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Impeachment: Drama as Ondo Assembly counsel denies petition against judge

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7 months ago

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Ondo State House of Assembly

Impeachment: Drama as Ondo Assembly counsel denies petition against judge

There was a mild drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, as counsel to the Ondo House of Assembly, F. E. Emodamori, denied being the author of a petition written against Justice Emeka Nwite at the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Emodamori, who appeared for the state assembly and its speaker, Olamide Oladiji, refuted the allegation levelled against him by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, lawyer to the embattled Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nwite had, on Sept. 26, restrained the Ondo State assembly and its speaker from impeaching Aiyedatiwa, over alleged gross misconduct pending the hearing and determination of the interlocutory application.

The judge gave the interim order in a ruling shortly after Kayode Adewusi, counsel who appeared for Aiyedatiwa, moved the ex-parte motion to the effect.

The judge also restrained Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu from nominating a new deputy governor and forwarding the name of the same to the lawmakers for an approval as the state’s new deputy governor based on a letter of resignation purportedly authored or signed by Aiyedatiwa.

The deputy governor had, in an ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, sued the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

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Others joined in the suit are Gov. Akeredoku, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Ondo State and the House of Assembly as 1st to 6th respondents respectively.

In the application dated and filed by Adelanke Akinrata on Sept. 21, Aiyedatiwa sought for four reliefs.

The judge, after granting the reliefs, fixed today for hearing of the motion on notice.

Upon resumed hearing yesterday, Adegboruwa informed the court of the development of the matter.

He said on October 6, the All Progressives Congress (APC) set up a reconciliation committee headed by former Katsina State governor to settle the issues.

“In line with extant practice and procedure of this honourable court to encourage parties to promote settlement, it is our humble view that the court allows and encourages the reconciliation effort as the continued prosecution of this suit may be hostile to those efforts,” he said.

Besides, Adegboruwa said on Oct. 3, the speaker and the assembly (4th and 6th defendants) submitted a petition to NJC “accusing this very court of compromise and deploying all manners of unprintable epithets against the court.”

He said the petition is still pending before the NJC.

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“The consequence of that petition is to express lack of confidence in this honourable court.

“And if the allegations are investigated and found to be correct God forbid, the consequence will be that this court may not be in the position to proceed on the determination of this suit,” he said.

The senior lawyer, therefore, prayed the court to direct the speaker and the assembly, through their counsel, Emodamori, to serve all parties in the suit with the said petition in order for them to respond too.

He also prayed the court to direct them to stop further attack on the judge

“I watched on television news where they described my lord as ‘a certain judge,’” he said.

Adegboruwa said that the derogatory comment was also confirmed in a letter dated Sept. 29 and authored by Emodamori to the state’s chief judge.

He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the suit sine die (indefinitely) to await the outcomes of the APC reconciliatory effort and the petition file to the NJC.

But Kassim Gbadamosi (SAN), counsel to Akeredolu, who objected to indefinite adjournment, said Ondo State was not a one-party state.

He said the APC’s move was only to reconcile Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa which did not affect other political parties which made up the assembly.

Impeachment: Drama as Ondo Assembly counsel denies petition against judge

(NAN)

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Six political parties plot against APC, meet in Kaduna

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14 hours ago

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May 17, 2024

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Six political parties plot against APC, meet in Kaduna

Six political parties converged in Kaduna State on Thursday in preparation to dislodge the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The summit, with the theme, ‘Solid political party structure critical to the sustainability of the democratic process,’ was convened by the African Democratic Congress.

In attendance were the New Nigeria People’s Party, the People’s Redemption Party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the Social Democratic Party, the KOWA Party, as well as the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), and the Coalition of United Political Parties.

Lawal Nalado, chairman of the summit, decried what he described as “unbearable hardship” faced by Nigerians across the country, saying that the gathering was all about discussing the nation’s barrage of problems and ways to move forward.

He refuted insinuations in some quarters that the summit was convened to form a merger or a coalition amongst parties.

He added that the opposition parties needed to mobilize voters at the grassroots by way of reaching out to the downtrodden with political enlightenment messages, capable of changing their mindset that politics should not be about money, religion or ethnicity but voting for the right candidates to uplift the social and economic status of the society.

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The National Chairman of PRP, Falalu Bello, while speaking, stressed the need for effective mobilisation of the electorates by opposition parties, stressing that fielding credible candidates was not enough to win elections but mass mobilization.

Represented by Prof. Sule Muhammad, Bello listed inadequate resources, lack of internal democracy, decayed transparency, and interference by the ruling party among others as problems bedevilling opposition parties in the country.

Also, Ahmed Tujjani, the chairman of ADC and IPAC Kaduna State, opined that the summit was aimed to chart a course to address socio-economic and political parties’ problems with the motive of proffering realistic solutions.

According to him, “This is not a gathering for a merger or forming a coalition ahead of 2027 but rather a summit to discuss our common problems and suggest solutions of addressing them.

“We will call you again by tomorrow to read out our communique which will be a summary and possibly a mini-working document of solving our problems ahead of 2027.”

Six political parties plot against APC, meet in Kaduna

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Ajaero asks Abure to resign if he must forgive him

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1 day ago

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May 16, 2024

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National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) Julius Abure and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero

Ajaero asks Abure to resign if he must forgive him

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday told the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) Julius Abure to obey a judgment of the FCT High Court if he needs the forgiveness if its president, Joe Ajaero.

The court restrained him and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the party but the judgement was set aside by the Court of Appeal in March 2024.

NLC made the demand barely 24 hours after Abure appealed to the union for reconciliation over the crisis between them.

Speaking exclusively with THE WHISTLER, the NLC Head of Information, Benson Upah, said that the union does not shut the doors of negotiations, however, Abure must step down as LP chairman for peace to reign.

Upah said, “Our issues, concern and drive is to ensure that the right thing is done, and for the insult by Abure, we don’t care, even though he insulted all of us, called us thieves, armed robbers, and vagabonds.

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“While we are ready to forgive the insults, we would insist that the right and proper thing as contained in the contempt judgement be done. Because nothing can take the place of that”.

Speaking at the LP secretariat on Wednesday in Abuja, Abure had said, “Consequently, I want to appeal first to my brother, friend and Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC whom we have worked together in the trenches over the years in the struggle for workers, to put aside whatever may be his grievances. Let’s work in the interest of our people.

“Fighting the Labour Party is uncalled for and unwarranted, especially at this time when the working people of Nigeria are suffering. As we speak today, the minimum wage is still N30,000.

“For us, we need to team up together to be able to fight for better working conditions for our people. We need not waste or dissipate our collective energies in fighting ourselves over nothing. The NLC should know by now that the attempt being made to take over the leadership of the party will not work. It is my appeal that working together is better.”

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The NLC has been advocating for Abure’s removal, accusing the LP chairman of financial malfeasance, attempting to hold an unauthorised national convention in Abia State to keep himself in office, while also alleging that two separate court rulings in 2024 nullified the legitimacy of Abure’s National Working Committee (NWC).

This prompted members of the union, acting on their leadership’s orders, to picket LP offices across the country, demanding Abure’s resignation.

The crisis deepened when the LP responded in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, titled ‘Resign as NLC President to Contest LP Chairmanship, Labour Party advises Joe Ajero,’ noting that the party will not take orders from unionists who are not card-carrying members of their party.

Despite the NLC’s opposition, Abure in March 2024 secured his re-election at the Grand Seasons Hotel in Nnewi, Anambra State.

In response, the NLC referred to Abure’s re-election as an “illegality” adding that “nothing can legitimise such brazen impunity!”.

Ajaero asks Abure to resign if he must forgive him

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BREAKING: APC suspends Senator Jimoh Ibrahim over anti-party activities

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2 days ago

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May 15, 2024

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Jimoh Ibrahim

BREAKING: APC suspends Senator Jimoh Ibrahim over anti-party activities

The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has suspended Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, who represents Ondo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly was suspended for alleged anti-party activities.

The lawmaker was suspended by members of the APC Executive Committee of Igbotako Ward 11 in Okitipupa Local Goverment Area of Ondo State.

The notice was signed by ward executive members including Bakere Usuf, Tore Obwoselu, Oloyinmi Idowu, Borewaye Louyomi, Oladipupo Bose, Alkimbobola Seyi, Lawal-Babatunde, Aritawe-Ademole, Akinkuoju Olarewaju and Fabioye Ajoke.

Ibrahim’s suspension is coming after he lost out in the party’s governorship primary election in the state.

However, the notice read, “We, the members of the APC Executive Commince of Igbotako Ward 11 in Okitipupa Local Goverment Areu of Ondo State, convened meeting on Monday, May 13th, 2024, During our meeting, we deliberated extensively on various issues affecting the progress and development of our party, notably indiscipline and insubordination among some members.

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“We have found Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s actions and activities to be in violation of the party’s constitution, particularly his decision to sue the party as well as his anti-party activities. As such, we have resolved to take appropriate disciplinary action against him as outlined in the party’s constitution. Senator Jimoh Folorunso Ibrahim is hereby suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect for acts of insubordination and anti-party activities In accordance with Article 21, Section A of APC Constitution.

“It is worth recalling that the National Party Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, met with all Ondo State governorship aspirants on April 25th, 2024, in Abuja.

“During the meeting, he urged them to cooperate with the party’s candidate and incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Honorable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, Despite this, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunso proceeded to sue the Governor and APC, blatantly disregarding party instructions. Additionally, he has engaged in anti-party activities by urging his supporters in Igbotako and Ondo State to join NPP, claiming he will soon receive the gubernatorial ticket from them.

“Senator Jimoh has openly declared his intent to disrupt APC before leaving the party, as evidenced by his actions in the Federal High Court in Abuja and his derogatory remarks about APC in various media outlets.”

BREAKING: APC suspends Senator Jimoh Ibrahim over anti-party activities

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