News

2023: Court Orders Substituted Service Of Documents On PRP’s Presidential Candidate

Published

3 years ago

September 9, 2022

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered Kola Abiola, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), to be served with documents filed in a suit seeking his nullification at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the order on Wednesday after Wilson Ivara, the lead counsel for the plaintiff, moved an ex-parte motion seeking substituted service of court processes on Mr Abiola, which was not opposed by Juliet Anyata, lawyer to PRP.
Patience Ndidi Key, a female presidential aspirant in the June 5 primaries conducted by the party, had prayed the court to nullify the poll that produced Mr Abiola as the PRP’s presidential candidate.
In an originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1001/2022, Ms Key also prayed for an order setting aside the declaration of Mr Abiola as the winner of the primaries conducted across the country.
The presidential candidate is the son of late MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The plaintiff had sued the party, Mr Abiola, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first, second and third defendants, respectively.
When the matter came up for mention, Mr Ivara informed that he had a motion ex-parte seeking leave of the court to serve the originating summons, notice of amendment and other processes on the second defendant (Mr Abiola) by substituted service, through pasting them at the PRP national headquarters located at No. 8, Ogabi Street, Garki 2, Abuja.
He also sought an order deeming the service of all the court papers by substituted means on Mr Abiola as valid and proper service.
He said the motion was dated and filed on September 2.
After Ms Anyata did not oppose it, the judge granted the application as prayed.
“We shall be asking for a date to enable us to serve all the parties in the matter,” Mr Ivara said
But Ms Anyata told the court that she also has a motion on notice seeking to regularise their application.
“I have been able to serve the plaintiff and INEC,” she said.
She described the motion as a harmless application.
The motion sought an order extending the time within which PRP was to file its Memorandum of Conditional Appearance in line with FHC Practice Direction, same being out of time.
The judge, however, asked her if Mr Abiola (the second defendant) had been served, and she responded in the negative.
Mr Mohammed, who said all parties in a suit must be served with any motion before “it can be moved except if it is a motion ex-parte,” refused to grant the lawyer’s request.
He adjourned the matter until October 11 for further mention and directed that hearing notices be issued to the second and third defendants.
Neither Mr Abiola nor INEC was represented in court.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

9 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

10 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

10 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.