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THE SINS OF OBASEKI AGAINST THE APC AND WHY HE MUST BE PUNISHED

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THE SINS OF OBASEKI AGAINST THE APC AND WHY HE MUST BE PUNISHED

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his distinguished committee headed by Chief Bisi Akande, one of the
founding fathers and leaders of our great party, is the party’s third
official attempt at reconciliation in the Edo State Chapter of the All
Progressives Congress.

The first two attempts, the latest being the committee constituted and
headed by the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, was scuttled by the
governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki who, with a wave of the hand,
publicly announced his rejection of the committee, accusing the
characters involved, including fellow governors and national figures of
the APC, of bias and less-than-ideal integrity.

In the case of the Senate President’s committee, Mr. Godwin Obaseki did
not even wait for the committee to initiate the process of reconciling
the conflicting parties in the state before filling the pages of the
newspaper and other segments of the media with attacks on the
personality of Senator Ahmed Lawan, emboldening his loyalists to
reinforce the oppositional line of attack including the abhorrent
designation of the Senate President as a “rubber stamp” official for his
willingness to help the President and Leader of the APC, President
Muhammadu Buhari, achieve his ‘Next Level’ mandate without the kind of
institutional resistance and unnecessary grandstanding the previous
Senate embarked on to the detriment of our great party.

This is worth retelling as it showcases – more recently – and symbolizes
the inflammatory and careless approach Mr. Godwin Obaseki employs in the
handling of matters that relate to politics and governance in Edo State,
his quick resort to media blackmail of individuals he disagrees with
irrespective of shared party membership and how the attacks may affect
the party, disregard of stipulated party processes to conflict
resolution, and an almost despotic insistence of having his own way in
all matters without care for establishing a consensus or even
considering other interests as it ought to be in a democracy and party
decision making.

Ultimately, by choosing this path, Mr. Godwin Obaseki set the stage for
the crisis in Edo State and escalated same to the point where his
membership must now be stripped to avoid breaking the morale of teeming
members in he has mindlessly trampled on and to preserve the principle
of party supremacy that places defined laws and processes above
everything else.

Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s emergence in 2016 on the platform of our great
party was a direct product of the leadership of Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, and the labor of numerous political actors in the 18 Local
Government Areas of the state.

It is without a doubt that his journey right from the primaries to
campaign and subsequently, the election itself was a political process,
as is normal in party democracy, and given his own admitted limited
knowledge of politics, he relied on the expertise and experience of
politicians in the state loyal to our party to claim victory in a
difficult contest against the formidable Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the
then opposition party.

To put it simply, Mr. Godwin Obaseki emerged from a political process
designed and implemented by politicians with added qualifications as
professionals in various walks of life to carry on the mandate of
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole whose performance and success helped the APC to
build trust and gain acceptance in the state.

However, no sooner did Mr. Godwin Obaseki resume office that he began to
castigate the same process that propelled him into the position. Under
the pretense of ‘focusing on governance’ as though he is the first
elected governor of the state, Mr. Obaseki neglected party matters and
treated leaders and members of the party with disdain in an elitist,
restrictive and disrespectful disposition that left many shocked,
disillusioned and began to consider jumping ship.

The important work of deepening the ties of the APC with the people of
Edo State and broadly the South-South region that began in 2007 before
the merger as Action Congress of Nigeria and continued post-merger as
the united front of the APC replaced the PDP government at the center
faced a deadly prospect under Mr. Godwin Obaseki, exposing members to
ridicule and promoting the damaging idea that the Edo APC is merely
focused on winning elections and not managing what comes next.

Mr. Godwin Obaseki in his appointments shunned loyal party members,
favored unknown individuals were incapable of passing any competence
test and placed his own personal relationships above important party
considerations. This was a problematic factor that resulted in the
governor handing sensitive positions to members of even the opposition
party, creating real problems for our leaders who had to deal with
complaints of party faithful who were becoming disillusioned and
wondering why the party that won the election is not forming the
government as is the usual practice in every democracy across the globe.

Worse still, under the watch of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Edo state slipped
into a state of complete disrepair with critical projects abandoned and
new ones commissioned and executed with sub-standard materials leading
to near-immediate disintegration, a clear reversal from the days of
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole whose legacy projects remain solid and visible
in the state till this day. All of these made it difficult to justify
the actions of Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his neglect of the party in the
state, especially to members who sold the Obaseki candidacy to their
friends and neighbors and became subjects of ridicule and reproach at
the poor governance that followed.

When leaders of the party in the state brought these issues to Mr.
Godwin Obaseki, he roundly dismissed them and forthwith, began a
campaign of calumny against them in the media, spreading falsehood and
depicting the leaders as “locusts”, “corrupt people” etc who are
demanding that he “shares Edo people’s money” with them.

His media aides also had a field day attacking leaders of the Edo APC in
the cyberspace, attaching their images to graphical illustrations
bearing weighty but false allegations, effectively tarnishing their
image and exposing them and family to real danger. Unsurprisingly, this
reckless and dangerous action found a resistant reaction amongst members
of the party whose discontent had simmered for so long.

With things coming to a head, instead of embracing dialogue and
accommodating the interests of others to find a resolution and returning
things back to normal, Mr. Godwin Obaseki dug deeper and began to
engineer the illegal arrest and detainment of party leaders at the local
level, accusing them of all manner of crimes in what represented an
abuse of office, misuse of state agencies and bastardization of due
process.

The first public consequence of Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s obstinacy and
misguided attack on his own party structure came during the general 2019
elections when, as a result of his divisionary tactics, poor
organization, fading popularity, and incompetence, Edo State lost to the
PDP in the Presidential election, with the governor himself, for the
first time in the history of the state, failed to deliver his own ward,
Local Government Area and Senatorial District to the APC. As a matter of
fact, the party obtained confidential correspondence that showed that
Mr. Gdowin Obaseki deliberately tanked the ambition of the party’s Edo
South Senatorial candidate, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, causing his defeat
because he felt the respected and loyal Hon. Patrick who has given years
of service to the state and building the APC in Edo will not pay him
fealty.

Similarly, during the primary election for the representatives of Edo
State in the Edo House of Assembly, Obaseki’s growing rejection by party
members also came to the fore when his attempt to rig the nomination
process was resisted and credible candidates were produced. Initially,
when the nomination process was concluded, Mr. Godwin Obaseki went to
town decrying the process and baselessly accusing the National Chairman
of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, of swapping the list of
nominated candidates in Abuja and replacing them with “unpopular
choices”.

