Category: General News

The Nigerian Senate has approved the State of Emergency for Rivers State as declared by President Bola Tinubu.

The upper legislative chamber also approved a six-month suspension of Governor Sim Fubara, his Deputy and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

 

This is coming after a closed door session where the lawmakers deliberated on the matter.

DAILY POST reports that the House of Representatives had earlier approved the State of Emergency via voice votes.

 

President Tinubu’s proclamation of the State of Emergency in Rivers State, had stirred controversy with condemnation from several stakeholders.

 

Despite the outrage, the two legislative chambers on Thursday gave approval for the emergency rule in Rivers Sta

te.

 

 

The lyrics and composition of the newly unveiled Federal Polytechnic Ede School Anthem are attached ;

 

However, the Polytechnic Anthem will now be performed at the School’s official meetings, events and occasions.

 

Flowerbudnews

The national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Wednesday condemned the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as a hasty and unconstitutional declaration.

The labour union who spoke in a joint statement issued on Thursday by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, called for the immediate reversal of the declaration, saying that the action blatantly violates the provisions of Part II, Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and constitutes an overreach of executive power.

They urged President Tinubu to revoke the unconstitutional declaration in compliance with Section 305(6) of the Constitution, which they said clearly outlines the legal process for declaring and sustaining a state of emergency.

The union leaders said they will not remain silent while the livelihoods of workers and the well-being of ordinary Nigerians are threatened by political machinations.

“The purported suspension or removal of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and the State House of Assembly is not only unlawful but a direct assault on democracy. It sets a dangerous precedent, eroding constitutional governance and threatening the autonomy of subnational governments.

“No democratic society can thrive where elected leaders are arbitrarily removed at the whims of the President. This reckless move should deeply concern every reasonable governor and citizen who believes in the rule of law.

“The President, as the custodian of the nation’s executive powers, must exercise restraint, respect constitutional limits, and act in a manner that inspires national confidence rather than suspicion.

“Any decision that jeopardizes national security, economic stability, and democratic governance must be reconsidered.

“Nigeria has suffered the painful consequences of political overreach in the past, and we cannot afford to repeat such mistakes.

“Beyond the political and legal implications, this unjustified state of emergency will have severe socio-economic repercussions on workers and the masses.

“It will: Disrupt economic activities, forcing businesses to shut down or scale back operations; Lead to job losses, wage cuts, and economic hardship for thousands of workers in both the formal and informal sectors; Create an atmosphere of uncertainty, discouraging investment and slowing economic growth in Rivers State and beyond;

“Expose citizens to security risks, as history has shown that politically motivated states of emergency often escalate rather than resolve crises.

“Given his storied background in political struggle, we urge Mr. President not to betray his democratic credentials by engaging in actions reminiscent of military-era authoritarianism.

“Leadership demands wisdom, restraint, and an unwavering commitment to democratic principles.

“We demand the immediate reversal of this unconstitutional state of emergency in the interest of democracy, economic stability, and the welfare of Nigerian workers. Nigeria’s democracy must not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency,” the statement added.

 

By Biola Lawal

Abuja, Nigeria (Flowerbudnews):   The Africa Asia Scholars Global Network (AASGON)_ has announced the launch of 10,000 scholarships for African students as a landmark initiative to bolster educational ties between India and Africa,

The programme which was unveiled ahead of the Global South Universities Association (GSUA) Summit Awards 2025, is expected to significantly benefit Nigerian students across various academic levels, an AASGON statement made available to Flowerbudnewx on Wednesday disclosed.

The scholarships, covering diplomas, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs, aimed to bridge the educational gap between the Global North and South.

ASGON’s President, Abdul D. Mohammed, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to fostering cooperation within the Global South, aligning with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for empowering these regions.

Scheduled for an official launch on March 25, 2025, in New Delhi, the event will be presided over by Dr. Vijay Kalantri, President of the *All India Association of Industries (AIAI)* and _Chairman of the World Trade Centre Mumbai_.

The ceremony is expected to attract high-profile dignitaries, including India’s Minister of External Affairs, African diplomatic corps members, educational leaders, and representatives from international organisations such as *UNESCO* and the British Council.

For Nigeria, this initiative presents a substantial opportunity to enhance its human capital development.

With a significant youth population eager for quality education, the scholarships can alleviate financial barriers and provide access to advanced studies in India.

This aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to improve its educational sector and equip its workforce with the necessary skills for technological and socio-economic advancement.

Dr. Sanjeev Seth, AASGON’s Director of Educational Development, highlighted that the scholarships would not only provide academic opportunities but also help build critical infrastructure and skills necessary to advance technological and socio-economic development across Africa.

This development is particularly timely as Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy and strengthen sectors such as technology, healthcare, and engineering.

The scholarships are part of a broader strategy to enhance India-Africa relations, reflecting India’s commitment to supporting African development.

The initiative also complements existing collaborations and underscores the importance of educational exchange in fostering mutual growth.

As the March 25 launch approaches, Nigerian students and educational institutions are encouraged to prepare for the application process which will be handled by their partner in Nigeria, the *The Eagle Charitable Deeds Foundation*(www.tecdfoundation.org).

Detailed information regarding eligibility criteria and application procedures is anticipated to be released during the official announcement.

This scholarship program not only signifies a strengthening of diplomatic ties but also represents a pivotal step towards sustainable development through education. For Nigeria, it offers a pathway to empower its youth, enhance its educational standards, and contribute to the nation’s overall progress.

For more information, please theeagle@tecdfoundation.org and www.tecdfoundation.org, the statement concluded. (Flowerbudnews)

 

 

Abuja:  The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has described as violation of the Principles of Seperation of Powers the declaration of the state of emergency in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu.

Convener of the situation room, Mr Yunusa Ya’u said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

According toYa’u, the President’s reliance on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as a justification is a misinterpretation of the law.

He said while the Constitution provided for the declaration of a State of Emergency under specific and extreme circumstances, it did not grant the President the power to unilaterally sack elected officials or dissolve democratic institutions.

“The removal of a Governor and State legislators is a grave violation of the principles of separation of powers and the democratic rights of the people of Rivers, who freely elected their leaders.

“This is a point underpinned by the judgment of the Supreme Court on the Rivers issue which was ironically referenced by the President himself in his address last night.

“It is also evident that the political situation in Rivers does not meet any of the circumstances to be declared as an emergency.”

“According to the Constitution, valid circumstances for such a declaration include war or external aggression, a breakdown of public order and safety, and threats to the government of a state when the governor neglects to act, among others.”

Ya’u said the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room rejects the unconstitutional usurpation of power and called on the National Assembly to refuse to approve illegal declaration.
He said the Senate and the House of Representatives must uphold their constitutional duty to check executive excesses and defend Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“We urge lawmakers to immediately reject this unconstitutional overreach by the Presidency, thereby preventing an authoritarian drift that threatens the stability of our nation.
“The Civil Society Situation Room unequivocally reject the decision, which poses a direct threat to democratic governance, undermines human rights, and violates the rule of law in the country.

“The Presidency is prioritising political battles and suppressing dissent over effective governance, neglecting the pressing economic and security challenges that the government urgently needs to address.”

Speaking further, the convener said the situation room expected that voting on the Rivers emergency declaration would be televised nationally with each person voting electronically.

Ya’u noted that the Constitution was clear that what was required for this emergency declaration to pass was a two-third of votes of the 360 members of the House of Representatives and the 109 votes of members of the Senate.

“This means that no less than 240 members of the House of Representatives and 72 Senators must vote in support of the declaration of the state of emergency for it to stand.

“Otherwise, the declaration must fail, and the Governor and the State Legislators be returned to office immediately.
“Furthermore, we note the special place of the judiciary in moderating executive excesses and urge it to assert its independence and ensure that this declaration does not stand,” Ya’u said.
The situation room also urged the international community, including the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS and other democratic nations, to take note of the constitutional breach and pressure the Nigerian government to reverse the action.
“Democracy thrives on the respect for the rule of law, due process, and the will of the people.

“President Bola Tinubu unilaterally declaring a State of Emergency in Rivers State, removing the duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor from office, and suspending the State House of Assembly for six months override the electoral mandate of the people of Rivers.

“The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room remains committed to defending democracy, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring that Nigeria does not descend into executive tyranny.

“We call on all Nigerians to stand in solidarity and demand the full restoration of constitutional governance in Rivers State.”

 

Flowerbudnews

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, set aside its order of March 4, declaring the suspension of Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate as null and void.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling, vacated the suit after listening to the arguments of counsel for the plaintiff and lawyers to the defendants in the suit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Egwuatu granted Natasha’s five reliefs on March 4, including Order Number Four which declared any action taken by the defendants during the pendency of the suit as null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

The judge granted the five prayers after Sanusi Musa, SAN, who appeared for Natasha, moved the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.

