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Gunmen Kidnap Onitsha Market Chief
By Agency reporter
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Monday seized the newly-elected Chairman of the Electronics Dealers Association, Onitsha, Anambra State, Chief Okechukwu Okoli, a.k.a Gossac.
Witnesses said the gunmen seized Okoli at Oguta Road, Onitsha, about 9am on his way to his office at Umuoji Street.
Okoli was said to have fought the kidnappers, who were about five, before he was subdued and forced into a Sports Utility Vehicle they used for the operation.
The Anambra State Police Command's spokesman, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said he was yet to be briefed by the Onitsha Area Commander, but said he was aware that somebody was kidnapped Monday morning in Onitsha.
Sources: Punch, 14th September 2010.
Anambra May Take Over Zik's Mausoleum
By Emmanuel Obe, Awka
The Anambra State Government said on Monday that it would take over the Zik Mausoleum if
the Federal Government failed to complete it before October 1.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr. Maja Umeh, at a post- Executive Council meeting press briefing, on Monday, said the state government considered the completion of the mausoleum as a fitting honour for Nigeria's first President, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
He said the State Executive Council noted that, given the national significance of the mausoleum and the iconic status of the late former president, the golden jubilee independence anniversary was a proper occasion to inaugurate the project.
Umeh said the council was not impressed with the slow pace of work at the mausoleum and appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action at the site.
The commissioner said the state government was prepared to complete the project and get reimbursement if the Federal Government was not prepared for the task.
The commissioner said to complement the building of the mausoleum, the state government would build and rehabilitate the Zik's Park in front of the late politician's Inosi Onira home.
The state government is to also beautify the environs as its contribution to the golden jubilee anniversary celebration.
The non-completion of the mausoleum has raised a lot of dust. The most recent issue is the decision of some Nigerians and Ghanians living abroad to raise money to complete the mausoleum.
A contract for the project was awarded by the Federal Government in 1997 after the burial of Azikiwe, who died in 1996.
But the contract was abandoned because the Federal Government did not pay the contractors.
Sources: Punch, 14th September 2010.
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Anambra PDP Suspends Primaries, Party Splits in Abia
From Chuks Collins, Awka, and Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia
New exco yet to meet state electoral body over Dec LG polls
THE newly-inaugurated Executive Committee of the Anambra State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended indefinitely, the primaries for the December 4, 2010 council election in the state for its member till further notice.
Chairman of the committee, Chief Emma Nweze, disclosed this to The Guardian in an interview in Awka, the state capital. He said the postponement became necessary following receipt of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission's (ANSIEC's) time-table for the election.
Nweze lamented that his party was not being carried along the entire process and programme of ANSIEC. Labour Party Chairman, Jude Ezenwafor, corroborated Nweze's claims against the Prof. Titus Eze-led ANSIEC.
On its part, the Conference of Registered Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in a two-page statement signed by Isaac Onuka and Akudo Chikwendu, Chairman and Secretary respectively, insisted that ANSIEC must reduce the fees payable by council chairmanship candidates from its announced N200,000 to N50,000; and that of councillorship candidates from N50,000 to N10, 000. They also urged the commission to start immediate voters' register revalidation if it wants the electorate to have faith in the process.
In the meantime, less than two weeks after Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji joined the PDP from APGA, (PDP) on Wednesday split into two.
While the one the governor belongs to has Senator Emma Nwaka as the state chairman, the new faction which calls itself the new PDP, is said to have Chief Ben Etie, a former Commissioner for Local Government/Chieftaincy Affairs in ex-governor Orji Uzor Kalu's government, as its chairman.
The Etie-led faction has its office at 40, Uyo Street, Umuahia. It used to be the state campaign headquarters of Chief Ikechi Emenike, the ANPP governorship candidate in 2007 election who also returned to the PDP recently and declared to seek the party's governorship ticket in 2011 election.
The emergence of the Etie faction rumoured to be backed by Emenike, was made known to reporters at 4.30 p.m. in its office where reporters had assembled at the instance of the party to be addressed by the new chairman.
But after a long wait for the interaction, one Mr. Mike Ozoemena told the reporters that the conference has been postponed till next Wednesday and apologised.
No reason was given for the sudden split but when Emenike addressed journalists last month in his country home in Umuakabia, Umuahia North Council, he decried the move being made by the PDP to impose candidate/s for elective positions, claiming that he would clinch the party's governorship ticket under free and fair primaries.
