Olu of Warri tussle: How armed thugs invaded court, chased out judge – Newstrends
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Olu of Warri tussle: How armed thugs invaded court, chased out judge

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4 years ago

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A gale of condemnation has greeted Thursday’s invasion of the High Court of Justice, Warri by armed thugs.

The Nigerian Bar Association and human rights lawyer, Mr Oghenejabor Ikimi, denounced the protest as barbaric and contempt of court.

It will be recalled that thugs and women chanting war songs invaded the court where a suit challenging the emergence of Prince Tsola Emiko as Omoba was billed to commence.

Son of the immediate past Olu, Ogiame Ikenwoli, Prince Oyowoli Emiko, and his uncle, Prince Bernard Emiko and others, instituted the suit to challenge the emergence of the 37-year-old son of the Ogiame Atuwatse II (19th Olu) as Olu-designate.

“The court was listening to a case of ex parte motion for service when the pandemonium broke out. A date had not even been taken when the incident occurred and everybody scampered for safey,” a senior lawyer told our reporter.

Hon Justice V. Akpoje, the presiding judge, and Chief Efe Akpofure, SAN, were ferried into safety by officials of the Department of State Security (DSS) through the backdoor of the court.

It was gathered that prior to the invasion, Chief Akpofure (SAN), who is counsel to the plaintiff, had raised concerns about possible breach of peace in the premises, but was assured by a palace stakeholder, who is also a lawyer.

The Warri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association yesterday expressed shock over the invasion of the high court.

In a statement signed by the chairman of the branch, Chief Emmanuel Uti, and the Secretary, Joseph Omooseh, the NBA condemned the action by the protesters which disrupted court proceedings.

Judicial workers, litigants, lawyers, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) were reportedly chased out of the court premises.

Describing the act as “despicable and a desecration of the hallowed Temple of Justice,” the NBA called on the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to commence investigation into the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

The statement reads: “The officers and entire members of the Nigerian Bar Association Warri Branch received with shock and sadness the news of the unprovoked attack and invasion of the High Court of Justice, Warri by thugs/hoodlums, which led to the disruption of the court proceedings in the suit challenging the succession to the stool of the Olu of Warri Kingdom on 17th of June, 2021.

“From the reports available to us, the proceedings were going on peacefully until it took a new twist when a crowd of thugs/hoodlums invaded the High Court of Justice 4, Warri, armed with dangerous weapons and chased away judicial staff, litigants, lawyers, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who was representing one of the parties, and disrupted the proceedings.

“The Nigerian Bar Association, Warri Branch, condemns in totality this unprovoked attack and barbaric behaviour by the hoodlums/thugs and therefore call on the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State and the Director of State Security Services to immediately set up a team of investigators to unmask the perpetrators of this reprehensible act.

“We also call on the Security agencies to immediately set in motion measures to nip in the bud this ugly trend by providing adequate security in and around the court’s premises in Delta State, to prevent a reoccurrence of this ugly trend.

“We advise the players in the ongoing succession tussle to sheath their swords and allow peace and the law to take its full course, as we cannot afford to see our peaceful and loving Warri Kingdom engulfed by the flames of crisis.”

Speaking in the same vein, Oghenejabor Ikimi Esq, a human rights lawyer, described the invasion of the High Court as contempt, noting “that is not how to win a legal case,” even as he frowned at the perceived failure of prominent Itsekiri leaders to condemn the act.

Ikimi said the perpetrators might not be entirely of Itsekiri extraction, but could also include thugs and hoodlums from within and outside the area who were hired to disrupt proceedings.

He said: “The court is a solemn place and not one that should be invaded and disrupted by touts and thugs under any guise. What happened on Thursday is the height of lawlessness and it must be condemned by everyone.”

He expressed concern at the signal sent by those behind the action, stressing that their purported threat to deal with Chief Akpofure (SAN) could have instigated another tribal war in the Oil City, as the legal luminary’s kinsmen were already spoiling for war over the attack.

Reacting to the development, a community source claimed the people never disrupted the court proceedings.

“They did not disrupt court proceedings. The people were asking what the person who came to court was seeking justice for. The process which brought his father as king is the process that was followed to bring Prince Tsola Emiko as Olu-designate. So why go to court when the same process put your father there?”

Eldest son of Ogiame Ikenwoli, Prince Oyowoli and his uncle, Prince Bernard Emiko, younger brother to the immediate past Olu, had approached the court, seeking, among other things, the nullification of Prince Tsola as the Olu-designate of Warri Kingdom.