Natasha, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, had, in the motion ex-parte, sued clerk of the National Assembly (NASS) and the Senate as 1st and 2nd defendants.
She also named the President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Sen. Neda Imasuem, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct as 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.
The senator had sought an order of interim injunction restraining the Senate’s committee headed by Imasuem from proceeding with the purported investigation against her for alleged misconduct sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary on Feb. 20, pursuant to the referral by the Senate on Feb. 25, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, among others.
However, the Senate, in a motion on notice filed on March 17 by its lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, had sought an order setting aside Order Number Four in the enrolled ex-parte order made by Justice Egwuatu against the defendants in Natasha’s suit.
The Senate, through Ojukwu, urged the judge to vacate the order in the interest of fair hearing.
Citing Action 36(1) of the constitution, the lawyer argued that order number four was interlocutory in nature and ought not to have been granted by the court.
He argued that the said Order Number Four was vague, ambiguous and lacking in specificity as it did not specify which of the parties it was targeted at or referring to and what actions it related to.
He akso argued that the order, in the form in which it was granted, “refers to all actions of whatever nature, without any limitation, taken by both the plaintiff/ respondent and the defendants.”
According to him, the law prohibits the granting of a vague order by a court of law.
He said the order, which was made exparte, was made to last until the determination of the suit.
“By Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is one of the Houses of the National Assembly established to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That the said Order No. 4 of 4th March, 2025 as granted, effectively restrains the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from conducting any of its legislative duties in accordance with its constitutional functions.”
Ojukwu said enforcing the said order, as granted, would result in a constitutional crisis and anarchy, as the entire legislative duties of the Senate would be made to grind to a halt.
“The order offends the doctrine of separation of powers as enshrined in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This honourable court lacks the jurisdiction to restrain parliament from conducting its constitutional duties,” he said.
He said it would be in the interest of justice to grant their application.
“It is my submission that the court has made an interlocutory order. The court cannot make an order that will affect the other parties before the end of the case,” he said.
The lawyer alleged that the court was misled into granting that order among other orders made.
According to him, the order will offend Section 36(1) which talks about fair hearing.
He therefore urged the court to hold that the entire proceedings of March 4 upon which that breach occured was in nullity.
Lawyer to the clerk, Charles Yoila; Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, who appeared for Akpabio and Umeh Kalu, SAN, who represented Imasuem, aligned themselves with Ojukwu’s argument.
But counsel, who appeared for Natasha, Michael Numa, SAN, disagreed with their submissions.
He described their argument as the conspiracy of the defence.
“We filed an affidavit evidence of 12 paragraphs on March 18 in opposition to the motion on notice.
“It is accompanied by six exhibits marked as Natasha 1 to Natasha 6D, chronicling the event that happened,” he said.
The lawyer urged the court to dismiss the defence application and exercise its disciplinary powers on them for alleged contempt of the valid court order.
He argued that the defendants had, with audacity, disobeyed the order of the court.
While responding to the argument of Ojukwu, Numa submitted that “parties are bound by the prayers on the motion paper.”
He urged the court to discountenance the application.
The lawyer argued that the court must consider the entire orders in their ex-parte motion and not in piecemeal.
He said their argument was immaterial.
According to him, the Senate (2nd defendant) did not mention the propriety of Orders One, Two, Three and Five made by this honourable court.
“The fact that Order Four was made is only an ancillary order to give effect to the motion that until the matter is dispensed with,” he said.
Numa described the application by the defence as an affront on the court, that the judge should set aside the orders they had not challenged.
He said the defendants had not even addressed the order directing them to show cause within 72 hours upon the service of the order.
“This is an invitation to anarchy my lord,” he said, citing previous cases to back his argument.
“Whatever reservation they have, their only duty is to come to court. The order was that the respondents to come and show course
“Their application is self-defeating,” he argued.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Egwuatu agreed with the argument of the defence and set aside Order number Four from the prayers earlier granted.
The judge adjourned the matter until March 25 for hearing of all pending applications.
NAN reports that after March 4 order, the Senate proceeded to suspend Natasha on March for six months.

In her contempt charge, the embattled lawmaker argued that her suspension constituted wilful disobedience to the subsisting court order issued on March 4.

