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Appeal Court Adjourns Hearing Of Parties’ Motions To June 6

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3 years ago

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The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has adjourned sitting until June 6, 2022 to hear all pending motions in the suit filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service seeking to stop the Rivers State Government from enforcing an earlier court judgment vesting the power to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) within Rivers State on the state government and not the federal agency.
The three-man Appeal Judges was led by Hon. Justice Joseph S. Ikyegh, who presided over the appeal adjourned to the new date after receiving the applications from the Rivers State Attorney General, Attorney General of the Federation, the FIRS, as well as the Attorney General of Oyo and Bayalsa States respectively, who sought to join the suit.
Earlier, counsel for the Attorney General of Rivers State, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), urged the court through his motion filed on March 31, 2022, to dismiss the appeal for lack of diligent prosecution of the appeal.
This is because, on the last adjourned date, he informed the court that he had withdrawn his appeal from the Supreme Court, hence the appeal on the same subject matter be restored in the Port Harcourt Appeal Court.
Ukala, also sought an extension of time following his motion dated April 5, 2022 to serve the appellants/applicants as the alloted service time had elapsed.
Also, motions from the Oyo and Bayelsa states Attorney Generals seeking a joinder in the matter were deferred by the honourable presiding justices till the next adjourned date of June 6, for hearing.
Meanwhile, cousel for the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Afam Osigwe, who filed an application dated March 24, 2022, urged the court to stay further proceedings in the matter following his appeal to the Supreme Court on same subject matter.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

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Rivers

Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance

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6 days ago

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February 19, 2025

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The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.

 

Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .

 

He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.

 

Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.

 

NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.

 

In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.

 

In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.

 

The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.

 

He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.

 

The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.

 

Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.

 

Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.

 

Akujobi Amadi

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Rivers

Experts Urge Fubara On Youth Marine Safety Training 

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6 days ago

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February 19, 2025

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A Maritime Security Expert, Captain Ifeanyi Eke Lawrence, has called for the training of youths as marine Safety officers in order to improve  and regulate safety among boat operators and passengers.
 He said the  programme, if carried out, will create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and drastically reduce the rate of death and loss of properties along the state’s water ways.
According to him, Rivers inland waterways can create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs if properly harnessed.
Lawrence said the timely training of youths and positively engaging them as safety officers on all the jetties where waterborne transportation system is  operated  was necessary to solve the state’s unemployment challenge and end incessant boat mishap in the State.
The Expert, who is the Chairman, El-Bravo Maritime Safety Training Services Limited, said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after their monthly safety exercise in Port Harcourt.
He said the Government can do this through educating reasonable number of youths who will carry the responsibility of educating boat operators and regulate safety on all the jetties and state’s waterways, adding that the improvement in safety along the state’s waterways will restore the confidence of boat passengers and speed boat operators who operate along the state’s waterways.
According to him, the situation will check incessant boat mishaps which result to loss of lives and goods worth millions whenever there’s a boat accident, hence the need to save lives and property along the state’s inland waterways.
Captain Lawrence said Government can also achieve this feat through constant engagement and training of youths on Maritime safety in the state.
“Governor Fubara needs to critically tackle the dangerous threat of boat mishaps and unemployment rate among Rivers  youths  whose population is on  the Increase
“Rivers State inland waterways have the capacity to create over 50,000 direct and indirect Jobs for the ciitizens if properly and professionally harnessed.
“This can be achieved through training and constant engagement and monitoring of the boat operators all over the State”, he said.
Lawrence continued that the state stands to benefit maximally from its God-given maritime potentials if properly harnessed.
“Rivers State with its enormous God-given natural resources, especially the  amazing creeks, channels, rivers , lagoons  and others, should be able to harness and  tap from it to benefit the people.
“Rivers State is the second largest maritime environment in Nigeria after Lagos State, and has the largest fishing Community in West Africa at Oyorokorto, in Andoni LGA of the state.
“The community environment is a tourist site of international reputes that needs to be developed by the State Government.
“There are several tourist sites along the State’s waterways, but tourist are skeptical to visit them for their relaxation due to lack of state safety organs, to educate, regulate and enforce safety on boat drivers, passengers and everyone who does business on the state’s maritime environment.
“I’m calling on Governor Fubara to use his executive mandate and create a State civil maritime unit and sanitize all the jetties and the entire waterways.
“It’s necessary as 80 percent of Rivers people earn their living from the jetties, channels, rivers, creeks and lagoons that surround them.
“The major means of transportation in Rivers State is Waterborne transportation system, therefore it’s pertinent the State Government act as a matter of urgency, make hay while the sun shines”, he advised.
He also decried the incessant boat mishaps and loss of lives and property along waterways in the state.
John Bibor
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Rivers

Association Boss Urges For Professionalism, Efficiency Among Memebers

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6 days ago

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February 19, 2025

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The new National President of the “Noble Association of Nigeria”, Sir Emenike Nwokeoji, has called for professionalism and efficiency among members in carrying out their duties and relating to other agencies in course of their work.
Sir Nwokeoji, who was part of a Thanksgiving service organized by members of the Association of Nigeria Customs Licensed Agents (ANCLA), weekend, said this during the Service at the Christ Inter-Denominational Church, near Government House, Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the occasion, he said the past year (2024) has been full of challenges, but they have cause to thank God for His guidance and protection of their members in the course of the duties.
He however, urged members to always exhibit high degree of professionalism in carrying out their jobs and ready to co-operate with all the relevant agencies for efficiency.
“We work in synergy and amicably with other relevant agencies for effective result. We do not work in isolation”, in he said.
The service was organized to appreciate God for His grace and also to express happiness and gratitude over the emergence of Sir Nwokeoji as the National President of the Noble Association.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Association, Rivers State Chapter, Sir, Mike Egwuatu, expressed confidence on the ability of the new National President  to pilot the affairs of  the association to higher level.
According to him, Chief Nwokeoji is a loveable and friendly administrator who grew up within the system. He therefore urged the members to give him all necessary support for him to succeed in office.
Dignitaries from government circle,  Heads of Churches, Academia, and Nigerian Customs Services attended the occasion.
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