Source: The Guardian, 10th September 2010.
14 Perish in Auto Crash on Enugu-Onitsha Expressway
ANONYMOUS
No fewer than 14 persons were killed in Tuesday's night vehicle crash at Umumba on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, FRSC officials confirmed on Wednesday. The officials told newsmen that the crash, which occurred at about 6:55 p.m., involved an articulated vehicle and a mini bus with registration number XY 212 ENU, belonging to Peace Mass Transit Company.
The articulated vehicle had XA 214 NNR as its registration number. The FRSC officials said the fully loaded mini bus was on its way from Lagos to Enugu when it collided with the articulated lorry that was on its way to Onitsha from one of the states in the North. Anyebe Okpe, the Enugu Unit Commander of the road safety agency at the 9th Mile Corner, said: "The accident happened at about 18:55 hours on Tuesday and involved a truck and a bus. "We received the information and rushed to the scene within 15 minutes. They were 17 people involved in the accident.
"Fourteen died on the spot, two were injured and one of them was the conductor of the truck, while the articulated truck driver escaped unhurt." Okpe said the driver of the bus was among the dead and added that the corpses had been deposited at the mortuary of the Oji River General Hospital.
He attributed the cause of the accident to route violation, saying: "The bus left its way because of ongoing road construction work on the other side of the dual carriage expressway and was facing oncoming traffic.
"In addition to route violation, both vehicles were over- speeding." The unit commander advised the public not to engage drivers in arguments that could lead to auto crashes Okpe also advised drivers "to learn to use the road with caution in spite of the sorry state of our roads".
Source: Business Day, 9th September 2010.
Death, Kidnap Threats Stop Anambra Election Tribunal
LARRY ONWUTA, AWKA
The Anambra Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal says it will stop hearing the petition brought by former Gov. Chris Ngige, of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), against the election of Mr Peter Obi of APGA.
The five-man panel, led by Justice Pius Damulak, announced its decision in Awka on Friday, in a ruling delivered on an application asking the panel to disqualify itself.
The tribunal said its decision was based on intimidation and threats through text messages, received from persons suspected to be lawyers and party agents, and not on the grounds of bias.
The judges said, the threats had got to their nerves, stopping them from doing their work and even sleeping.
``We started receiving threat messages and the threat messages are all damaging.
``They say they will come after us, with kidnappers, that they will pursue us everywhere, even to Abuja, Ibadan and Jos. We feel very much insecure remaining here.
``It is rather unfortunate that we are being threatened. We are trying our best; they are monitoring us everywhere and every movement we make,'' Damulak said.
The tribunal refused to accept that the blame of bias resulted from non-consolidation of the suit, noting that the issue was put before the parties, at the pre-hearing stage.
Commenting on a similar application by the candidate of the United Nigerian People's Party, Mr Christian Okoli, which also urged the tribunal to disqualify itself, Damulak said the action was unfortunate.
``Our discontinuation of entertaining the ACN petition is solely as a result of the threats we have received from Anambra people.
``It is disheartening that we came to Anambra with a pledge, to ensure that justice prevails, only for us to be threatened.
``We have alerted security agencies, but we still think there will be a need for us to excuse ourselves, so as not to be used as sacrificial lambs," Damulak said.
Reacting, Ngige's attorneys, represented by Mr M.C. Aniazoka, said the threat messages might have come from enemies of ACN.
He called on those responsible for such messages to desist from the act, because it would not help the judicial process in any way.
Aniazoka, however, apologised on behalf of the ACN's lead counsel, Chief Emeka Ngige, who was accused by the judges in their ruling, of using foul language to address them.
The lawyer said the misconduct was not intended.
In his reaction, the counsel to Obi, Mr Theophine Oguji, said the threat messages were not limited to the judges alone.
He said his client had also been receiving messages from unknown persons who threatened to kidnap him and members of his family.
Source: Leadership, 5th September 2010.
Police Disperse Protesting Students at Anambra Govt House
FROM CHUKS COLLINS, AWKA
AN unidentified number of university undergraduate students from the five South Eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo had a raw deal in the hands of policemen and other security operatives attached to the Awka Government House late Wednesday afternoon when they took their protest against the lingering strike by their teachers and other members of staff to Governor Peter Obi.
