Flowerbud News

Month: December 2023

  • Alleged asset declaration violation: Court strikes out suit seeking Peter Obi’s investigation, prosecution

    Alleged asset declaration violation: Court strikes out suit seeking Peter Obi’s investigation, prosecution

     

     

    Abuja: A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, struck out a suit praying the court to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to investigate and prosecute Mr Peter Obi over allegations bordering on asset declaration breach.
    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling, threw out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, who claimed to be a human rights activist and a lawyer, had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/44/23, sued CCB as sole respondent.

    In the motion on notice dated July 3 but filed on Nov. 6 by the applicant himself, he sought an order of mandamus compelling the CCB to, forthwith, exercise its constitutional and statutory duty, function and obligation to invite, investigate complaints; refer and prosecute Mr Obi before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on the allegations and complaints of breaches of the constitutional provisions on assets declaration.

    Ogungbeje alleged that Obi, the Labour Party (LP)’s presidential candidate in the Feb. 25 presidential election, failed to declare his offshore holdings and their associated assets.
    Besides, he alleged that the LP candidate operated foreign account while being a public officer and continuation on being a director of Next International (UK) Limited for 14 months after becoming the governor of Anambra.

    He said this was contrary to provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    He also sought a declaration that the failure and or refusal of CCB to act based on his application dated March 23 amounted to “crass dereliction of public duty, gross abdication of statutory responsibility and brazen infraction of constitutional obligations and functions imposed on the respondent by law.”

    NAN reports that Justice Ekwo had, on Nov 1, granted Ogungbeje’s motion ex-parte moved by Odafe Ojisua, for leave to apply for an order of mandamus compelling the CCB to invite, investigate and prosecute Obi before the CCT.

    The judge, who directed Ogungbeje to file his application withi 7 days, ordered him to serve CCB at least 14 days before the next adjourned date.

    But when the matter was called on Tuesday, neither the applicant nor his lawyer was in court, and Justice Ekwo consequently struck out the suit.(NAN)(www nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

  • We never threatened to remove Anyanwu as national secretary, PDP leaders tell court

    We never threatened to remove Anyanwu as national secretary, PDP leaders tell court

     

     

    Abuja:  The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told a Federal High Court, Abuja that it had never, at any time, threatened to remove Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as its national secretary.

    The party’s leaders told Justice Inyang Ekwo in a counter affidavit filed on their behalf by the law firm of Ganny Ajape & Co dated and filed Dec. 7.

    The leaders, which include Umar Damagun, the PDP’s acting National Chairman; National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party (2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively), said this was contrary to the argument of the plaintiffs.

    According to them, contrary to Paragraphs 21(d), (e) and (f) of the plaintiffs’ affidavit in support of originating summons, there was no threat by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to remove or declare the office of the National Secretary of the 1st defendant (PDP) vacant.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court had, on Nov. 23, stopped the PDP from removing Anyanwu as national secretary pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.

    The order followed an ex-parte motion by Dr Joshua Musa, SAN, on behalf of two members of the party; Geoffrey Ihentuge and Apollo’s Godspower.

    The plaintiffs had sued the PDP, Damagun (acting National Chairman), and the NEC as 1st to 3rd defendants.
    Others are the NWC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 4th to 5th defendants, respectively.
    The motion was brought pursuant to Order 26, Rules 2 and 6, and Order 28, Rules 1 and 2 of the FHC (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
    The plaintiffs, who sought five reliefs, prayed for an order of interim injunction, restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants from carrying out the threat to remove the national secretary (Anyanwu).

    This, they said, was in violation of the provisions of Article 47 (1) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    They argued that Anyanwu was duly elected on December 10, 2021, and was entitled to remain in office till December 9, 2025.

    They said that an elected national officer of the 1st defendant cannot be arbitrarily removed from office in any manner without his resignation and in breach of the party’s constitution.

    But in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants counter affidavit deposed to by Jeremiah Joel, a litigation secretary in the law firm, the party’s leadership averred that contrary to Paragraphs 22 and 23 of the plaintiffs’ affidavit, the NWC approved the deputy national secretary to act in place of the national secretary as provided for in Article 36(2) of the party’s constitution.

