The Beam News

AMAECHI HAS NO CASE TO ANSWER

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:51:00 +0000

Did Amaechi visit Ngwuta? I do not know. Is there a penalty for visiting? None at all.

Did Amaechi bribe Ngwuta to pervert justice. No. Ngwuta alleges that he refused to be influenced. Amaechi insists that there was no such conversation. The burden of proof rests on Ngwuta. He needs to come up with an unimpeachable evidence. This is the court of public opinion. More allegations and speculations are allowed. If Ngwuta can not prove that Amaechi offered him money, he should atleast give us details that can be confirmed about the alleged visit to his home.

NOW, visiting Ngwuta is not a crime. I have visited judges before and I have never offered money to any. May be, if I was as loaded as Amaechi...who knows? Atleast, it may be revealed if Ngwuta turned down Amaechi to play with the other guy? Who's the other guy? Where is the other room?

Questions, all begging for answers. Here's a straightforward answer: since Ngwuta has already exonerated Amaech from the case of bribery by alleging that he would not tango with the DG; since the authority in assessing evidence is yet to produce any evidence that Amaechi was the secret visitor; Ngwuta must now focus on showing that the DSS is persecuting the incorruptible judge or atleast a judge who has no case to answer.

WIKE PUTS ODILI IN TROUBLE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:48:00 +0000

These may not be the best of times for the former governor of Rivers State and political mentor to many politicians in the state, Sir Dr Peter Odili as the DSS crackdown on Judges continues. The Ndoni born politician whose towering political height was cut short by a conspiracy within the PDP is again in the news after a long abstinence from active politics. Trouble started for Odili when petitions were written to the DSS with the failure of the National Judicial Council, NJC, failed to address petitions arising from the last 2015 elections. The DSS after months of painstaking investigations and surveillance decided to apply the 'Operation Sting' in a bid to crackdown on suspected Judges who were engaged in the Bribe-for-Judgment which was said to have been prevalent after the last elections. Most of those arrested and detained are Supreme Court Judges, including others in the Appeal and High Courts.

While the operation in other states were successful, that of Rivers State failed as the Governor of the State led a hoard of his supporters whom he referred to as Passers by, to obstruct the duties of the DSS. The action of the Governor was greeted by a public outrage even though the governor's party men described it as an act of bravery. The DSS had stormed the residence of Justice Liman of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt based on information that the Judge was in possession of N2.5billion, alleged to be part of the proceeds of bribery.

The action of Wike may have angered the Director General of DSS who explained why the sting operation was carried out. He revealed that in the course of investigation and interrogation of some of the suspected Judges, the agency found out that during the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition trial at the Supreme Court, the sum of N5bn was received by the panel members through two of the Judges, Justice John Inyang Okoro and Justice Ngwuta who may have served as the facilitators. Another account alleged that the wife of Dr Peter Odili, Justice Mary Odili had at some point pleaded with her colleagues not to make her a widow, as her husband will die if Wike lost the case to Dakuku Peterside.

Recall that during a Thanksgiving Service in Port Harcourt, Gov. Wike publicly acknowledged that the victory of the PDP at the Supreme Court was made possible by Odili, whom he said would call him at midnight and directed him on who to see at each point.

Unfortunately, Odili who was present at the occasion did not refute nor counter Wike's position.

Therefore, as the bubble burst over the bribery allegation in the Rivers matter, many believed that Wike had unknowingly exposed the secret role that Odili may have played. Some queried the rationale behind Odili's alleged involvement in the Court since he is neither a lawyer nor a Judge.

While the dust is yet to settle on this, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may have mounted surveillance on Dr. Odili, in other to monitor his movement to prevent him from leaving the country, while his case before the Commission over an alleged diversion of N100bn during his right year tenure as governor from 1999 to 2007. Recall that the former governor had obtained a perpetual injunction from the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt restraining the Crime Commission from arresting, investigating or prosecuting him. The Justice Buba Court had also perpetually prevented the EFCC from publishing the investigations. Surprisingly, the controversial judgment has not been vacated though the commission had filed an Appeal at the Appeal Court but the matter has not been heard till date.

Recent developments indicate the readiness of the crime commission to vacate the order and proceed with full trial, alongside other former governors.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the security agencies have obtained evidence of the meetings held between Gov Wike and Justices Okoro and Ngwuta in Imo State during the burial ceremony of Odili's mother-in-law.

It is obvious that Wike's unguarded public interactions and undemocratic actions may have sparked off the onslaught against Odili. In a bid to hit back at the Federal Government, the governor was said to have advised the embattled Justices to finger Rotimi Amaechi, and accuse him of attempted obstruction of justice. But the two Justices are yet to provide evidence of the said visit by Amaechi. But an insider in the Rivers PDP revealed under cover that there is a grand plot to clone an audio tape with a close semblance of Amaechi's voice in a bid to establish that he actually spoke to the Judges.

PRESS STATEMENT: ANOTHER CRIMINAL AUDACITY OF A WEAK CORRUPT SYCOPHANT, JUSTICE SYLVESTER UGWUTA AND HIS SPONSORED CALLOUS BLACKMAIL ATTEMPT AGAINST RT HON. CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI:

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:47:00 +0000

Few days ago, precisely on the 17th of October, 2016. The attention of Dame lbifuro Thompson Tatua, the National Coordinator of the NIGER DELTA PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT was drawn to the malicious and feeble letter purportedly written by Justice John lnyang Okoro JSC to the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Claiming that the Hon. Minister of Transportation Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Pastor Ebebe Ukpong visited his official residence to request he perverts justice in favour of the APC in Rivers State and other States. Ironically, the embattled Justice Okoro has chickened out on his financiers by denying knowledge or writing such letter to the CJN, the Nigerian Bar Association has also reversed it's earlier decision of declaring a judicial state of emergency if the Judges are not released and the confiscated money returned to them and thrown its full weight behind President Buuari's zeal to rid the judiciary of corrupt officials. The most respected Pastor Ebebe Ukpong has also published his statement, referring to the said allegation as false and fabricated lies coming from the pit of hell.

Sadly, the attention of Niger Delta People's Movement has been drawn to another criminal audacity of a hopeless corrupt sycophant, Justice Sylvester Uwguta and his paid callous blackmail intent against the person and name of Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as contained in his letter dated 18th October, 2016 and addressed to the CJN. Alleging that, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi actually approached him on behalf of APC to redirect justice. We view these attempts as very laughable and juvenile to the core.

The Niger Delta People's Movement are still not deterred nor repulsed by those barrage of blackmails against Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by your Lordship, Justice Sylvester with the giddy overlordship of some fellows who goes by the tag "mistaken leaders" moving in frenziedly from the Bohemian farce to the apocalyptic. The attempt by your Lordships and some governors to reduce our judiciary to a mockery stock is very pathetic. Our question again is, are your Lordships ignorant of section 23(1), (2) and (3) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission Act 2000, despite it's clear provision?.

May we remind your Lordship, Justice Sylvester Ugwuta and his script writers that, reputation attained cheaply, can be easily lost and very fast too. Your Lordships indiscretion in bribery and perversion of justice has rebound, the law of retributive return is at work. While investigation into your sudden stupendous wealth is ongoing with the DSS, Niger Delta People's Movement will urge your Lordship to redirect your energy on how to pull yourself out of your handmade shameful mess and desist from dragging Amaechi's name with you or we will be forced to seek legal redress in the Court of appropriate jurisdiction.

The Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is humble and taciturn. He is synonymous with the campaign for a free corruption society. He is every inch a gentleman, a leader per excellence who does not over estimate himself and his abilities, hence he is always willing to seek knowledge for infrastructural and human development.

Face your warrant, your Lordship, Amaechi is not DSS.

Signed:

Rowland Orlu

Director of Communication.

THE NIGER DELTA PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT

"RIVERS AMNESTY PROGRAM" - A DECEPTIVE DECOY BY GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE, TO SHIELD THE PERPETRATORS OF POLITICAL KILLINGS IN RIVERS STATE FROM THE LAW

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:44:00 +0000

Written by: Ibiso Grace Briggs

The "Rivers government Amnesty program", is an evil and criminal conspiracy, between the principal actors of the "Rivers political violence/killings" and governor Nyesom Wike. The actual motive, is to shield and protect all those that were used to orchestrate the bloodiest ascension to the seat of power, ever witnessed in the entire political history of Rivers State.

Those targeted and captured by the so-called "Rivers amnesty", are persons already declared wanted by the Nigerian police/military authorities. They are criminal culprits, directly connected and implicated in several reported politically motivated murder cases, assassinations and arsons of very high degrees.

You will recollect that, in the lawsuit filled by Wike, against the relocation of the Rivers election tribunal from Port-Harcourt to Abuja, "Wike/PDP VS DAKUKU/APC", the learned Justices of the Supreme Court, did emphatically state and clearly held in her judgement that, "Rivers State was like a theater of war in the periods before, during and after the 2015 general elections and that the life of judiciary workers cannot be put at risk, hence it was right and lawful to have relocated the Rivers Election Tribunals to Abuja".

That judgement, was a perfect summarization and reflection of what truly transpired in Rivers State. It then simply means that, no meaningful election would've held in a place where the Supreme Court, by their judgement, confirmed that "human life was not safe", but at perpetual risk. It is on record that well over one-hundred(100) persons or more, may have died, with several hundreds of others injured and properties worth millions of Naira, destroyed within the said period in Rivers state.

The worst case scenario in this regard, is a situation where the so-called amnesty beneficiaries are still killing, kidnapping and attacking those they perceive as enemies to the incumbent governor, while the police/security agents remains aloof.

