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House May Order Stella Oduah’s Arrest

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House May Order Stella Oduah’s Arrest

The minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, whose name has continued to dominate local media headlines for her highly priced security vehicles, may soon be arrested.

A member of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Zakari Lafia Mohammed, in an interview with Vanguard, warned that a bench warrant could be issued on the minister if she failed to appear before it to defend herself.

The committee is investigating the inappropriate purchase of two armoured cars for the minister at N255 million.

The committee’s invitation to the minister has not been honoured as Oduah travelled to Israel on the official delegation of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Interestingly, Jonathan set up an administrative probe of the controversial vehicles purchase before his trip abroad.

“This is a national issue that must be properly thrashed out with the zeal of a wounded lion. If need be, we will ask the Speaker to issue a bench warrant immediately she fails to show up and she will be arrested,” Mohammed is quoted as saying.

Speaking further, Mohammed said: “We’ve given her enough grace…All those excuses given on her behalf will not hold by the time we conclude our findings.”

He said that the committee will ensure that all necessary avenues are explored to deliver justice to Nigerians on reckless spending in government.

According to him the House approved the purchase only five Toyota Pickup Hilux, 16 Toyota Corolla, five Toyota Landcruiser Jeeps, three Toyota Hiace buses all at a cost of N240 million, “but they eventually bought 54 vehicles through the bank lease for the sum of N643 million which was financed by the bank.”

He insisted that there was no time the issue of a lease was discussed during the budget defence, adding: “I do not want to preclude this investigative hearing but we will dis-passionately seek justice for all Nigerians through this investigation. Never again in the history of Nigeria will public servants take Nigerians for a ride”.

The committee on Aviation has rescheduled its public hearing on the matter which was to hold today to Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the clerk of the committee, Abubakar Chana, the shift is to allow enough time for the invited agencies to put their documents together.

Mike Okhai Akhigbe is Dead – Brother

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Mike Okhai Akhigbe is Dead – Brother

Nigeria’s former military vice president, Mike Okhai Akhigbe, is dead, his family has confirmed.

His elder brother, Alemon Akhigbe, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the former chief of genetal staff during the military era had battled cancer and finally threw in the towel on Monday at the age of 68.

Akhigbe died in a hospital in New York.

News about his death was first reported in the media over the weekend but his family had dismissed the report as misleading, unprofessional and an embarrassment to the family.

The Nigerian Navy on Monday also urged the public to disregard the information and advised journalists to authenticate their stories with relevant authorities before going to press, in the spirit of objective journalism.

Akhigbe, who hails from Edo State served as the vice president of Nigeria during the Abdusalam Abubakar- led military government from 1998 till the termination of military government in Nigeria, in 1999.

He was also the chief of general staff in the administration Ibrahim Babangida and as governor of Ondo and Lagos states.

Akhigbe attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Royal Naval School of Maritime Operations Dryad, Southwick the United Kingdom, Command and Staff College Jaji, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru and University of Poitiers, Rouan, France.

He was a lawyer with special interest in maritime and real estate law.

 

Press Freedom Comes Under Attack In Sierra Leone

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Press Freedom Comes Under Attack In Sierra Leone

A Sierra Leone group, Society for Democratic Initiatives, SDI, has condemned the violation of the fundamental rights of journalists, using the 1965 Public Order Act, demanding that such a law be repealed.

The group was reacting to the arrest of two journalists, Jonathan Leigh and Baibai Sesay, of the privately owned Independent Observer Newspaper who have also been slammed with 26 count charges.

Subsequently, three other newspapers were raided and their editors, proprietors, and printers, invited for questioning, in violation of Section 25(1) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone which guarantees the right to freedom of expression.

Section 25(1) stipulates that “except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression and such freedom includes the freedom to hold opinion and to receive and impact ideas and information without interferences”.

The SDI observed that “Sierra Leone has acceded to many international instruments, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, African Charter on Democracy, Elections and all these international instruments promote and protect free expression and journalistic freedom”.