    “That in the absence of the national secretary, there cannot be a vacuum and the constitution of the party provided for how such vacuum could be filled until the resumption of the national secretary,” they said.

    They said contrary to their argument, Anyanwu applied for leave of absence to enable him concentrate on his election as a candidate into Imo governor’s office which took place on Nov. 11.
    “It is not correct that 1st, 2nd, 3rd nd 4th defendants ever threatened the national secretary but instead granted him leave of absence to enable him concentrate on his election into the office of Governor of Imo State,” they submitted.

    Upon resumed hearing on Tuesday, only INEC was not represented in court.

    Plaintiffs’ counsel, Musa, confirmed to court that the commission was duly served on Dec 11, hence, he urged the court to hear their matter.
    Mohammed Atolagbe, who appeared for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, informed the court that they filed their responses to the plaintiffs processes.

    He said they relied on the contents in their application and the exhibit attached, including the written address as their argument in the matter.

    While adopting their application, Musa said the originating summons had a 24-paragraph affidavit and a written address which he adopted in urging the court to grant their prayers.

    He said they also filed a reply affidavit to motion for interlocutory injunction.
    After counsel’s adoption of their processes, Justice Ekwo reserved judgment in a date that would be communicated to parties.

    NAN reports that Anyanwu was the PDP candidate in the Nov. 11 Imo governorship election, where Sen. Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was re-elected.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

  • Breaking: Shi’ites storm Abuja US Embassy, demand ceasefire in Gaza

    Breaking: Shi’ites storm Abuja US Embassy, demand ceasefire in Gaza

     

    Abuja:  Members of the Islamic Movement, also known as the Shi’ites, on Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest at the United States (US) Embassy at the Central Business District in Abuja.

    The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions like “US, Stop the Genocide in Gaza,” among others, called for an end to the war in Gaza.

    They matched from the front of the Defence Ministry to the embassy, chanting different anti-American slogans.

    They called on President Joe Biden of America to withdraw all his support for Israel in order to stop the alleged extrajudicial killings of unarmed female and Children in Gaza.

    “Since 7th October, 2023 the Israeli Army continues its barbaric aggression against the People of Palestine mostly female and Children, destroying buildings and targeting hospitals.

    “It’s too overwhelming to report the number of crimes committed by the Zionist entity with full support of President Biden’s regime,” Sheikh Sidi Munir Mainasara, one of the Islamic group members, alleged.

    According to him, we have seen videos of young people crying about torture; little children sitting in pools of blood and debris, fathers carrying their lifeless kids hungrily killed by the Esrael Soldiers with the support of the US government.

    “This pains our hearts and souls and fills us with an unbearable rage.

    “The atrocities are ongoing, the Northern Gaza strip campaign arrest, indiscriminate bombing, an unjust siege, the cutting of all means of communication, and the destruction of all hospitals, all of which are out of service.

    “Explosions still continuing and the Zionist entity still massacring the unarmed Palestinian men, women and children all with full support from the United State of America,” he said.

    Mainasara said that without the US support by provision of weapons and voting against all effort by the United Nation to bring a total ceasefire , the Israel had no option than to withdraw from all the occupied Palestine and as well stop the killing of innocent female and children.

    “In view of the forgoing, we call on the United State of America to immediately stop the ongoing Genocide in Gaza,” he said. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Court grants ex-terrorist negotiator Tukur Mamu access to personal physician

    Court grants ex-terrorist negotiator Tukur Mamu access to personal physician

     

    Abuja:  A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, granted Tukur Mamu’s plea to have access to his own personal physician over alleged deteriorating health condition.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, ordered that Mamu’s medical doctor should be allowed to treat him subject to the supervision of the Department of State Service (DSS)’s team of physicians.

    Justice Ekwo, who agreed with the argument of Mamu’s counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, asked the Federal Government’s lawyer, David Kaswe, if the defendant was entitled to his own personal physician and he responded in affirmative.