However, when the APC swept the election and produced all members for
the available 24 seats in the Edo Assembly, the same man recanted his
stance, attempting to claim credit for the outcome by posturing that the
victory was a ‘vote of confidence’ on his administration despite his
opposition to the candidates who delivered the victory and his apparent
unwise attack of the National Chairman.

The lie soon came to be exposed when Mr. Godwin Obaseki, once again
resorting to force and intimidation, conditioned the inauguration of the
Assembly and the swearing-in of the members-elect on the selfish
requirement that they relinquish their age-long,
constitutionally-guaranteed practice of freely electing the leadership
of the House and determining the legislative agenda and priorities of
the Assembly.

Afraid of his own shadow and perhaps fearing retribution for his failed
attempt to scuttle their election during the campaign and election
stage, Mr. Godwin Obaseki sought to divide the Assembly by imposing a
minority rule by propping Mr. Frank Okiye as the only accepted Speaker
even though he lacks the backing of the majority of his colleagues and
the House of Assembly is an independent arm of government that can be
lobbied but not harassed into a decision.

To fulfill this selfish and condemnable desire, on the 17th of June
2019, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, acting through his Deputy, Philip Shaibu,
forcefully hijacked nine out of the 24 members-elect and assembled them
at the Assembly complex where they were compelled to swear oath of
inauguration and purportedly elect Frank Okiye as the Speaker of the
Assembly during nocturnal hours.

As follow up to this illegal action, the majority of the members-elect
who refused to be a part of the sham process and insisted on the right
thing, including a well-publicized and circulated proclamation of
inauguration served to all members-elect indicating time and venue for
the inauguration exercise contrary to the nocturnal affair conducted by
the governor, came under attack by thugs led by Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s
personal security aide, Michael Nwankwo, at the Golden Tulip hotel in
Benin City on the 19th of June 2019. They suffered physical assault and
some were hospitalized including Hon. Crossby Eribo.

Thus began a concerning wave of attacks and state-sponsored violence in
the state. Even though both arms of the National Assembly controlled by
our great party, in independent investigations, arrived at the
resolution that Mr. Godwin Obaseki issue a fresh proclamation for the
conduct of a legal and inclusive inauguration ceremony for the Edo
Assembly, he refused and violated the party constitution which holds
that members are not allowed to seek court intervention in internal
crisis without first exhausting the stipulated means and mechanisms of
conflict resolution by the leadership of the party when he dragged the
National Assembly to multiple courts in the country, portraying the
party as one that lacks discipline and providing the opposition at the
state and national level with ammunition to offer scathing criticisms of
the APC to the public.

Mr. Godwin Obaseki denied representation to dozens of constituencies in
Edo state that placed their trust in the APC and doubled down in his
violence and threats, including at a vanity rally held in Benin city
where he essentially gave a public endorsement to non-state actors to
unleash violence on anyone perceived to be against his political
desires, including any delegation sent by the national leadership of the
All Progressives Congress.

When the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, in his
position as the leader of the party, waded into the crisis and called
for all parties to abide by the party constitution, Mr. Godwin Obaseki,
aware that his actions contravene the constitution and indeed all known
legal laws and moral decency, personalized the call and heightened his
attack on the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, framing him as an overbearing
godfather and tried to turn the public against him.

On multiple occasions, including on the 3rd of November 2019 during the
convocation ceremony of Edo State University, Iyamho, attended by the
Oba of Lagos and other eminent guests, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, seeking to
embarrass the National Chairman and pinning the state-sponsored violence
he is driving on him, attacked the residence of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
with some thugs led on a motorcycle by his Deputy Philip Shaibu as seen
in pictures that made the rounds on the internet. Not stopping there,
using the pliable and suspended former Chairman of Edo APC, Anselm
Ojezua, Mr. Godwin Obaseki carelessly and unwisely announced a said
suspension of the National Chairman of the APC, a deeply embarrassing
event and an affront on the National Working Committee as well as other
leaders of the party across the country that endorsed the emergence of
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and have expressed confidence in his service.
He took the embarrassment a notch higher with his recent submission of a
petition to the Police and DSS demanding the immediate arrest of the
National Chairman.

As it stands, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, bent on imposing himself on the party
and the state for another term, has attempted to jeopardize the growth
and expansion efforts of dedicated party members who are working hard to
bring new people into the party to strengthen its numbers ahead of the
forthcoming election. Even though their job is already made harder by
the obvious incompetence of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, he has now  restricted
membership of the APC only to ingratiating persons who accept his return
as an inevitable outcome even though this runs against the principle of
internal democracy and non-forceful consensus that the party is built
on.

This came to play when Mr. Godwin Obaseki tried to block the return of
Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu, a well-followed and influential politician in
the state whose membership of the APC will definitely help her fortunes
at the polls, by announcing an undemocratic ban on political gathering
and rallies, setting the stage for his thugs who attacked and burned the
scheduled venue where the Edo APC planned to ceremoniously receive
Pastor Iyamu into its fold alongside thousands of his members.

Using this illegal ban as an excuse, even though the constitution is
clear on the body with the authority to issue such ban and the
conditions under which it can be used to guard against suppression of
dissent and denial of the freedom to assemble and voice support for a
cause, Mr. Godwin Obaseki continues to attack rallies of the APC
including the ones held recently in Edo North and Edo Central to welcome
defectors.

Beside the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Henry Idahagbon,
Chief Lawrence Okah and other leaders of the APC in the state have come
under assassination attacks for their opposition to Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
While they managed to escape, other party members have not been so lucky
with many still receiving treatment at various hospitals across the
state for injuries suffered at the hands of thugs empowered by the state
government and given a free rein to unleash terror on anyone not caving
to the tyrannical desire of Mr. Godwin Obaseki. Houses have been
demolished, businesses sealed and life cut short as Mr. Godwin Obaseki
has blurred the line between the personal and official, using state
agencies and public resources in his personal quest to crown himself
King of Edo politics –  against popular desire.

For months now, as Mr. Godwin Obaseki continues to ridicule leaders of
the APC and disregard their attempt at managing the crisis, he has
publicly opened talks with leading figures in the opposition party,
fraternizing with them and fueling rumors of a plan to decimate the APC
before abandoning it for another party in the coming days.

