked for two weeks to file the necessary processes for the amendment.
But Umar said since the year was already winding up, the tribunal would only be able to entertain the case in January.
The matter was then adjourned till January 27, 2016.
Nation
Rivers Deputy Governor Hails PH City One Love For Humanitarian Gesture
Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.
She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.
Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.
The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.
Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.
He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.
Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.
He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.
According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.
Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.
Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them
John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah
Nation
We’ll Partner Private Sector to Industrialize Rivers State – Fubara …Hints Revitalization of Ahoada, Trans Amadi Industrial layout
Nation
SheVentures Open Zero-interest Loan Applications for Women Entrepreneurs
“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively. Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.
“This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs”, Edun said.
Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo said access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs.
-
Featured1 day agoWASSCE: RSG Distributes Science Materials To Secondary Schools
-
News1 day ago
Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Lives More Important Than Foreign Investment – Oshiomhole
-
Rivers1 day ago
MBA Forex Trial Adjourn To June 3, Amid Bereavement … As Court Declines Cost Application
-
News1 day ago
ActionAid Demands Probe Of Govs Using Public Funds For Campaign
-
Aviation1 day ago
Passengers Stranded As Delta Airline From Atlanta Route Back Eight Hours After
-
Business1 day ago
Customs Impound N2.35bn Cocaine, 15 Trailers of Rice
-
Politics1 day ago
2027: Bayelsa Senator Gets Critical Endorsement For Second Term
-
Politics1 day agoINEC Sets Rivers South-East Senatorial By-Election For June 20
