City Crime

A’Court Rules On Motion To Suspend PDP Convention, Today …As BoT Blasts Secondus, Says Event To Hold

Published

5 years ago

October 31, 2021

The Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has reserved judgement on the application brought before it seeking the leave of the court to suspend the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention scheduled to begin in Abuja, tomorrow.
This is as the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) has insisted that its national convention would hold according to plan.
The three-man panel of Justices of the Appellate Court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani reserved the judgement for ruling, today at 12noon after taking all arguments from the counsel representing the parties in the matter.
Justice Tsammani while adjourning the sitting, yesterday, expressed happiness with the level of maturity shown by all the parties, especially the counsel who represented their clients in the matter, and appealed to the media to report accurately what transpired in the court and avoid heating up the system.
The embattled former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Prince Uche Secondus in Appeal Court suit number CA/339/2021 versus Ibeawuchi Alex & 11 Others is seeking, among other things, the leave of the court through a motion to suspend the holding of the National Convention of PDP scheduled to hold on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Abuja pending the determination of the matter before it.
Secondus through his counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, a senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is asking the court to put the convention on hold and determine whether his removal as the national chairman of the party was valid, saying that the constitution of party empowered him to preside over the party’s convention.
He explained that his client had not asked the court to nullify the party’s national convention but that it was his constitutional right and not a privilege to preside over the convention, and urged the court to grant him the prayers sought in the application.
According to him, Article 35,Sub-Section 16 of the PDPConstitution used a mandatory word “Shall” preside over, adding that such word invested on Prince UcheSecondus the power to preside over the convention making it mandatory and not “privileged power.
“I draw the attention of my Lords to Paragraph 19 of my written address on point of law which captures the essence of my prayers. We urge you, my Lord to preserve the mace in this case, the jurisdiction of the court, and to give efficacious judgement in this appeal. The appellant has placed before you that he was unconstitutionally removed as the national chairman of the party and his image is permanently destroyed.
“I urge you to give him justice, his tenure as the national chairman of the party will come to an end by December 3, 2021”, he stated.
In their own presentations and arguments, the respondents’ counsel for Ibeawuchi and 11 others, Henry Bello (Esq), S.I.Ahmed,representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are the 6th respondent; Godwin Obla, (SAN), 8th respondent; Donald Dee Wigwe (SAN) 9&10 respondent; and Sabastine Hon (SAN) for 11th respondent; vehemently opposed the application, and urged the court to dismiss it in its entirety as the application was lacking in merit.
They submitted that the application sought by the appellant applicant was alien, adding that the allusion infused in the motion was a radical departure from the appeal.
They, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the motion.
According to them, the applicant’s application was belaboured, in vain, and prayed the court to consider in balance the over 4,000 members of the party who have since travelled to Abuja for the convention.
They argued that the interest of an individual cannot override the interest of 4,000 persons, adding that all arrangements for the convention have been concluded.
The Tide reports that the appeal was in respect to the earlier judgement given by the Rivers State High Court which sacked Prince UcheSecondus as the national chairman of the party.
Around six Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) are taking part in the legal war at the Appeal Court.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that its planned national convention would hold.
PDP’s Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Walid Jibril, said the convention would hold despite the suit challenging the event by the party’s suspended national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State High Court had restrained Secondus from parading himself as the party’s chairman.
But, Secondus vowed never to withdraw the suit challenging his removal from office.
He had challenged PDP to stop all forms of preparation for the convention pending the hearing of his case in the Court of Appeal.
However, Jubril urged Secondus not to make the former ruling party ungovernable.
Featuring on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the BoT chairman insisted that the party’s national convention would take place as scheduled.
According to Jibrin: “It will be very wrong for Secondus, being a founding member of the PDP, to make the party ungovernable.
“Could it be now that he goes against what the party is doing, what the party intends to do? I say it will be very wrong if Secondus is taking another fight completely, yielding the course to solve his own problem.
“Everything will come to an end. He had been in this party since the formation of the party. Is he going to die, what is going to happen to him? Let’s look at the party as supreme and go on with the decision of this party.
“I would like to say that the convention planned for the 30th of this month is on and we’re going to be there and carry out our duties and improve our party.
“We have processes and we have the national deputy chairman from the south, where he comes from and he is on course and he is now leading our party. His presence in the convention is not necessary at all.”