Recently, Wike's amnesty beneficiaries and intending beneficiaries alike, assassinated Barr, Kenneth Atsuete, the famous Rivers APC's foremost lawyer and Hon. Boris Neewi, an APC stalwart.

The "Rivers amnesty committee", has on several occasions lamented her frustration and expressed doubts/disappointment, stating

publicly that the types of arms and ammunitions been submitted/surrendered by these dreaded killers, armed robbers, cultists and kidnappers, as they show-up to accept the 'rogue amnesty', is not commensurate to the type of sophisticated weaponry, they have been using to wreck havoc on Rivers people.

The boys in their large numbers, come out from their hideouts(camps) with a few locally made guns and cutlasses, after they have properly concealed their sophisticated weapons. They deceptively appear in public to accept the said amnesty, which instantly earns them Wike's "state pardon", and automatically shields them from the law, which by extension protects them from any form of arrest or prosecution by law enforcement agents, no matter the crime they may have committed.

Apparently, the security agents, before now, acting upon series of complains and petitions, had swung into action, thereby successfully catching up with and closing-in on many of the big actors/perpetrators of the Rivers political killings/violence, with many of the kingpins already "declared wanted", such as Igwe Dibia Ejima aka "Don Wani" and Solomon Ndebgara aka "Bin-Ladin". Then, the only way-out for them, becomes the 'rogue amnesty', after they have been investigated and found liable for the killing of many innocent souls, to the benefit of Nyesom Wike.

Therefore, it must be known to all, that governor Wike purposely designed and programmed the 'Rivers amnesty' for cultist, kidnappers, armed robbers, many of whom had already been investigated and found to be directly linked to series of crimes for which the police/military has declared them wanted, thereby shield these confirmed criminals from the eyes of the law and law enforcement authorities.

As such, "Rivers amnesty" as put in place by governor Wike, is simply a deceit and a criminal conspiracy between the governor and those he used to violently climb unto the seat of power.

It is common knowledge that Nyesom Wike violently & forcefully became governorship flag-bearer of our party(PDP). He worked in concert with Mrs Patience Jonathan and Bro. Felix Obuah to snatch a gubernatorial ticket that was zoned/meant for the Rivers "Riverine people". They empowered and deployed numerous cult groups, activated all reachable criminals and militants to intimidate and bully the then National leadership of our party and also bullied on the entire members of Rivers PDP, an action in clear disregard to the opinion and desire of our leader, H.E. Ebele Jonathan.

Our party members(gubernatorial aspirants), who attempted to protest or resist Wike at any point in time, were brazenly beaten-up, brutalized and secretly threatened to submission.

In connivance with compromised security agencies and the then Rivers REC(Gesila Khan), who is now facing criminal charges for bribery/corruption connected to electoral fraud in Rivers state. Election results were fabricated/concocted in favor of Wike/PDP in Rivers State, while a conglomeration of cult groups, militants & dreaded criminal gangs were adequately activated and mobilized to unleash terror on anyone or group that attempted to challenge what was going on.

However, as expected, after the elections, the cult groups and criminal gangs became emboldened in their nefarious acts, which culminated to the heightened insecurity that has engulfed Rivers state till date. Upon assumption of office, all attempts by Wike(Rivers PDP) to secretly disarm these groups and characters he used to orchestrate the worst political violence in the entire history of Rivers State, couldn't materialize. Not even the juicy political positions and contracts he gave to the kingpins of these criminals and gangs, could change a thing. Amnesty(state pardon) to the criminals, became the option, since he doesn't posses the will power to fight them, simply because they are his associates and loyalist.

If the President Buhari led federal government continue to look the other way, and Wike is allowed to succeed completely with this ongoing evil plot, Rivers state will continue to remain under siege by state government created/sponsored cult gangs and militant groups as it is now. While the same scenario that played out in 2014/2015 in Rivers state will definitely repeat again by 2018/2019 elections, and might even take a worst dimension, more than what we had in the past, because if the feelers we are getting, that the Rivers APC is now planning to adopt/execute the same violent approach Wike used and still using, then Rivers State will become a bloody battle ground by the next elections.

It is worthy to note that, If not for the vigilance of Governor Adams Oshomole, Wike almost succeeded in exporting his model of electoral violence to Edo State during their recently held gubernatorial election, Just like he did during the Bayelsa election.

I wonder why this would be happening, irrespective of the fact that the incumbent president, on assumption of office, acknowledged the political killings and violences that enveloped Rivers state, which he promised to look into and bring the perpetrators to book.

On the other hand, going by the manner, in which the president Buhari led federal government tackled and fought the BokoHaram, IPOB and NDA security menaces, one begins to wonder why the Rivers state case of political insurgence would be treated differently!!

Why didn't President Buhari give amnesty to BokoHaram, IPOB & NDA terrorists/militants, as seen in Rivers state?

I use this medium to remind and call on President Muhamadu Buhari to live up to his promise regards 'Rivers political violence'. I also beckon on the DSS, Police and the military to urgently rise up to the occasion in Rivers State and checkmate this evil design called "Rivers amnesty program", by desperate governor Wike, whose violent tactics is common knowledge to all and sundry.

Judiciary Wing Of The Wailers Go For Amaechi's Jugular

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:37:00 +0000

As soon as the Department of State Services (DSS), in obedience to relevant laws of the land relating to arrest and detention, released arrested Justices on personal recognition within 24 hours of arrest, a certain mixed feelings enveloped yours truly. Over time, the mixed feelings quickly transmuted into a cross breed of fear and eeriness.

The reason for what looked like my needless worry was because going by the peculiar tendencies of our countrymen to convolute the air especially when caught in the act of doing evil, I very well knew that corruption will fight back with an uncommon ferocity never known before. After all, the bursting of judicial corruption in Nigeria was unheard of, and probably thought of as impossible, before now. Indeed, my major concern was that those arrested and released so swiftly would have sufficient time and company of evil associates who will present to them pages and options of scripts taken from their ignoble book of mischief on how to fight back. They will also provide legal assistance and deep purses to take the fight to President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.

It only took a few hours before one of the embattled Judges, Justice Adeniyi Ademola dispatched a letter into the media space in which he strenuously blamed the Attorney-General of the Federation [AGF] and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami for his woes. According to the judge, “A DSS official finally informed me that my arrest was based on these three allegations; petition of Hon. Jenkins Duvie dated 4th of April 2016 to the National Judicial Council (NJC); granting bail to Col. Sambo Dasuki and the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu; and using my office to secure my wife's appointment as the head of civil service, through Senator Bola Tinubu.”

Ademola said he saw his arrest as revenge from Abubakar Malami, whose arrest and detention he ordered over a professional misconduct while he was judge in Kano between 2004 and 2008. Indeed, story for the gods!

In his hurry to concoct an alibi, Justice Ademola conveniently forgot to expatiate on the petitions he acknowledged were written against him but rather dwelled copiously but disingenuously on the red herring he created around the AGF. The reasons for dragging in the national leader of the APC, Alhaji Ahmed Bola Tinubu and AGF Malami are many. He wanted the sympathy of BAT and his followers and in Malami, Justice Ademola found a fitting personality right in the heart of the Buhari government who he can use to blackmail the President and his government. Is there a better way for corruption to fight back than this?

Just as Nigerians were conditioning themselves to the emerging melodrama by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, another embattled judge of the Supreme Court, Justice John Inyang Okoro and his collaborators in Akwa Ibom and Rivers State were concluding a different episode in what has now become the grand epic movie in which the central theme is the get-him-at-all-cost quest for Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation in the Buhari government.

In a self-deprecating letter to the CJN and widely circulated in the media, Justice John Okoro rambled, huffed and puffed about how Amaechi approached him to pervert justice in the 2015 governorship election matters of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia States. He claimed to have mentioned the matter to the CJN at the time but never bothered to follow the prescription of the law in such a circumstance which required him to put it in black and white to his boss and also report to security agencies. In his hurry to manufacture lies, a supposed experienced Supreme Court judge conveniently forgot the provisions of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Act 2000; 23(1) which says: “Any public officer to whom any gratification is given, promised, or offered, in contravention of any provision of this Act, shall report such gift, promised or offer together with the name, if known, of the person who gave, promised or offered such gratification to him to the nearest officer of the commission or police officer.”

Not a few Nigerians have raised questions about the highly mendacious and self-incriminating letter by Justice John Okoro. What will be the basis for Amaechi to approach Justice Okoro to pervert justice in the Akwa Ibom governorship matter when he could not have been enlisted on the panel as an indigene of Akwa Ibom State? What really is the nexus between his wild allegations and what the DSS has accused him of? As men of the law, why is it that neither Justice Okoro nor the CJN followed the provisions of the law if an attempt was made to bribe a Supreme Court judge?

Following on the heels of Justice John Inyang Okoro's spurious allegations, came yet another letter by another Supreme Court judge, Justice Nwali Sylvester Ungwuta. Again, Ungwuta took refuge under the name of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who he shamelessly concocted white lies against, claiming the Minister attempted to bribe him to pervert justice in electoral matters. Ungwuta also dragged in Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu to further confer the toga of credibility on the plot by the shamed judges to square up with the PMB government and possibly halt the war against corruption as it relates to the judiciary.

Today, what has become very apparent is that there were several well organised rehearsals by these embattled and alleged bad eggs in the judiciary to hit back at the very heart beat of the Buhari administration as corruption fights back.

We know that the idea is that the easiest way to hit at the very heart of a strongman is to harm his favourite offspring. Same persons who are hell bent on humiliating the PMB government continue to explore from their mischief box. They started with avenging the defeat of their man, which seems to be failing. Now, they have turned on Amaechi and that will also fail.