From the few cited instances and ugly incidents, it has become glaring
that Mr. Godwin Obaseki is a bad party member incapable of the summoning
the loyalty, decency, maturity and respect for hierarchy required to
steer the ship of the APC successfully in Edo state. His actions, and
inaction, have done real damage to the party, inflicted injuries on
scores of members, and sowed seeds of division that can only be uprooted
with him.

The party cannot move forward with the continued membership of Mr.
Godwin Obaseki and his cohorts as that would be implicitly promoting the
message that the leadership lacks the authority to exert punishment on
an errant member that crossed every possible line in presenting an
affront to the founding ideals and institutional authority of the All
Progressives Congress. Worse still, given his incompetence and already
cemented legacy as a traitor and treacherous individual, the people of
Edo state have made clear their rejection of Obaseki. At present,
because of his actions, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has become a liability and
cancer to the All Progressives Congress.  A clean, surgical removal and
eviction is the only possible solution.

Daredevil Rice Smugglers Attack Customs Personnel, Injure One In Ogun State

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Daredevil Rice Smugglers Attack Customs Personnel, Injure One In Ogun State

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]fficers and men of Nigeria Customs Service Ogun State command supported by personnel of the Nigerian Army on patrol have been attacked by daredevil persons suspected to be rice smugglers in Ogun State.

In a press statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada the attack took place at 02:30 hours of Monday, February 17, 2020, after the officers and men of the command identified a hideout used by unscrupulous elements to stockpile smuggled rice and other prohibited items.

According to him, in an effort to evacuate the ‘uncustomed’ goods from the scene, some daredevil criminals shot sporadically at the officers.

He added: “In the melee that ensued, one patriotic youth who was assisting the team in the evacuation of the seized items was hit by a stray bullet and immediately rushed to the hospital where he is currently receiving medical attention. Furthermore, two official vehicles attached to the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Customs Service respectively were equally pelted with bullets (pictures attached).

”However, the team gallantly responded to the aggression and succeeded in evacuating 110 bags of smuggled parboiled rice of 50kg each. Also, one suspect was arrested in connection with the incident and is currently undergoing interrogation.”

Similarly, he hinted that the CAC Special Taskforce led by ASC I M Lawal made another discovery of new antics being employed by smugglers to beat ‘the eagle eyes’ of officers and men of the command.

“Large quantity of smuggled rice which was carefully concealed in a volvo truck with Chasis number: YB1E6A2A2JB420916 and registration number: FFF–897 ZC (Ogun state) was criminally disguised as cassava flour (white elubo), fufu and maize. Further examination revealed 410 bags of smuggled parboiled rice of 50kg each deceptively packaged in the said vehicle,” he said.

To this end, comptroller of the command, Agbara Michael assured members of the public that the renewed hostilities by armed smugglers will not deter the command from discharging its statutory responsibilities.

He emphatically pledged to decisively stop all forms of aggressions applied by smugglers in the interest of social and economic prosperity of our dear country.

Micheal stated that, ”I wish to express the command’s profound appreciation firstly to the Comptroller General of Customs and his amiable management, other sister agencies, traditional leaders, eminent personalities and some host communities for their unconditional support towards effectively securing our nation against the nefarious activities of smugglers.”

F0U Customs intercepts 1,393 bags of rice, smuggled food items in gas cylinder in Ogun

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F0U Customs intercepts 1,393 bags of rice, smuggled food items in gas cylinder in Ogun

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Federal Operations Unit ( FOU ), Zone ‘A’ of Nigeria Customs Services has   again  descended  hard on smugglers, intercepting various contraband goods concealed in  gas cylinders.
The Ag. Controller of the Unit, Deputy Comptroller Usman Yahaya in his  unrelenting efforts  has continued to yield more result in its anti-smuggling drives. Despite closing her land borders against trade, food smuggling into Nigeria has continued unabated, with dare-devil smugglers becoming more desperate than ever before and moving rice in gas cylinders across the border into Ogun and Lagos.

The Federal Operations Unit Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service recently smashed a gang of smugglers, seizing 1,393 bags of rice, rice in gas drums, 625 cartons of frozen chicken, 187 jars and 66 drums of vegetable oil among many other items.

Usman Yahaya, acting controller of FOU Zone A, says unrelenting efforts of his men has continued to yield more result in his anti-smuggling drives.

“Barely two weeks after the comptroller-general of Customs’ working visit to Lagos where he showcased various seizures made by FOU A worth over N10 billion, we have again intercepted 1,393 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice, 187 jerrycans/66 drums of foreign vegetable oil and 625 cartons of poultry products from unapproved routes within Ogun State between 5th -17th February 2020 based on surveillance and routine patrol,” Yahaya said in a statement.

According to him, the rice, vegetable oil and poultry products were conveyed in 12 different motor vehicles and also concealed in gas cylinders with a cumulative duty paid value of N40.14 million.

“This desperate act by these dare-devil smugglers concealing edible items in a gas cylinder further justifies the hard chase by operatives of Customs. DPV of each type of seized items include rice, N27.86 million; vegetable oil, N6.28 million, and frozen poultry N6 million,” the controller was quoted in the statement by the zone’s spokesman, Jerry Attah.

 Yahaya, a deputy comptroller of Customs, warned smugglers to repent from their unscrupulous activities, or continue to count their losses as his unit would continue to be a source of nightmare to the economic saboteurs.

He also advised legitimate traders to be compliant in their declarations as the unit is ever ready to facilitate their trade in line with world best practices.

While thanking Hameed Ali, comptroller general of Customs and the entire management team of the Nigeria Customs Service for providing necessary logistics and motivation that led to this feat, Yahaya called on all meaningful Nigerians to support the service’s fight against smuggling activities by providing intelligence that could assist the unit achieve more monumental seizures.

Compt. Mohammed Garba continues His Anti-Smuggling War at North Central States

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Compt. Mohammed Garba continues His Anti-Smuggling War at North Central States
Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba ,The Coordinator,
Joint Border Operation Drill

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Mohammed Uba Garba, the Former Controller, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja and Seme Border Customs Command now the present Coordinator in Charge of North Central States,Joint Border Operation Drill who by any matrix, can be called an anti-smuggling czar, has taken battle to the Smugglers den at North Central States immediately he assumed office. He vowed to stop smugglers from operating at North Central States, because he knows that smugglers are economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law.

