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The Federal High Court commenced its annual vacation on July 9, while the vacation would end on Sept.14.

Mr Emmanuel Gakko, the Chief Registrar of the Court, in a circular issued in Abuja, said that the court would resume sitting in all judicial divisions on Sept. 17.

Gakko said that the general public, lawyers and litigants were advised to take note of the dates for the court vacation as no court would sit during the period.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Justices Nnamdi Dimgba and Babatunde Quadri, would sit as vacation judges to attend to urgent applications such as matters of fundamental human rights.

NAN also reports that the court usually gives some weeks of vacation to allow judicial officers take some time off to refresh and prepare for the new legal year.

The Plateau House of Assembly on Wednesday impeached it’s Speaker, Mr Peter Azi.

This followed a motion moved by Mr Peter Ibrahim, member representing Barkin Ladi constituency.

According to Ibrahim, the action was in accordance with section 92, subsection 2 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended.

“Mr speaker, in accordance with section 92, subsection 2, we the members of this Assembly have passed a vote of no confidence on you, and you stand impeached, ” he declared.

Ibrahim did not give any reason for the action, but said members who signed the impeachment notice formed two-third majority of the 24-member Assembly.

Mr Yusuf Gagdi, representing Kantana constituency immediately nominated Mr Joshua Madaki, representing Jos East constituency as Azi’s replacement.

The nomination was seconded by Mr Abdul Yanga of Mangu North-East constituency.

The members through a voice vote unanimously affirmed the nomination of Madaki as substantive Speaker of the House.

Similarly, 12 out of the 17 APC members in the House passed a vote of no confidence on Mr Henry Yunkwap, the Majority Leader, and endorsed Mr Na’anlong Daniel of Mikkang Constituency as his replacement. (NAN)

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has taken its awareness campaign against kerosene explosion to Watt Market and Etim Edem Park in Calabar.

Mr Bassey Nkanga, the Operations Controller of DPR in Cross River, said on Wednesday that the awareness campaign became necessary due to the recorded cases of kerosene explosion in the state.

He said the explosions had claimed many lives and left others with severe burns.

Nkanga, while addressing residents at the market, advised them to always have a dedicated gallon for kerosene usage.

He also told residents not to patronise kerosene hawkers, but rather get the product from filling stations or licensed surface tank operators.

Nkanga frowned at a situation where kerosene hawkers adulterate the product with other substances to maximise profit.

“Our investigations reveal that some people do not know the right way to use kerosene and that is why we have decided to embark on this campaign.

“Today we are enlightening people on the safe usage of kerosene and the appropriate sources of getting the product.

“ People should always ensure their lantern or stove is cool before the introduction of kerosene.

“For safety, a gallon should be dedicated only for kerosene and not a gallon for both fuel and kerosene as this is very dangerous,” he said.

A trader, Mrs Regina Isong, lauded the sensitisation initiative of DPR, saying it was for public safety.

The operations controller had earlier held a meeting with surface tank operators and officials of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) where he read the riot act to them.

He warned the operators to register and obtain their operating licence.

Nkanga said that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Service (DSS) had been mandated to arrest any dealer without a valid licence.

Mr Pius Nwuchola, Head of Operations of NSCDC in the state, said the corps had the mandate to tackle illegal dealings in petroleum products.

He said the meeting demonstrated the synergy between the NSCDC and DPR.

“We have resolved to swing into action immediately by going to the urban and remote areas where surface tanks are being operated to ascertain their operating licences,’’ he said. (NAN)

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. General Suleiman Kazaure, on Wednesday warned corps members participating in Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Ekiti not to indulge in electoral malpractice.

Kazaure, ?who was represented by the corps’ Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs Victoria Okakwu, gave the warning in Ado-Ekiti while addressing the 4,967 corps members who would participate in Saturday’s election.

She told the corps members to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently as well as in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

Kazaure urged them to ensure that they identify some of the problems facing them and report immediately to INEC officials to avoid hitches at the polling centres.

The NYSC boss also advised the corps members not to be deceived by monetary inducement offered by politicians who might want to rig the election.

” I wish to state clearly that on no account should any corps member participating in the July 14 governorship election indulge in electoral malpractice.

” Every corps member should not tolerate rigging or any form of campaign at the polling units and whenever you have such incident, quickly report to the security officers around you.

“Also, in a situation whereby there is crisis, fighting and commotion in your polling unit, please secure your life first because we do not want to record death of corps members in the forthcoming election.

” I want to assure all of you that all your allowances will be paid in due time; so I want all corps members to be rest assured that you will be properly taken care of.

