A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, its national chairman, national financial secretary, and national organising secretary from holding or carrying out the congress, scheduled for July 27, 2024, in Rivers State.
The presiding judge, Justice Sobere Hambo, in an ex parte application brought by the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, David Omereji, and 10 others against the defendants, also stopped them from holding the congress at any other location or date pending the determination of the motion on notice already filed.
The court issued an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants, either by themselves or their agents, from taking further decisions or giving directives to extend the tenure of the state, local government, and ward executives of PDP.
Justice Hambo adjourned the matter until July 19, 2024, for the motion on notice.
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Court halts PDP congress in Rivers, restrains national leaders
Court halts PDP congress in Rivers, restrains national leaders
Kaduna fixes October 19 for LG election
The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed October 19, 2024, to conduct elections in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
KADSIECOM chairperson, Hajara Mohammed, announced the date and timetable on Tuesday during a meeting with political parties and other concerned individuals in the State.
She noted that the current council members were sworn into office on 1 November 2021 and will end their three-year tenure on 31 October.
She said KAD-SIECOM is responsible for organising the elections of chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and councillors in the state.
“In consonance with the provision of section 25(1) of the KAD-SIECOM Law 2024, the general public is hereby informed that the LGA council election will be held in Kaduna on Saturday, 19th October 2024, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
“The commission issues the election timetable today, Tuesday 16th July 2024,” she said.
The chairperson further said the 2024 election guidelines have been released with the election timetable.
She assured concerned parties that the commission was ready to conduct the election on the set date.
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Oyo will do what is right, says Makinde
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that his government will not allow the people of the state to suffer from the fallout of the Supreme Court judgment which granted financial autonomy to local governments in the country.
Makinde maintained that the judgment had created a constitutional lacuna that would throw up different challenges at the local government level, saying that though he was not opposed to transparency in the councils, the Supreme Court judgment “is not a silver bullet that will wash away” Nigeria’s problems.
The governor stated this on Monday during an Advisory/Consultative Committee Meeting comprising stakeholders in the local government system.
He noted that he convened a meeting of all relevant stakeholders in the local government system so that they could outline the major challenges at the councils and develop solutions that would ensure a seamless implementation of the process in a way that would ensure that the people of the state do not suffer.
This was contained in a release issued by the Special Adviser (Media) to the state governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, on Tuesday.
According to the governor, his administration knows and has been doing what is right, including conducting two council elections to ensure caretaker committees don’t man the affairs of councils, clearing of backlog of debts owed workers and pensioners at the council level and fixing infrastructure deficit in the Primary Health Care sectors and the inner roads.
The meeting, held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, had in attendance council chairmen, the leaderships of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), as well as representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies that have connection with the local government system.
At the end of the meeting, the governor set up two committees saddled with the responsibilities of reviewing the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy and coming up with recommendations that would ensure that the change did not affect the people of the state negatively.
The statement reads, “I called this meeting because I felt that even though we have not seen the Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Supreme Court, we have to be proactive and discuss the decision of the Supreme Court as it concerns financial autonomy of the local government councils because I believe a lacuna has been created between the decision and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that we all swore to uphold.
“The law is the law, and when there is a conflict, yes, we should go to the court. But it behoves us to look for our own homegrown solutions that can ensure that we have transparency and that our people do not suffer. This is because when two elephants are fighting, it is the grass that will suffer.”
Makinde noted that his administration inherited a local government system that owed a backlog of salaries, gratuities, and pensions.
He added, “I am saying this because Oyo State will get out of this even stronger. We are people who know what is good for our people. Before we came in, leave bonuses were last paid in 2017, and we have paid for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. The Primary Health Care facilities and inner roads were all in bad shape. But we have been working collaboratively with the LGs to deliver dividends of democracy to our people.
“We were able to clear those salary arrears. We paid N18bn in pension and gratuities over this period. We upgraded about 209 PHCs, equipped about 264, and completed 60 model schools. We constructed and renovated hundreds of primary school classrooms and fixed some of our roads.
“But there are still challenges that we have to address. We still have a backlog of gratuities and pensions. The local governments owe about N55 billion in pension and gratuities. We are developing infrastructure that would push the economy and raise the living standard of their people, and push their economy towards sustainable goals.”
Briefing newsmen shortly after the closed-door meeting, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, stated that the two committees set up by the governor had been given a time frame of four to six weeks to come up with the homegrown approach to addressing the lacuna created by the Supreme Court judgment.
Also speaking, the state Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Biodun Aikomo, said the governor took a proactive step by setting up the committees, as, according to him, the step would help address the crisis that might arise as a result of the judgment.
Aikomo added that the governor had shown that he is committed to the welfare of the Oyo State people and the development of the state.
The meeting had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olajide Akintunde and other government functionaries.
Kidnapped acting rector of Benue Poly regains freedom
The acting rector of Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo, Dr Emmanuel Barki, who was kidnapped last week, has been freed by his abductors.
Barki was kidnapped along with two other staff members of the institution and a driver on Wednesday by unidentified gunmen while returning to Ugbokolo from an official assignment.