It is also worthy of note that all those who have been rueing their loss of the 2015 Presidential election have quickly regrouped to exact their pound of flesh from the very undisputed game changer and driver of the PMB victory which ensured the effective consignment of their Man Friday, the Otuoke man, to the backwaters of history. And that man is Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi CON.

The flurry of activities in Government House Port Harcourt has since heightened. We have heard plots to air CCTV footages. But all those insidious plans cannot be more than the previous plots. They failed then, they will fail now. Those evil iron-cast conspiracies will all lie in ruins. It is a matter of time. For them, Amaechi has become the proverbial alligator pepper that must be ever present in every brew by traditional medicine men.

THE PRICE FOR AN UNCOMMON COURAGE! AMAECHI HAS BEEN AMAUSHED BY THE FORCES HE BROUGHT DOWN FROM POWER

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:35:00 +0000

A deliberate ploy by his political enemies back home in Rivers State to divert attention from the DSS claims of the movement of N30bn from the Rivers State Treasury during the period of the Supreme Court trial of the Governorship legal tussle and another N5bn confirmed to have been given as bribe to some Supreme Court Judges.

Suddenly, the accused Judges are both accusing Rotimi Amaechi of being behind their ordeal. They allege in their suspicious letters that at some time in the past he had approached them to turn the wheel of Justice in favour of his preferred candidates with respect to Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom and Ekiti States.

Though there is no evidence provided yet, but it is a coincidence that Justice Ngwuta and Justice Inyang Okoro are singing the same tune long after the purported incidents of attempted bribery was carried out.

Obviously, this is a case of the biblical hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob. The rivalry between the two political parties in Rivers State is simply responsible for the renewed onslaught against Amaechi.

No one would have thought that the seeming moves to name Justice Mary Odili as the unseen hand behind the N5bn bribery of her colleagues at the Apex Court would spare Amaechi of any counter attacks.

The DSS had accused Justice Odili of approaching and begging her colleagues to accept the money in order to save her from becoming a widow, as the loss of Wike and PDP at the Supreme Court will result to her husband's death.

While Justice Odili is yet to refute the allegation, her husband, Dr Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers State has gone to Court against Dakuku Peterside, a protege of Rotimi Amaechi over a libelous publication. Dakuku was said to have accused Dr Odili and his wife of masterminding the victory of Wike. He had based his claims on the public statement of Gov Wike who had urged his supporters to thank Dr Odili for calling him up at midnight and directing him who and who to meet while the matter lasted in Court.

Apart from the local Rivers politics, there are those on the side of the former President who are bent on rubbishing the war against corruption.

The easiest way is to pin one of Buhari's key men, particularly Amaechi who played a major role in the emergence of Buhari as President.

It is not clear what the Amaechi group will do more so with the discordant tunes within the APC.

But those who want Amaechi to go down are said to be putting finishing touches on a mass movement to call for the resignation of sack of the Minister.

The battle is definitely going to be tough as this is exactly one year when the same group sought to stop Amaechi from being screened by the Senate and appointed Minister by President Buhari.

MEND Supports Buhari's Scheduled Meeting With Edwin Clark

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:32:00 +0000

The group said the forthcoming meeting vindicates MEND and the Federal Government's continued insistence and belief, from the start, that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to ensuring the return of peace to and ending the neglect of the Niger Delta region.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has announced its support for the meeting scheduled to hold between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Pan-Niger Delta Group (PNDG), led by Ijaw National Leader, Chief (Dr.) Edwin Clark, on 31 October.

MEND announced its endorsement in a statement issued on Sunday. The group said the forthcoming meeting vindicates MEND and the Federal Government's continued insistence and belief, from the start, that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to ensuring the return of peace to and ending the neglect of the Niger Delta region.

"We were the first and only militant group in the Niger Delta region to meaningfully and constructively engage in talks with the Federal Government with a view to resolving the Niger Delta crisis, as duly confirmed by no less a person than President Muhammadu Buhari sometime in July, 2016, in his farewell remarks to the outgoing German Ambassador, Mr. Michael Zinner.

"His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, later confirmed our claim when he informed the media that the Presidency was waiting to receive the final agreement," said MEND.

Sequel to the talks it held with the Federal Government, added MEND, several concessions were secured by both parties.

The Federal Government, explained MEND, secured a major concession in MEND's firm commitment to work to ensure that it gets all aggrieved militant groups in the region to agree to a ceasefire and come under a single umbrella for negotiation.

MEND disclosed that it kept to the terms of the agreement by using its vast contacts to prevail on militant groups and criminal elements among others to agree to a ceasefire and recognise Chief Clark as the leader of the Niger Delta region in proposed talks with the Federal Government.

Following that, the group said it formally disbanded the Odein Ajumogobia-led Aaron Team 2 and queued behind Chief Clark in the overall interest of the Niger Delta region.

MEND added that evidence of its success could be gleaned from the increase in the country's oil and gas production capacity.

However, MEND said the Federal Government is yet to keep to the terms of the agreement reached with it.

"Indeed, one of the key concessions secured by MEND was that, the Federal Government would concede to the release of certain political prisoners, including but not limited to the Okah Brothers – Henry and Charles.

"Nevertheless, with news of the forthcoming meeting between President Buhari and the Chief Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Group, we are confident that the concessions already secured by MEND shall be respected by the Federal Government," MEND said .

As a result, the group urged members of the PNDG to put aside personal interests.

"Rather, we implore them to realize that the Niger Delta region is at a Zebra Crossing and therefore, they must remain steadfast and focused on their core mandate, to wit: restoration of sustainable and permanent peace and development of the region," the group counseled.

Alleged N100bn fraud: EFCC Keeps Ex-gov Odili Under Surveillance

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:26:00 +0000

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has put a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, under surveillance, The PUNCH learnt on Sunday.

Also, investigations revealed that the Economic Governance Unit of the commission, which has been working on the case against Odili, had intensified efforts to vacate the perpetual injunction obtained by the ex-governor to restrain the commission from arresting and prosecuting him for fraud.

A top operative of the EFCC, who confided in our correspondent on Sunday, said the commission was making fresh efforts to vacate the perpetual injunction, which was granted by a Port Harcourt High Court.

The 'Interim Report of the EFCC on Governor Peter Odili' had alleged that “over N100bn of Rivers State funds have been diverted by the Governor, Dr. Odili”, and contained serious allegations of fraud, conversion of public funds, and money laundering, among others.

Odili, as the sitting governor of Rivers State, had approached the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt in February 2007, asking it to grant him an order preventing any law enforcement agency from arresting, harassing and prosecuting him for fraud.

On March 23, 2007, Justice Ibrahim Buba granted Odili's prayers, including a declaration that the EFCC investigations were invalid, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.

He also granted an injunction restraining the EFCC and the other defendants from publicising the report of the investigation; and an injunction restraining the EFCC from any further action in relation to the alleged economic and financial crimes.

On Sunday, the source told The PUNCH that the EFCC had not been able to reopen fresh investigation into the case of the former Rivers State governor because of the subsisting restraining order, which was granted in March, 2007, by Justice Buba.

It was stated that the commission had assigned operatives to monitor the ex-governor pending the time the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt would determine the matter.

The source added, “The only thing that is preventing his case is that order. Once it is lifted, operatives, who are already detailed for the case, would go after him.”

The source added that the security ring around the former governor had become imperative in order to prevent the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain from leaving the country.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the appeal against the restraining order was in court.

“The case is the subject of an appeal before the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt,” said Uwujaren without giving further details.

When contacted on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Attorney General of the Federation on Media and Publicity, Mr. Salihu Isah, said only the minister was competent to speak on the moves to vacate the perpetual injunction granted the ex-Rivers governor.

“It is the minister that has the details and competent to speak on the issue,” he said.

The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption had described the orders as odious, perverted and unacceptable during a briefing in Abuja on Monday.

The Executive Secretary of PACAC, Prof, Bolaji Owasanoye, explained that many of the orders, which he said were appealable, had been appealed.

Owasanoye had stated that a particular judge, who was notorious for granting such orders, had been removed from the bench.

He had added that any order, which made it impossible for anti-corruption agencies to investigate suspects who did not enjoy immunity, was only demanding the scrapping of the police, the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission.

He had said, “Secondly, one of the judges, who is notorious for giving these orders has been removed from the bench. I am sure you all know that he has been removed from the bench; because we also made public some of those orders and their implications.

“When you say a suspect cannot be arrested, investigated or prosecuted, you are actually saying that it is better to shut down the anti-corruption agencies.

“This is because if all of us can't be arrested, we can't be prosecuted, what are you doing with the police then? What are you doing with the EFCC? What are you doing with ICPC, because every potential suspect enjoys immunity; so, the best thing is to shut them down.

“Those orders are odious, they are perverted orders, and they should not be allowed to stand. And as far as we know, virtually all of them have been appealed.”

Meanwhile, a source in the commission told The PUNCH on Sunday that the EFCC had traced some properties within and outside the country to one of the judges currently under the probe of the anti-graft agency.

The source, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the team of operatives, who raided the residence of the judge in Lagos, stumbled on documents that bore the name of the judge, linking the judge to properties in Nigeria and outside the country.

It was learnt that the operatives were also screening bank accounts in the name of the judge and in the names of some of the children.

“The search yielded documents that would assist the commission's investigations, including bank accounts in the name of the judge and those bearing the names of the children and property titles both in Nigeria and abroad,” the source said.