He has always held on to the philosophy that you can never succeed as an anti-smuggling officer by mere saying smuggling is bad and smugglers are dangerous to our national economic growth. You must try to show example by fighting it head-on and putting your life on the line to show that you can die for this course. This anti-smuggling czar whose antecedents are record breaking at Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja , Seme Border when it comes to Customs operations wondered aloud that while a good number of well meaning Nigerians are appreciative of government efforts to rid the nation of corruption in all its ramifications, some smugglers are repentantly bent on circumventing the lofty mission for their selfish interest. A believer in optimum delivery wherever he serves. Compt. Mohammed Garba, enumerated the obvious consequences of smuggling to the nation’s economy and her citizenry especially when it has brought unspeakable grief and sorrows to those caught and members of their families.

One thing going for Compt. Uba is perhaps in the history of his Customs Operations, the man has remained true to his pledge to ensure that journalists are briefed on the activities of his command on monthly basis. This is alien to most of the Area Controllers who are cowards and will quickly tell some journalists that “I don’t want to be blowing my trumpet so that Abuja will not think I want to take their job”. This officer of note has made the fourth Estate of the realm proud than ever in this regard. In doing this, he has chronicled his stewardship right from his days at the Zone ‘C’ in Owerri to keep Doubting Thomases at bay. He capped it up in Zone ‘A’ and Seme Border if you must know.

Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba has served at different capacities in the Service. His outstanding achievements and rising profile on the job made him an exceptional Customs officer. He joined the Service in 1988, where he served in defunct Gongola State Command, as the OC Border Patrol. He worked at that Command for five years, after which he was posted to Kano in June, 1993. He served in Kano till December the same 1993. While in Kano, he was the sectional O/C Baggage, at the Aminu Kano International Airport. In December 1993, he was posted to Ogun Command, where he was made the OC Surveillance at Idiroko, the border between Nigeria and Republic of Benin. He served there till 1996, and was sent to Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, as Officer in charge of Shed ‘4’. His duty there was examination of cargo. In July 1997, Uba was again posted to Kano, where he worked as Baggage Coordinator at airport. There, he was Coordinator at Nigerian Airways NAHCO shed till 2004.

In March, 2004, Uba was posted to Onne Command in Port Harcourt, as OC Clean Report of Inspection, CRI, a document necessary for clearing of cargo. In 2005, at Onne Command, Uba became Assistant Comptroller, and was posted as officer in charge of Federal Ocean Terminal, FOT. In April 2008, he was sent to Customs Headquarters, tariff and trade unit, but later posted to Lilypond, as OC Valuation, till 2009. The same 2009, Uba became Deputy Comptroller, DC. So, in 2010, he was sent to Kirikiri Lighter Terminal as DC in charge of SDV Terminal.

The Journey did not end there. In 2011, he was posted to Tincan Command, as DC export, where he served till 2013. In the same 2013, he was transferred to Port Harcourt Area-1, and was redeployed the same year to Ogun Command as DC in charge of Import, where he served till 2015 when he became Controller. As the job demands, he was posted back to Headquarters in 2015 as Comptroller in charge of tariff. The same year, he was redeployed as Comptroller posting till October 2016, meaning, he didn’t spend a year when he was posted as Comptroller Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone ‘C’ Owerri, in charge of five Eastern States and 6 South/South States (11 States together). In May 2017, he assumed office as CAC of FOU Zone ‘A’, Lagos, where he has been chasing smugglers day and night and it was based on his outstanding records in anti-smuggling activities as well as revenue generation in the history of Federal Operations Units that earn him his recent position as the Customs Area Controller in Garba has generated the sum of One Billion, fifty million, eight hundred and sixty eight thousand, five hundred and seventy naira, twenty kobo only (N1, 050, 868, 570.20) for A charge of Seme Border.

He has the highest and outstanding records in anti-smuggling activities as well as revenue generation in the history of Federal Operation Unit(FOU).under his watch the command seized over 100 exotic cars from private homes, over N2.7billion wild life parts (pangolin scales) and swiftly arrested two Chinese suspects without any fear of intimidation.

The Anti- Smuggling unit of the Command also made a total of one hundred and twenty (120) seizures with a duty paid value of ninety five million, seventy thousand and five naira only (N95, 070, 005.00) for the months under review. Seme Border Enforcement unit has recorded a lot of seizures, among which are: 14 exotic vehicles, BMW 5 series, Toyota Venza, Mercedes Benz ML 350, Lexus RX 300 among others with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over seventy million Naira. A total of 4, 504 bags of Parboiled rice were also seized with DPV of N81, 162,080 (equivalent to 7 trailer trucks); other items like frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, and sugar worth over Thirteen million Naira were also seized “Three suspects arrested in connection to some of the seizures are currently under investigation and possible prosecution.

With Comptroller Uba on board, the reinvigorated anti-smuggling unit of the command is yielded positive results as drug traffickers and immigrants who use illegal routes are being apprehended and handed over to various security agencies for onward investigation and prosecution. The commands helmsman has always ensured synergy and collaboration in executing the core function among security agencies operating at the border.

His commitment and doggedness earned him the Chairman of Joint Border Security Meeting (JBSM) and he played a major role in the setting up of an ad-hoc Joint Taskforce from the JBSM platform which is headed by the Commanding Officer 243 Battalion, as internal monitoring mechanism to checkmate the menace of proliferation of checkpoints along the corridor when he was incharge of Seme Border Customs Command.

The deployment of this anti-smuggling czar to Joint Border Operation Drill is welcome development as we all know that he will  perform well in terms of revenue generation, anti-smuggling drive, legitimate trade facilitation and the security of the nation through the effective manning of the border and he will imbibe the culture of transparency and professionalism while discharging his responsibilities.

By : Grassroots Publishers

GRIDLOCK: The Changing Lifestyles Of Apapa Night Crawlers

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GRIDLOCK: The Changing Lifestyles Of Apapa Night Crawlers

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]papa seaport and wharf environment, normally wears a different outlook in the nights. The sharp difference between the nightlife and daylight is of great significance.

In the day, the ever busy port activities cum commercial operations notable of every entreport the world over is always a common view. Night is a different ball game, with all the paraphernalia of red light districts internationally. The different hotels and motels easily come to view, with their attendant patronage of customers of all sizes including captains, seafarers, pimps and call girls of all sizes.

The crux of the matter is, hoteliers, night crawlers and other members of the public positively believe in the financial capacity of the Apapa environment because of its location by the seaport/entreports and the federal presence. In Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria there are: the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Commands, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, maritime government agencies and Private sector firms, among others. Thus, monies are believed to be heavily – exchanged  during this period of the night when all forms of business activities take place, both legitimately and otherwise.

