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Rivers Election Petition: Court Reserves Judgement In Sekibo Appeal
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, last Monday, reserved judgement in an appeal brought by Senator George Thompson Sekibo, representing Rivers East Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
The court arrived at the decision after counsel representing parties in the suit adopted their respective written briefs for their arguments.
The Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal had in a judgment delivered, last June, ordered the removal of Sekibo as the senator representing the people of Rivers East at the National Assembly.
In the judgement, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Goddy Anunihu, also ordered the immediate replacement of Sekibo with Andrew Uchendu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which the court held was the winner of the senatorial election.
The tribunal also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return it issued to Sekibo and issue a fresh certificate of return to Uchendu.
The tribunal’s decision was predicated on the grounds that Uchendu won the lawful majority vote cast during the Rivers re-run legislative election.
Also, the tribunal had sighted substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines for arriving at the decision to order the removal of Sekibo from office.
But not satisfied with the judgment, Sekibo had approached the appellate court to upturn the decision of the tribunal.
The appeal with number: CA/A/EPT/487/2017, dated July 20, 2017, and filed same day by his Counsel, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), contains 23 grounds upon which the judgment of the tribunal was being challenged.
When the matter was mentioned, last Monday, both Sekibo and Uchendu were present in court.
While Donald Denwigwe (SAN) adopted and relied on his written brief for his argument, and urged the tribunal to allow the appeal, Counsel to the first respondent (Andrew Uchendu), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), adopting and relying on his written addresses, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
Similarly, Counsel to the second respondent (All Progressives Congress), Roland Otaru (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit.
However, counsel to the third and fourth respondents; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not oppose the appeal.
Responding, the three-man panel headed by Justice Adamu Jauro, announced that judgment in the appeal would be given in a date to be communicated to parties in the matter.
The Tide gathered that Sekibo’s appeal was among the 15 appeals arising from the decision of the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal entertained, last Monday, by two courts in the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal.
The courts, however, reserved judgment in all the appeals to a date to be communicated to parties.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
