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UNIBADAN Advises 408 Students To WithdrawOgonis, FG In Court Over Saro-Wiwa’s Death

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The Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal, last Monday, heard an appeal filed by a group of Ogoni leaders under the aegis of Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates (KSWA) challenging the judgement of a lower court voiding the suit instituted to seek redress and justice over the gruesome murder of environmental rights activist and playwright, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa and eight others by the federal government in 1995.
Members of the activist group and the people of Ogoni had stormed the court in their large numbers, demanding an accelerated, speedy and fair hearing of the suit filed in September 7, 2017, before the lead judge, Barrister A. A. Gumel.
They also prayed the court to declare the special tribunal constituted by then military government and the process of setting it up as unlawful.
The Ogonis also sought for other reliefs, including setting aside the judgement of the tribunal against Saro-Wiwa and eight others on October 31, 1995.
The group is asking the court to annul the judgement by the Federal High Court that struck out its suit against the federal government on the killing of the Ogoni Nine.
According to KSWA, the court should declare the Ogoni Civil Disturbance Tribunal which sentenced the Ogoni Nine activists to death by hanging, null and void and of no effect.
However, when the case was mentioned at exactly 3pm, the appellant lawyer, Barrister Golden Aawi reminded the court that there was pending motion before it, seeking leave to extend the time to enable his clients get all the necessary documents from the Federal High Court and other vital sources needed to kick-start the case with a view to getting fair hearing.
In his ruling on the appellant lawyer’s request, the presiding Judge, Justice A.A. Gumel granted the motion sought, and adjourned the case for further hearing to October 8, 2018.
Meanwhile, a statement signed by the Secretary General, Ken Saro Wiwa Associates Worldwide, Chief Charles Ekoro, referred to Paragraph 9 of the “Ogoni General Assembly Communiqué 2018,” and stated: “The Ogoni people affirmed that there cannot be any meaningful talks or negotiation on oil and gas exploration in Ogoniland until this prolonged matter is dispensed with.”

 

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

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Why Wike Is Playing God In Rivers -Asari Dokubo

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A former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, has claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is “playing god” in the current political crisis that has pitched him against the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Dokubo also chided President Bola Tinubu for, according to him, handing over “Rivers and Bayelsa” to the ex-governor.
“He is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo said in a video that surfaced on X.com on Monday.
He added, “I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State (sic). You took Rivers state and gave it one man”
In April, Fubara revealed that the administration has raised the monthly Internally Generated Revenue of the state from N12 billion which he met upon assumption of office to N27 billion.
Dokubo described the development as commendable while alleging that the governor only had access to N6 billion when he assumed office.
“The governor had come out to say that the IGR for Rivers State is now N27bn up from N12bn. The governor is even being economical with the truth. When the governor came in, they were giving him a paltry sum of N6bn,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another twist to the ongoing crisis, Fubara on Monday said that he would set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
He disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticized recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
He stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”

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Investors, Tourists To Get Visa Within 48 Hours, FG Assures

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The Federal Executive Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a tripartite committee to streamline visa processes and acquisition for investors interested in investing in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this, yesterday, after the FEC meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Our visa processes are becoming cumbersome. The ease of doing business is also tied to our visa processes.
“Going forward, those investors, tourists would find it easy to acquire a visa within the next 48 hours,” Idris said.
The meeting which began on Monday was adjourned till Tuesday to allow for other “far-reaching” decisions, the information minister had told journalists.

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Panel To Probe Governance In Rivers Underway -Fubara …Swears In Iboroma As New Attorney-General

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his readiness to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
Fubara disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticised recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
Fubara stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”
Addressing the new AG, the governor said, “You have a big task. As it is today in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affair of governance.”
The governor further said there was a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration, saying, “If we disagree, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement there is no headway to it, and for many reasons, there is very visible evidence that there is sabotage, a deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“Maybe where they are they are telling them nothing will happen, it is happening here live, we have our own legislators that are performing their duties according to the Constitution. So that record is threatened.”

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