Most sailors, especially foreign seafarers and their captains, likewise other officials, love to unwine or relax themselves during this period. Similar to what obtains in LAS-Vegas in the USA. The neon lights, the pepper soup joints, the skimpy miniskirts girls showcasing their variegated anal cum human portraiture for all and sundry to especially those who will be attracted to them and simultaneously pay the attendant fees attached, always add colour to the activities of the night. Furthermore, numerous pimps and body guards and other makeshift security officers are always abound to effect security activities in the neighbourhoods, mostly commercialized. though, official security patrol from members of the police department (area B) are often present with their patrol vans, combing the nooks and crannies of the red  light districts to ward off trouble shooters or hoodlums from obstructing the whole commercial process.

Worthy of note is the night club called DORRIS. This is a mini bar/music centre that is grossly patronized by lots of night crawlers in the Apapa environment. This club is noted for its latest/current jams or music, likewise young and attractive ladies that frolic the club. It is known to habour or accommodate young beautiful ladies from neighbouring countries like LIBERIA, GHANA, and COTONOU. It could be because the owner of the club Ms Dorris, is a Liberian resident and based in Nigeria.

The height of the matter is that till today and from inception, the night life at Apapa remains a continuum. It is growing in lips and bounds with different modus –operandi, regardless of both natural threat, government policies and economic recession. The red light districts, especially at Apapa, refuses to fade-out.

What readily comes to the mind of all customers and on lookers is the ultimate desire to unwine or cool – off their worries after a very  tedious endeavour at office factory,  warehouse, barracks or at sea, as the case maybe.

This not-withstanding, the ever present grid-locks as a result of new road constructions and other infrastructural face-lifts in the Apapa environment is grossly affecting the night-life at Apapa. This grid-lock, has led to many companies and port activities relocate to other areas of the city that are less pressured with traffic problems.

Thus, most hoteliers and companies are bitter about poor patronage. A particular “call girl” named “Precious” protested that the deliberate neglect of delay in constructing the roads of Apapa is making life difficult for them. she boasted that during boom periods, before the era of grid-locks, she could boast of N50, 000 per day, customers who want to have her for the night normally pays N10, 000 or more per night, while for a “shot-time” she collects nothing less than N3, 000 per servicing (round).

Likewise, a particular hotelier/night club, “RITZE CAFE” owner. He enthused that with the grid -lock, patronage has diminished drastically at the Apapa entreports. Most foreign sailors, local and international workers cum business-men no longer patronize their outfits. This is so because business activities have reduced in the vicinity because of the very poor traffic situation.

Most residents and companies are relocating to other areas of Lagos, where traffic flow is accessible, worthy and free-flow. Thus, they are grossly affected thereby encouraging most of them to start relocating elsewhere into neigbouring areas like Olodi-Apapa, and Ajegunle-Apapa, Lagos.

Though most of them still have their branch hotels/motels including night clubs retained at Apapa hoping the grid-lock issue will soon become a thing of the past.

Invariably, referring to the promises made by the present All Progressives Congress(APC) regime about decongesting or phasing-out the “grid-locks” with the current  rail projects linking-the ports with “standard-gauge” rail-lines that will convey all heavy duty trucks/containers via the rails under the present “Lagos-Ibadan” standard gauge projects that is presently under going construction vis-à-vis road construction.

Thus, the “nightlife” entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the entertainment/relaxation world are hopeful that soonest, the neon lights in the red-light districts of Apapa entreports shall rise again.

Reps order 400 exotic cars, reject Nigerian brands

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Reps order 400 exotic cars, reject Nigerian brands

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he House of Representatives has resolved to acquire Toyota Camry 2020 model for members as official cars, otherwise called utility vehicles.

The resolution was reached at an executive (closed-door) session held on February 5, 2020, The PUNCH reports:

A source in the chamber, who spoke on condition of anonymity as members were forbidden from disclosing details of the discussions at the closed-door meeting, said the National Assembly would purchase 400 exotic cars. The lawmaker, however, kept mum on the cost of each car.

When contacted on Sunday, a representative of Elizade Nigeria Limited, a foremost Toyota brand distributor, said the 2020 model had yet to arrive in the country.

The representative, however, said the 2019 model was N26.75m and N35.75m (for V6 engine).

The 2020 model is expected to be costlier.

A check on the website of Toyota showed that the price of the car, depending on the variants, is between $25,000 (N9,000,000 at N360 to a dollar) and $35,000 (N12,600,000), excluding the cost of shipping, import duty which is 70 per cent of the net cost and other clearing charges and taxes at the port.

For instance, those with higher specification, as the National Assembly usually goes for higher range of vehicles, are XLE at $29,455; XLE V6 at $34,580; XSE at $30,005 and XSE V6 at $35,130.

At the meeting, the lawmakers were said to have rejected Nigerian brands, insisting on foreign ones, preferably imported and not locally assembled.

The lawmaker said a proposal to patronise Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing, a Nigerian brand based in Nnewi, Anambra State, was rejected.

The lawmaker said, “It is Toyota Camry 2020. Manga will supply 300 of the vehicles. The person who supplied the Senate will supply the remaining 100. Someone suggested Innoson. I feel he was being sarcastic. He is from Anambra.”

Already, about 14 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeeps were said to have already been shared to the presiding and principal officers as well as chairmen of select House committees.

Giving the breakdown of how the vehicles would be shared, the source said the 400 saloon cars would be allocated to each of the 360 members and some top management staff, Chiefs of Staff to the two presiding officers as well as some of their special advisers and assistants.

Another member of the House, who also declined to be named, said some of the vehicles had been supplied while new members who did not get committee appointments would be the beneficiaries of the first batch.

Protesters besiege APC secretariat, demand removal of Oshiomhole

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Protesters besiege APC secretariat, demand removal of Oshiomhole
Comrade Adams Oshoimhole

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]rogressives Congress (APC) Youths Stakeholders Forum (YSF) yesterday protested to the party’s secretariat in Abuja seeking the removal of its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The protesters who wielded several placards blamed Oshiomhole for losing Bayelsa State to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Genesis Johnson who spoke on behalf of the protesters claimed that Oshiomhole had been running the affairs of the party in breach of the party’s constitution, adding that his impunity has caused the party a major loss in Zamfara, Bayelsa and Rivers states

“What happens in Bayelsa State was caused by Oshiomhole and we say ‘enough is enough’. We want him to park his load and leave that office. He is not the only Nigerian that can manage that office.