Freedom from interference also covers correspondence, ownership, establishment and the operation of any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinion and academic freedom in the institution of learning.

It said that the country must respect its obligation under international law and must not only release the two journalists, but must go further to ensure that it laws conform to the dictates of these international human rights provisions in international treaties that it has acceded to.

The executive director of the SDI, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, said the arrest of the two journalists will “chill other media practitioners from holding government to account and scrutinizing activities of government officials. It will give a blank cheque to government without any media reporting.”

“Part V of the Criminal and Seditious Libel Laws is sadly still in the law books of Sierra Leone and undermines the true spirit of the constitution and guarantee to free expression. SDI call on the government to expunge this said criminal and seditious libel. It is an impediment to free expression and Sierra Leone democratic process; therefore it should be repealed from our law books,” he stated.

Abdulai said the human rights environment in Sierra Leone is not conducive for free expression as it obstructed by the Public Order Act of 1965 which is a major impediment to democratic free expression.

Oshiomole’s Comments Disrupt South South Confab Meeting

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Oshiomole’s Comments Disrupt South South Confab Meeting

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

A meeting organised by members of the Femi Okunroumun-led national dialogue committee for people of the South-south region, ended in confusion after the Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole expressed the view that the conference was completely unnecessary.

Oshiomhole said in Benin that the conference was bound to end up like previous conferences which did not yield and results, a comment that divided the hall in two opposing sides and eventually brought the meeting to an abrupt end as there were reports of threats.

“It is my view that the conference will not be different from past conferences which did not produce any result,” the governor said.

The governor’s comment led to an uproar with shouts of “no, no, no,”renting the venue, just as some people walked out.
Angered by the development, a member of the committee,Tony Nyam, a retired colonel, challenged Oshiomhole causing confusion with his views.

By the time the committee members finally calmed down the participants drawn from Edo, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States, over half of them had left the hall.

The meeting continued shortly aftr but a participant soon alleged that his life had been threatened. Which prompted Okunroumun to bring the meeting to an end unceremoniously.

Different ethnic nationalities and civil society groups which earlier presented papers, appeared to be in agreement that ethnicity should form the basis of selecting majority of participants to the national conference, even as they gave it a time frame between three and six months.

Among issues canvassed were restructuring of the federation to ensure fiscal federalism, resource control and devolution of powers.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee had expressed happiness over the impressive turnout by Nigerians at the different venues of its sittings.

“Nigerians have accepted the need to have this conference. We have been to four centres Minna, Akure, Jos and Calabar, and the turnout has been impressive and overwhelming,” he said.

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He noted that in all the centres, Nigerians came from the rural areas, even from the remotest villages to make their presentations.

“We have been listening to different groups and views, but no single group who threatens to dismember Nigeria has come before us. Nigerians all over the world are entitled to submit their views,” Okunroumun said.

He assured the views expressed will reflect in its report and would set the agenda for government and governance.

Ombatse Spiritual Leader Shuns Al Makura’s Probe

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Ombatse Spiritual Leader Shuns Al Makura’s Probe

Caption: Gov Tanko Almakura swearing an oath before the commission prior to his testimony

By Godwin Ojoshimite

The spiritual leader of the outlawed Ombatse cult, Lega Agu, Baba Alakio, has again turned down the invitation of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing the May 7 massacre of security operatives in Nasarawa State.

The Retired Justice Joseph Fola Gbadeyan led-commission had earlier summoned Baba Alakio through Senator Solomon Ewuga to appear before it on October 4 but he did not turn up.

After 5 hours of endless waiting for Baba Alakio on Monday, the commission convened at 3:00PM to chart the way forward.

Reacting to the turn of events, A.A Abdullahi counsel representing Lafia Emirate Council and Kwandere Community expressed displeasure over Baba Alakio’s non appearance at the commission.

He urged the commission to exercise all powers within it jurisdiction to arrest Baba Alakio if he refuses to turn up again.

Responding, the chairman of the commission, retired Justice Gbadeyan, jokingly asked the lawyer: “Barrister Abdullahi if we want to arrest Baba Alakio, will you lead the team?”.

