News
Amaewhule, 26 Other Lawmakers Never Defected To APC, Rivers Chair Confirms
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) states the obvious that 27 members of the State House of Assembly never defected to APC .
Rivers APC chairman Chief Tony Okocha, dismissed claims that the lawmakers had defected to the APC from PDP.
Okocha also denied receiving the lawmakers into the APC, saying what happened at the Port Harcourt Polo Club in December 2023 was not a reception for the 27 lawmakers.
He said the December event attended by the lawmakers was to celebrate the constitution of the state executive council of the APC by the party’s national body.
While addressing a news conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Okocha said he personally invited the lawmakers individually as friends for the 2023 event and not as Assembly members.
He said, “There was no intention to organise a reception for what we were not holding. We were inaugurated in Abuja and we chose to organise a reception and thanksgiving for our members.
It was not to receive the 27 lawmakers. We were misinterpreted to have received the 27 lawmakers into the APC. That is not correct.
“We invited individual members of the Assembly. I have a relationship with them over time. We tried to woo them into the party. I was intentional in reaching out to them to join us. We would have counted it all joy if we had succeeded.”
Okocha continued, “We want to tell Nigerians that the 27 lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule never defected to the All Progressives Congress.
“What people flaunt on social media or television cannot put a plausible argument for them.
“The law is not about emotions. It is as strict as it is.”
He accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of disobeying the rule of law at all times, saying “The era of strong man mentality is gone. The law has taken its place.
“There is no way a High Court can sit in judgment over a superior Court of Appeal. It is not done. It is a pity that senior lawmakers in this country will now come out to misinterpret the court judgment.”
Okocha further accused the governor of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies in his refusal to obey the court judgment which authorised him to re-present the 2024 budget before the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
“We are disenchanted by the governor’s disrespect for the rule of law. Justice James Omotosho granted 15 reliefs in his judgment but the governor has refused to obey them.
“You cannot run the state without an annual budget. But the governor is doing so. You cannot present a budget before a three-man Assembly. The Appeal Court called it a forum,” Okocha stated.
He, however, called for calm and expressed optimism that the parties would obey when the Supreme Court finally rendered judgment on the matter.
By Gloria Ikibah
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited(NNPCL), Mele Kyari, is expected to present the corporation’s position on the tax reform bills before the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Naijablitznews.com reports that Kyari had attended the public hearing on the Tax Reform Bills organised by the House Committee on Finance on Wednesday, but was asked to postpone his presentation.
The Committee Chairman, Rep. James Faleke had directed the suspension after confirming that amendments had been made to Kyari’s memorandum.
As a result, the NNPCL chief will now present the company’s position on Thursday.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has disclosed that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) under his leadership, inherited a debt burden of N8.9 billion.
Ganduje revealed this in Abuja while speaking at the ongoing National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC
According to him, the expenses incurred during pre-election legal battles, election cases, and appeals for legislative, governorship, and presidential elections
The current NWC inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of N8,987,874,663, arising from various legal engagements,” he stated.
He, however, noted that Prof. Abdul Kareem Kana (SAN), the National Legal Adviser, has been working to reduce the debt burden.
“We still passionately appeal to the National Executive Committee to intervene accordingly,” he pleaded.
The meeting was attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; state governors; NWC members; and other party chieftains.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos has rejected the request to step down from the ongoing trial of Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Emefiele is facing 19 counts bordering on abuse of office, receiving gratification, and corrupt demands, brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During Monday’s court proceedings, Olalekan Ojo, counsel for Godwin Emefiele, orally requested that Justice Rahman Oshodi should recuse himself from the trial on the grounds of alleged bias.
The request specifically followed a dispute that arose while the seventh prosecution witness, John Adetola, was testifying.
Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the EFCC’s counsel, was cross examining Adetola’s testimony and referenced an earlier statement in which Adetola claimed he received a bribe from John Ayoh and delivered it to Emefiele at his office.
Oyedepo then asked Adetola to verify a WhatsApp message from Eric Odoh, which had been extracted from his phone by EFCC investigators.
Ojo had objected, arguing that the document was only for identification and had not yet been formally accepted as an exhibit.
The defence had contended that the witness should not read or comment on the document at that point.
The court overruled the objection, citing section 224 of the Evidence Act, which allows for leading questions on introductory or undisputed matters.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the defence declined to cross-examine the witness and instead filed a motion for the judge to recuse himself from the case.
On Wednesday, Justice Oshodi delivered his ruling, stating that after reviewing the arguments and legal authorities presented, the request lacked merit and was therefore dismissed. [With The Witness report]
Kyari to Present NNPCL’s Position Thursday On Tax Reform Bills
“I met debt overhang of N8.9bn, says APC Chairman, Ganduje
Emefiele: Judge turns down request to withdraw from trial
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