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Rivers APC Crisis Worsens As Faction Rejects A’Court’s Judgement …Replaces Aguma With Ben Chioma
The Igo Aguma-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has rejected the Court of Appeal’s judgement setting aside the decision of the High Court, which earlier declared Aguma as the caretaker committee chairman of the party in the state.
The faction immediately appointed Aguma’s Deputy, Golden Ben Chioma, to act temporarily as the caretaker committee chairman of the party pending the completion of its appeal at the Supreme Court.
The faction, in a statement signed by Aguma’s Media Adviser, Livingstone Wechie, yesterday, described the appeal court’s judgement sacking Aguma as unacceptable, saying it would appeal the ruling at the Supreme Court.
Wechie said the court erred in its decision to rule on the matter that was already a subject of appeal at the Supreme Court, citing Appeal number SC/CV/377/2020 between Hon Igo Aguma v. Mr. Isaac Ogbobula & 2 Others; and appeal number SC/CV/489/2020 between Hon Igo Aguma v. Mr. Isaac Ogbobula & 2 Others.
Wechie said: “Whereas we have always known this fact and it is undisputable that the case being a pre-election matter has been challenged at the Supreme Court.
“It, therefore, follows being a pre-election matter; the Appeal Court had no jurisdiction to hear the APC appeal ab initio. The APC appeal was filed in July 2020 as an afterthought by the National Caretaker Committee, after the Adams Oshiomhole-led committee which accepted the judgement and communicated same to Hon Igo Aguma on the 23rd of June had been dissolved in defiance to National Executive Committee (NEC) directive of the APC.
“The 1999 Constitution as amended makes it clear that pre-election matters are to be filed within 14 days. The APC appeal is clearly over a month after the judgement was given and as such the Appeal Court had no jurisdiction to hear it in the first instance.
“This is our case. In fact, the Supreme Court has been asked in the earlier appeal by Ogbobula to determine whether this is a pre-election matter. In line with judicial procedures, there is an Affidavit of Facts before the Appeal Court in respect of the appeals pending at the Supreme Court but the Appeal Court in its wisdom chose to go ahead anyways”.
Wechie said the Appeal Court was duly notified about the pending appeals and should note that it lacked the jurisdiction sit on appeal over the Supreme Court or its judgements.
“This development does not in any way come to us a surprise at all but we shall not take issues with the court in the media because we respect and have always respected the Bench. As responsible citizens and as a party, we shall only await and look up to the Supreme Court on these matters as properly before the Supreme Court for determination.
“This judgement is strange and shall be further tested at the Supreme Court because as the bona fide leadership of the APC in Rivers State, we shall not allow our party to be denied justice because the Law is trite and in our favour.
“May we state for the time being that Hon Golden Ben Chioma, the Deputy State Acting/Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC Rivers State shall act as the state acting chairman in place of Hon Igo Aguma pending the filing of the appeal at the Supreme Court and it being properly entered.
“We shall not give saboteurs the space to destroy our party because of the unwholesome and selfish interest of one man styled and christened the godfather of APC Rivers State.
“We restate that we shall test all contrary judgments from the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court knowing that the APC case being statue barred is a incontrovertibly a pre-election matter. We believe the Supreme Court will have a final say in this matter”.
Also, Chioma, who was appointed by the faction to temporarily replace Aguma urged party members to remain calm and wait for the decision of the apex court.
He, however, said APC must be on the ballot for the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State.
Chioma said: “We have been briefed on the Court of Appeal judgement today in Abuja. All party faithful in Rivers State should remain calm and resolute as we have already instructed our lawyers to immediately appeal against the judgements at the Supreme Court while we continue with our preparations for the 2021 Local Government Election in Rivers State. APC must be on the ballot and there is no going back.”
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.