Rivers Re-run: It Is In My Best Interest For It To Hold -Magnus Abe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:24:00 +0000

All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Rivers South East Senatorial District in the legislative re-run elections, Senator Magnus Abe has stated that it was in his best interest and that of the State for the election to hold as soon as possible, contrary to the comments in the media by the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a statement issued in Port Harcourt and signed by his Spokesperson, Mr. Parry Saroh Benson, accused Gov. Nyesom Wike of preferring to the election not to hold than have it hold with Abe emerging victorious.

The statement said the governor had used his position as the chief security officer of the state in the past to postpone the re-run elections on security ground, pointing out that the same governor had been employing similar antics now to continually postpone the election if only that could stop Senator Abe from being re-elected to the Senate. It noted that what was remaining of the legislative year was barely two and half years and that Senator Abe had been concerned about the loss of time in providing the people of Rivers South East Senatorial District and the entire state adequate representation in the National Assembly. It said, “those in PDP do not care about Rivers interest if only Abe is prevented from getting to the Senate”.

The statement further said that such schemes would fail as they were playing being God and that Abe was confident of victory anytime the election was held, judging from the support his people had given him so far. It added that the governor also feared a resounding victory by Senator Abe, pointing out that it was the reason why the governor had taken the issue of Abe's election personally, considering the number of times he had visited Rivers South East Senatorial District as well as threats issued to leaders of PDP in the district to deliver the area. The statement stated that in spite of these efforts of the governor and PDP, the popularity of Senator Abe in the district had been growing, thus, necessitating the need to create entropy that would perpetually make the election impossible to hold. It urged INEC to ignore Wike's diabolical schemes, hold the elections as scheduled and ensure that they are free, fair and credible.

Bribery Scandal: You've Betrayed Oath Of Your Office, Ekiti APC Tells Justice Ungwuta

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:18:00 +0000

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has lampooned Justice Sylvester Ungwuta of the Supreme Court over claim that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and his Science and Technology counterpart, Ogbonnaya Onu, allegedly tried to influence him to remove People's Democratic Party governors; Ekiti State's Ayodele Fayose, Rivers' Nyesom Wike and their Ebonyi counterpart, Dave Umahi, in the election petitions appeals before the justices of the Supreme Court.

It said refusal or failure to report to the right quarters the alleged crime to subvert justice is a betrayal of his oath of office, which the justice took to preserve the integrity of the judiciary to ensure justice.

The DSS had last week raided the homes of Justices Ungwuta and John Inyang Okoro, making startling revelations on the cash in local and foreign currencies discovered as alleged proceeds of bribes to influence judgements in election matters.

Justice Okoro responded, saying he was being victimised for refusing to help Amaechi influence election petitions judgments in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states.

For Ungwuta, he alleged that he was being victimised by the Federal Government for his refusal to help APC leaders, Amaechi and Onu, to influence election petitions judgments in Ekiti, Rivers and Ebonyi states.

But reacting to the allegations in a statement in Ado-Ekiti by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party said that defending the allegations by the justices several months after the alleged bribery attempt was committed was an afterthought and "ridiculous betrayal of their oath of office" for them to keep that serious alleged attempts to subvert justice in their closets until the justices were allegedly caught in acts that betrayed their oath of office.

The party lampooned the justices for behaving in the same pattern in the defence of the allegations against them, saying that besides the "laughable theatrics that these justices are serving Nigerians", their actions were "drama acted out of the script" .

He said: "While Justice Okoro said he complained to the CJN about Amaechi's pressure on February 3 in a judgment on a case that was delivered on January 27, eight clear days difference, he said he reported Akwa Ibom judgment matter on the same day after the judgment was delivered on February 3.

"The question is; if you want to report fraud to the CJN, why reporting after you had already taken your action and not before taking that action?

"This is besides the fact that Pastor Ebebe Ukpong, who Justice Okoro said led Umana Umana to his house to seek manipulation of Akwa Ibom election, has since admitted that though Justice Okoro is his brother, he never led Umana to his (Okoro) house to seek favour.

"And following Justice Okoro in the same pattern, Justice Ungwuta is now alleging in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmoud Mohammed, dated October 18, 2016 that DSS agents planted cash in foreign and local currencies in his house to implicate him for corruption after the media had earlier reported the same Justice as having allegedly claimed that he made the money discovered in his house in rice and palm oil trade.

"Apparently rattled by responses of Nigerians, who cackled and scorned the justice over that disingenuous petulant alibi, the story has now ridiculously changed to allegation that DSS agents planted millions in local and foreign currencies in his house six days after the alleged declaration that money saved from palm oil and rice was found in his house and not bribe money."

He added: "Ekiti State election petition case was decided on April 14, 2015, but Justice Ungwuta had to wait for about one and half years before it occurred to him that he had to report to the CJN on an alleged attempt to bribe him to influence the case.

"This is a comedy acted out of script and therefore a melodrama, and we never knew that comedians of Baba Suwe and Baba Sala variety also exist in Nigerian judiciary to entertain Nigerians with this ridiculous and grotesque portraiture of what justice means to some judges in our apex court.

"We find it rather strange that Justice Ungwuta who claimed guns were pointed at him menacingly found it very convenient to doze off intermittently at the same time, yet was able to account for the minutest details of what happened in his house and we wonder whether those guns were friendly guns.

"More curious is that he admitted that the men produced a search warrant, but of judge of many decades experience did not ask any question on the search warrant and he did not know that he was being questioned by DSS until he got to their office.

“The macabre dance of Justice Ungwunta and his colleagues in trying to put up a weak defence has questioned their integrity as ministers in the temple of justice. They should realise they can never be a judge in their own case and are not above the law."

Olatunbosun added that by his latest gaffe, Justice Ungwuta had inadvertently revealed the reason why against all Judicial norms he and his colleagues granted Fayose a relief he didn't seek concerning his impeachment.

He added: "Justice Ungwuta also forgot to expose Amaechi six months ago when the EFCC invited him and his colleagues over allegation of corruption and also forgot to expose Amaechi since April 14, 2015 after he and his colleagues delivered the strange judgment on Ekiti election when they generously awarded reliefs not sought by Fayose in the case before the Supreme Court.

"In a nutshell, the allegations by these justices of the Supreme Court are better told to drunken marines and not intelligent Nigerians who are victims of injustice in the hands of bad eggs in Nigerian courts in their callous dispensation of injustice to helpless Nigerians.

Stop The Insult On Amaechi Forthwith

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:14:00 +0000

The Patriots Alliance (TPA), have watched with great dismay the extent of intellectually shallow, maniacally egregious, and callously spurious allegations being levelled against the person of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, Federal Republic of Nigeria. We find it terribly disturbing that custodians of the temple of justice, in the persons of Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, would resort to mud-slinging and political shenanigans. We say NO to any further denigration of our highly respected judiciary and any innocent citizen of our dear country.

As Patriots, one of our self-imposed duties is to protect credible public servants who are caught in-between the monstrous fangs of the consequences of proper governance. To us, the dim-witted accusations spiralling from the very apex of our judiciary, must be met with wittier confrontations. We cannot sit back as officers of the law attempt an abominable media spin in order to divert attention from their alleged crimes, all in order to attract cheap public sympathy.

Let it be on record that it is not Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, that is on trial here; those on trial are members of the judiciary who are entangled in one form of corruption allegation or the other. In that sense, we hereby wish to kindly advise our Honourable Justices to immediately quit the queer gallerious display of fallacies and quickly prepare for their imminent day in court.

Amaechi was not there when the Judges stacked millions of dollars in their private apartments: Amaechi was also not there when DSS arrested them: neither was Amaechi there when they started answering questions raised by the DSS and EFCC bordering on their alleged corrupt practices. So why rope-in Amaechi into their pathetic travails?

Nigeria is not a Banana Republic, neither is Nigeria a land of fools where any Tom, Dick, and Harry can stand up and point accusing fingers at another person without providing credible evidence to back up whatever claims is brought to the fore.

The factless assertions of mi Lords, Justice Inyang Okoro and Justice Sylvester Ugwuta, respectively, are in gross violations of the provisions of Section 23, subsection 1,2 & 3 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000. It is rather funny and curious that these Justices rather than report to the Police, of whom the law specifically mandated for such matters, they merely made an 'oral' report to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Truth they say shines brighter than light, therefore, we use this very medium to challenge the embattled Justices to come forward with any credible evidences of their allegations against the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, or forever remain silent. Enough of this national shame!

ARRESTED JUDGES SHOULD STEP ASIDE, SAYS NWABUEZE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:10:00 +0000

Elder statesman and constitutional lawyer Prof. Ben Nwabueze, has advised the judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegations of corruption to step aside until the allegations levelled against them are resolved.

He also blamed the makeup of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) for the rot in the judiciary, saying it is not the appropriate body for the functions assigned to it.

Backing the call made by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that judges whose houses were recently invaded by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and currently facing allegations of corruption should step aside until their cases are sorted out, Nwabueze said: “If I were one of the judges, I will not feel comfortable sitting on the throne of justice.

“I will feel most uncomfortable and embarrassed.

“I will step aside until investigations are carried out and I am vindicated. That is why I agree entirely with the position taken by the NBA. Let them step aside.

“But, unfortunately, it may turn out in the end that they are innocent.”

Asked what he would have done differently with regard to the allegations against the judges, Nwabueze said he would not have used the DSS to handle the matter, adding that what the agency has done amounts to usurping the duties of the police.

He said the instrument provided by the constitution to handle such matters is the police.He added: “I would have used the police, incompetent as they are, to investigate the allegation thoroughly, and any judge found wanting after investigation would be prosecuted.

