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Rivers verdict: Fubara Must Cough Out Illegally Spent Funds -Coalition
As reactions continue to tlood in over the judgement of Federal High Court, Abuja, on the Rivers State fund; the National Democratic and Change Coalition (NDCC) has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to cough out all monies spent without appropriation to the state cofers.
The Coalition, while expressing satisfaction over the ruling, said the people of Rivers have been vindicated, and the long awaited justice has been served to the Governor.
Recall that, a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, barred the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), from disbursing further monthly allocations to the Rivers State Government, citing alleged constitutional violations by Governor Fubara.
In her ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik found that Governor Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to a four-member House of Assembly breached constitutional protocol.
The court order further restricts the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, and the state’s accounts at Zenith Bank and Access Bank from releasing any funds to Fubara.
Reacting via a press release Wednesday afternoon, signed by John Uloko Esq,
President of the Coalition, the group hailed Justice Abdulmalik, for holding that, since January 2024, Rivers State has received and spent allocations based on an “illegitimate” budget, thereby describing it as a “constitutional aberration.”
The statement said, “the NDCC, made up of a group of lawyers, has always been of the view that what is going on in Rivers State is a theatre of the absurd that persistently violates the constitution, stands logic on its head and even defies mathematical reasoning to the extent that four members were allowed to constitute themselves into a House of Assembly that is meant to have 32 members”.
“We, therefore, commend Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja for holding that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision.
“This ruling is a victory for democracy and will teach rogue governors the bitter lesson that the Constitution of the Federal Republic must be respected and the sanctity of our democratic institutions upheld irrespective of their political desperation. Operating an illegal State Assembly of four men by any Governor is something everyone should condemn in totality and welcome the court’s judgment.
“In the wake of this judgement, NDCC urges Governor Fubara to immediately reverse all his decisions and actions based on the illegitimate Assembly since they all suffer the same defect as the budget the court threw out.
“The Governor must also strongly consider refunding all the Rivers States’ funds illegally expended from January to date.
“We further advise Governor Fubara to urgently do the needful by resubmitting the state’s budget to the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly for due process to be followed so that governance is not truncated and the people plunged into more misery than they have already endured from the Governor being absorbed in his political sabre-rattling.
“Finally, Governor Fubara must allow Rivers State to breathe by stopping all the unnecessary squabbling that has served no useful purpose”, the Coalition added.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian Senate has screened and confirmed the appointment of seven ministerial nominees forwarded to it by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The nominees were confirmed after several hours of screening during plenary in Abuja
However, some of the nominees who had served the nation in different capacities in the past, and were confirmed by the Senate, were simply asked to introduce themselves and then take a bow and go.
The ministerial appointees who were screened and confirmed are: Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Muhammadu Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment and Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State and, Foreign Affairs.
Others are Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Development, Idi Maiha, Ministry of Livestock Development, Yusuf Ata, Minister of State, Housing and Dr Suwaiba Ahmad, Minister of State for Education.
The Senate on Wednesday gave a clean bill of health to Bianca wife of former governor of Eastern Nigeria, Odumegu Ojukwu, and six other minister-designates forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu.
In her presentation, the nominee from Anambra, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, lamented the state of the country’s embassies abroad.
She said that poor funding had put the posts in “deplorable conditions that do not represent Nigeria’s standing in the comity of nations.”
It is imperative to renovate the buildings and make the surrounding suitable for lawmakers to use when you come to these countries, and to interface with foreign partners”.
She said that among the country’s challenges was commitment to service, adding “if we are committed to serving this nation with the focus of finding peace, we shall succeed.”
A few senators who spoke during the exercise commended Tinubu for bringing in nominees in spite of party affiliations.
The nomination, according to Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia) highlighted the administration’s focus on the unity of the country.
He said, “The President must be commended for nominating someone across party lines, even someone from APGA, and the wife of my former party leader, late Chief Odumegu Ojukwu.
“By this, the President has started a unity government and the process of national integration”.
For his part, Sen. Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra), described her nomination as a healing process for the country
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the new Chief of Army Staff.
This was contained in a statement on Wednesday by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
He said Oluyede would hold sway as the CoAS pending the return of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who is said to be indisposed and is receiving treatment abroad.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS),” the statement read.
“Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
Until his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
The 56-year-old Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.
Oluyede has held many commands since his commissioning as an officer. He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.
General Oluyede participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.
Oluyede has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations. These include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.
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