Tribunal to commence hearing of CPC petition against Jonathan on Sept. 12

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday adjourned till Sept. 12, hearing of the petition filed by Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) challenging the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in the April 16, 2011 presidential election.

Justice Mohammad Garba, acting chairman of the tribunal stated this in his ruling in Abuja, after giving a review report of the pre-hearing session of the petition which commenced on May 6.

He added that once the hearing of the petition commenced, it would run from Monday through Saturday everyday without an adjournment until the case was determined.

This, he said, was to meet up with the stipulated time for hearing the case as provided for by the constitution and the Electoral Act.

The Electoral Act and the constitution provides that all petitions regarding elections must be heard and concluded within 180 days from the commencement of the first pre-hearing session.

The pre- hearing session is the preliminaries before the commencement of substantive trial and the hearing of the petition proper.  

Garba said that the petitioner would be given a period of ten days to present and defend its petition during the hearing sessions while the respondents would have five days each, to present their defence to the petition.

He further said that each of the respondents would be given five minutes to cross examine the witnesses for the petitioner while the petitioner would be given same amount of time to cross examine the witnesses for the respondents.

Justice Hassan Liman (SAN), counsel to INEC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were comfortable with the tribunal`s ruling and the arrangements.

``We do not have any problem, we are comfortable, their lordship order is an order and we are going to work diligently to ensure that we meet up with the targeted time,’’ Liman said.

Justice Demian Dodo (SAN), Counsel to President Jonathan also affirmed his readiness to work in line with the tribunal`s ruling.

The tribunal had in an earlier sitting on Aug. 6, dismissed CPC`s application asking it to declare retired Maj-Gen.  Muhammadu Buhari its candidate at the April 16 presidential election, as winner of the election.

The party had made the request on the ground that INEC was not cooperating with it, stressing that the commission had refused to grant it access to the Biometric Data Capturing Machine used in the elections as ordered by the court. 

The tribunal in clarifying its position on the order made by the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, on May 24, told the petitioner that the order was not an express permission.

It added that the order was not for the party to “take copies” of any of such electoral materials, noting however that it could only be allowed to inspect the materials.

It, therefore, authorised INEC not to allow the petitioner to take copy of any of the ballot papers used in the conduct of the presidential poll.

The petitioner had expected that the word access as ordered by the court should include granting its forensic experts, access to all the Biometric data pertaining to the presidential election by INEC. (NAN)

Ohaneze Ndigbo to build school in Johannesburg

By Debo Oshundun and Wole Sogunle

The Ohaneze Ndigbo in South Africa plans to establish a school in South Africa to enable members' children to learn Igbo language and culture.

The President-General of the Association, Chief Smart Okeugiri, who disclosed this in his speech at the celebration of the New Yam festival in Johannesburg on Saturday, said the school would also afford South Africans married to Igbos to understand their spouses' culture.

Okeugiri said that the the foundation of the school’s building would be laid soon, adding that a cultural centre and business centre were also in the pipeline.

"The business centre shall be a focal point where the Igbos will carry out their legitimate business activities," he said.

The President-General urged all Igbos in South Africa to be united to enable them achieve their goals in the face of many challenges.

"We need to inspire a new spirit of communalism," he said, adding that he was optimistic that Ndigbo will succeed in their pursuits.

Okeugiri appealed to members to sustain the united front and promote their cultural values while abroad.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the celebration was marked with cultural dances, breaking of kolanuts and sharing of the new yam among others.

Fashola approves disbursement of relief materials to flood victims

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has approved the disbursement of relief materials to residents affected by the July 10 flooding caused by unprecedented rains.

Mr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Ikeja, said that the gesture was aimed at giving the victims  succour.

Oke-Osanyintolu told NAN that the affected residents of Apata in Shomolu Local Government Area, Lekki, Orile-Agege, Ifako–Ijaiye and other communities ravaged by the flood, would benefit from the materials.

He said that the disbursement of the materials, including household items and other consumables, would be handled by a special committee comprising officials of relevant ministries.

 The committee, he said, which included officials of the Ministries of Health, Environment, Town Planning and Urban Development as well as Special Duties, would be headed by the General Manager of LASEMA.

 The general manager added that the exercise would hold on Friday at the Lagos secretariat.

 Oke-Osanyintolu said that the government would continue to respond to the needs of residents in emergency situations, adding that it was committed to the well-being of all its citizens irrespective of their situation.