He added: “I would have used the police, incompetent as they are, to investigate the allegation thoroughly, and any judge found wanting after investigation would be prosecuted. “I won't spare anybody, but I won't do this Gestapo style of investigation.”

“I won't spare anybody, but I won't do this Gestapo-style of an investigation.” Nwabueze said though the judiciary is “stinking with corruption,” it is not necessary to undermine its credibility.

Nwabueze said though the judiciary is “stinking with corruption,” it is not necessary to undermine its credibility. He added: “We should find a way of investigating and prosecuting those who are.

He added: “We should find a way of investigating and prosecuting those who are corrupt but, not by this police state method.

“You can't disgrace an institution because of one or two rotten eggs. There is a better way to do it.

“But here you have a President that is already prejudiced against the judiciary. He doesn't believe in all these democratic methods.”He believes in

“He believes in personal, power and the National Security Act has equipped him with the personal power that he wants, and he is exploiting it. “That act should be expunged from our statute book. “

“That act should be expunged from our statute book.”

Nwabueze said the NJC has not acquitted itself well with regard to fighting corruption within the judiciary, and that this is owing to the fact it does not have enough powers.

He said: “The NJC is not the appropriate body for the functions assigned to it.

“The body needs to be revamped for the effective discharge of the functions assigned to it.

“It is meant to be a body to discipline judges, but because it is made up of judges, it cannot work.”The constitutional lawyer, 85, said beyond the NJC, a lot of things are wrong with the country's legal system.

The constitutional lawyer, 85, said beyond the NJC, a lot of things are wrong with the country's legal system.

These, he said, include the system of investigation and prosecution of the police, which is not efficient.

“It is slow, cumbersome and the problem is compounded by corruption. It is corruption that has made it slow,” he added.

BODY OF SENIOR ADVOCATES OF NIGERIA BACK MAHMOUD FOR CALL ON ARRESTED JUDGES TO RECUSE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:05:00 +0000

The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the call by the NBA President on the Arrested judges to proceed on leave of absence pending when they are given a clean bill of health. The Body met in Lagos today to endorse every action taken by the NBA President Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud SAN so far on the unfortunate incident.

The meeting was attended by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the NBA President. Also in attendance was JK GADZAMA, SAN who met with Mahmoud for the first time since the later assumed office as the 28th President of the Nigerian Bar Association. The Body reiterated its support for the NBA in its efforts to fight corruption in the Judiciary.

INEC REGISTERS 10 NEW POLITICAL PARTIES

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:03:00 +0000

The number of registered political parties in Nigeria has risen to 40, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The commission said in its official website that 10 new political parties were recently registered, thereby increasing the number of the parties from existing 30.

The parties, according to INEC, are Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), Democratic Alternative (DA), Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), National Action Council (NAC) and National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP).

Others are Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP), National Unity Party (NUP), Nigeria Peoples Congress (NPC), Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Mr Nick Dazang, INEC's Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, explained that the 10 new political parties were among those deregistered sometime ago but were re-registered based on a court order.

“The commission on Sept. 1, approved the acceptance and restoration of 10 political parties in compliance with a court order pending an appeal.

“It also directed that this restoration should be reflected on its website in compliance with court judgments''.

NAN recalls that INEC took similar action shortly before the 2015 general elections by re-registering the Young Democratic Party (YDP).

The action brought the number of political parties in the country to 30 before the elections

Breaking News

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 13:06:00 +0000

Femi Falana (SAN) Nigerian Lawyer and human rights activist while speaking on channels TV tonight 17/1/16,lampoons Governorship Tribunals & INEC .

In his words he stated that the Use of Card Reader was made Mandatory by Law for the Governorship Elections of April 2015 all over the Federation

That Tribunals & INEC were largely compromised in States like Abia, Rivers etc

That Chief Olisa Metu (PDP Publicity Secretary) Now in Prison is NOT entitled to bail as speculated by some PDP chieftains & lawyers. He said bail condition is at the discretion of the Court.

Finally he stated that Any State challenging the Use of Card reader for Governorship Elections are just buying time. In the real sense of it, they have no valid case at the Supreme Court

BLOOD IN THEIR MOUTH....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 22:28:00 +0000

By Oby Ndukwe.

While the innocent people of the North Eastern region as well as Abuja were being brutally murdered by the near extinct Boko Haram insurgents, the then ruling party, PDP under President Jonathan was busy sharing what they considered their loot.
They hid under the pretext of fighting the war but were engaged in the most bizarre, callous and unprecedented wickedness to share the money mapped out for the purchase of arms and ammunition to curb the terrorist acts! Rather than uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which mandates the government and the President to protect the lives and properties of citizens, they opted to steal from the security coffers under the supervision of the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
The looting was the highest form of impunity by that government. Party chieftains became conduit pipes to siphon money meant to save lives. The likes of Raymond Dokpesi and now Olisa Metuh provided their bank accounts for such illicit transactions, yet, they were supposed to be the mouthpiece of the masses in their different capacities.
The APC Federal Government of President Buhari through the graft agency, EFCC decides to go after these heartless men, and some unconcerned persons under the guise of political affiliations or ethnic sentiments are crying blue murder. This is just the most absurd.
Politics and the brazen quest for power has since beclouded our sense of reasoning, our passion for the sanctity of human lives and even our religious tenets on why we must not kill. How did we get to this point where even those who stand on the pulpit to preach and those who sit in the pews to listen have stood up in their cassock with their Bibles clutched in their hands have turned around to defend the actions and inactions of these bloodsuckers.
The Biblical scripture which states, " Cain, where is thy brother Abel?", is not limited to only those who personally kill. It extends to those who incite, instigate, sponsor and even supervise these sort of murders. There is basically no difference between a Shekau and a Metuh and all those who were part of the sharing of the arms money. They conspired to stuff their accounts with blood soaked money while they laced their shoes and danced Azonto on the graves of those killed through the dreaded bombs of these heartless terrorists.
Winning the 2015 elections was more important to them than to save the lives of fellow Nigerians including innocent young maidens who were kidnapped and forced to become child mothers and suicide bombers.
Those who are crying foul over the arrest of the so called PDP Chiefs should be visited with the same pains which the families of those that were maimed and murdered have gone through. May their virgin daughters be defiled by scruffy, dirty and murderous idiots like the Boko Haram fighters. Those who have abandoned their divine roles as Men of God and chosen to defend those who pay blood soaked tithes into the coffers of their church should be visited by the leprosy of Ananias and Saphira.
In all, those guilty of dancing while the North East burned, while innocent people died in the Nyanya and Abuja bombing should be meted with the same punishment as those who were responsible for these killings. The truth must prevail and the guilty shall pay!

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SET TO TAKE OVER FUNCTIONS OF RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 00:28:00 +0000

Following the turn of event from Rivers House of Assembly Appeal Judgements, the National Assembly may be set to take over legislative functions and powers of the Rivers State house of Assembly.
The Appeal court sitting in Abuja had in its various judgements ordered re-run in 22 Assembly constituencies out of the 32 member house that make up the Rivers State house of Assembly. The PDP has maintained 9 seats while the APC is left with just a seat, leaving the Assembly with the total of 10 legitimate members including the Speaker.

The law only requires only 11 out 32 member house to be able to form quorum necessary for any legislative seating. But so far, only 10 members left in the House can not form quorum and therefore by law will continue with there legislative functions as members of the state Assembly atleast for now.
Below is the breakdown of the constituency seats won, lost and ordered rerun in Rivers State.
1. Abua/Odual - PDP
2. Ahoada East I - RERUN
3. Ahoada East II - RERUN
4. Ahoada West - PDP ?
5. Akuku-Toru I - RERUN
6. Akuku-Toru II - RERUN
7. Andoni - RERUN
8. Asari-Toru I - RERUN
9. Asari-Toru II - RERUN
10. Bonny - RERUN
11. Degema - RERUN
12. Eleme - RERUN
13. Emohua - RERUN
14. Etche I - PDP
15. Etche II - RERUN
16. Gokana - RERUN
17. Ikwerre - RERUN
18. Khana I - PDP
19. Khana II - RERUN
20. Obio/Akpor I - RERUN
21. Obio/Akpor II - RERUN
22. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni I - RERUN
23. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni II - PDP
24. Ogu/Bolo - PDP
25. Okrika - PDP
26. Omuma - RERUN
27. Opobo/Nkoro - RERUN
28. Oyigbo - PDP
29. Port Harcourt I - APC
30. Port Harcourt II - RERUN
31. Port Harcourt III - PDP
32. Tai - RERUN
So far: PDP = 9
APC = 1
=10
Rerun: = 22

BUHARI MUST HEAR THIS AND ACT FAST!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 10:29:00 +0000

