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Court Reserves Ruling In Ojukaye’s Bail
The fate of the embattled former Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government of Rivers State, Mr. Ojukaye Flagg-Amachree, standing trial on an alleged murder case on two different charges before two judges of the State High Courts now hanges in the balance, as the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, yesterday, consolidated all the applications seeking for his bail and release from prison custody.
The Appeal Court led by Justice Ali Abubakar B. Gumel, also reserved ruling on the consolidated appeals brought before the court, and fixed a date for the ruling which would be communicated to all the parties in the matter.
The Court of Appeal took this decision after listening to the various arguments by the counsels in the matter, and commended them for the maturity exhibited during the court proceedings.
The appellant, Mr. Ojukaye Flagg-Amaechree, had through his Counsels, led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rowland Oturu, filed a motion of appeal before the court challenging his incarceration in prison custody on the orders of Justice Margret Opara on the 19th of April, this year.
The appellant is also appealing the order of remand into prison custody made on the July 1, 2016 by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice I.A. Iyayi-Lamikanra, as well as seeking an order of stay of proceedings on the matter by the lower courts until the determination of the matter in the Appeal Court.
Oturu, during his presentation, told the court that the matter before it touches on the liberty of the accused, adding that the court has an unfettered authority to grant the accused bail.
He told the court that it was wrong for the lower courts to continue proceedings on the matter when an appeal had already been filed in the appellante court.
The Senior Advocate averred that it was wrong for a judge to remand an accused person by proxy, and urged the court to declare the Chief Judge’s remand order of July 1, 2016 as a nullity as it was not known in law.
Responding to the applications by the appellant’s Counsel, lawyer to the state government, Mr. Godwin Obla (SAN) while opposing the bail applications, said the refusal of the appellant to appeal the order of July 4, 2016 nullified the whole appeal sought by them.
According to Obla, “what it means is that the appellant did not appeal the second order made by the State Chief Judge.
“My position on the matter, is that you don’t take chances. They would have also appealed the other order, because if the appeal fails, all the briefs sought in the applications would also fail”, he added.
The Senior Advocate urged the court to jettison the application on the ground that they failed to appeal the order of July 4, 2016, adding that it was only when the accused appeared before the judge that the issue of Appeal notice would be discussed.
Our correspondent reports that the 3-man Justices of the Appeal Court had earlier stood down the proceedings for 30 minutes to rule on the stay of proceedings brought by the appellant asking to be joined in the application to be taken alongside the consolidated appeals.
Our correspondent further reports that the court later ruled in favour of the appellant.
All the Counsels adopted their addresses as filed during the proceedings.
Speaking to journalists outside the court room, Mr. Rowland Oturu (SAN), lawyer to the accused, said his refusal to appeal the order of Justice I.A. Iyayi-Laminkanra was on the basis that the order was made against the prison authorities and not his client.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.