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Firm Asks Court To Annul PDP Convention Results

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Firm Asks Court To Annul PDP Convention Results

By Emmanuel Ogala

A company has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to nullify all elections conducted during the last special convention of the People’s Democratic, PDP, held on August 31, 2013 in Abuja.

According to the originating summons filed by the firm marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/655/2013, a copy of which was obtained by www.icirnigeria.org, the firm is contesting the alleged unlawful use of its patented ballot boxes for the party’s convention.

The firm, Bedding Holdings Limited, BHL, is praying the court to determine whether by virtue of reliefs granted by a court on June 5, 2012, the respondents could use its patented ballot boxes or its imitation for the PDP special congress without its consent.

It is also urging the court to determine whether, if it answers the above question in the negative, the elections conducted in the congress are unconstitutional, unlawful and thus null and void, in view of the fact that the respondents allegedly used its patented ballot boxes without first seeking and obtaining its consent as required by the judgment.

In the judgment delivered on June 5, 2012 by Justice Adamu Bello in a suit marked: between BHL, Registrar of Patents, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry and six others, the court declared BHL the sole patentee of transparent and collapsible ballot boxes in the country, adding that the use of such boxes without its consent renders the purpose for which the boxes were used a nullity.

According to the court, Order 6 of the judgment reads in part: “any action or actions whatsoever and howsoever taken or purported to have been taken by the defendants relating to the said products without the prior and express license, consent, authority and/or approval of the plaintiff is unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful and is therefore null and void.”

Order seven restrained the Registrar of Patents and its agents from registering or issuing the plaintiff’s valid and subsisting patent over the ballot boxes to any person or organisation, except with the consent of BHL.

The plaintiff accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of disobeying the earlier court judgment, despite being aware of the court orders, adding that INEC deployed the same ballot boxes for use at the PDP convention without its consent.

The respondents to the suit are President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Anthony Anenih.

Others include the PDP national chairman, Bamanga Tukur, Jerry Gana, who acted as the chairman, PDP’ special convention committee), Ken Nnamani (who was the Chairman, PDP’s electoral committee, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, who acted as chairman, PDP Essential Electoral Materials Committee, chairman, Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro , who served as chairman, PDP Special National Convention Sub-Committee on Security), INEC and its chairman, Attahiru Jega.

The suit was filed last Thursday for BHL by its lawyer, John Okoriko of the firm of Karina Tunyan, SAN, and Co.

 

Terrorism In The North Not Caused By Poverty – Jonathan

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Terrorism In The North Not Caused By Poverty – Jonathan

By Kevwe Ebireri

President Goodluck Jonathan has debunked claims that the terrorist activities in Nigeria’s north east is caused by poverty.

The President who was speaking during a Presidential Media Chat on Sunday noted the terrorism requires huge funding, alleging that terrorists in the country are sponsored by top influential persons, as confessed by some members who have been arrested.

He noted, however, that in spite of continued killings from time to time, his administration was winning the war against terrorism and soon it would be a thing of the past.

“At the time I declared the state of emergency, the crisis came down. But after some time now they are looking for soft spots, places where you will not expect them to just to embarrass the country. Even Maiduguri which appears to be the centre point of Boko Haram, the whole thing has come down,” he said.

While fielding questions on the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Jonathan stated that education was key to the development of any nation, describing the union’s strike as very unfortunate and politically manipulated.
“The issue is beyond the 2009 agreement. It is political,” he said while stressing that there were certain aspects of the 2009 agreement that cannot be implemented, like the transfer of government assets to the universities who do not have the ability to manage them.

According toJonathan, the allowances which the university lectures are demanding ought to be paid from the internally generated revenues of the schools, adding that until public universities become autonomous in terms of funding, the problems will never truly be resolved.

“Even if we solve this problem, even if we give ASUU 100 per cent of what they are asking for, as long as we still manage the universities the way we are doing as a developing country, further strikes will come up in one way or the other,” he stated.

Commenting on the issue of crude theft, Jonathan expressed disappointment that those behind the vandalisation of oil pipelines in the country were very rich individuals – Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike.

“You need a vessel to lift the crude oil across the ocean and if you were to sell a stolen product abroad you also need some connection because refineries in some countries don’t take crude oil from any and everybody,” he noted.

He, however, assured Nigerians that his government was taking steps to address the problem as some oil thieves identified were already facing prosecution and called on the governors of oil producing states to complement the efforts of the federal government in terms of monitoring pipelines to prevent crude oil theft

Reacting to questions on power supply, President Jonathan assured that power will be “reasonably stable” before the end of the first quarter of 2014.