There is no reason for the pretentious posture of the Police boss over the recent threats by the embattled governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike who has not only called for the annihilation of INEC staff who may engage in what he now considers as electoral fraud, but has insidiously incited his supporters to go after those who are purportedly behind his current travails.
The victory recorded by the APC in Rivers State in the election matters may become their albatross if the Inspector General of Police continues to play hanky panky on the very issue of security in the state which has risen astronomically lately.
The mere reading of his body language even without hearing his blurting voice and vituperations, these gang of blind bats and bloodied bandits turned politicians are on the loose to take down all the known and perceived opponents of Wike and his failed PDP. What is their grouse with the APC, one may ask? Is politics no longer a game of permanent interests devoid of permanent enemies? No, it is far from being a game. It is as serious as the business of who becomes the FIFA President. It is now a do or die affair.
What on earth would drive the so called ruling party in the state into a vanishing point? If elections had been conducted under a free and fair basis, there would not have been need for the avalanche of nullifications which has greeted the premature victory of the PDP candidates for all the elections in the state. The threat to kill for any perceived acts of killing is like passing a death sentence on those who once romanced the PDP when President Jonathan held sway.
The Inspector General of Police, unfortunately has refused to bulge while the war drums are being beaten in the once Rivers of Possibilities. It's either IGP Solomon Arase is compromised considering the way he was brought to power by the then PDP Federal Government or he cares less about the Niger Delta people who put their lives on the line that President Buhari may be elected in place of another Niger Delta son.
Arase has not hidden his sympathy for Wike who was the pointsman of Jonathan and his wife in the region nor has he hidden his disdain for the so called Change Agents here. Of course,
Rotimi Amaechi does not have the penchant for throwing money around like Wike who believes in buying any buyable!
Given the police's flair for 'egunje' or brown envelope, there is no doubt where the loyalty of the crime busters lie.
The escalation of crime in the state is an indictment of the state government. While more and more APC stalwarts are still being hounded by these dare devil, guns trotting assailants, the Police still claims to be on top of the situation. Not even the much publicised Rivers Black Monday organised by the APC to mourn the death of over 100 of their supporters has caused the IGP to shift his position concerning his alliance with the current occupant of the Brick House.
Today, we hear from the horse's mouth that some members of the war cabinet of Wike, according to Ibiba Walter, have assigned roles of marksmen to either gun down or kidnap strong APC stalwarts in the state. The time frame given for the deadly operation is from now till the judgment of the Supreme Court on the Governorship tussle. In the words of some of the hired assassins recently at the Casablanca area of GRA Port Harcourt, "we shall not go down alone through the Supreme Court ".
Those privileged to be in authority who move about with maximum security must not fold their hands and watch their supporters killed or maimed by this vampire in the state. Chikodi Dike was lucky to have escaped death yesterday though his police escort was killed just behind Port Harcourt Polo Club, who knows who's next. But I want to remind the sponsors of these heinous crimes that death knows no boundaries! You may kill by the sword, yet you die in your sleep! To be forewarned is to be forearmed!

JUDGMENT DAY AT THE TRIBUNAL BETWEEN DAKUKU A. PETERSIDE & NYESOM WIKE: JUDGE ORDERS A RE-RUN

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 11:59:00 +0000

Panel just stepped in
Judge
Good morning all
Clerk
Ept/gov/rv/04/2015
Between Hon.Dr.Dakuku Peterside and INEC,Wike and PDP.
Petitioner rep by Achi Wobodo
2nd respondent rep by Benjamin Eke Esq
Appearances
Petitioner
S.A Oke Esq
1st respondent
Tobechukwu Nweke Esq
2nd respondent
O.Wali SAN
3rd respondent Chris Uche SAN
Judge
This our judgement
Reading the petitioner prayers. And what happened from the beginning to the ept to date
Reading the defence of the 2nd respondent
Reading the defence of the 3rd respondent.
Reading the final address of all counsels to the case.

The letter of the INEC Secretary on the use of the Card Reader is upheld
To the gubernatorial elections
And house of assembly
Because the letter was written twice and re emphasized
As guidelines to the said elections
As such the 1st respondent was emphatic on the usage of card reader

The use of card reader was introduced this 2015,and was emphatically said to be used only and the letter was written twice for (emphasis)
The card readers was a complimentary to the voters registers
I therefore say without the use of card reader makes the election a nullity.

The DW 1 testimony was not credible
DW 1 of the 1st respondent
Because he contradicted itself
DW 2 was also did same
And further compounded her issue by saying she couldn't see or read from the form EC8A.
All the DW refused to read from INEC documents presented to them
Thereby contradicting there earlier submission.

Even an INEC commissioner agreed that card reader was agreed to be used only in the gubernatorial and house of assembly elections
The petitioner has credible evidences

TRIBUNAL FINAL ADDRESSES IN DAKUKU A. PETERSIDE Vs. NYESOM WIKE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 23:55:00 +0000

1st respondent
We are ready for the adoptions of the written addresses

Judge
Can we take 5mins each

Petitioner

May I propose 15mins each

Judge
Take 10 mins each

Petitioner
2nd respondent served me there reply by 9 pm yesterday
I haven't gone through it

Judge
Petitioner has 15min
While respondents have 13mins each

3rd respondent
My lord pls can I take my own first ,because I have a flight to catch

Judge
Granted

3rd respondent
Written address dated Oct.15 but filed Oct.17
The reply to the petitioner address is detailed and filed Oct 21,2015
We adopt this processes in urging your lordship to dismiss this petition devoid of merits
The address of the 3rd respondent is unique, because the Court of Appeal
ruled that the tribunal should deliver ruling on argued motion. Because the judge merely signed Which he didn't reply.
I cite a judgement of an EPT in Cross River
Evidence need to count before it is accepted
The EPT has no jurisdiction to sign this. There must be evidence of production of reliefs tendered.
The election of Eleme the petitioner wants you to uphold it and also want you to declare annulity of all the other elections which to us is unspeakable

1st respondent
I hereby adopt my written address
Which is dated 16 Oct,and filed on 18 Oct.
We rely on the main address
The central issue is on body of proof.
Petitioner is relying on series of Court ofAppeal decisions but the Supreme Court doesn't agree to that
Because the petitioner must prove his case beyond reasonable doubt and produce witness within each PU of the state. Because the PW from the subpoena from Army, Police and SSS shows evidence per LGA not PU
In respect of Card Reader, the Electoral Act doesn't envisage same
The evidence of PW 40 as to if they were binding. The result and certificate of return issued to the 2nd respondent is the sole responsibility of the Commission.
And it means we accepted the outcome of the process
The evidence of PW 40 wasn't demonstrated.

2nd Respondent
Our final address was dated 16 Oct, but filed 17 Oct.
We reply based on point of law on 21 Oct.
We adopt and rely on the written addresses
We also adopt the argument
And direct attention tobthe places of emphasis
On the place of nomination of candidate, the primary that produced the petitioner was faulty. We cite CofA judgement against Labour party and Wike. With this 21 days is mandatory. They are supposed to call the members that conducted the elections.They didn't tender all forms They are supposed to tender Which they failed to do.
I cite the case of Ngige against INEC
The burden of proof remains with the petitioner
In the case of Card Reader, 292,802 was accredited as against what they told the court which is unacceptable and based on this we plead this case based on point of law.
PETITIONER
I refer to the written addresses of the petitioner against 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents filed on 19 Oct,and dated 16 Oct.
It is the pleading that define the dispute within the parties.When you see the pleading, No election was done within the armbit of the law
And none has been over ruled.
INEC and Olaolu is on election not on negative and positive assertions.
When they said between Buhari and Obasanjo, the contest was on section 150 of the 5th schedule. Their pleadings don't have any resemblance whatsoever.
On Card Reader, they failed to appreciate on the authority of the Card Reader. We present it here my Lord.
There is a decisions of panel 3 which they said is the best evidence for accreditation.
On 292,802 or any figure is a far distance to there allotted 1,100,00
Any documents prepared by PW 40,are INEC docs and they produced it as evidence and it binds on them
On locus standi you have taken a decision here, is unspeakable to present it here again because you can't over rule yourself. They can only appeal ,they can't raise it here again. Because you can't over rule your decisions
My Lord, I urge you not to reconsider their assertions what we are asking for is nullification of the elections

Judge
Thank you very much. Written addresses have been adopted, we therefore adjourn for judgement

RIVERS TRIBUNAL UPDATE: JUSTICE MUAZU PINDIGA OVER-RULES THE APPEAL COURT

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 15:19:00 +0000

Justice Muuazu PINDIGA presiding over the case between Andrew UCHENDU and George Sekibo has struck out the petition of Uchendu on the grounds of 21 days compliance with the Electoral Act for political parties to notify INEC of their primary elections to choose their candidates for the election.

Though the Appeal Court in Dawari George vs Boma Goodhead had on the 10th of September overruled the lower court which had struck out Dawari's petition on the grounds that he was not eligible to contest since the APC did not comply with 21 days notice. JUSTICE Mohammed of the Appeal Court has ordered the tribunal to hear Dawari's petition on its merit.

But in a surprising ruling, the former Chairman of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition panel who was removed and transferred to the Rivers East Election Petition Tribunal under controversial circumstances failed to rely on the judgmebt of the appellate court when he ruled that Uchendu was not eligible to contest not to approach the tribunal with his petition.
It is expected that PINDIGA and do will follow the same route in deciding the other cases before their court.
But Pindiga failed to confirm if truly there were no elections in Rivers State as claimed by the APC.

It is obvious the APC and it's candidates will approach the Appeal Court on the judgmebt of Pindiga who had been accused of having compromised, therefore resulting to his removal from the Governorship tribunal.
Unconfirmed reports say his son is one of the contractors supplying Rivers State Government with vehicles.
For now, George Sekibo of the PDP is cruising home with a fragile victory which is yet to be tested at the Appeal Court.