    “Yes my lord , he is as long as it is within the supervision of our team (of physicians),” Kaswe, the Chief State Counsel from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)’s office, said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mamu, who is standing trial over his alleged relationship with terrorists that were involved in the March 28, 2022 attack on a Kaduna-bound train, was arrested on Sept. 6, 2022, by Interpol in Cairo, Egypt, on behalf of the Nigerian government.

    The DSS, on March 21, arraigned him on 10 counts of terrorism financing, among others, but pleaded not guilty to the counts.

    The judge, on April 27, declined to admit him to bail on the grounds of ill-health, after the DSS opposed the bail application.
    But in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/96/2023, Mamu, through his lawyer, Usman, sought an order of court to have access to his personal doctor.
    When the matter was called, Usman informed the court of the motion dated and filed on Oct. 31.
    Kaswe acknowledged the receipt of the application and said he filed a counter affidavit on Nov. 14 to oppose it.
    He said the simple ground of their opposition was that the DSS had functional medical facility and team of medical doctors that could handle his case.
    He said that the treatment being administered to Mamu was still in progress “and that the procedure suffices for a particular period.”
    Besides, he urged the court not to grant the application looking at the circumstance of the charge against him.
    “Have you read prayer two of the motion?,” the judge asked Kaswe and he said, “yes.”
    NAN observes that Mamu’s second prayer in the motion sought an order directing the DSS to take him to “the hospital to perform surgical procedure as recommended by both Egyptian and Nigerian doctors.”
    The judge then asked the lawyer if the defendant was entitled to his own personal physician and he responded in the positive.
    “I am going to allow the defendant to have access to his own physicians and whatever they do will be in the supervision of the prosecution,” he said.

    “We thank your lordship for this wisdom of this court,” Usman said.
    Justice Ekwo, consequently, granted Mamu’s request.

    “Therefore, I made an order that the medical physician shall be allowed to give him medical treatment subject to the supervision of the physician of the prosecution .

    “This is the order of this court,” he said.
    He adjourned the matter untill Feb. 26, Feb. 27 and Feb. 28, 2024 for continuation of trial.
    Speaking shortly after the court sitting, Usman, who appeared for Mamu, said they sought two reliefs.

    “We sought for two reliefs; either to grant him bail on health condition or direct the DSS to take him to a hospital to be treated by his own medical personnel.

    “The court granted the second prayer, directed the DSS to allow him to be treated by his own medical doctors,” he said.

    On how he felt with the outcome of the proceedings, he said: “It is a success by step in the sense that before now, there was no order directing the DSS to take him to hospital to be attended by his own personal doctors.

    “But today, the court has directed that he should be allowed to be treated by medical doctors of his choice. That is a step forward.”
    Also speaking, Kaswe said the court had given Mamu access to his own doctor.

    “You are aware that the defendant is standing trial for terrorism-related charges especially because of the role he played in the negotiation of the Kaduna train attack that took place sometimes last year.

    “So today, he came with another application for his bail and we have filed a counter and the court has heard us and considered and gave bench ruling on the application allowing his medical doctor to have access to the defendant under the supervision of the security agency’s medical team.

    On why they opposed Mamu’s application, he said his ailment was not life-threatening.

    “We opposed the application because the detention facility where the defendant is has all the cutting edge medical services that are being rendered to the defendant.

    “And the particular ailment of the defendant is not life-threatening and there is a medical team that has consistently, continuously examined the defendant and formed the opinion that the procedure that is being administered to him now is okay to take care of his ailment,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

  • Osun Invites Investors, Assures Them of Conducive Business and industrial Environment

    Osun Invites Investors, Assures Them of Conducive Business and industrial Environment

     

    By Biola Lawal
    Oshogbo (Flowerbudnews): Osun state government has made a clarion call to local and international investors, businessmen and industrialists to come and invest and benefit from the state’s conducive economic environment.

    The call was made by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the state-owned Omoluabi Holdings Limited,  Alh. Kola Alimi while speaking in an exclusive interview with Flowerbudnews in Oshogbo.