 On the recent Nigerian Meteorological Agency`s (NIMET) prediction that Lagos might experience another flooding, the LASEMA boss said there was no cause for alarm.

``Lagos is at currently taking proactive measures to prevent flooding as well as expanding emergency capacities to confront any eventuality.

 ``It is an integrated approach involving relevant ministries working together, yet each doing its own bit to ensure that the flooding that trailed the July 10 downpour does not reoccur

``We are dredging canals and building more relief camps, among others, so Lagos residents should not panic. The government is up to the task,’’he said.

NDIC denies closing CPC accounts, says guided by law

Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) says it will continue to adhere to laws and regulations governing banking operations, including procedures in the closure of customers’ bank accounts in insured depository institutions.

A statement issued by the corporation in Abuja on Friday said the statement was a reaction to a report that it had closed the accounts of the Congress for Progressive Change at Oceanic and Mainstreet Banks.  

It said  the corporation was only commenting on a petition submitted by some national officers  of the party.  

``The NDIC hereby categorically declares that the reports which are capable of misleading the public on the subject are false.

``The NDIC, therefore, wishes to assure the public that there is no iota of truth in the reports as published in the newspapers,” the statement said. 

The NDIC said that its team of examiners had commenced investigations into the issues raised by the petitioners, adding that the report of the investigations was being finalised. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some national dailies had reported the closure of CPC account in Oceanic and Mainstreet Banks by the NDIC.

Jigawa govt offers free eye surgery to 1,600 patients

JThe Jigawa Government, in collaboration with an NGO, Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM), has begun free eye surgery for 1,600 patients with cataract.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the Dutse General Hospital on Wednesday reports that the patients were seen in their hundreds waiting for the surgery.

The State Coordinator for Primary Eye Care, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Umar, said the surgeries had begun simultaneously in five different centres in the five emirates

Umar, who told NAN that it was the second round of the programme, recalled that the first phase in March involved the same number of patients, also with cataract.

The coordinator announced that the state government had set aside N15 million for the payment of the patients' bills and logistics for the current round of treatment.

Umar noted that since the inception of the Gov. Sule Lamido administration, it had been carrying out such free surgeries in collaboration with support partners annually.

The Country Programme Coordinator of CBM, Mr Christopher Ogoche, told NAN that his organisation had carried out a survey long ago in the state which showed that many people suffered from treatable eye diseases, especially in the villages.

He expressed regret that the villagers could not afford the cost of treatment and explained that the development compelled the organisation to team up with the state government to provide the service free.

Ogoche, who said that the surgeons used modern equipment for the operation, lauded the state government for its free eye care programme which, he said, had assisted the less privileged.

FG releases 11.5bn for remediation of 11 erosion sites

The Federal Government has released  N11.5 billion for the remediation of 11 out of the 15 soil erosion and flood control projects in the South East zone. 

Mrs Ibukun Odusote, the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund Office, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja.

She said this while handing over documents for the commencement of work to contractors and consultants selected by the government to handle the projects.

She described  the projects as ``very important and crucial'' in saving the lives of the people in the affected area.

She said that contract for the projects were approved by the Federal Government in 2009.

Odusote explained that due to the delay in executing the projects, the erosion had magnified over the years, compelling the consultants to conduct new survey of the sites.

 ``The funds (for the projects) had already been released into the account  of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) .

``The money is already available; it is not being sourced from any where,'' she said.

Out of the 15 sites earmarked for remediation, Odusote said that three were located in Abia, five in Anambra, one in Ebonyi, three in Enugu and three in Imo.

She said that the work was expected to be completed between six and 24 months.

The permanent secretary urged the project consultants, executing agencies and contractors to take their respective functions seriously and ensure that the projects were executed on schedule and according to specifications.

She warned that the era of undue delays in the execution of of projects and requests for frivolous extension of time for completion would no longer be tolerated.

She also urged the consultants to brace up for the task ahead as they were expected to submit monthly reports on their projects.

In his remark, Mr. Joel Mekwunye, the Director, Soil Erosion and Flood Control Department in the office, noted that the menace of erosion in the south east  was peculiar and required expert handling.

``Your appointment signifies the confidence the office reposes in your ability, competence and commitment to deliver,” he said.

NAN reports that though 15 erosion sites were approved for remediation, funding was released for 11 sites.