The acting rector was freed from captivity in the late hours of Monday.
Speaking with journalists in Makurdi after he regained freedom, Dr Barki said he regained freedom due to God’s intervention.
He expressed appreciation, particularly to his family, friends and the church, for staying awake with him in prayers for God to intervene.
Kidnapped acting rector of Benue Poly regains freedom
Binance executive’s health worsens, appears in court in wheelchair
The executive director of the cryptocurrency platform, Binance, Tigran Gambaryan, arrived at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a wheelchair for his trial for alleged money laundering on Tuesday.
Gambaryan, who was first detained on February 26, has spent 141 days in a correctional centre in Abuja.
.When the prison officials wheeled in Gambaryan, he stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock.
The defence counsel, Mark Mordi, drew the court’s attention to his client’s deteriorating condition.
He urged the court to issue a bench warrant against the prison medical officer and immediately ensure that his client was treated in a hospital.
Mordi said: “My client came in here in a wheelchair. He has been complaining of back pain.
“We need to be careful of the life in our hands.”
Similarly, Gambaryan’s wife in a statement from the United States and made available to TVN, expressed concern about his deteriorating health.
She said: “I am heartbroken to see my once fit and healthy husband reduced to such a condition. This ordeal has taken a severe toll on him, leaving him in so much pain that he can hardly walk. I do not understand why this is being allowed to continue. Tigran is innocent.
“All he did was dutifully travel to Nigeria for a meeting. Now our lives have been turned upside down and his health is at serious risk.
“I am pleading with the Nigerian authorities to urgently release my husband on humanitarian grounds. This situation is destroying him. I need him safely home with us right now.”
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Govs Bala Mohammed, Fubara, Makinde, 6 others in Enugu for PDP Governors’ Forum meeting
The 13 governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are converging on Enugu for a meeting of the PDP Governors Forum holding in Enugu on Wednesday.
Among the governors received by the host and governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, as they came to register their presence at the Government House, Enugu was the Chairman of the Forum and governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed.
Others were Governors Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Umo Eno of Akwa-Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, and Ahmed Fintiri of Adamawa.
Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, were being expected as at press time.
Although the agenda of the meeting was not made known, the forthcoming party congresses, Edo and Ondo governorship elections, the internal challenges facing the PDP and the state of the nation are expected to dominate deliberations.
Founded on February 24, 2013 during the administration of former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the PDP Governors’ Forum serves as a platform for the governors to share ideas, knowledge, and experiences on how to move the party forward and to better coordinate programmes and policies in their various states.
Meanwhile, the governors were already being treated to a cultural night organised in their honour, Tuesday night, by the host governor, Dr. Mbah.
Govs Bala Mohammed, Fubara, Makinde, 6 others in Enugu for PDP Governors’ Forum meeting
Court orders arrest of prison doctor over Binance executive’s health
A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr Abraham Ehizojie, the Medical Doctor at the Kuje Correctional Health Centre, over refusal to produce the medical report of the detained executive of Binance Holdings Ltd, Tigran Gambaryan.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, issued the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, (SAN) who complained to the judge that his order instructing that Gambaryan’s medical reports be made available to his team had not been complied with.
Following Mordi’s lamentation, Justice Nwite asked a prison official who brought Gambaryan to court about the development.
He replied that he got the court order and delivered the order to the doctor on Tuesday, July 9.
He said, “He is not here and I expected him to be here”.
Also, the prosecution counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, told the judge that he also expected the medical officer to be in court today.
Mordi afterwards, prayed the court to issue a bench warrant against the medical officer of the correctional centre for him to be produced in court the next adjourned date.
Mordi also prayed the court to issue an order for Gambaryan to be given hospital remand immediately so that thorough medical examination can be carried out on him to know his true state of health as his health has gotten worse.
He said, “My client came in here in a wheelchair. He has been complaining of back pain.
“We need to be careful of the life in our hands,” Mordi said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, counsel did not object to the fact that Gambaryan needs adequate treatment.
He however objected to the request, that he should be placed in hospital remand.
After listening to arguments from both parties and taking their submissions, the trial judge said it is unfortunate that a government institution would be treating a court order with levity.
He said, “I hereby make an order of bench arrant on the medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Service, to appear before this court”.
He also ordered that Gambaryan be taken to the Nizamiye Hospital for medicare for 24 hours, at any time of his choice but under full security surveillance.
He adjourned the matter until October 11 and 18 for continuation of trial.
At the previous hearing, Wednesday, July 5, Justice Nwite had ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16 (today).
The judge gave the order following an application by Mordi who had asked the court to summon Ehizojie to explain why he had allegedly refused to make available Gambaryan’s medical report despite the court ordering him to do so.
Meanwhile, in the morning when Gambaryan arrived at the Court premises for his scheduled hearing, he was brought in, in a wheelchair.
Recall that Gambaryan had, on May 23, collapsed in the open court over alleged ill-health.
The defence law firm, Aluko & Oyebode, had also, on May 27, raised alarms that the cryptocurrency firm’s executive might die in Kuje Correctional Centre over his alleged deteriorating health.