OMEREJI FINDINGS: SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 20:49:00 +0000

PRESS BRIEFING BY FORMER MEMBERS OF THE RIVERS STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL UNDER THE RT. HON CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI, CON, FORMER GOVERNOR, RIVERS STATE HELD AT THE ERNEST IKOLI PRESS CENTRE, MOSCOW ROAD, PORT HARCOURT ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

PROTOCOLS,
Good afternoon gentlemen of the press. We welcome you to this press briefing by the former members of the Rivers State Executive Council under the chairmanship of the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON; this press briefing has become imperative following the recent spate of attacks on the former governor and allegations of corruption against the regime.
As persons who served on the state executive council, and in keeping with the ethos of the Chibuike Amaechi administration to maintain” transparent and accountable stewardship,” we have decided to hold this press conference to set the records straight.
All of you as media practitioners in Rivers State are aware of the events leading up to and after the elections in Rivers state. You all are also aware of the controversy that trailed the setting up of the Justice George Omereji judicial commission of enquiry and our position as robustly espoused by the former Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms. Our position now as at then was based on the following:
1. It is illegal for a governor to set up a judicial commission of inquiry.
2. While inaugurating the commission Mr. Ezebunwon Nyesom Wike had charged the committee to amongst other things “investigate the illegal sales of the power plants.” This statement by itself was evidence enough that a position had been taken by the Rivers State Government.
3. The Chairman of the Commission itself had himself stated “ if it was before me and sitting as a judge of a serious biting - biting court, you would have seen what is going to happen to people that are corrupt. I would have ordered the arrest of those corrupt officials who decided not to follow procedure and lock them up and maintain it.” This comment long before all parties had appeared before him was another confirmation of our position that the Commission’s report was already pre determined.
4. Government is a continum and Government policy is as determined by the administration of the day. Decisions of the State Executive Council are implemented by Ministries, Departments and Agencies and all records are domiciled in the ministries. As former commissioners we had each submitted our hand over notes to the Secretary to State Government as well as our Permanent Secretaries and so every record required by the successor government are available with the MDA’s. Our attention would only be required for routine clarification where this may be necessary.
Regardless of this we wish to reiterate our position previously espoused on the matters raised by the commission:

THE MONO RAIL PROJECT

Ø The Rivers Monorail Project is a major transport infrastructure project undertaken by the Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi administration.

Ø The project is in line with the vision of the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration that there is a need to reposition Port Harcourt to become a major business destination in the South-South.

Ø Recognizing that Port Harcourt is the oil capital of the country. The aim of the Monorail Transportation system is to ease traffic on the major road corridor in the state and in doing that, galvanize business and jump start the local economy.
Ø The Rivers Monorail project is not a stand-alone project. For the project to be appreciated, it needs to be seen in conjunction with the complete developmental vision of the administration.eg the building of a new city; the Greater Port Harcourt Development Area, the on-going Transport Sector Reforms, the construction of the Mega Terminals. The aim of all these, is the repositioning of Port Harcourt.
Ø The Monorail project is a well-considered option after exhaustive analysis of all other options. For instance, the National Railway is comatose and also there is an extent to which you can expand the roads.
Ø The Decision to construct the Rivers Monorail Project was jointly adopted by the Rivers State Executive Council during the first tenue of Rotimi Amaechi when the present Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike was the Chief of Staff to the Governor at the time.
Ø When the decision to construct the Monorail was taken, there were no Due Process laws in existence in the state. But it should be noted that after the enactment of the Due process laws, The Monorail Project owner engineers; Arcus Gibb and officials of the Rives State Ministry of Transport were constantly briefing and keeping the Due process team up to date on all issues as they relate to the project. This fact can be backed up with several minutes of meeting between Due Process and officials of the Ministry of Transport/Arcus Gibb.
Ø It should also be highlighted that after the PPP (Public Private Partnership) partners; TSI Property and Investment Holdings Ltd pulled out of the project because of her inability to contribute her own 80% equity contribution (Due to the financial crash of 2008), The Former Deputy Governor Engr. Tele Ikuru headed an Executive Council committee to review and recommend if the Rivers State Government should continue with the project. The committee recommended that the Rivers State Government should continue with the construction of the Monorail Project with Arcus Gibb acting as the project consultants.

Ø The monorail project is even more significant now given the recent fall in the price of oil and the need for governments to create conducive environment for local business to thrive. There is no better way of helping local businesses thrive than putting in place a proper transport infrastructure network.
Ø As at the end of the tenure of Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, 2 stations has been completed; Azikiwe and UTC Stations. The Depot and Sharks Park stations were already 80% completed. The train has been mounted and tested. In fact, the first phase of the project (2.6 Km stretch) could be said to have been technically completed.
Ø It is infantile and the height of gross irresponsibility to request that the sum of N33Bn be returned to the Rivers State Government. It shows a complete lack of understanding of the rudiments of governance and infrastructural developments. Pertinent issues to be raised;
1. The N33Bn in question, is it the money that has been spent on the project?
2. Has the “so called” panel established any case of financial impropriety?
3. What is the Wike administration’s position on securing the assets of the project e.g. the trains that are just wasting away at the station?
It is important to compare this situation with the scenario in Lagos when British investors went on an inspection of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Project; Blue Line project (a public transport infrastructure project started by the former administration of Babatunde Fashola) and pledged the support of the UK private sector to the expansion of the project. That is what governance is all about. Continuity!

Ø The present construction is on the busiest road corridor in the state and is broken down into 2 different phases. Phase 1A: 2.6km stretch, UTC-Sharks Park, 3 Stations and 1 Depot. Single track, 1 Train in operation. The train will have 7 coaches and will be able to accommodate 172 passengers with access for the handicapped. The train will be operating at a speed of 70km/hr. and is expected to travel within end stations in 8 minutes. Passengers will be expecting a train to stop at a station every 8 minutes.
Ø Electric Supply for the system will be coming from the Trans Amadi Sub-Station with back-up generators installed.
Ø Phase 1B: 3.9km stretch UTC-Waterlines. 3 proposed stations; Waterlines, Garrison and Isaac Boro, 6 trains.
Ø Our construction strategy is in phases (All over the world the rail system is done in phases. In India it took 22 years to complete 1 line. Even in Dubai, it took them 8 years to complete their Monorail and it was done in phases).We started construction in February 2010. We have a commitment to make Phase 1A operational by April 2015. We are also deploying manpower and machinery for Phase 1B.
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SCHEME
· This scheme was intended to facilitate the flow of credit to farmers to enable them expand and consolidate their holdings.
· Sums were set aside for disbursement to farmers in the various LGAs of the State by way of grant.
· The programme concentrated on cropping, fishing, livestock, processing, storage, forestry, marketing etc.
· A total no of 380 mother cooperatives were engaged after scaling through the eligibility criteria
· There were a total no of 2553 subgroups engaged by the mother cooperatives.
· A total of N4bn was earmarked for the implementation this programme and the completion of the fish farm projects.
· So far, about N3.1bn has been disbursed from the funds living behind about 900million with Rivers State Ministry of agric account for the completion of the projects.

SALE OF POWER PLANTS
ALLEGED FRAUDULENT SALE OF RIVERS STATE POWER ASSETS AND CONVERSION OF PROCEEDS AMOUNTING TO SIXTY BILLION FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY MILLION (N60,480,000,000.00) NAIRA ONLY

These allegations are not true as can be discerned from the following:
i.The Rivers State Executive council after extensive deliberations on 15th and 16th August 2012 (See attached extract from the Minutes of the Executive Council meeting) took a decision to sell seventy percent (70%) of its equity in the power assets of the State. The sale of this equity was particularly informed by the following considerations:
1. The Federal government had commenced a privatization process to unbundle the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to drive efficiency.
2. PHCN was not paying River State Government for electricity contributed to the national grid
3. The state was spending heavily on purchase of gas from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to fuel the plants. At this time the State was indebted to Shell and Agip to the tune of Seven Billion (N7,000,000,000.00) Naira.
4. The State was spending over one billion Naira annually on maintenance of the plants without commensurate returns in the form of electricity supplies
5. Need to engender efficiency in the management of the power assets so that its benefits can be felt by the generality of the people of Rivers State.
6. The State Government does not have the requisite manpower to manage the facilities.
7. Need to augment revenue in the face of dwindling federal allocation to the State.

Similar considerations informed the lease/concession of entities like RISONPALM which before then had shut down for over ten years, Supabod stores (Now SPAR) which was shut down since the 1980s and Olympia Hotel (Radisson Blu Olympia) which had ceased to function since 1993 and was being used as a Police Barracks. These entities were leased and not sold as being mischievously peddled by some individual in Rivers State. At the end of the lease period, these revived assets will revert to the State Government.
ii.Proceeds from the sale of the assets was properly recognized in the 2014 Appropriation Law of Rivers State as one of the sources of revenue to fund the 2014 budget. Please see Extract below:

RevenueAmount in N

FAAC241,000,000,000.00

IGR92,000,000,000.00

Proceeds from sale of Assets33,000,000,000.00

Cash Bal B/F10,717,000,000.00

Bond/Loan100,000,000,000.00

World Bank/ADB loan6,984,000,000.00

Total485,524,000,000.00

iii. The Power assets were priced and sold at a premium at $800,000 per mega watts which is higher than the rate of $358,000 per megawatts used by the Federal Government in disposing its power assets at Afam. Whereas River State earned $302,000,000.00 for seventy percent of its power assets of 542 megawatts, the Federal Government received $260,000,000.00 for the 726 megawatts plant situated adjacent to the Rivers State facility.

iv.Payments for the assets were made in several tranches between 2012 and 2014

v.All Proceeds of the sale made in US Dollars were lodged in the Rivers State Power Assets Sale Account with Access Bank

vi.The USD proceeds were sold to willing buyers at a rate higher than the prevailing CBN rates, and the Naira equivalent lodged by the buyers into the Rivers State revenue Account at Zenith Bank.

vii.The companies that were erroneously portrayed as fronts for looting of the funds were actually those that bought the USD and made remittances of Naira equivalents into the given Account with Zenith Bank. Please see details below

viii.Once the funds were received into RVSG account they were used alongside others from other revenue sources to finance various Government projects and activities (Please see attached Statement of Account for the relevant period).