” But my advice for all you is to be law abiding, uphold your integrity and be neutral before and during the election on Saturday,” she said.

Similarly, the Ekiti State Coordinator of the N?YSC, Mrs Elizabeth Okpongete, appealed to all corps members to abide strictly with all the instructions that they had learnt during their training for the poll.

Okpongete, however, warned that ?any corps member caught indulging in electoral malpractice would face the wrath of the law.(NAN)

The Imo House of Assembly on Wednesday recommended further investigations into the allegations of gross misconduct brought against the Deputy Governor, Mr Eze Madumere, by 13 members of the House.

The House made the recommendation following deliberations on the report of an ad hoc committee investigating the allegations, led by Kennedy Ibeh (APC Obowo).

The committee stated in the report that the deputy governor had a “case to amswer, given the weighty allegations agaist him.”

It recommended that the Speaker,Dr Iheanacho Ihim (Okigwe APC), should request the Chief Judge of the state to appoint a panel of seven people of “unquestionable intergrity” to investigate the allegations, pursuant to section 188 (6) of the 1999 constitution.

Following votes in favour of the motion for the adoption of the report by the House, the Speaker called for a division, whereupon members filed out to sign their assent to the recommendations of the report.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 19 members, including the Speaker , signed in favour of the recommendation,while eight members, including five others who had been suspended, were absent from the proceedings.

NAN recalls that a notice of gross misconduct against the Imo Deputy Governor, Mr Eze Madumere, signed by 13 legislators, was presented at the Imo House of Assembly on Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

The petition, which was presented by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Ugonna Ozurigbo (APC Nwangele), and read by the Speaker, Dr Iheanacho Ihim (Okigwe APC), alleged that the Deputy Governor had failed to perform any of the constitutional roles of his office.

They also alleged that Madumere had been absent from his office for three months without official reason or permission.

Other particulars of the petition include failure to attend constitutionally mandated proceedings of the State Executive Council and proceedings of the state Security Council.

It also listed refusal to attend and meet with the state Governor and Commissioners of the state for governance, made compulsory by section 193(2) of the 1999 constitution.

It also alleged that Madumere had concealed felonious conduct by presenting himself as eligible for the office of deputy governor, despite his conviction and imprisonment for theft in the United States of America.

NAN recalls also that the Speaker constituted a six-man committee, headed by Kennedy Ibeh (APC Obowo) to investigate the allegations and report back on Wednesday, July 11, 2018.

The House has adjourned to July 17, 2018.(NAN)

Outgoing Ekiti state Governor Ayodele Fayose’s plan to instal his deputy, Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka as his successor may have been dealt a big blow as several key members of his party switched support to the All Progressives Congress.

President Muhammadu Buhari received the defectors today at the grand finale of the governorship campaign of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the All Progressives Congress, APC gubernatorial candidate in Saturday’s election. The mega rally took place at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the two federal lawmakers were among the defectors, along with the chief whip of the state house of assembly. There were indications dropped by the new APC faithful, that many assembly members may also be getting ready to abandon the PDP, ahead of the crucial 14 July election.

Among the defectors was Sen. Fatimat Raji Rasaki, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District. She is the wife of a former military governor of Lagos. Mr. Olamide Oni, House of Representatives representing Efon/Ijero/Ekiti West Federal Constituency also dumped PDP.

Senator Rasaki represents the largest constituency in the state, the same area where Fayemi picked his running mate, an old political war-horse Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

Political pundits said if the Ekiti central senatorial constituency vote for Fayemi, the election will be lost by the PDP candidate, Olusola Eleka.

The switching of allegiances by the PDP legislators was one of the highlights of the today’s rally and it was seen as a big deal as the APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, telling Senator Rasaki repeatedly: ‘God Bless You’, ‘God Bless you’, when they met before President Buhari arrived.

The Chief Whip of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Sunday Akinniyi and the Commissioner for Justice and attorney-general under Fayose administration, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi also switched allegiances to APC at the event.

Ajayi was also Fayose’s attorney-general in his truncated first term, 2003-2006.

NAN reports that the National Chairman of APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomole, was also on hand to receive the defectors. He assured them of equal treatment in the party.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Senator Rasaki, said they had to dump the PDP because of the selfishness of Governor Fayose in the state.

According to her, the PDP in the state has been monopolised by a single individual, who would not allow justice and fairplay in the day-to day running of the affairs of the party.

Former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye was the first to jump out of the Fayose PDP boat, after a controversial primary election, the outcome of which the lawyer-journalist said was predetermined in favour of Kolapo Olusola-Eleka.

(NAN)