Earlier, Dr Olubukola Akinwunmi, Head of, Payment Policy and Regulation Division at the Central Bank of Nigeria was cross-examined by Binance’s counsel, Babatunde Fagbohunlu, (SAN).
Gambaryan, alongside his company, is facing a money laundering charge brought against them by the EFCC.
IMF revises downward Nigeria’s growth forecast
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised downward Nigeria’s economic growth projection by 0.2 percentage point amid weaker than expected activity in the first quarter of the year.
The Nigeria’s growth forecast was revised downward by 0.2 from the earlier projection in April.
This in turn has led to a downward revision of economic growth for sub-Saharan Africa.
The IMF announced this development in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) update released on Tuesday.
The report read: “The forecast for growth in sub-Saharan Africa is revised downward, mainly as a result of a 0.2 percentage point downward revision to the growth outlook in Nigeria amid weaker than expected activity in the first quarter of this year.”
The Bretton Wood institution raised alarm that some near-term risks have gained prominence from the previous outlook.
It added: “Overall, risks to the outlook remain balanced, as in the April 2024 WEO, but some near-term risks have gained prominence. These include upside risks to inflation that stem from a lack of progress on services disinflation and price pressures emanating from renewed trade or geopolitical tensions.
“Risks of persistent inflation in the services sector are tied to both wage and price setting, given that labor accounts for a high share of the costs in that sector. Higher nominal wage growth, which in some cases reflects the catch-up of real wages, if accompanied by weak productivity, could make it difficult for firms to moderate price increases, especially when profit margins are already squeezed.
“This could lead to further stickiness in wage and price inflation. The escalation of trade tensions could further raise near-term risks to inflation by increasing the cost of imported goods along the supply chain.
“Bumpiness along the remaining disinflation path could destabilize the return to price stability if short-term expectations spike upward as a result of disappointing inflation data.”
IMF equally held its global growth expectations for 2024.
The Fund expects the world economy to grow 3.2 percent this year, unchanged from its April forecast.
“Global activity and world trade firmed up at the turn of the year, with trade spurred by strong exports from Asia, particularly in the technology sector,” it stated.
For 2025, it expects global growth of 3.3 percent.
The Washington-based lender also warned that the prospect of interest rates staying elevated longer in the face of escalating trade tensions and increased policy uncertainty.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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Nnamdi Kanu sick, denied medical attention, says lawyer
Aloy Ejimakor, lead counsel for the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has claimed that the IPOB leader is ill and is being denied medical attention.
Ejimakor disclosed this in a tweet on X.com on Tuesday.
According to him, Kanu was found unwell during a visit on Monday, exhibiting shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and general discomfort.
He added that a request for a doctor’s visit was submitted but reportedly denied by the Department of State Services, where Kanu is currently detained.
Ejimakor wrote, “Yesterday, during our visitation with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we found him ill, with shortness of breath, low BP, and general malaise.
“For this reason, he requested to see his doctor, and we submitted a letter in this regard. Today, the doctor arrived at the DSS but was denied access to #MNK.”
According reported in March that IPOB called on the Federal Government to release its leader, saying that his health is deteriorating in detention.
His family had also claimed that he needed a cardiologist and urged President Bola Tinubu not to allow him to die in DSS custody.
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FG, World Bank to review land compensation rates
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank and Ogun State Estate Surveyors and Valuers, is working to establish equitable compensation rates for land acquisition, particularly focusing on crops and economic trees.
The National Coordinator of RAAMP, Bodinga Aminu, highlighted this initiative during a visit to the Bureau of Lands and Survey in Abeokuta.
He emphasised RAAMP’s role in constructing rural access roads financed by the World Bank, alongside state-funded projects.
Aminu stressed the necessity of updating the compensation guidelines, last revised 16 years ago, to reflect current realities.
The goal, according to him is to prevent disputes and ensure affected individuals receive adequate compensation, thereby supporting state development efforts.
“The mandate extends beyond road construction to ensuring just compensation for affected parties, safeguarding livelihoods and minimizing litigation,” Aminu added.
The Ogun State Bureau of Lands and Survey, Ms. Temitope Adewunmi said, “Our purpose here is to introduce a framework for assessing the value of crops and economic trees, which are not regularly traded commodities like houses. This framework aims to guide fair compensation practices during land acquisition.”
The World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist, Michael Ilesanmi, underscored the critical role of valuers in land administration, emphasising the need for robust land rights protection to attract investors to Ogun State’s burgeoning sectors.
“Land holds cultural, historical, and economic significance. Proper compensation practices are crucial as Ogun State positions itself as an attractive destination for education, manufacturing, and agriculture investments,” Ilesanmi remarked.
The Director-General of Lands, Segun Fowora, welcomed the initiative, noting its potential to enhance transparency and cooperation between landowners and investors.
“The Bureau has faced challenges with landowners feeling undercompensated during acquisition processes. This initiative will bridge gaps and clarify benefits, including Corporate Social Responsibility impacts,” Fowora affirmed.
He expressed optimism about the review process, expecting it to streamline land access, administration, and compensation practices in Ogun State.