    Alimi said that the current focus was to make Osun state to become the cynosure for foreign and local investors by making them enjoy tremendous hospitality, government support and incentives.

    (Kola Alimi, the CEO، Omoluabi Holdings Limited)

    He said that for investors, the comparative advantages being promoted by the state government included reasonable construction inputs like sand, labour etc.

    Alimi said that one of the biggest economic advantages of investing in Osun state was the issue of land, stressing that the state government under Gov. Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke was determined to ensure stress-free access to land by investors.

    The Omoluabi Holdings CEO said that investors could tap the state’s rich agricultural and industrial potentials as well as in the area of property development.

    He disclosed that the state, through Omoluabi Holdings, was already partnering some investors for property development in Lagos, Abuja and Oshogbo to boost the revenue base of the state government.

    Alimi urged property developers to come and invest in Osun state, saying,”we are open to more partnerships with property developers to build suitable and moderate estates in Osun”.

    Alhaji Kola Alimi promised to further put his wealth of experience as a former top shot in Nestle  Nigeria limited to boost the investment portfolio of Omoluabi Holdings (Flowerbudnews)

     

     

  • Ede Muslim Grammar School Old Students Celebrate Gov. Adeleke on Purposeful One Year

    Ede Muslim Grammar School Old Students Celebrate Gov. Adeleke on Purposeful One Year

    The Leadership of Ede Muslim Grammar School Old Students Association says the outstanding achievements recorded by Osun State Government under Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke have direct and immediate positive impacts in the lives of the residents of Osun State.

     

    This is contained in a release issued by the President of the Association, Alhaji Rasaq Olatunde Bello and the Secretary, Alhaji Olalekan Ismail.

     

    The Old Students Association says it is not surprised by the sterling performance of Governor Adeleke considering his antecedents in both public and private endeavours saying the Governor as pioneer President of the Old Students Association of Ede Muslim Grammar School build a solid foundation for the alumni body.

     

    The association listed Road infrastructure, Healthcare, agriculture, environment and climate change, education and sports development as some of the areas where senator Adeleke performed wonderfully.

     

    Other sectors listed on the release include restoration of Local Government Administration for grassroots development, priority attention being given to Science, Innovation and Technology, culture and tourism, water provision among others in just one year in office.

     

    The Old Students Association of Ede Muslim Grammar School said by the time current administration will complete it’s first term of 4 years, Osun would have become reference point for other states not only in the Southwest region but in the whole of Nigeria.

     

    The President especially thanked the Governor for choosing Ede Muslim Grammar School as one of the School that will benefit from total renovation in the 100 billion Infrastructure Plan that’s expectedly starting in the 2024 fiscal year saying the state of affairs of the School has become worrisome to both parents and the association.

     

    They therefore prayed that God will grant the Governor sustained wisdom to continue to take Osun State to an enviable height of his dream.

     

    They equally pledged their unalloyed supports for the administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke in his quest to deliver good governance to the people of Osun State

     

    E-Signed:

    Abdulraheem Adekilekun

    PRO, for the Association

  • via Tun Carlos 39yo M’sian woman hides naked inside water tank

    via Tun Carlos 39yo M’sian woman hides naked inside water tank

     

    Culled from NewsNav

    Getting harassed by strangers isn’t something that anyone of us would want to experience, but hiding inside a water tank certainly isn’t one of the ways to avoid physical harassment.

    A woman in Bagan Serai, Perak shocked onlookers after she scaled up to the top of a water tank and proceeded to strip herself naked before taking a dip right inside, claiming that she did so for her personal safety.

     

    Photo via Tun Carlos

    39yo M’sian woman hides naked inside water tank

    According to Harian Metro, the 39-year-old woman, who is believed to be suffering from mental illnesses, was seen entering the premise and climbed up the water tank belonging to Lembaga Air Perak (LAP) at around 2pm yesterday (Dec 17).

    She also reportedly threw her clothes and helmet from on top of the water tank and unlocked the tank’s water valve, causing water to overflow through existing channels, reported Kosmo.