“Since he came into that office he has been creating problems for the party. We will suffer to win the election and at the end of the day, the opposition will go to court and collect the state.

“We are not happy with his conduct and we are the party faithful we ask him to go, we put him there. Bringing Oshiomhole is like bringing a curse to the party,” he stated.

The protesters vowed to sustain the protest with a view to ensuring that the National Chairman gives way for the party to move forward.

Besides, the Accord Party governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Ebizimo Diriyai, has said the state was not yet out of the woods until all pending pre-election matters are concluded.

Diriyai who polled 1,339 votes to emerge third in the November 16, 2019 governorship poll, urged calm amid tension in the state following last week’s invalidation of the electoral victory of APC candidate, David Lyon by the Supreme Court.

“After the election last year, several pending pre-election matters are still in court and haven’t been concluded. I believe by the time the curtain is drawn, the dust settles and the end of the case, Bayelsa people will have cause to rejoice and thank God because power comes from Him alone, and He gives power to whosoever He wishes.

“This power is to change lives, affect the wellbeing of people, transform destinies, bring riches to God’s people and take the state to a higher level.

“Therefore, I strongly believe that in the end, Bayelsa people will be the last winners, and the will of God will prevail. So, while waiting for the end of this, let’s all remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, and understand that we were first brothers and sisters before political parties were formed, therefore, we shouldn’t allow our political parties and leanings, bring enmity and anarchy into our dear lovely state,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Police Command has extended the three days dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Bayelsa over the protest following the Supreme Court judgment on Thursday.

Commissioner of Police, Uche Anozie, who addressed journalists, said the extension was necessitated by the prevailing situation in the state.

“On the other hand, in the light of credible intelligence available to the command vis-a-vis the prevailing security situation in Bayelsa State, the command has deemed it necessary to review and extend the curfew to Sunday, February 23, 2020, with effect from Monday, February 17, 2020, from 10 pm to 6 am.

“Members of the public are advised to remain indoors, as security agencies will arrest anyone who violates the curfew and such outlaws will be prosecuted.

They are also advised to remain calm as the command is poised to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state,” he said.

Children of the poor in Delta learn with Tears …• Pupils sit on the floors

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Children of the poor in Delta learn with Tears …• Pupils sit on the floors

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]elta is one of the richest states in Nigeria, yet well-equipped and functional basic and secondary schools are still a mirage in parts of this state that earned N285billion in 2018, and a steady 11-digit monthly allocation from the Federation Account in 2019. Shola O’Neil, South-south Regional Editor and Elo Edremoda, examine the deplorable state of four schools in Udu and Uvwie Local Governments and the fate of thousands of children who attend them
THE sight of the learning condition in some of Delta State’s rural primary and secondary schools would break the most hardened heart. The resuscitation and beautification carried out in some schools during the Emmanuel Uduaghan administration, have eluded hundreds of schools, especially in the rural areas. Here tender learners are subjected to the most excruciating and most deplorable conditions.

The state allocated over N39 billion to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in 2018 and 2019 budgets. The allocation to the ministry in the N389 billion 2020 budget could not be ascertained at the time of this report. Yet, the conditions of some schools in the state make mockery of any claim of commitment to education.

The schools visited by our reporters tell tales of rot, decay and lack of concern for the future of those who attend the schools. Nowhere is government’s failing of the ‘future leaders’ more highlighted than Sedeco Basic School and Sedeco High School located in Enerhen Community of Uvwie Local Government Area, and Emadadja Primary and Adadja Secondary Schools in Udu LGA, all in Delta Central Senatorial District of the state.

At Emadadaja Primary School, our reporter was assailed by the sights of dozens of pupils, some as young as four, scrambling to learn on bare floor that are riddled with holes and dust. Telltale signs abound that the school that was established 70 years ago has seen better days. There are no basic facilities or furniture: less than 40 desk and chairs are available to over 300 pupils, making the bare floor the only option for children who are desperate to learn.

With fewer than 40 good desks in the entire school, only a few get to sit on the squeaky creaky furniture, but they also have to watch for protruding, rusty nails and screws, which may tear through their uniforms digging into their tender skin. Their less fortunate mates sit or simply lay down on bare, dusty floors, to take sown the teacher’s notes in their exercise books.

Overhead, broken ceiling boards dangle from the roof. The classes and even teachers staff rooms are bare of doors or windows, which means that valuables and books forgotten in school often develop wings and may never be found.

When the school closes, miscreants and hoodlums take over. They litter the school, or just mess up desk and floors with faeces. When the children return to school, especially after weekend or holiday breaks, they are confronted by mountains of human wastes buzzing with flies, assorted smells – hemp, decaying leftover meals, urine and poops. This dangerous mixes expose the children to all kind of maladies.

In the kindergarten class, infants in KG1-3 share just one classroom. The infants sit on mats, with nothing else to battle the elements. As the sun moves from the east to the west, shifting the shadows along, the children also shift along in search of shades from the scotching sun’s heat or from rain fall during rainy season.

One teacher told our reporter that the odds are against pupils in the school.

He said: “It is not easy to learn; when you are teaching, some (pupils) will be jumping here and there and the heat at this time is really terrible. It is a real challenge to the learning process.”

An indigene of the community, Mr. Dave Mevayekuku, described the school as a disgrace and pointer to the failure of those who have governed the state over the years. “I am shocked,” he said while drawing our attention to the state of his former school. “Okowa should come to the aid of the school without delay.”

The Vice-President of Emadadaja Community, Mr. Emmanuel Osiobe, said the people are perplexed by the condition under which their children study, particularly considering that the community contributes to the state’s economy with revenue from crude oil extracted from eight oil wells located on its land.

“The school has remained only because of the community leaders’ efforts. The (last) renovation project was carried out in partnership with an oil company. The company wanted to carry out a project (in 2013), but we said since nobody (government) is showing concern, let us convert the project to school renovation.”

Osiobe explained that there was nothing the leadership of the community could do about defecation in the classes, because of the porous security in the school. He blamed this on failure of government to provide security. “Teachers have reported the problem, but what can we do when there is no gate? The fence has fallen and intruders can even gain entry through the roof.”

Like Primary, like Secondary

Like the primary school, Adadja Secondary school is in a bad shape. There are less than 10 classrooms for about 900 students. Established as a technical school through communal efforts in 1982, the state government took it over in 2006, much to the relief of the community’s leaders who thought that the intervention would usher in an era of infrastructural and facilities upgrade.

