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LG Polls: ‘Why Appeal Court Struck Out APC’s Suit’
The outgoing President of Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr Isaac Olorunfemi (right), decorating the new President, Mr Otis Anyaeji, during his Investiture as the 30th President of the society in Abuja, recently.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday gave reasons why it struck out the appeal brought before it by the 22 All Progressives Congress local government council chairmen in the state challenging the nullification of their election by the Federal High Court presided over by retired Justice Lambo Akambi in July 2015.
The lead judges of the three-man panel of judges of the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, Justice Teresa Orji Abosua said the court struck out the matter based on what she described as administrative error in assignment of wrong case number in filing of the appellants’ suit”.
According to her, the court consequently ordered the sacked 22 APC local government council chairmen to file a fresh appeal to regularize the process of their appeal.
The court took the decision following the observation made by the state Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Emma Aguma (SAN) who represented the defendants in the matter.
He drew the attention of the judges to the Appeal Court number wrongly inserted in the motion of notice paper of the appellants which according to him was a subject matter scheduled for hearing for the day.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said my Lords, there was no need for the motion before us, since the motion was seeking for the leave of the court to grant them court of Appeal number for the case, and here my Lords, They have gotten the number.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice prayed the court to strike out the matter, and direct the applicants to withdraw the motion even as he sought for the court to award N50,000 cost against the 22 applicants for obtaining the Appeal Court number through a mischievous way.
However, in his submission, counsel for the 22 APC chairmen, who are the applicants in the matter, E.A Yohelp (Esq) did not oppose the views of the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice on the withdrawal of the motion but objected to the award of N50,000 cost against the applicants as canvassed by the learned Senior Advocate.
The applicants’ counsel hinged his arguments on the fact that the error noticed by the court was not the making of his clients, but rather an administrative one.
Satisfied by the submissions from both counsels, Justice Abosua struck out the matter but however refused to award any cost to the applicants as canvassed by the state Attorney-General.
It would be recalled that the 22 APC council chairmen in the state went to the Appeal Court to challenge the nullification of their May 23, 2015 election by the Rtd Justice Lambo Akambi’s judgement delivered on July 9, 2015.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the ruling, Counsel to 22 APC Local Government Chairmen, E.A Yohelp said he withdraw the motion after he noticed the administrative error by the court register, adding that the import of the ruling was that it would give the applicants the opportunity to put their house in order and bring back a fresh appeal before the court.
Also speaking, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Chinwe Aguma (SAN), opined that the learned justices of the Appeal Court were right in their decision to strike out the suit, adding that the ruling was in conformity with the ruling of Rtd Justice Lambo Akambi and the Industrial Court in Bayelsa State.
According to the learned Senior Advocate, with the development now, this suggests that there was no appeal against the dissolution of the LGA before the appellant court by the applicants, until they do so, if they have the will to do so.
Addressing newsmen after the judgment, Rivers State Attorney General, Emmanuel Aguma, SAN, described the Appeal Court judgement as a confirmation of the judgment of the Federal High Court which declared council polls illegal.
The Appeal Court declared that the suit filed by the former council chairmen lacked competence and was therefore dismissed.
It will be recalled that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi had circumvented the law by illegally conducting local government council elections less than one week before the handing over on May 29, 2015.
PDP had filed a suit against the conduct of the council polls at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. Despite a court injunction stopping Amaechi, he went ahead to conduct the illegal election.
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi