South East
Tribunal Dismisses Ngige’s Motion On Jurisdiction
The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Awka has dismissed for lack of merit the motion by Dr Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) challenging its competence to entertain the petition by Prof. Dora Akunyili of APGA after the expiration of stipulated 180 days.
In a ruling delivered last early this week it also fixed fresh 180 days for hearing of the petition filed in respect of the poll conducted for Anambra Central senatorial seat.
Ngige had through his counsel Mr Emeka Ngige (SAN), filed a motion challenging the competence of the tribunal to entertain the petition after the expiration of the stipulated 180 days for election petitions.
Ngige had contended that the petition had since expired on November 11, urging the tribunal to strike out or dismiss the petition or on the alternative suspend it pending the determination of an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Enugu.
Counsel to Akunyili, Obiora Obianwu (SAN), while opposing Ngige’s argument, reminded the tribunal of its earlier ruling to take motions along with the hearing and urged it to abide by its decision.
However, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Onajite Kuejubola, held that accepting the application by Ngige would render ineffective the order of the Court of Appeal which directed that the matter be heard on merit.
It also held that since there was hierarchy in the courts, it was bound to follow the directives of the Court of Appeal. It further held that the order of the appeal meant that “the constitution which is a grundnorm cannot give with one hand and take with another.” “The intention of the Constitution is to give judgment substantially and not on technical grounds.
“I do not think that the intention of the lawmakers was to create confusion. The creation of 180 days was to limit the time for which election petitions are tried. “To hold the flimsy excuse that 180 days has expired is to make mockery of the order of the Court of Appeal.
“The successful petition at the Court of Appeal will be hindered from reaping the fruits of litigation if this tribunal accedes to the application and arguments by Ngige.
“We find no merit in the application and hold that this tribunal has jurisdiction to hear this petition on merit and the 180 days commences from November 16, to expire sometime in May 2012.
“The application, therefore, suffers defeat as the tribunal has the jurisdiction following the directive of the Court of Appeal.
The matter was adjourned till December 6, for hearing.
Reacting to the ruling, Akunyili thanked members of the panel and the judiciary in general, saying that the ruling showed that the tribunal was up to date. “I am happy beyond expression for today’s landmark ruling. For six or seven months, my opponent has done everything to see that my case does not see the light of the day, but I will continue to trust God like a child.
“This ruling means that very soon the world will know that I won that election,” Akunyili added.
In his reaction, Ngige’s counsel said that the tribunal’s ruling was an indication that it was not biased, but quickly added that the extension of 180 days by the tribunal would be appealed.
“The tribunal went as far as acting like father Christmas. The petitioners had asked that the petition be extended till Dec. 9, but it went ahead to say it will now expire in May.
“What the court did was a judicial amendment of the constitution. We are taking it up at the Court of Appeal,” he said.
NAN further recalls that the said petition was filed on May 17, struck out on Oct. 20 for lack of compliance, but was re-listed on Nov. 18, following a ruling at the Court of Appeal on Nov. 16 that the petition should be allowed on merit at the lower court.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.