She stated that an enrolled order of the interim injunction issued by Justice Egwuatu was duly served on the defendants on March 5.

According to Form 48, the defendants/contemnors “deliberately and contumaciously disregarded” the binding directive of the court and “proceeded with acts in flagrant defiance of the authority of the court.”

 

Flowerbudnews

On Tuesday night, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to its lingering political crisis.

After the declaration, Tinubu subsequently announced the suspension of Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of the state, and Ngozi Odu, his deputy, for an initial period of six months.

The president then appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) as the administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state.

Prior to his appointment, Ibas was Nigeria’s 22nd CNS from 2015 to 2021.

A year after Ibas retired, Captain Emmanuel Ekpe, a former naval officer who was previously the assistant director of procurement in the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), protested what he described as forced retirement after he accused the former CNS of corruption.

In an open letter Ekpe wrote to Muhammadu Buhari, who was Nigeria’s president in 2022, the captain claimed the Nigerian Navy denied him promotion twice because he exposed corruption in the Navy under Ibas.

“Using myself as a case study. I was repeatedly victimised by the former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ekwe Ibas, for more than 20 years and continued by the present naval authority in conjunction with the present Minister of Defence. After availing myself of all options to seek redress within the system, I had no other recourse than to write a letter of redress to Mr President,” Ekpe’s letter reads.

“My problem with the former Chief of Naval Staff (Ibas) escalated in 2015 as a result of a case of fraud I had reported against him as the former Executive Officer of NNS AMBE, which was at the time in Liberia on Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group Mission in 1996.

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 “The former CNS was adamant on punishing me for exposing his corrupt behaviour. And so despite the fact that I had repeatedly met all the criteria for promotion, I along with so many others were denied promotion on frivolous grounds.”

Ekpe added that his international passport data was collected and he was placed on the National Security Watchlist.

“Your Excellency, based on the (previous) letter forwarded to you, I faced open hostilities from certain quarters in the government and the Armed Forces of Nigeria. If not for the intervention of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Defence Intelligence who believed that an infraction had been committed the story would have been different today,” the letter further reads.

“One of the numerous interviews held was with the former Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral IE Ibas (retd.), initiated by the immediate past Chief of Defence Intelligence. This meeting was held at the past CNS office in December 2019, in attendance were three of his Principal Staff Officers.

“Less than a week after this uneventful meeting, a Navy Signal was released directing that I and 25 other officers immediately proceed to Pan Atlantic University in Abuja on pre-retirement course. It has to be observed that 20 of the selected officers were not due for retirement as they still had time in the service.

“I am of the opinion that this action was carried out by the Naval authorities to shroud the fact that I and some of the selected officers were blacklisted by the CNS (Ibas). Sir, it has to be noted that this course is meant for officers who have less than six months in the service.

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“In addition, I was the only one relieved of my appointment as the Deputy Director of Procurement at the Defence Intelligence Agency in January 2020.

“I was without an office or appointment until July 9, 2022, when I was compulsorily retired by Vice Admiral AZ Gambo and endorsed by the Honourable Minister of Defence despite a reminder to Mr President and a letter of appeal written in accordance with existing regulations. I saw this as a breach of my fundamental human rights manifested in the deliberate denial of my right to a fair hearing.

“Some of the allegations raised in the letter include my victimisation with relevant documents, victimisation and forced retirement of experienced and skilled operations officers through non-promotion, others include promotion of fraudulent officers that were investigated by the EFCC and indicted by a competent court of jurisdiction for stealing over officers who had excelled and continue to excel in various theatres of operations within and outside Nigeria and description of these issues have not been addressed.
Or is my President and Commander-in-Chief no longer interested in zero tolerance for corruption? I doubt very much that this is the case.”

Ekpe’s letter on how he was treated by the newly appointed Rivers State administrator was never addressed by the Buhari administration.

 

 

Flowerbudnews

Barely 24 hours after he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu is meeting with the sole administrator he appointed to run the affairs of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas.

Ibas arrived at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa at about 12:48 pm (local time).

On Tuesday, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure.

The crisis, which had paralysed governance in the oil-rich state, stems from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

As part of the directive, the President also appointed Ibas as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored.

Ibas served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu announced, “In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State the governor and deputy governor of Rivers State has failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, March 18, 2025 and I so do.

“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.

“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.”

Details shortly…