Final funeral rites for deceased Warri monarch begin in Delta

The final burial rites of the immediate past Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, commenced yesterday with a commendation and funeral service at the Aghofen, in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.

The ceremony is scheduled to last for 14 days with lots of fun fare in Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral home of the Itsekiri people.

The former Olu of Warri, often described as a man of peace, had passed on last December, barely a week after his fifth coronation anniversary.

His death was announced on April 5, followed by the unveiling of his successor, Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, son of the 19th Olu of Warri.

Renowned gospel preachers such as former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Papa Ayo Oritsejafor; Bishop of Church of God Mission, Warri, Curtis Fianu; General overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. Sam Aboyeji, were present at the ceremony. The regent of Warri Kingdom, Prince Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, and some members of the Warri Traditional Council of Chiefs were also present at the occasion.

The chiefs who were present include Chief Gabriel Awala, Chief Brown Mene, Chief Dr. C. Ikomi, Chief Roland Oritsejafor, Chief Robinson Ariyo, Chief Kofi Kartey and Chief Michael Odeli among others.

In his biography, which was read by Prince Yemi Emiko, it was noted that Ogiame Ikenwoli ensured the “massive expansion and development” of Ode-Itsekiri.

In a brief sermon, Bishop Fianu harped on the need for everyone to “make good use of their lifetime”.

The sermon was followed by prayers for the immediate and extended family of the late royal father, the Itsekiri nation and Nigeria at large.

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Ondo SSG Oluwatuyi dies weeks after surviving auto crash

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2 days ago

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January 4, 2025

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Ondo SSG Oluwatuyi dies weeks after surviving auto crash

Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Tayo Oluwatuyi, has died few weeks after he survived an auto crash.

Oluwatuyi, popularly known as ‘Tukana, was said to be receiving treatment in a hospital Akure before he died.

A statement by the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Wale Akinlosotu, said Oluwatuyi passed away on Saturday.

The statement read, “It is with profound sadness that the Government of Ondo State announces the passing of Hon. Temitayo Oluwatuyi, Secretary to the State Government, on January 4, 2025.

“He was involved in a ghastly car accident on Sunday, 15th December 2024, while travelling to Ibadan and was subsequently hospitalised.

“Hon. Oluwatuyi was a dedicated public servant whose unwavering commitment to administrative coordination, policy advisory, and implementation had a significant impact on Ondo State.

“He served with distinction and played a crucial role in the state government, working closely with the Governor and other top officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“Having served the government in various capacities, including as Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Commissioner and twice as SSG, Hon. Oluwatuyi will forever be remembered for his invaluable contributions to the development of Ondo State.

“The Government of Ondo State extends its deepest condolences to the Oluwatuyi family of Akure, friends, and associates during this difficult time.”

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Your assessment misleading, APC tackles Obi over socio-economic situations

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3 days ago

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January 3, 2025

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Peter Obi and Felix Morka

Your assessment misleading, APC tackles Obi over socio-economic situations

One-time Anambra State Governor Peter Obi came under a scathing criticism yesterday from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over his assessment of the security and economic situation of the country.

At a news conference, Obi disagreed with the claims of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his New Year Day address which chronicled the feats attained by the APC-led administration.

Obi alleged that the political, economic and security situations in the country have worsened under the incumbent administration.

But the APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka carpeted Obi, describing his assessment as jaundiced, misleading and an attempt to score cheap political points.

In a statement, Morka put a lie to Obi’s claims.

He noted that Obi’s assessment was at variance with all indicators that showed that the nation’s economy is rebounding in significant measure across all sectors.

Dismissing Obi’s claims, Morka said: “While Nigerians celebrated the New Year with hope for a more glorious 2025, Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, was seemingly stuck in replay of his jangling, gloom-ridden wish-list for our country.

“Obi’s new year message, in which he claimed that the political, economic and security situation of our dear country is worsening daily, is misleading and appears intended to score cheap political points.

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“This claim, at a time when all indicators show that our country is rebounding in significant measure across all sectors, casts Obi, squarely, as Nigeria’s leading doomsayer.”

Morka, who reeled out the achievements of the APC-led administration, said: “In reality, 18 months later, the economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, has showed steady record of progress.”

He listed the landmarks as:

The ruling party further argued: “Despite these and other initial beneficial outcomes of ongoing unprecedented reforms, the administration is doubling its effort to ensuring that the reforms deliver their fullest benefits for the sustainable growth and transformation of our country.”

The ruling party said that the Presidential New Year message acknowledged that the “cost of food and essential drugs remained a significant concern for many Nigerian households. And to reverse this trend, Mr. President assured that his administration was committed to lowering food prices by boosting food production and promoting local production of drugs.”

The party also highlighted Tinubu’s resolve to crash the current inflation rate from 34 per cent to 15 per cent in the course of this fiscal year as a move to addressing the threat inflation poses to the country’s economy.

The statement further reads: “With the vigour in the administration’s war on corruption, evidenced by ongoing investigations and trial of  well-heeled Nigerians, Obi’s pontification on the urgent need to tame corruption is a clear case  of carrying coal to Newcastle.”

Faulting Obi, the party said: “It is a thing of irony that Peter Obi, who now arrogates to himself to be omniscient and philosopher’s stone, when it comes to our nation’s challenges, left no record of significant achievement, let alone transformation of any kind, in his eight-year tenure as Governor of Anambra State.

“Like his co-travellers in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obi’s obsessive pessimism and endless but futile effort to incite public outrage against the administration is borne out of their realisation that President Tinubu is unwittingly cementing their ultimate political irrelevance by his visionary and full-throttle reform and transformation of the fundamental pillars of our national life.”

Appealing for citizens’ support and patience, the APC spokesman assured Nigerians that “under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA), President Tinubu is dutifully turning our nation’s fortunes around.

“He (Tinubu) deserves the support  and patience of Nigerians in order to consolidate on the deep economic foundation he has laid, and deliver a vibrant, prosperous new Nigeria for the good of all.  We urge Nigerians to remain confident of better days ahead.”

Your assessment misleading, APC tackles Obi over socio-economic situations

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Currency in circulation now N4.8tn – CBN report

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6 days ago

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December 31, 2024

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Currency in circulation now N4.8tn – CBN report

Currency in circulation has reached an all-time high of N4.8 trillion as of November 2024, recording over seven per cent increase from the previous month.

Also, currency outside banks grew significantly in the same month hitting an all-time high of N4.6 trillion from the N4.2 trillion in the month of October.

These figures were contained in the money and credit supply data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The currency in circulation is the amount of cash–in the form of paper notes or coins–within a country that is physically used to conduct transactions between consumers and businesses.

It represents the money that has been issued by the country’s monetary authority, minus cash that has been removed from the system.

Similarly, currency outside a bank refers to cash held by individuals, businesses and other entities that is not stored in banks.

The currency outside the bank represents about 96 per cent of the currency in circulation.

Nigerians have in recent times been facing acute cash shortage with banks limiting daily withdrawal at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to N20,000 irrespective of the number of accounts held by an account owner.

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According to the latest data, the currency in circulation grew by seven per cent to reach 4,878,125.22 from 4,549,217.51 in October.

Currency in circulation has grown steadily in the outgoing year 2024 with over one trillion naira added to cash in circulation after starting the year with N3.65 trillion in January.

In February, the currency in circulation slightly increased to N3.69 trillion representing an increase of N43 billion or 1.18 per cent from the January figure.

March also saw an appreciable increase to N3.87 trillion while it further increased to N3.92 trillion in the following month of April.

The growth trajectory continued in May with the currency in circulation increasing slightly to N3.97 trillion, an increase of N42 billion or 1.07 per cent while it reached an all-time high of 4.04 trillion, an increase of 2.11 per cent from May.

The July figure also rose marginally with the currency in circulation settling for N4.05 trillion before growing to N4.14 trillion in August and N4.43 trillion in September and N4.5 trillion in October.

In the same vein, currency outside banks grew from N4.2 trillion in October to N4.6 trillion in November, showing increasing preference for other means of storing outside bank deposits.

Economist, Dr. Paul Alaje attributed the development to the expanding money supply, adding, “Money supply is expanding but this may not necessarily be in cash. As it is expanding, it will necessarily induce inflation. But you can’t blame the people. People must look for money. How much was bottled water last year, how much is it today? All of this will induce inflation. If you now ask, what is the cause of inflation? Is it money supply itself or a devaluation policy? It is a devaluation policy. Money supply is an offshoot. So the Central Bank is raising interest rates to actually reduce money supply but the more they try the more money supply expands.”

He stated that the floatation policy of the CBN has created inflation, adding, “It is like chasing one’s tail and I don’t know if you are going to catch it.”

Currency in circulation now N4.8tn – CBN report

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