Work on the remaining four sites would commence after approval by the Federal Executive Council.

Rice stakeholders converge on Abuja for a forum

To fashion out a strategy for increased rice production, stakeholders are expected to converge in Abuja to consider and review issues relating to research, development, seed distribution, irrigation, processing, financing, policy and advocacy.

 A document made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, showed that the participants were drawn from relevant research institutes, seed companies, processors, fabricators, Rice Farmers Association as well as development partners and foreign partners.

NAN learnt that the forum is part of the strategies mapped out by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, to turn around the fortunes of agriculture through produce revolution.

``Government is launching a massive green revolution on rice, aimed at making Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production within the next in four years and the impact to be felt within two years.

``This has become imperative because the import bill between 2007 and 2010 hit N98 trillion and N365 billion of it was for rice import,'' Adesina had said at a forum.

He said that the government would go into import substitution, create conducive policy and encourage investors to come into rice production to boost local production. 

Available records showed in the ministry showed that Nigeria consumed  five million tonnes of rice annually with local production accounting for 2.21 million tonnes.

NAN recalls that previous initiatives on rice included the NERICA Rice Dissemination Project (NRDP) designed to  benefit 65,000 farm families and boost rice production in Nigeria, among others.

Salami's Suspension: NJC prays court to dismiss suit

The National Judicial Council (NJC) on Wednesday, filed a notice of preliminary objection before a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order to dismiss Justice Ayo Salami’s suit.

Salami, the former President of the Court of Appeal, had prayed the court for an interlocutory order to nullify his suspension from office.

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), counsel to the defendant-applicant, submitted that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The council said that its objection was premised on the ground that Salami could not ask for an interlocutory order, which had the effect of determining the substance of the main suit.
It argued that an order setting aside an act already completed could not be granted by way of an interlocutory application.

The applicant stressed that doing so would amount to granting a relief as well as asking for the maintenance of  status quo of an act already completed.
NJC alleged that Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Counsel to Salami, was a principal partner with Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) in Olujinmi and Akeredolu Chambers.

The applicant argued that the chamber must be stopped from handling the matter because Akeredolu was a member of NJC.
NJC submitted that there was an obvious conflict of interest since Akeredolu knew the secret and inner workings of the council.

In a related development, Justice Donatus Okorowo granted NJC’s application challenging the inclusion of Mr Emeka Ngige (SAN) and Mr A.J Owonikoko (SAN) as lead counsel to Salami.

Okorowo heldthat the action was a violation of the rules of the court, adding that the names of the two lawyers were not captured in the writ of summons.

He explained that the action of the lawyers were not known to the law, adding that once a lead counsel had been established in a matter other counsel could only hold brief for the former.

The matter was adjourned to Sept. 26 for the mention of relevant motions and applications pending before the court. (NAN)

Oshiomhole commends EFCC

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has commended the EFCC for its sensitisation programme on economic and financial crimes.

Oshiomhole gave the commendation on Wednesday in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the National Seminar on Economic Crimes, organised by EFCC for financial operators and the public.

``EFCC has more challenging job than a governor, therefore, I will commend the commission for bringing stakeholders together to speak on different areas on how to eradicate corruption,’’ he said.

He urged Nigerians to change their thinking about public property and embrace the culture of maintaining them for development.

The governor also challenged everybody to be part of the fight against corruption which had undermined the country’s development.

Also, Mr Frank Nweke Jnr., the Director-General of Nigeria Economic Summit Group, urged lawyers to stick to the ethics of the profession, pleading with them to be truthful to earn respect. (NAN)

 

 

Nollywood actress Geraldine Ekeocha dies

Popular Nollywoodactress, Geraldine Ekeocha, has died at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla near Enugu, following complications of the liver.

Ekeochaacted the role of Igwe’s wife in many of the films in which she featured.

Mrs Sarah Duru, a daughter of the deceased, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Enugu that her mother died in the early hours of Sunday.

Duru said her mother died of a cancer in the liver.

``It is very unfortunate that a thing like this happened to my mum. She had an operation in June this year but her condition started changing and we rushed her to UNTH.

``The doctor confirmed that the cancer had spread and she gave up on Sunday.’’

Durusaid the family was planning the burial of the deceased to begin as soon as possible.

 Mr Cyprian Keleze, the Public Relations Officer of UNTH, however, said that he was still investigating the cause of the death.