    Photo via Tun Carlos

    Kerian district police chief Superintendent Juna Yusoff said a group of firefighters from he Bagan Serai Fire and Rescue Station rushed to the scene after they received a report from the public.

    Wanted to hide from ‘harasser’

    He added that the woman was successfully persuaded by the firefighters to come down from the water tank before being taken to the Bagan Serai police station for further action.
    “Initial investigations found that the 39-year-old woman resides in Kuala Lumpur and arrived in Bagan Serai using public transportation.

    Photo via Sin Chew Daily

    “She said that she climbed the water tank to hide from being harassed by an unknown individual,” he said,

    Yusoff added that police are currently in the midst of handing the woman back to her family in KL. News’Nav /Flowerbudnews

  • NSIB Releases Preliminary Report On Ibadan Air Crash

    NSIB Releases Preliminary Report On Ibadan Air Crash

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed that the plane crash involving Flints Aero conveying the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu from Abuja to Ibadan, Oyo State, last month violated the permit regulation of non-commercial flight.

    This was revealed in a preliminary report, according to the bureau’s spokesperson Tunji Oketunbi. According to the report, Flint Aero had been issued a permit for noncommercial flight which disallows the aircraft to carry passengers, cargo, or mail for hire or reward

     

    The NSIB amongst other recommendations called on the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to strictly ensure airport operational hours as published in the relevant aeronautical information publication and not permit extensions beyond the airport limitations.

     

    Monday’s report came about one month after the incident with the NSIB promising to probe the matter. There was no death in the incident.

     

    This was revealed in a preliminary report, according to the bureau’s spokesperson Tunji Oketunbi. According to the report, Flint Aero had been issued a permit for noncommercial flight which disallows the aircraft to carry passengers, cargo, or mail for hire or reward

    The NSIB amongst other recommendations called on the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to strictly ensure airport operational hours as published in the relevant aeronautical information publication and not permit extensions beyond the airport limitations.

    Monday’s report came about one month after the incident with the NSIB promising to probe the matter. There was no death in the incident

  • Court Freezes Oyo Accounts In 10 Banks Over N3.5bn Debt

    Court Freezes Oyo Accounts In 10 Banks Over N3.5bn Debt

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has issued an order freezing the accounts of the Oyo State Government in 10 commercial banks in the country.

    The order was issued by Justice Anitte Ebong in a ruling on a garnishee proceeding initiated by ex-council chiefs in Oyo State, sacked on May 29, 2019, by Governor Seyi Makinde, and who in 2021 got a N4.9bn judgement against Makinde and other officials and agencies of the state.

     

    The garnishee proceeding is intended by the ex-council chiefs, led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, to recover the balance of N3.5bn which is outstanding from the actual judgement sum, from which Makinde paid only N1.5bn in 2022.

     

    The banks in which the Oyo State Government’s accounts are blocked are Zenith Bank, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Wema Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Ecobank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank, Polaris Bank, Jaiz Bank and Union Bank.

     

    In a ruling, Justice Ebong ordered the banks to file affidavits and attend the court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the garnishee orders nisi hereby granted should not be made absolute.

    The judge awarded N300,000.00 as a cost against the judgement debtors and ordered that a copy of the order be served on Makinde and others and adjourned till January 5 next year for hearing.

     

    On May 7, 2021, when the Supreme Court gave judgement, voiding Makinde’s sack of elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in Oyo State, the apex court gave a similar judgement in respect of Katsina State and ordered both states to pay the salaries and allowances of the effected ex-council chiefs.

     

    Justice Ejembi Eko, who delivered the lead judgment in the Oyo State case, condemned the decision by Makinde to unlawfully sack the elected council chiefs before the end of their tenure.

     

    While the Katsina State Government has since paid its ex-council chiefs, who were unlawfully sacked, the Oyo State Government, under Makinde has failed to pay the ex-council chiefs he sacked before the end of their tenure, and which sack the Supreme Court voided in its May 7, 2021 judgement.