By: Akujobi Amadi

City Crime

Tinubu Appoints Ex-Tide Staff Registrar Of Chartered Chemists

Published

1 week ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

A former staff of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publisher of The Tide Newspapers, Idongpee Akwaowo Reuben, has been appointed the Acting Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON) by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Akwaowo’s appointment follows the expiration of the second tenure of the former Registrar, Chemist Jwalshik Wilford.

According to a letter released from the office of the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare dated August 5, 2026, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the appointment was with immediate effect.

The minister had earlier announced Akwaowo’s appointment during a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Heads of Departments, and Directors in June 10, 2026 in the Minister’s Conference Room.

He said the appointment was automatic and effective 1st June, 2026 following the satisfactory handover that followed the succession procedure.

The Minister nullified the earlier process put in place for a substantive appointment, citing it as a contravention of the provision of the ICCON Act.

He further directed that the appointment letter be issued without further delay.

The Minister admonished the new ICCON Chief Executive to take charge and ensure that the Institute is on the path of peace and progress to deliver her mandates.

In his response, Akwaowo thanked the the Federal Government for the appointment which, he said, has laid every uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the Institute to rest.

He pledged his unalloyed loyalty to the Federal Government and the Minister and promised to work with his Management Team to align with the policy directives of the Ministry as well as the renewed hope agenda of the Federal Government.

Akwaowo joined ICCON in 2005 as a pioneer staff, rose through the ranks and served in many capacities transcending virtually all the departments in the Institute including HOD, Administration/Accounts & Finance.

Most recently, he served as the pioneer Team Lead and the Registrar/CEO Representative in the National Chemical Personnel Audit excercise to Chemical companies and Chemistry Departments in Tertiary Institutions as part of the Institute’s regulatory mandates.

He has attended several courses and workshops and represented the Institute at various conferences and fora.

Akwaowo is a Chartered Chemist and also a member of a number of professional bodies.

He rose to the rank of Director, Scientific in 2025, and was until his appointment, the Coordinator, Zonal Offices of ICCON.

City Crime

Bayelsa Water Coys Raise Alarm Over Business Threats …Set To Resist Multiple Levies Amid High Production Cost

Published

1 week ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

The Bayelsa State branch of the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria(ATWAP), have raised alarm over what it described as existential threats to doing business in the State.

Speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa, the State capital last week, Chairman of the State’s branch of ATWAP who is also the National Public Relations Officer(PRO) of the Association, Mr Chris Erefinyo said due to high cost of raw materials and other engineering components needed for packaging of finished products, many firms in the State have shut down operations in the past.

Erebinyo the Producer of St. Ace Table Water alleged that more firms may soon join the closed down water producing industries in the coming weeks due to multiple levies imposed on them by government ministries and departmental agencies(MDAs) of the State.

The Bayelsa ATWAP boss said member firms of the association were major contributors to Government’s revenue, adding that table water producers are integral employers of labour and support government in reducing unemployment problems.

While further linking the bane of water firms to the recent Federal Government’s plan to ban the use of ‘single-use-plastics’ for packaging products, including table water, the State Chairman contended that if Government’s planned action takes effect it would aggravate unemployment crisis nationwide as well as increase the spate of water-born diseases, among others.

“Table Water production business in Bayelsa in particular and Nigeria in general is facing existential threats. In Bayelsa State our greatest problem is multiple taxation from various MDAs of the State Government.

“But one thing these multiple tax collectors don’t put into consideration is that we’ve curb the problems of joblessness and unemployment. The smallest ATWAP firm has no fewer than 20 staff members working to earn a living.

“Apart from paying tax to the Bayelsa State Internal Revenue Board, others have also imposed levies on water factories in this state. When the late Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was alive, we made him know our challenges, but our complains haven’t been attended to before he died”, he said.

Reacting to the ongoing attempts by some State Governments to outlaw the use of single-use-plastics in line with the Federal Government’s proposed ban, the State’s ATWAP helmsman restated that the national leadership of the association would continue to resist the plan, while also engaging stakeholders on the socioeconomic implications of the intended action.

