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Why Fubara can do business with three lawmakers – Court

Published

2 days ago

January 6, 2025

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara

Why Fubara can do business with three lawmakers – Court

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has declared that the Governor of Rivers State, Siminialayi Fubara, has the legal standing to transact businesses with the lawmakers that did not vacate their seat in the State House of Assembly.

This was as the court on December 20, dismissed the suit seeking to compel the Governor of the state to represent the N800billion 2024 Budget of the state to the aggrieved 27 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.

This followed a suit marked, PHC/3552/CS/2024 filed by the Registered Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners against the Government of Rivers State, Governor of Rivers State and Attorney General of the state.

The suit amongst other things sought that the court presided by Justice Sika Aprioku order to compel the defendants to represent the 2024 Budget to the 27 lawmakers.

The claimants in the suit questioned the failure of the defendants to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill of Rivers State to the State House of Assembly led by Amaewhule for enactment into law.

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However, Justice Aprioku in his judgement after considering the arguments of the parties in the matter said the Governor can transact business with the members that did not vacate their seats.

The certified true copy of the judgment, sighted by Vanguard read in part: “The Governor cannot carry on business with those who defected and by that act of defection, lost their seats.

“Therefore, the same way His Excellency Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, presented Budgets and financial Bills with only Six members, when the numbers were less than two third 2/3 of the 32 Members, so shall His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State be constitutionally guided to interface, and approach the properly constituted House of Assembly led by Oko-Jumbo, to carry on business of the State and until the 27 Lawmakers who defected and lost their seats, approaches the Court, for a redemption or INEC conducts another election to the seats vacated by the 27 Lawmakers upon their defection.

“In sum, until the Supreme Court gives its verdict on the issue of jurisdiction which affects the status of the 27 Lawmakers, it is only those who did not vacate their seats, the Governor can, constitutionally approach to present budget, appoint Chief Judges and President Customary Court. Also screen Commissioners, including the Attorney General and make Board appointments.

“That the claimant’s claim seeking declaratory and injunctive reliefs for the Representation of the 2024 Budget to the former 27 lawmakers, who defected and automatically vacated their seats, lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed.

“That this suit be and is hereby dismissed, with cost in the sum of N500, 000.00, awarded in favour of the defendants and against the claimant.”

Why Fubara can do business with three lawmakers – Court

Related Topics:Business Fubara lawmakers

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How Iraqi taskmaster maltreated Nigerian lady – NAPTIP DG

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How Iraqi taskmaster maltreated Nigerian lady – NAPTIP DG

The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, has shared the story of a human trafficking victim who was maltreated by her taskmaster in Baghdad, Iraq.

The DG of NAPTIP said the victim, Miss Odunayo Eniola Isaac, was assigned to work for an Iraqi family of eight, working 20 hours daily with little or no rest.

She said Miss Isaac’s ordeal started when she requested to be paid after working for four months.

According to the DG, each time Miss Isaac asked for her remuneration or spoke about it, she suffered a beating which resulted in bleeding and bodily injuries.

She added that, at one point, Miss Isaac’s employer bound her hands and feet and threw her into the dogs’ cage until 3 am before she was released to continue with her work.

Miss Isaac arrived in Nigeria from Baghdad a few days ago following a viral video and media reports that escalated her ordeal in the hands of the Iraqi taskmaster.

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Her return was facilitated by NAPTIP in collaboration with other partners, including members of civil society organizations and foreign agencies.

Following her traumatic experience, the NAPTIP boss directed officers of the Counselling and Rehabilitation Department of the Agency and Operatives of the Intelligence and International Cooperation Unit (IICU) to commence a comprehensive rehabilitation programme for Miss Isaac.

She also charged the officers to conduct counselling and interview sessions with Miss Isaac to ascertain her medical status, the nature of assistance needed, and her immediate psychosocial need.

The DG, while receiving Miss Isaac at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja, expressed sadness over the traumatic experience and the hardship she faced.

The Director General, in a statement by the Press Officer of the agency, Vincent Adekoye, said: “I just finished interaction with the victim. I must say that she had a close shave with death and we are all happy that she is alive to tell her painful story.

“On 22nd January 2023, she left Nigeria and arrived in Baghdad, Iraq the next day; 23rd January 2023 and was received at the Airport by officials of WB Warani Manpower (Company she was registered to work for). She was taken to the hospital on the 24th of January, 2023, to certify she was medically fit for the job she would be assigned to do.

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“Her Iraqi Agent, Alhaja Shakirat Yusuf, whom she knows as only ‘Mama Uganda’, came to WB Warani Manpower to sign her in officially on the 25th January 2023 and was assigned to work for an Iraqi family of eight (six children and two parents) on 29th of January 2023. Her work hours span about twenty hours a day, with little or no resting time.

“According to Miss Odunayo, after one month of work, she requested her salary, and her madam said that, because of the high commission in paying money into Nigeria accounts, she would be paid every two months, and she agreed, but after four months, and she still was not paid. Her ordeal then began when she dared to request payment.

“Her phone was confiscated to prevent communication with members of her family. Each time she asked for her remuneration or spoke about it, she suffered a beating resulting in bleeding and bodily injuries. That, at one point, her madam bound her hands and feet and threw her into the dogs’ cage until 3 am before she was released to continue with her work.

“Because of her level of exploitation and trauma, I have directed the relevant department and operatives of the Agency to commence immediate profiling, interview, and the comprehensive process of rehabilitation for her. This is to enable the Agency to assess her medical status, the nature of assistance and skills needed, and to design a part of ensuring her reunion with her family”.

The DG assured that NAPTIP would do the needful to ensure justice for her.

She urged the youths and parents to be careful before jumping at enticing job offers abroad.

“I wish to use this opportunity to thank all our partners, the Federal Ministry of Foreign, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Embassies and Nigeria Mission abroad, other partnering Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDAs), Hope Haven Foundation, the Media and other stakeholders, for a successful collaboration and support which resulted in the eventual arrival of Miss Eniola Isacc.

“It is also important to advise our youths and parents to always be careful and think twice before jumping at any juicy offer of jobs abroad. Over the past few months, we have intercepted scores of youths, mostly girls, at various points of exit across Nigeria, and their destinations have been some of the volatile countries in the Middle East.

“Certainly, a dangerous journey of this nature could have been avoided with simple caution and a check from NAPTIP”, Bello said.

Miss Isaac, said: “I thank God that I am alive. I will not wish that my enemy passes through what I experienced. I never thought I could survive the painful ordeal.”