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Court Orders Buhari, AGF, FCC To Defend Suit On Alleged Lopsided Appointments
A Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, issued a final order to President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to defend a suit instituted against them on the alleged lopsided appointments in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo issued the order following the refusal of the three defendants to file their defence in the suit slammed on them by an Abuja-based lawyer and human rights activist, Maxwell Okpara.
At yesterday’s proceedings, only the Minister of the FCT, Muhammad Bello was represented by a legal practitioner, Udom Ibeanem while Buhari, AGF and FCC were not in court and not represented by any legal practitioner despite being served with hearing notice.
At the proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff, Chukwuma Ozougwu drew the attention of the court to the persistent refusal of the three defendants to respond to the originating summons issued and served on them since December last year.
He thereafter sought permission from the court to present the plaintiff’s case against them.
However, Justice Ekwo held a contrary position adding that the matter is such that the three defendants must file their defence.
The Judge pointed out the persistent refusal and neglect of the three defendants to react to issues raised against them since last year, adding, however, that he would prefer to give them one more opportunity to come up with their defence.
“If by next adjourned date the three defendants fail to come up with defence, this court would have exhausted its patience and indulgence”.
Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed October 17 for a definite hearing of the suit.
Meanwhile, the FCT minister, who is the 1st defendant in the suit, has filed his counter-affidavit and preliminary objection against the suit praying the court to dismiss it on the grounds of lack of locus standi by the plaintiff.
Buhari, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) are 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants respectfully in the suit.
The plaintiff, Maxwell Opara (an Abuja-based lawyer) is contending that President Buhari, the FCT Minister and the AGF violated the Federal Character Principle in the recent appointments of Permanent Secretaries, Executive Secretaries, personal aids, directors and other members of staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
Opara argued that the majority of the appointees are from the Northern part of the country, which contradicts the spirit of the Federal Character Principle under the Federal Character Act.
He wants the court to declare that the said appointments made on November 23, 2021 “clearly offends sections 4(1)(a)(b) and 5 of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment, etc.) and provisions of Part 1, sections 1 to 9 and Part III, section 4 and 5 of the guiding principle and formulae for distribution of all cadre of posts made pursuant to section 4(1)(a) of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act and accordingly the said appointments are void.”
Opara wants the court to direct President Buhari, the FCT Minister and other defendants to comply with the provisions of Sections 4(1) (a) (b) and 5 of the Federal Character (Establishment) Act in all appointments in all cadres of posts in the FCTA.
He also prayed the court to declare that Buhari, the FCT minister and the AGF are under obligation to comply with the provisions of Part 1, Sections 1 to 9 and Part III, Sections 4 and 5 if the guiding principle and formulae for distribution of all cadres of posts and appointments into all cadres of posts into the federal character administration.
The plaintiff further prayed the court to declare that the FCC was empowered by law to formulate principles and guidelines for the application of the Federal Character Principle of fairness and equitable distribution of all cadres of posts in the Federal Government of Nigeria and to ensure compliance with the said formulae.
Opara, in a supporting affidavit, argued that appointments, as done by the FCT minister, favoured people who are mostly from the Northern part of the country.
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Rivers Capable Of Delivering Massive Votes For Tinubu, Chinda, Others -Fubara …Charges APC, Rainbow Coalition To Embrace Team Work
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the State is capable of delivering massive votes for President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda and other candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 general elections.
Fubara, who stated this yesterday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Port Harcourt, said the surest path to victory is for the members of the Presidential Campaign Council drawn from the APC and the Rainbow Coalition to embrace the spirit of teamwork.
He said what the state was witnessing in the current political season is a repeat of the successful mobilization done in 2022 and 2023, when a large campaign council worked in unity to deliver victory for him and for President Tinubu.
He added that the present council is bigger, wider and better coordinated and should therefore achieve even better results.
He noted that the beauty of the new council is the fact that some persons who were in the opposition camp during the previous elections are now part of the team, saying their inclusion has made the task easier, provided everyone works as one team and with sincerity of purpose.
The governor thanked the Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council for Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, and other leaders who worked tirelessly to bring the council to fruition, stressing that nothing is impossible especially when people work together for a common purpose.
He expressed optimism that with seriousness and commitment, the state would record a higher number of votes than it recorded in 2023.
Fubara, while congratulating members who made the list, appealed to those whose names were omitted not to be discouraged, as there are still sub-committees to be constituted and the list can still be updated, even as he warned against double loyalty.
He said the state has gone past the stage of division and is now looking to the future and what God holds for Rivers people, expressing confidence that with the strategy already put in place, the APC and the Rainbow Coalition would come out victorious in 2027.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Coordinator of the Campaign Council, Chief Nyesom Wike, while inaugurating the Council, lauded Fubara for finding time to attend the ceremony and other engagements of the Council in spite of his busy schedules.
Wike, who is also the National Leader of the PDP/ Rainbow Coalition, reminded members of the Council that they were chosen based on their capacity to participate in the activities of the group and deliver positive results.
He charged them to work hard to win votes for the candidates of the APC and the Rainbow Coalition for the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly as well as State House of Assembly elections next year.
He disclosed that apart from the Presidential Campaign Council and its sub-committees, the Local Government Campaign Councils will soon be inaugurated to ensure better coverage of the grassroots during the current campaign season.
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RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
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APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow
Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.
This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.
The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.
The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.
President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.
The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.
The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.
The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.
Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.
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