Court dismisses suit challenging Tinubu’s appointments into NDDC – Newstrends
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Court dismisses suit challenging Tinubu’s appointments into NDDC

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Court dismisses suit challenging Tinubu’s appointments into NDDC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to reverse the appointments of the current Managing Director and Executive Directors of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Bola Tinubu.

The court’s decision was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, who ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi (legal right) to institute the action.

The suit was filed by Hon. Ajoku Philip, Chief Jones Omereoha, and the Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights International Foundation, who claimed to represent oil-producing communities in Imo State and a few other states.

They argued that the appointments of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Mr. Boma Iyaye, Mr. Victor Antai, and Ifedayo Abegunde as Managing Director and Executive Directors of the NDDC were in contravention of Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act.

The plaintiffs demanded that President Tinubu withdraw the nominations and appoint indigenes of oil-producing communities from Imo, Cross River, and Edo States, who they alleged had not previously held these positions. They also prayed for a declaration that Sections 4 and 12(1) of the NDDC Establishment Act were compulsory in the appointment of the Commission’s Chairman, Managing Director, and Executive Directors.

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However, the legal team for NDDC opposed the application, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to institute the action. The Commission maintained that Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act provides for “adequate representation,” and this had always been observed in the Commission’s appointments.

Giving judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the proper party to initiate the case was the Attorney General of the state, being the chief law officer empowered to sue on behalf of the state or appoint a private lawyer to do so. He noted that the plaintiffs failed to prove their claims and did not provide evidence of the manner and status of appointments into NDDC management positions since the Commission’s inception.

Recall that in August 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed a new Board and Management team for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The president appointed Mr. Chiedu Ebie as Chairman from Delta State, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer from Bayelsa State, Mr. Boma Iyaye as Executive Director of Finance and Administration from Rivers State, Mr. Victor Antai as Executive Director of Projects from Akwa Ibom State, and Ifedayo Abegunde as Executive Director of Corporate Services from Ondo State.

Other members appointed to the team include Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa as State Representative for Bayelsa State and Mr. Abasi Ndikan Nkono as State Representative for Akwa Ibom State, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya as State Representative for Delta State, Chief Tony Okocha as State Representative for Rivers State, Hon. Patrick Aisowieren as State Representative for Edo State, Mr. Kyrian Uchegbu as State Representative for Imo State, Victor Kolade Akinjo as State Representative for Ondo State, Chief Dimgba Eruba as State Representative for Abia State, and Mr. Asu Oku Okang as State Representative for Cross River State.

The zonal representatives include Hon. Nick Wende for the North Central Zone, Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak for the North East Zone, and Senator Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir for the North West Zone.

The appointments were announced to take immediate effect.

 

Court dismisses suit challenging Tinubu’s appointments into NDDC

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Ex-convict granted state pardon re-arrested for stealing TV in Osun

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Ex-convict granted state pardon re-arrested for stealing TV in Osun

One of the convicts recently granted clemency by Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Omisakin Sunday has been remanded in correctional custody for allegedly stealing plasma television valued N600,000.

The Governor had late last year granted clemency to 53 convicts of various offences including Omisakin Sunday who was granted outright pardon.

However, the Sunday was brought before Magistrate Adeyeba Adekanmi of Osogbo Magistrate Court on two counts of burglary and stealing plasma television belonging to one Damilare Shittu at Iludun area of Osogbo, punishable under sections 411(1)(2) and 390(9) of the state criminal code.

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Sunday pleaded not guilty to the charges but the Prosecutor, Inspector Kayode Adeoye opposed his bail on the ground that the suspect was serving jail term before he was granted clemency by the Governor.

He added that his first activity after he was pardoned is to break into a house and steal therein, hence, urged the court to decline bail.

Ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Adeyeba refused to admit the suspect to bail and remanded him in correctional custody till February for hearing on the matter.

Ex-convict granted state pardon re-arrested for stealing TV in Osun

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Cybercrimes: Immigration arrests 90 foreigners in Rivers

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Arrested foreigners

Cybercrimes: Immigration arrests 90 foreigners in Rivers

Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service has arrested 90 illegal immigrants for alleged cybercrimes perpetrated at different levels to swindle innocent Nigerians.

The suspects were arrested in collaboration with other security agencies at their hideout in Rivers State following credible intelligence.

According to the Rivers State Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Y.I Abdulmajeed, a total of 94 persons were arrested. Their profiling revealed that 85 of them are Cameroonians, five are Chadians and four are Nigerians. Of the 94 people, 74 are males and 20 females.

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It was also gathered that all the 90 foreigners gained access to the country through unauthorised entry points and none presented residence cards or any form of travelling documents after interrogation.

Two other Nigerians from Rivers State, who provided accommodation, were also arrested.

Abdulmajeed also revealed that the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, ordered that the needful be done to repatriate the foreigners back to their various countries of origin.

 

Cybercrimes: Immigration arrests 90 foreigners in Rivers

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Over 5000 Nigerian women stranded in Iraq – FG

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Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

Over 5000 Nigerian women stranded in Iraq – FG

Over 5000 Nigerian women are currently stranded in Iraq, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has said.

Chairman of the Commission, Hon. (Mrs.) Abike Dabiri-Erewa stated that the women travelled to Iraq as caregivers only to be stranded in the country.

Over 5000 Nigerian women are currently stranded in Iraq, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has said.

Chairman of the Commission, Hon. (Mrs.) Abike Dabiri-Erewa stated that the women travelled to Iraq as caregivers only to be stranded in the country.

Many Nigerians especially women have been stranded abroad after travelling through irregular means with promises of jobs.

Dabiri-Erewa told the participants selected from the Six South-West states that there are huge opportunities in Nigeria instead of migrating in the name of seeking greener pastures.

The Chairman disclosed that a husband sent his wife to Iraq to be a caregiver but the woman died mysteriously and the Nigerian Mission is helping to bring back the corpse.

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She said, “As I speak with you today there are about 5,000 women stranded in Iraq. I just dealt with a case last week. A husband sent his wife to Iraq to be a caregiver. She’s dead.

“Can you imagine! Now how do you bring the body back? That’s what is worrying the husband. He doesn’t know where to start. So, we had to intervene. The mission had been able to intervene, they would do an autopsy to see how she died because she just died mysteriously being a caregiver.”

She explained that while there are challenges in Nigeria just like other countries in the world, there are huge opportunities for investment.

“And this is why we are having this workshop,” she said, adding it would be replicated in the other five geopolitical zones of Nigeria to train and educate the participants on the untapped opportunities in Nigeria for diasporan investment.

Group Managing Director of G-Consulting, Dr. Godfrey Ajayi Sunday stated that through the workshop, the firm would be mobilising over $100m in funding to support participants who want to engage in one business or the other in partnership with those in the Diaspora.

He said there are various investment opportunities in real estate, and agriculture, among others for Nigerians to tap into, adding the idea is to sell the opportunities to those in the diaspora to put in their money.

Other facilitators also encouraged the participants to jettison the idea of irregular migration and see how they can tap into available opportunities in Nigeria.

Over 5000 Nigerian women stranded in Iraq – FG

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