A block of five-classrooms built by an oil firm is the only modern structure in the school. Three of the five classrooms in the oil firm’s block are used as staff rooms and library, while two are used by students. Other classes make do with the two uncompleted classroom blocks, one built 38 years ago by the community and the other built by the local council. Yet, a six-classroom block built as constituency project by a state lawmaker was unallocated because there is no furniture and the project has not been properly inaugurated.

The school principal, Mr Boniface Ofovwe, was not available for comment when our reporter visited, but the Examination Officer, Comrade Daniel Ovweghren said several failed efforts have been made by the school authorities and the community leadership to get government’s attention.

Students, rodents share classes

Although the conditions at the Emadadja schools are unsavory, the state of that deprivation pales when compared to the dungeon that is Sedeco schools (a misnomer) in Enerhen area of Uvwie Local Government. The about 1,300 children in primary and secondary schools are taught under the most dehumanising environment.

There is no basic amenity in the school: No pipe borne water, electricity or even toilet facilities. The closest thing to a toilet is a cubicle used exclusively by teachers, while pupils make do with a dumpsite located within the school premises.

About a decade ago, a soft drink company built a block of six very small rooms, which added to the two blocks of three classrooms the school kicked off with in 2007. The only other ‘structures’ are shades constructed by the PTA.

The primary school section has about 350 pupils, who share three classrooms. The situation is the same in the secondary school, with about twice more students.

One of the rooms is used as staff room, while hundreds of pupils share three ‘classrooms’, which are separated by pieces of plywood to accommodate six classes: primaries one and two are cramped into a room, while three and four, and five and six share the other two rooms. Teachers, who cannot squeeze into the staff room, sit around the corridor ad veranda, while preparing lesson notes.

Pupils of the school, who spoke about their fates, lamented the attitude of the state government but commended staff for their doggedness in spite of the challenging environment.

“It is difficult for us to concentrate and learn,” one of the primary four pupils told our reporter, “because two teachers are teaching at the same and they are teaching different classes and subjects. The teachers have to keep shouting for us to hear. Sometimes you don’t even know which of the lectures you are taking”

Due to dearth of the structures and facilities in the school, Science and Arts subjects students in the high school also share classes, with most of the former not having the luxury of using laboratories for practical. One of the schools’ senior teachers disclosed that their students are not allowed to write the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination, even though they have up to 80 students eligible each year.”

An SSS3 student, Oghenevwaire Shalokpe, lamented that she and other colleagues were preparing for WAEC under very difficult learning conditions.

Focus on good schools

The Commissioner for Basic Education, Mr. Patrick Ukah, who was contacted on the state of the schools, was furious that our reporter was snooping around dilapidated schools in Sedeco and others while ignoring the work the government was doing in other schools.

“There are other schools: Have you seen the work we are doing in Urhobo College, Dom Domingos College and Ugborikoko Secondary School? What about the communities that go in to vandalize school properties? You people don’t report such cases for us. You should talk about that.”

•A congested classroom for Primary Four pupils with four per seat

The three schools listed by Mr. Ukah are in the cities of Effurun (Ugborikoko and Urhobo) and Dom Domingos College in Warri metropolis.

“There are 472 secondary schools spread across the 25 local government areas of the state. We cannot attend to all the schools at a time. The budget of the state is contending with roads and other projects,”Ukah added.

He blamed Sedeco school management and the community for the rot seen by The Nation, stressing, “How can you take 1,300 students for a place like that? The place is a swamp.”

“I have to close down that place first, else, where will I build on? On top of that school? Because you are saying there is space. I have told you that I have been there and I am putting my reports together.”

Our findings showed that there is no government school nearby, while private schools are expensive and inaccessible for the poor, who send their children and wards to Sedeco schools.

The Principal, Mrs. Roseline Jike, agreed that only children from indigent families attend the schools. “Government school charges little or nothing, (that is why) they (parents) still prefer to send their children here.

“We do not have (external) examination centre here because we don’t have laboratory, library and the school does not have fence. The population of 1,100 is enough to get a centre, but now we have to write in other schools,” the principal added.

A member of staff of the school, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, said officials from the Ministry of Education have visited the school to see the deplorable condition under which pupils study.

“We have written letters with photographs of the school to the Ministry of Education through our Chief Inspector of Education.”

But Ukah, who further spoke through his media aide, Mr. Samuel Ijeh, said the government has no plans to renovate the school.

“Nobody promised to build the school in December. The community wants to get a school by all means. Students will be relocated to another place before government will know what can be done to the place.”

An Associate Professor at the Delta State University, Dr. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri, explained that the development of the state is hinged on “good and quality education.” He explained that an environment that is not conducive “does have significant negative impact on the teacher and pupils.”

Nevertheless, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okowa, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, who was contacted on the condition of Sedeco Schools, said the issues raised would be resolved

‘Missing $2.5b’: Magu urges UK to extradite Diezani

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‘Missing $2.5b’: Magu urges UK to extradite Diezani

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ormer Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison Madueke stole $2.5billion from the Nigeria’s treasury, Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said.

Magu said the agency has asked the United Kingdom to extradite her to face trial at home.

Magu spoke in Kaduna on Monday ahead of the graduation today of 281 Cadets of the agency’s Detective Inspectorate Course Five Cadre. They will be passing out from the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna.

“The ceremony is the peak of months of intensive and extensive military training and grooming of the cadets, in preparation of a challenging and exciting career as operatives of the EFCC,” he said.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari will be the Reviewing Officer at the Parade, which is scheduled to begin by 8am at the NDA, Afaka, Kaduna, along with other dignitaries that will grace the occasion with their esteemed presence.

The anti-graft czar, stressed the import of its collaboration with the NDA stating that “military training all over the world is known for discipline, perseverance, strength, courage and tenacity”.

“All these are needed in every EFCC operative as physical and psychological grooming imperative in the fight against corruption,” he said.

He further noted that the training was also to build courage for whatever challenge or obstacle that may come in discharging their duties.

He also used the opportunity to reiterate his determination to upgrade the EFCC Academy, Karu Abuja into a law enforcement degree awarding Institute in order to be a reference point for universities across Africa.

Tension in Imo as Supreme Court sits on Ihedioha’s review suit today

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Tension in Imo as Supreme Court sits on Ihedioha’s review suit today

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]here was tension in Imo State on Monday ahead of today’s (Tuesday) sitting by the Supreme Court on an application filed by the immediate past governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha, seeking a review of the apex court’s judgment on the state 2019 governorship election.