UNLAWFUL PAYMENT TO AND CRIMINAL CONVERSION OF N4,633,440,000.00 BY CLINORIV SPECIALIST HOSPITAL

The facts of this transaction are stated below:

i. The Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Hospital was conceived by former Governor Amaechi to address the huge tertiary health care deficit in Rivers State and indeed the country and help reduce the high cost of referrals to hospitals overseas.
ii. River State government in January 2008 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Clinotech Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical Inc. Canada for the building and operation of a mega specialist hospital and leisure facility in Port Harcourt on a Public Private Partnership basis (PPP) with equity participation of Government 40% and Clinotech 60%.
iii. Clinotech conducted feasilbility studies, completed architectural designs of the hospital and moved to the given site at the old UPTH using its own funds, before a decision was taken by RVSG to relocate the hospital to Greater Port Harcourt as one of the anchor projects for the new city.
iiii. In May 2008 the Rivers State Government released the sum of Four Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira ($39.2m) representing its 40% equity. However Clinotech that was supposed to make 60% equity contribution to the project was unable to meet its own obligation citing issues associated with the global financial meltdown..
v. The River State Executive Council therefore suspended the joint venture and subsequently awarded it as a turnkey contract to Clinotech with direct funding (100%) by the Government
vi. On 5th March 2010, Rt. Hon. RC Amaechi reported Dr. Harrison Ofiyai, CEO of Clinotech to the then Rivers State Commissioner of Police alleging a case of breach of contract and fraudulent diversion of funds. The Police conducted its investigation into the matter and issued a report on 24th March 2010. (See attached copy of report).
vii. The Former Governor during a routine inspection of the site of the hospital on 5th May 2010 ordered the immediate suspension and evacuation of Clinotech from the hospital construction site, on the believe that the work done was not commensurate with the amount of money released for the project by the Rivers State Government
viii. Subsequently, on 12th December 2010, the former Governor approved the setting up of a Technical Committee to determine the way forward for the project. The Committee upon completion of its work submitted a report which valued the job done by Clinotech (including material at site) at the sum of Three Billion Nine Hundred Million Naira (N3,900,000,000.00) only
ix. The final financial position between the parties (RVSG and Clinotech) on the project has been determined as reflected in the ‘Agreement for the resolution of the failed 1000-Bed (Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte) mega specialist hospital contract’, executed by the parties on 19th March 2014 (copy attached).
x. The Rivers state Government executed a Memo of Agreement (MOA) on 9th May 2014 with VMS-WILLEMEN consortium for the completion of the JAKWH on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
xi. It is clear from the foregoing that RT. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, did not maintain ‘a studied silence for seven years without making any efforts’, but is also not involved in any unlawful enrichment and criminal conspiracy to convert public funds to private use.

Disappearance of Fifty-Three Billion Naira (N53, 000, 000, 000.00) from the Rivers State Reserve Fund Between 2014 and May 2015 Under Amaechi’s Watch

Neither the sum of Fifty-Three Billion Naira (N53, 000, 000,000.00) nor any amount for that matter “disappeared” from the Rivers State Reserve Fund between 2014 and May 2015 Under Amaechi’s Watch.

The first point to be made here is that the Administration of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi believed in saving for the rainy day. It is a mark of prudence that the Administration committed to a mandatory saving early in its life. However, unfortunate developments in the management of our national resources and the down turn in the economy accelerated the rainy day.

The second point, which is more of clarification and information relates to the amounts in question. At the inauguration of the Justice Omereji Commission, the claim was that the sum of Ninety-Six Billion (N96, 000, 000, 000.00) was withdrawn from the Fund by the Administration of Governor Amaechi.

The third point is that every withdrawal from the Fund complied with the extant controls governing the Fund. Following severe shortfalls in expected revenues, the Administration made three (3) withdrawals in 2014. Each withdrawal was in line with the governing law and the proceeds were applied for the purposes of government.

The total savings by the State over the life of the Administration was under Thirty-Nine Billion Naira (N38, 530,000,000.00) only. Earnings from the investment during the period were over Sixteen Billion Naira (N16, 000,000,000.00). The Fund had a Net Asset Value of over One Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira (N1, 200, 000, 000.00) only at the end of the Administration in May 2015.

CONCLUSION
Gentlemen of the press, we have gone to this extent because of the belief of the Amaechi admisteration that the people come first and have a right to know. These details we have put before you were all available to the Rivers state Government and the Omeriji panel respectively. We have again put it before you and the public to enable you judge for yourselves. We are confident of our stewardship as former members oft he Executive Council and we are certain that posterity would deal us a fair blow. We thank you for coming. God bless you

BREAKING NEWS: DSP ALAMIEYESEIGHA IS DEAD!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 20:44:00 +0000

He gave up the ghost two hours ago in a Port Harcourt hospital where he was being treated for an undisclosed ailment.
Information has it that he returned to Nigeria from Dubai where he was being treated as soon as the news of his extradition broke out.

May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen

WHAT FAYOSE'S PDP KNOW BUT WIKE 'S PDP DO NOT KNOW

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 13:17:00 +0000

By Oby Ndukwe

Yesterday, the cantankerous Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fasoye tried to pull a masterstroke as one plays politics without bitterness when he jolted Nigerians with an unexpected statement, urging Ekiti Senators not to oppose the nomination of his predecessor, Kayode Fayemi as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
That of course earned him kudos from all and sundry. No one expected Fayose to exhibit such peaceful disposition considering what he is known best at- full scale opposition to anything APC!
This is contrary to the continued drama in Rivers state where the PDP led by Gov. Nyesom Wike has spent long hours from dusk to dawn, strategizing on how best to scuttle former Governor Rotimi Amaechi's appointment as a Minister under President Buhari.
The truth, for the benefit of those who don't know is that Fayose knows something Wike knows but pretends not to know.
There is no written rule that says that a Ministerial nominee MUST be confirmed for appointment by at least two of three Senators from his or her state.
Fayose is in touch with his people and must have been informed that there was an Executive Session yesterday in the Senate chambers were some modifications and amendments were made.
While it is better to allow some ignorant members of the PDP in Rivers state or beyond to keep having a false sense of hope that Amaechi will not scale through the screening because of the so called 2 over 3 rule, it's important to inform those willing to know that the APC controlled Senate and Federal Government know that the right against Amaechi is a fight against Buhari and the APC.
The ruling party will never succumb to the antics of the PDP which is on a vengeance mission.
The Senators who are mostly APC especially from the North and the West know better! And for this reason, an Executive Session was held where the issue among others were discussed and laid to rest.
I will only mention the three issues raised without bothering myself to give a detailed report.
First, on the issue of two over three, reasons were given in why that rule, though unwritten was made. It was made because the upper chamber discovered a dangerous trend in the past where Ministers and Senators from their states were usually at loggerheads. In a bit to foster better co-operation and unity, it was agreed in practise that the Ministerial nominee should be confirmed by two out of three Senators from his state.
But all that has changed. Just as the unwritten rule of a first time Senator not elected as a principal officer, where there exists older members from that zone, (recall the recent case of Godswill Akpabio, a first timer versus George Sekibo over the position of Senate Minority leader), so the rule has been modified. The new rule is that the nominee should be in touch with at least two out of three Senators. Reason for the modification is that Ministers are serving the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not their states. Therefore, Ministers are not to be endorsed by their State reps.
Secondly, the former practice of the Senators from a Stare to escort a nominee out of the Senate Chambers after screening is no longer acceptable. Rather, the Senators can only shake hands with the nominee as he makes his way out of the Chambers after screening.

Thirdly, for former lawmakers who are nominated as Ministers, they will no longer take a bow and leave. They will only be questioned by the Senate President! Then they can take a bow and go.
Governor Fayose had to key in, knowing that it would be a futile attempt to oppose a strong APC nominee under the watch of majority APC Senators.
This is what none of these PDP leaders would tell their supporters in Rivers State. It's unfortunate that unsuspecting overzealous party members are allowed to wallow in ignorance. Just like some have believed in the invincibility, omnipotence and omniscience of Wike, they have failed to realize that even God who alone has such characters does not obey protocols rather He acts on principles!
The earlier readers realize that even Dino Melaye stuttered in that interview, the earlier they would understand the biblical hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob.
Truly, Change has come, even in the Senate Rules!
A word is enough for the wise.

GOV WIKE & HIS CTC CHAIRMEN IN COLD WAR.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:58:00 +0000

All seems not to be well in the camp of Governor Nyesom Wike, if information at our disposal is anything to go by.
Today the the governor angrily announced the dissolution of the 22 CTC Chairmen because of there refusal to mobilise Witnesses to Abuja today.

Recalling the bizzare incidence in court where his party was expected to open defense at rivers tribunal.
The tribunal today shockingly saw the PDP only struggling to tender falsified incident forms when it became obvious that there expected witnesses have all stayed away from the rivers tribunal.

Our insider source who disclosed this information to us also said the action of the CTC chairmen may not be unconnected with the refusal of the state governor Mr. Nyesom Wike to release the two months of local government allocation to the chairmen. Recall the local government councils in Rivers State are yet to pay the August and September salaries of workers up till date.

It is however not clear if the governor and his party will be able to mobilise another set of witnesses to testify before the tribunal within the short time allocated to them, as the embattled Sacked chairmen are set for a show down with the governor.
They say their only condition is reappointment but the governor is bent on replacing them because of there incompetence and criminal acts as widely reported in the media.