News
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 Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
-
Sports1 day agoFalconets thrashes 4-0 Rwanda in qualifiers
-
Education1 day agoFRSC to Establish Driving Training Centre at UniPort
-
Oil & Energy1 day agoAfam 2 Power Plant Adds 160MW To National Grid, says Sahara Group
-
Business1 day agoSMEDAN, CAC Move To Ease Business Registration, Target 250,000 MSMEs
-
Maritime1 day agoBlue Economy: FG Targets Lower Logistic Costs, Trade Competitiveness
-
Rivers1 day agoYouth Leader Lauds Tinubu, Over Ogoni oil Dispute
-
News1 day agoShettima departs New York for Germany after UNGA engagement
-
Sports1 day agoFBN, Group Hold First E1 Lagos GP Champion Oct.3