The state police command deployed armed policemen to the streets of Owerri, the state capital, to forestall any clash between supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress. It also banned any form of protests. As the police beefed up security in Imo State, the PDP in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice  Tanko Muhammad, asked the CJN and six other justices of the apex court to recuse themselves from the hearing of the application by Ihedioha.

The opposition party said the justices of the Supreme Court were likely to be biased if they participated in the hearing of the application.

In the application, Ihedioha asks the apex court to set aside its January  14, judgment which annulled his election and declared the APC candidate in the 2019 election, Hope Uzodinma, as the winner of the poll.

A seven-man panel of the apex court led by the CJN had  in its January 14, 2020 judgment removed Iheodioha as the  Imo State governor  and declared Uzodinma as the winner of the last governorship election in the state.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the lead judgment, had upheld Uzodinma’s appeal, ruling that the votes polled in 388 out of the 3,523 polling units were excluded in the final results declared by INEC in the state.

The apex court held that Uzodinma emerged winner of the election after the addition of the excluded votes.

But Ihedioha, through his lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), a former Attorney General of the Federation, had on February 5, 2020 filed an application before the court seeking “an order  setting aside as a nullity” the January 14 judgment.

He argued in the application anchored on Section 6 (6) of Nigerian Constitution and Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act 2004, that the judgment was obtained by fraud or deceit.

On Monday, there was heavy deployment of policemen in Owerri, 24  hours before the Supreme Court sitting on Ihedioha’s application.

The police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, told one of our correspondents that the command had banned protests in the state.

Ikeokwu said that the decision to ban protests until further notice was to ensure that lives and property were protected.

He said that the protests being embarked on by various groups since the Supreme Court gave its judgment  on January 14, were “life-threatening”.

Ikeokwu said,  “We have banned further protest in the state. We have an intelligence report that some people want to hijack it and attack others.  We are being proactive instead of reactive.”

The PUNCH observed that policemen and their vehicles were stationed at various strategic points in the state capital.

The PDP spokesperson in the state, Damian Opara, said that the party was hopeful that the Tuesday’s Supreme Court review would go in favour of the party.

But  his APC counterpart, Enyinnaya Onuegbu,  said that the party was confident that Uzodinma would remain as the governor of the state after the Supreme Court review.

In Abuja, the PDP asked the CJN, Justice   Tanko Muhammad, and six other Supreme Court justices to recuse themselves from hearing the application of Ihedioha.

The CJN and  Justice  Sylvester Ngwuta; Justice Olukayode Ariwola; Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Justice Amin Augie; and Justice Uwani Abba Aji were members of  the apex court panel, which sacked Ihedioha.

The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, and the PDP National Secretary, Senator Ibrahim Tsauri, in the letter to the CJN, said the justices were likely to be biased . The PDP, therefore, asked  the CJN, to reconstitute a new panel to review the judgment to ensure that fairness and justice were not only done, but seen to have been done.

The review judgment is slated to be heard on Tuesday.

The letter to the CJN read in part, “We request that their Lordships, The Chief Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Justice Nwah Sylvester Ngwuta, Justice Olukayode Ariwola, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Justice Amina Adamu Augie, and Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, recuse themselves from participating in hearing the application for setting aside their earlier judgment in the above case, on grounds of likelihood of bias, that is, fair hearing.

“We further demand that a new panel be set up by the Chief Justice of Nigeria to hear the new application for setting aside the above judgment, excluding all the Hon Justices that participated in the earlier case.”

It noted that the judgment sought, which it wanted  to set aside  had been crtitcised not only by lawyers, but members  of the public.

It said, “As our patriotic duty to hereby humbly request that your Lordship constitute a different panel of this great court (other than the one that delivered the judgment) for the purpose of hearing this application. My Lord, our request is founded on Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees fair hearing to every citizen or entity in the determination of his rights or obligations. Furthermore, the time honoured and tested principles of natural justice, particularly that no man shall be a judge in his own cause is particularly relevant to this solemn request.

“Allegation of bias or likelihood of bias goes to the root of fair hearing. Denial of right to fair hearing is a logical consequence of bias in any proceeding before a court or a tribunal. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as Amended (Constitution) guarantees the right of an individual to fair hearing. An individual’s right to fair hearing includes the right to have his/her rights and obligations determined by an independent and impartial tribunal. The above is clearly enshrined in Section 36 (1) of the Constitution, which provides as follows: “In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality…

“The right to an independent and impartial tribunal is a major factor in determining if   fair hearing has been observed by a court. The relevant question on the issue of bias is what an ordinary man on the street would think about the fairness of the proceedings conducted by judges accused of likelihood of bias.  We may even be wrong on the allegations made against the learned justices of the Supreme Court that sat on the case in question. We may have been bitter about the clearly observed inadequacies in that judgment, but this is now beside the point. The relevant question is: can any reasonable person who heard the press conference and several protests by the party, PDP, the civil society organisations and Nigerians generally, all over the country, including foreign embassies, the involvement of even the international community, feel that the same panel that has been the subject of these allegations, rightly or wrongly by the party, can sit and deliver impartial justice on the same case on review? We think not.”

It stated that  Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, guarantees fair hearing to every citizen or entity in the determination of his rights or obligation and guarantees an independent and impartial body for such determination.

The party also stated, “In other places in the commonwealth and jurisdictions around the world, it is always the practice that whenever the highest court of the land has to sit to look again at its earlier decision a different panel of the court would be constituted to do that. This, as your Lordship is very much aware of, is to ensure that the integrity of the judiciary and the fair appearance of justice is maintained in the eyes of the public.”

The PDP cited  Pinochet Case (R (Pinochet Ugarte) v Bow St Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate) case to back its claim.

Disregard PDP, Ihedioha’s application, protesters tell  Supreme Court

But a group of protesters on Monday took to the streets of Abuja to oppose the call for the Supreme Court to reverse itself  on the judgment where it declared  Uzodinma as the duly elected governor of Imo State.

The group under the banner of Dependable Patriotic Alliance frowned upon what it called sustained blackmail of justices of the apex court.

The group, which first occupied the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, marched to the Ministry of Justice where it submitted a letter to the Attorney general of The Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Addressing journalists, the co-convener of the group, Mr Nwosu Butches, urged the minister to stop politicians from blackmailing the justices of the Supreme Court for cheap political scores.

Culled from Punch

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