News

Court Dismisses Suit Seeking Replacement Of Pro-Wike Lawmakers

Published

6 months ago

September 21, 2024

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja has dismissed a defection suit instituted against the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike.

The suit seeking to replace the 27 lawmakers on account of their alleged defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was dismissed on various grounds.

Delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Lifu held that the suit instituted by the Action People’s Party (APP) was statute-barred and was not filed within 14 days allowed by law.

While the defection was said to have been carried out in December last year, the APP filed the case on July 12, eight months after the cause of action emanated.

Besides, Justice Lifu said that the case was a gross abuse of the court process on the ground that several suits on the alleged defection of the same 27 lawmakers had been adjudicated upon by the Federal High Court.

The judge who quoted the previous judgments of the Federal High Court said that the request for replacement of the lawmakers had earlier been rejected due to a lack of sufficient evidence to establish the defection of the legislators.

He specifically recalled the judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered in July where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was restrained from declaring the seats of the lawmakers vacant and from conducting any fresh election to replace them.

Justice Lifu pointed out that since the judgement had not been set aside and not appealed against, it remains binding with the force of law as far as the issue of defection is concerned for the 27 legislators.

He added that it would amount to a waste of judicial time for him to sit as an appeal court in the judgment of the same court.

News

Just in: Tinubu meets with PANDEF leaders at Aso Rock

Published

3 hours ago

March 11, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

The meeting, which began at 4:15pm with the arrival of President Tinubu is expected to discuss varying issues considered to be critical to the interest of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Convened by the late elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who passed away in February, PANDEF is the mouthpiece of the traditional rulers, leaders and stakeholders of the coastal states of the Niger Delta.

Just as the meeting commenced after the National Anthem had been sung, President Tinubu requested that a minute of silence be observed in memory of Chief Clark.

PANDEF, which is attending the meeting with a large entourage, has former governors, senior politicians, traditional rulers, and other categories of stakeholders in attendance.

Among those at the meeting on PANDEF’s entourage are King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Chairman, Board of Trustees of PANDEF; Obong Victor Attah, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees of PANDEF; Ambassador Godknows Igali, National Chairman of PANDEF; Senator Seriake Dickson; Professor Mike Ozakhome; former Cross River State governor, Mr Liyel Imoke; former Rivers Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru; former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe.

Others are Jaja of Opobo, Professor Dandeson Jaja; Senator Ita Enang; Senator Bassey Henshaw; Mrs Ibim Semenitari, former acting Managing Director of the NDDC; Uche Secondus; Senator Andrew Uchendu; National Coordinator of Host Communities of Nigeria, HOSTCOM, Okareme Maikpobi; Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs; spokesman of PANDEF, Chief Obiwevbi Ominimini.

Also attending are the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy,Bayo Onanuga; Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare; and other aides of the President.

Details shortly…

News

BREAKING: Heavy traffic as tanker explodes on Otedola Bridge

Published

3 hours ago

March 11, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A tanker exploded on Tuesday evening on Otedola Bridge along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, causing heavy traffic and panic on the route.

It was gathered that the incident has resulted in traffic congestion on both lanes of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

The explosion, according to eyewitnesses, occurred around 8 p.m which ignited a fire spreading rapidly.

Reacting, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team is on the scene working to bring the situation under control.

Details shortly….

News

Bill To Establish Federal College of Entrepreneurship Ntigha Pass Second Reading

Published

4 hours ago

March 11, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish a Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition in Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State.

The bill is titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State, to Provide Full-time Courses, Teaching Instruction and Training in Technology, Applied Science, Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities and Management; and for Related Matters” (HB.1165).

Leading the debate, sponsor of the bill Rep. Ginger Onwusibe, stressed the urgenct need to equipping Nigerian youths with practical skills to address the nation’s rising unemployment crisis.

According to Onwusibe, this is part of efforts to tackle youth unemployment and promote economic self-reliance.

He noted that the traditional focus on white-collar jobs had left many graduates struggling to find employment, making vocational and entrepreneurial education a necessary alternative.

“Nigeria faces a rising youth unemployment crisis, exacerbated by an overdependence on white-collar jobs. To address this, we must begin to prioritize entrepreneurial education and vocational training to equip our youth with practical skills required for self-reliance and job creation,” Onwusibe stated.

He explained that, Ntigha strategically located, with its proximity to key commercial centers in the Southeast, making it an ideal site for such an institution.

The proposed college will offer specialized training in critical areas such as agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and digital innovation—aligning with the federal government’s broader economic diversification strategy.

Rep. Onwusibe argued that similar institutions in other countries had significantly contributed to economic transformation, and Nigeria must follow suit to enhance productivity, reduce poverty, and strengthen local industries.

“This initiative will not only empower young people but also boost local industries, reduce poverty, and enhance national productivity.

“We cannot afford to be left behind in the global drive for entrepreneurship and skills acquisition,” he said.

Members of the House are expected to further deliberate on the bill’s provisions before a final decision is made.

The establishment of the college would mark a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape and reducing the country’s high unemployment rate.