He reaffirmed the commitment of water producers in the State towards the production of standard, portable and clean water for consumption, noting that most firms deploy a technology called ”Reversed Osmosis” for purification, treatment and production of their products due to the high content of iron and saline in the State’s water bodies.

The association leader said in addition to the kind of equipment firms deploye in producing water in the State, ATWAP leadership periodically embarks on routine inspections of firms based in the State to enforce what is known as ‘Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

“As an association, just like we’ve resisted attempts by the Federal, the Lagos and Oyo States’ Governments in destroying Table Water business with their planned bans, we’ll also do the same in Bayelsa State if the Government doesn’t call their MDAs to order with a view to directing them to desist forthwith from imposing multiple levies on us”, he added.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

City Crime

Withdraw Social Media Bill Or Face Lawsuit, SERAP Tells NASS

Published

4 weeks ago

July 20, 2026

The Tide

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has asked the National Assembly to immediately withdraw the proposed Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, describing it as a backdoor attempt to regulate social media and expand government control over online expression.

SERAP warned that it would institute legal action if the bill is passed in its current or substantially similar form.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North), seeks to compel social media platforms, data controllers and data processors operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country.

It also empowers the Nigeria Data Protection Commission to shut down or prohibit the operations of any entity that fails to comply within 30 days.

In a letter dated July 18, 2026, and addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, SERAP said the proposed amendment posed a threat to constitutionally guaranteed rights.

The letter, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and issued on Sunday, read in part, “Requirements compelling technology companies to establish local offices would increase government leverage over platforms, facilitate political pressure, make censorship demands easier and expose local employees to retaliation.

“The Bill would create sweeping powers capable of shutting down or excluding social media platforms from the Nigerian market and expose millions of Nigerians to serious violations of their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights.”

SERAP argued that the bill revives previous attempts to regulate social media that attracted widespread public opposition.

“The current Bill revives substantially similar proposals previously introduced by Senator Nwoko, raising renewed concerns that localisation requirements are being used as a vehicle for expanding governmental control over digital platforms and online expression,” it said.

The organisation warned that it would challenge the legislation in court if enacted.

“Should the Bill be enacted into law in its current or substantially similar form, SERAP shall promptly take all appropriate legal actions to challenge its legality in the public interest and to ensure that Nigerians’ fundamental rights are fully protected,” the letter stated.

According to SERAP, the proposed legislation would give the Nigeria Data Protection Commission excessive powers to block digital platforms without adequate procedural safeguards.

“The Bill constitutes a backdoor attempt to regulate social media and increase governmental control over online expression through corporate localisation requirements rather than through transparent and constitutionally permissible regulation,” it said.

The group argued that the bill lacks provisions for prior judicial authorisation, meaningful opportunities for compliance beyond the proposed 30-day period, and safeguards to protect the rights of millions of Nigerians who rely on digital platforms.

SERAP also cited the judgment of the ECOWAS Court of Justice on Nigeria’s suspension of Twitter, arguing that the proposed amendment could produce similar consequences by indirectly excluding social media platforms from operating in the country.

“The Bill also risks recreating the very dangers previously condemned by the ECOWAS Court of Justice. In SERAP and Others v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Court held that the suspension of Twitter violated the rights to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom protected under the African Charter.

“Although the present Bill differs from the Twitter suspension in form, it creates the possibility of achieving the same result indirectly by empowering regulators to prohibit digital platforms from operating in Nigeria.

“The National Assembly should not enact legislation capable of producing, through indirect regulatory means, the very restrictions on fundamental rights that regional human rights law prohibits,” the organisation said.

It maintained that while governments have a legitimate interest in regulating digital platforms, such measures must comply with constitutional guarantees and international human rights standards.

The organisation further warned that mandatory localisation requirements would increase compliance costs for technology companies, startups, educational institutions and artificial intelligence developers.

“The proposed amendment conflicts directly with the objectives of the Nigeria Startup Act 2022 and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy.

“Mandatory localisation requirements substantially increase compliance costs, particularly for startups, open-source projects, educational institutions, research organisations, AI developers and smaller technology companies, while reducing Nigeria’s attractiveness as a destination for innovation and investment.

“No major democratic jurisdiction requires every social media platform to establish a physical office as a blanket precondition for providing services.”

SERAP added, “The National Assembly should immediately reject and withdraw the Bill, as it is manifestly incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution and Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”