Politics
Court Refuses To Stop Edo Assembly From Impeaching Dep Gov
On Wednesday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court declined to grant an application by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, directing Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki, the House of Assembly and others, in the case he (Shaibu) instituted against his impeachment, to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The development occurred after Justice James Omotosho refused to grant the oral application made by Mr Shaibu’s lawyer, Oladoyin Awoyale, to the effect.
In a motion ex parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, the embattled deputy governor had sued the Edo government, governor, House of Assembly, and Speaker as the first to fourth defendants.
The suit also named the Clerk of the House, Chief Judge, Inspector-General of Police, and Director-General of State Security Service as the fifth and eighth defendants.
In the motion dated and filed March 8, Mr Shaibu sought an interim injunction restraining the third to fifth defendants from interfering with the subject matter of the originating summons.
He also sought an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants jointly or severally from taking any adverse actions in relation to any attempt or process targeted at his removal from office as Deputy Governor of Edo State pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
He urged the court to make an order restraining the 1st to 8th defendants from preventing him from performing his official duties and discharging his responsibilities, including attending the State Executive Council meetings/functions and other duties.
On March 13, the judge refused to grant the ex-parte motion after Mr Awoyale moved it.
Instead, the judge ordered the lawyer to serve all the defendants with the processes and hearing notices and adjourned until March 18 for the hearing.
But on Tuesday, when the matter came up, Mr Awoyale told the court that he could not serve some of the defendants, and the judge adjourned the matter to Wednesday to hear another motion filed.
Upon resumed hearing on Wednesday, Mr Awoyale informed the court that he had a humble application dated March 8. He said the motion sought an order granting leave to them to effect service of the originating summons and other processes on the first and second defendants by substituted means, such as pasting the documents at the gate of the Edo government House or by courier service.
The senior lawyer said the motion also sought an order granting leave to effect service of the processes on the third and fourth defendants by substituted means, through pasting it on the parliament’s gate or by courier service.
He urged the court to grant their prayers.
He said the sixth, seventh and 8th defendants had been served.
Mr Awoyale then prayed the court for an order for parties to maintain a status quo pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
He cited previous cases to back his submission.
But the judge turned down Awoyale’s request for an order for parties to maintain status quo.
“Counsel, you know that it is not possible,” he said.
The judge held that the previous case cited by the lawyer was not applicable in the instant suit.
He said that according to the authority cited about the military administrator of Lagos, all the parties in the suit had been served, but in the present case, some parties had yet to be served.
“Today, we are just seeking leave to serve the parties by substituted means. So, can this court grant this? The answer is no,” the judge said.
The judge, however, advised the lawyer to apply for a fiat through the Federal High Court chief judge so that their case could be heard during vacation, as the court would commence its vacation on Friday.
The judge, who granted the leave for substituted service as prayed by the lawyer, adjourned the matter until April 15 for a hearing.
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.
A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity. In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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