The chairman, however, expressed displeasure at the rate at which the commission’s invitations were ignored by several persons.

He added that the commission will give the Ombatse priest till Monday November 1, for the purpose of fair hearing.

When our reporter contacted the legal adviser of Ombatse group, Zachary Zamani Allumaga to inquire why the spiritual leader shunned the commission, he could not explain.

“Well, Baba Alakio was invited by the Commission and i went to Nasarawa Eggon so that i can pick him but he didn’t show up. So, for now we don’t know why he didn’t come until we
make contacts,” he said.

Reacting to the issue, the attorney – general of the state, Innocent Lagi, who spoke to our reporter on phone said despite the fact government has made efforts to assure Baba Alakio of  his safety at the commission, he was certain that the spiritual leader of the group will not show up.

He added that the spiritual leader is likely not to show up on the new date fixed by the commission.
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Niger Gets N1.4 Billion Sure – P Hospital Project

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Niger Gets N1.4 Billion Sure – P Hospital Project

Nma Shekwolo

The Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE – P, is to spend N1.4 billion on a hospital project in Minna the Niger State capital.

What is more, the project which is for the extension of the maternal and neonatal ward at the Minna General Hospital is to be completed in eight months.

The state SURE-P director general, Hassan Nuhu, said the agency would fund the project hundred per cent as part of its intervention in the health sector in Niger State.

Also speaking during the signing ceremony of the contract Memorandum of Understanding in Minna yesterday, secretary to the state government, Saidu Ndako, said the project is expected to improve the access to health care delivery by pregnant women and children in the state.

The project is for the construction of fours wards and a theatre which he said would be equipped with the state of the art medical equipment.

Ndako disclosed that by the agreement with the contractor, money would be released on the project only after 36 per cent of the job had been done.

Healso assured that the state government would do everything to ensure the the project is completed on time.

“I am confident that the project will be completed before the May 27, 2014 , as the governor is expected to inaugurate the project to mark his seventh year in office,” he said.

The contractor, Charles Liu, also assured that his company would complete the project on schedule.

 

Ki-Moon Condemns Rebel Killing Of Peacekeepers In Tanzania

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Ki-Moon Condemns Rebel Killing Of Peacekeepers In Tanzania

The UN Secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, has condemned the killing of a Tanzanian peacekeeper in strife-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, by 23 March Movement, M23, rebels on Sunday.

Ban, in a statement by his spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, stated that the peacekeeper came under fire from M23 rebels in the eastern DRC, as the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission,MONUSCO, supported action was being carried out by Congolese government forces.

MONUSCO is to protect civilians on the Kiwanja-Rutshuru axis, 25km north of Goma, which is the main city in the vast country’s eastern region.

The UN scribe offered his condolences and sympathy to the family of the victim and the government of Tanzania.

Ki – Moon also said the UN would continue to take actions in line with the Security Council resolution to protect civilians in eastern DRC.

He said by a resolution adopted in March, the council approved the creation of its first-ever offensive combat force, intended to carry out targeted operations to neutralise and disarm the M23 as well as other Congolese rebels and foreign armed groups in the east.

On Friday, the UN secretary general’s office said that MONUSCO was on “high alert” following clashes between Congolese government forces and M23 armed combatants.

Similarly on Saturday, MONUSCO chief, Martin Kobler. and special envoy of the secretary-general to the Great Lakes Region, Mary Robinson, jointly expressed their concern about the ongoing violence in eastern DRC.

They urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to return to peace talks in Kampala.

In the past year, clashes have continued sporadically throughout the DRC’s eastern region, with rebels briefly occupying Goma in November 2012.

The fighting has displaced more than 100,000 people, exacerbating an ongoing humanitarian crisis which includes 2.6 million internally-displaced persons and 6.4 million in need of food and emergency aid.

Lecturers Strike: Lagos Lawyer Sues FG, ASUU

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Lecturers Strike: Lagos Lawyer Sues FG, ASUU

A Lagos-based lawyer, Daniel Onwe, has dragged the federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over violation of the fundamental rights of the students who have been out of school following the union’s strike.