He said the achievement in the power sector in not so much in the number of megawatts of electricity generated, but in how many hours of the day Nigerians enjoy power in their homes and business places.

Jonathan avoided being categorical whether or not he intends to contest for re-election in 2015 but refuted claims that he signed a single term agreement.

“I have not signed agreement with anybody. If I had signed agreement with anybody they would have shown you. A lot of people are misinforming Nigerians,” he said.

Explaining further, the President said: “I was in Addis Ababa and that was when I advocated for this single tenure. I said it would be more productive probably, if a president has a single tenure of seven years running without interference and I said that if Nigerians agree to that seven years tenure, I will not even be involved so that people will know that I am sincere. I discussed that in the context of the single term tenure that I was advocating.”

He stated further: “My not declaring my interest does not stop you from preparing to contest.”

The Presidential Chat which is the 5th since Jonathan’s assumption of office in 2011 was anchored Senami Ohiomokhare of AIT and had a panel of journalists including Shola Oshunkeye of the Sun newspaper, Shehu Dauda of Capital Post, Nosa Igiebor of Tell magazine and Gloria Umeh of  Channels

 

Northern Governors Condemn Yobe Killings

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Northern Governors Condemn Yobe Killings

The Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, has condemned the killing of students in Yobe State and called on security agencies in the country to put a stop to the mindless killing of defenceless citizens in the North-east.

Chairman of the forum and governor of Niger State, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, who gave the charge on Sunday, described the gruesome murder of 38 students of the College of Agriculture, Gujba, Yobe as “horrendous and callous”.

He also condemned the killing of 15 persons in Zangang community in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

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“The forum is particularly alarmed that the shooting dead of 38 students of the College of Education; Gujba, Yobe State followed the same pattern as the killing of 22 students and a teacher at Government Secondary School, Mamudo in the same state last July,” a statement signed by Aliyu’s chief sress Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, said.

The NSGF commiserated with the families of the victims and prayed God to grant eternal rest to the deceased and quick recovery to those who sustained injuries.

The forum urged security agencies to do more to protect the lives and property of citizens and also ensure that those behind the violence in the region are brought to justice, while pledging to continue to work with other tiers of government to bring an end to security challenges confronting the nation.

Oritsejafor Calls For Truce Between FG and ASUU

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Oritsejafor Calls For Truce Between FG and ASUU

By Kevwe Ebireri

The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor has called on the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to “shift grounds” in order to bring an end to the lingering strike that has crippled academic activities in all public universities of the country.

“The federal government must shift grounds, but ASUU must also shift grounds. And we are ready to midwife a solution if they will let us. Its possible,” he declared.

Delivering a message at the 53rd Independence Anniversary Interdenominational Service held in Abuja, Oritsejafor also criticised plans by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, as well as the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT,  to shutdown public polytechnics, secondary and primary schools.

“I hear some other people say they will go on strike, is it a jolly, jolly, jolly thing? Don’t you care about this country?” he queried.

On the issue of insecurity, he commended the vigilante youths known as Civilian JTF for what he described as a “bold step” in tackling terrorism in Borno State and urged government and stakeholders to complement these efforts.

“I thank God for the Civilian JTF in Borno State. That is a bold step for those young men. But our leaders and the elite must go beyond that, especially in the north. We must stop turning terrorism issues to political issues,” he said.

On his part, President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the attack on on the College of Agriculture in Yobe State early Sunday morning, in which 21 students were gruesomely murdered.

He called for Nigerians to work with the government in ensuring peace and stability, while expressing hope that this phase of crisis will soon be over.

“No Boko Haram or any group can frustrate this country. By God’s grace, we’ll get to where we want to go as a nation. The challenges we are seeing now are transient. We’ll surely get over it,” Jonathan said.

The service was attended by members of the National Assembly,  ministers, governors, deputy governors, ambassadors and other dignitaries.

Prayers were also rendered for good governance, peace and unity of the country.

 

Explosion Kills 33 In Pakistan

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Explosion Kills 33 In Pakistan

An explosion has ripped through a market in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, leaving at least 33 dead and dozens wounded, officials say.

Police said they suspect the explosion was a car bomb and that it exploded in the Kissa Khwani market, with shops and vehicles set on fire.

Pakistan’s Dawn Newspaper quoted the health minister as saying that the main Peshawar police station may have been the main target.

However, bomb disposal chief, Shafqat Malik, said it appeared the blast had taken place some way from the station.

He told Agence France-Presse, AFP, that a parked car had been “converted into a remote controlled bomb”.

One shop owner, Nazar Ali, told Associated Press: “It was a huge blast that was followed by fire in vehicles. Thick black smoke covered the air and splinters spread all over. I saw people lying dead and bleeding.”

An emergency situation was declared at the Lady Reading Hospital as it received the injured, many of them badly burnt. Officials said 76 people had been hurt.

The blast comes a week after a double suicide bombing killed at least 80 people at a church in the city.

On Friday, at least 17 people were killed in the bombing of a bus carrying government employees near Peshawar.

Peshawar, the main city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has been hit by numerous bomb and gun attacks blamed on Taliban insurgents in recent years.

42 Dead, Over 100 Missing in Boat Mishap in Niger

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42 Dead, Over 100 Missing in Boat Mishap in Niger

Nma Shekwolo

A boat mishap on River Niger near Malilli village in Borgu local government area of Niger State has claimed about 42 lives with over hundred people missing on Friday.

The boat conveying mostly women traders from Malili market to Tunga Illo village capsized at about 2.00 pm with all the passengers feared dead.

The cause of the mishap has not been ascertained as the details of the accident were still sketchy. Some traders who missed joining the boat claimed that the ill fated boat must have carried over 150 passengers.

A search and rescue team was launched immediately the news of the mishap got to Malili

Local swimmers from Malili and neighbouring villages have retrieved 42 bodies from the river as at noon time Friday, while efforts are being intensified to look for over 100 missing passengers.

Another rescue team was also dispatched for possible survivors along the bank of the river or the corpse of those, that were drowned.

Confirming the accident over telephone, the public relations officer of Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Hussaini, said a search and rescue operation was already in progress.

The Niger State governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has commiserated with the families of the victims of the boat mishap.
A statement signed by his chief press secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, stated that it was disheartening for such a tragedy to befall the state at a time when government is grappling with challenges to better the lot of the people.

The statement urged those involved in water transportation to be more careful especially during rainy season when water level is usually high.

It said the state’s emergency management agency has since deployed its officials to the scene of the mishap to ascertain the extent of losses incurred with a view to compensate families of the victims.

 

MDGs Will Fail Without Fighting Corruption – Civil Society Group

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MDGs Will Fail Without Fighting Corruption – Civil Society Group

A network of public interest groups known as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC, Coalition, has warned that the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, are bound to fail if governments do not take the fight against corruption seriously.

In a letter addressed to the President of the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly,, John Ashe, the coalition which comprises over 350 civil society organisations located in more than 100 countries, emphasised the role that corruption could play in hindering the attainment of the MDGs.

The letter which was signed by the chairman of the coalition coordination committee, Vincent Lazatin and its secretary, Gillian Dell, stressed that corruption is no ordinary crime as it “diverts an enormous flow of public funds that could be used to reduce maternal deaths and child mortality, ensure education for all, provide clean drinking water and sanitation and reduce the damaging effects of climate change”.

It said also that corruption runs counter to human rights and human dignity which the UN aims to promote and undermines economic development, leading to  inequality and injustice.

The group said for the attainment of the MDGs, states have to step up efforts to prevent and fight corruption and urged that the Assembly’s debate on post-2015 MDGS include goals on eliminating corruption.

The UNCAC, adopted by the UN General Assembly ten years ago, provides the key framework for global action against corruption. Since its adoption, it has been ratified by 167 states.

The coalition also urged that the Fifth session of the Conference of States Parties to the UNCAC which will meet between November 25-29, 2013 in Panama, should ensure strong follow-up on implementation of the convention.

“We urge the UN General Assembly to encourage the Panama conference to take the necessary steps to strengthen and build momentum for UNCAC effectiveness,” it said.

The conference provides a forum for states to agree on action to end the secrecy practices that shield the corrupt and to devise plans on how to fix weaknesses in criminal law enforcement that lead to leniency for corruption offenders.

“It is essential that the Panama summit advances international anti-corruption work, including ensuring technical assistance to countries that require it. We hope that the UN General Assembly can play a leading role in promoting this outcome,” the UNCAC coalition said.

UNCAC is a legally binding international anti-corruption instrument that provides a unique opportunity to mount a global response to a global problem.

Soldiers Kill One During New Yam Festival In Ogwashi Uku

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Soldiers Kill One During New Yam Festival In Ogwashi Uku

By Jessica Tamaradonye

The annual Iwaaji (roasting of new yam) festival in Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, in Aniocha South local government  of Delta State on Friday went awry as a resident was shot dead by soldiers to stormed the place.

About two others hit by bullets were said to be in critical condition in an undisclosed hospital.

The shooting was the outcome of power tussle between the Izedunor and Okonjo clans over who should occupy the seat of Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom.