The suit, FHC/CS/1360/13, was brought pursuant to Section 46(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, Order II of the Fundamental Human Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 and Article 5 of The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, LFN, 1990.

Onwe is asking the court for a declaration that the indefinite strike leading to the closure of government-owned universities across the country violates the fundamental right to the dignity of the person of the affected students guaranteed under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution.

He is seeking for an order directing the federal government and ASUU to resolve their differences and forthwith re-open universities, including an order mandating ASUU to call off their ongoing strike action and resume their job of lecturing immediately.

Hearing on the suit which isbefore Justice Ibrahim Buba comes up on November 13.

NCAA Denies Possession of Documents on Armoured Cars Purchase

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NCAA Denies Possession of Documents on Armoured Cars Purchase

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, in response to Freedom of Information Act, FOIA request made by the human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has denied being in possession of documents regarding the purchase of the two controversial armoured cars allegedly bought for the use of the aviation minister, Stella Oduah.

Falana through one of his lawyers had requested the NCAA to furnish him with information over the purchase of the cars as well as such previous cars bought for such purposes in line with the FOI Act.

Responding through its legal adviser, E. D. Chukwuma, in a three paragraph letter dated October 23, 2013, with ref. No. NCAA/DG/F&F/Vol.11/2013/85, NCAA stated that it was not in possession of any document relating to the purchase of the armoured cars for the aviation minister.

According to the letter, NCAA also claimed that it has no information in respect of previous armoured cars for the aviation ministry or its ministers.

“I am directed to refer to your letter dated 21st October, 2013 on the above matter and to inform you that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is not in possession of any document relating to the purchase of armoured cars for the Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah,” Chukwuma said in the letter.

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In the meantime, Falana has vowed to take further steps to compel the director general of NCAA tender the requested documents.
Falana also promised to file a paper on the matter to the attorney general of the federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as well as the National Assembly which has already commenced investigation into the matter.

He said the brief response from NCCA contradicted the information earlier given at a press conference by the authority.

Environmental Sanitation: Court Orders Sealing Of 52 Houses In Abuja

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Environmental Sanitation: Court Orders Sealing Of 52 Houses In Abuja

A mobile court on Saturday ordered the sealing of 52 houses in Gwarimpa, Abuja, for refusal of the residents to appear before the court to answer charges for environmental offences.

The magistrate, Jubril Kutugi, said the refusal amounted to contempt of court, adding that the order was with immediate effect.

Kutugi said only 10 out of the 70 occupants who were summoned appeared before the court.

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, had served residents of Adkan Estate in Gwarimpa with abatement notices for their failure to remediate environmental nuisance.

The AEPB Prosecutor, Lola Balogun, said the Gwarimpa residents were charged with not having dustbins which had caused unauthorised dumping of refuse within the estate.

Balogun said their offences contravened section 17 (1) G and 35 A of AEPB Act. of 1997 punishable under section 17 (2) and 35 of the same Act.

Also, another court prosecuted 160 offenders for violation of environmental laws at Limpopo Street in Maitama.

The magistrate, Aminu Abdullahi, said the court would not spare anyone who violated the claiming ignorance, adding that “ignorance of the law is not an excuse before the law”.

The prosecutor, Eze Eze, said their offences ranged from over overgrown grasses, lack of waste bins, unauthorised dumping of construction wastes/refuse, to keeping dirty environment.

Eze said the offences contravened section 17, 29, 35 and sub-section 19b of the AEPB Act 1997.

Uche Agbanusi, deputy director, AEPB, said the board would continue to invite mobile courts on weekly basis to address environmental nuisance.

Agbanusi said the impact of mobile court in the campaign against keeping unhealthy environment in the FCT was commendable.

He berated residents who refused to buy waste bins.

“It is worrisome that a lot of people do not buy waste bins. Indiscriminate dumping of wastes causes health problems. That is why we are doing everything possible to keep a clean and disease free city,” he said.

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