In a suit decided by a High Court and Court of Appeal on the matter, Chukwuka Okonjo, father of Nigeria’s finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was announced as the Obi but the animosity did not end as the Izedunor clan pursued the matter to the Supreme Court where both parties have been advised to maintain the status quo until judgement is delivered.

It is still not clear the reason for the disruption of Friday’s festival as persons from both sides point accusing fingers at each other, although they both agree on the point that the troops of soldiers were ordered by the Obi to quell tension.

Members of the Izedunor clan claim that they had gone to the town’s market to ensure that nobody went there on the festival day as demanded by tradition, when the Obi called in the soldiers.

However, palace sources said that youths from the Izedunor clan had tried to prevent the Obi from entering the palace to perform some rituals relating to the festival, thereby raising tension which informed the invitation of the troops.

The military is yet to confirm the incident which has already attracted condemnation from some quarters.

 

PREMIUM TIMES Allege Attacks From FG Over Reports On Security Operations

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PREMIUM TIMES Allege Attacks From FG Over Reports On Security Operations

PREMIUM TIMES has reported that it has come under the attack of the federal government for its reportage of security issues in the country “in what appears to be a creeping onslaught on independent national voices”.

The online newspaper accused the Information Minister, Labaran Maku, of singling it and another online paper, SaharaReporters, out for particular attack while expressing government’s “utmost displeasure” with the social media community in the country.

It said the Minister accused them of “publishing reports capable of undermining military strategy against extremists, and stir mutiny within the military,” without mentioning any particular reference.

The paper said: “Maku’s attack came, however, in the intersection of two compelling policy challenges facing the administration: a desperate urge to regulate the internet and the social media landscape, on the one hand, and a way to manage a string of operational slip ups in the ongoing anti-terror campaign, the latest which was the extra-judicial murder of about seven young men in the Apo neighbourhood in Abuja”.

Maku spoke on the theme: “Social Media and Public Information Management” at the 44th National Council on Information in Osogbo, Osun state.

But in a swift reaction, PREMIUM TIMES has refuted Maku’s claims, describing the administration’s action as a scheme to blackmail and intimidate independent media voices from performing the important role of holding government and its officials accountable.

PREMIUM TIMES’ Managing Editor, Musikilu Mojeed, spoke of “the professional integrity, the deep sense of accuracy, balance, and fairness that define the news ethics” of the newspaper, but regretted that the paper “could not apologise if its uncompromising independence created discomfort for officials in the corridors of power”.

“The commitment to a democratic, accountable and transparent nation, that assumes its place of pride in the comity of nations is our well advertised position, and we cannot be persuaded that the sacrifices we make for the nation are inferior to the daily claims made by public officials,” Mojeed said.

He added: “When we expose government’s neglect of Nigerian troops on mission, as well as the violations by security forces confronting the brutal insurgency of Boko Haram, we do not come with a sense of diminished national or patriotic spirit. We speak for the higher ideals that define the aspirations of the best among our compatriots.”

The paper urged the minister to restrain in using his position of power and privilege to abridge and abuse the honoured right to freedom of expression of citizens, and to remember that “the history of our land and of many nations of the globe have proved that governments work best only when they see the media as partners in the progress of building a virile nation and stable democracy.”

PREMIUM TIMES also assured its readers that it will always exhibit a sense professionalism and discretion in its reporting, and would continue to do so while upholding the people’s right to know.

“We see ourselves as a public trust which owes its readers and the Nigerian people the honoured promise of truth, accountability, and commitment to true democracy. We cannot pretend to appreciate intimidation and blackmail in this process,” the paper stated.

11 Killed In Fresh Attack In Kaduna

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11 Killed In Fresh Attack In Kaduna

At least 11 people were confirmed dead on Saturday and many more declared missing after some unknown gunmen attacked Zangang village in Kaura local government in Kaduna State.
It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the village in the early hours of Saturday morning, burning down several house completely.

Over 1000 villagers who fled their homes during the attack are said to be residing in neighbouring communities and some of those injured are receiving treatment in various hospitals.

An eye witness told to journalists that the operation lasted two hours from6:00am to 8:00am and that the invaders used both knives and guns to kill their victims.

He added that the attackers came in two groups, the first through the hill side and the other through the eastern flank of the community.

The police public relations officer, Aminu Lawal, a deputy superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.

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“It is true that Zangang was attacked this morning (Saturday morning); the number of those killed is 11. Our men are already there. You know that place is hilly and bushy. But they are combing the hills, and we expect them to come out with some result,” he said.

The local government chairman, Kumai Badu, condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric.

Zangang village has witnessed three consecutive attacks since the beginning of this year.

 

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