Led by their leaders, the students stormed the Government House premises in high spirits to see Obi as the chairman of the South-East Governors' Forum.
The students allegedly turned down entreaties by the state's Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philemon Leha, that they should conduct themselves orderly and leave the road for other users. They rather chose to remain on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, unmindful of the building traffic, while Leha made efforts to get them off the road to the Government House premises.
When they learnt from a source that Obi would not like to address them in their disorganised state, they then made to force their way into the Government House premises and demanded that the gate to the governor's office be opened.
The security aides at this point had to chase them before they shot tear gas canisters at them. Some of the students got injured in the ensuing confusion while some of them were arrested but later released.
Leha said: "The students wrote that they want police escort so that hoodlums will not infiltrate them. I gave them permit because this is a democracy. When they got to the Government House, they said they would not go in and blocked the express road, thereby infringing on the freedom of others.
"When they became too unruly, the governor said he could not talk to them in that state. So, I asked them to leave. They showed so much disrespect for me and my office."
Mr. Mike Udah, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Obi, said efforts were on to resolve the issues so that the teachers would call off the strike and the students would return to school.
Udah said the governors were not glossing over the dispute as being insinuated, alleging that "people are beginning to play politics with the issue just to find a way to give Governor Obi a bad name."
Also, some members of the academic and non academic staff associations in state-owned universities in the zone led by Vincent Asoegwu urged the governors "to invest 10 per cent of their monthly N500 million security vote in the development of education in their various states," noting that this would benefit the people and posterity.
Also, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) led by Kingsley Ezekwelu urged the governors to quickly resolve the dispute in the interest of all.
Source: The Guardian, 3rd September 2010.
NAPEP lauds Anambra over anti-poverty scheme
FROM UZOMA NZEAGWU, AWKA
SENIOR Special Adviser to the President and National Coordinator, National Poverty Eradication Progamme (NAPEP), Dr. Magnus Kpakol, has applauded the Anambra State government over its efforts in tackling the scourge of poverty in the state.
Kpakol made the commendation yesterday at the Palace of Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, during the flag off payment of 'Care of the People Programme '(COPE)- poverty Reduction Investment.
The ceremony attracted dignitaries including Governor Peter Obi, his wife, Margaret, traditional rulers, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Ego Uzozie, members of the state Executive Council, among others.
In his keynote address, Kpakol observed that Obi has introduced various and successful poverty eradication measures, pointing out that the state chief executive has made several requests from NAPEP headquarters, Abuja, which has yielded results.
"Obi is fighting poverty to the extreme, he has not relented, having paid many visits to Abuja pleading for assistance."
In his remarks, Obi assured that his administration would continue to collaborate with NAPEP in the fight against poverty. He disclosed that government has paid out several millions of naira to the COPE beneficiaries, promising to increase the amount in future.
Source: The Guardian, 2nd September 2010.
Police not intimidating Onitsha bizman, CLO tells Jonathan
•Wants justice to prevail in attempted murder case
From GEOFFERY ANYANWU, Awka
Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) Anambra State chapter has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore the petition of an Onitsha businessman and suspect in a criminal case in the High Court, Onitsha to free him from alleged intimidation of police. The businessman, Chief Sebastine Okafor-Muo had through his lawyer; one C.O Chigbuo petitioned the Presidency alleging police intimidation and unjust slamming of an attempted murder case against him in court. He urged the president to intervene to save him.
He also in the petition which was published in the national dailies accused the police of harassment and detaining him against a court order.
But CLO in the petition signed by the state chairman and the Secretary, Comrades Aloysius Attah and Justus Ijeoma respectively had said its petition was occasioned by the falsehood allegedly put out by Okafor-Muo to the presidency.
The CLO petition reads in part: "Ordinarily, sir, we would have treated such falsehood with ignominy as we know that it will surely collapse like an empty sack, when brought under the test of time and scrutiny of justice, but to put the records straight and avert the deception which they are peddling around in order to garner public sympathy."
"Okafor-Muo and his lawyers were quite aware that the matter is pending in Court in Onitsha, Anambra State and so, their purported letter to President Jonathan was to distort the case.
"As at now, Chief Okafor-Muo goes around with about four Policemen as his orderlies. So when and where did the police intimidation and harassment come in."
The organization further said that, "Contrary to Okafor-Muo's lawyer's claim that his client was innocent, investigation clearly showed that he had a land dispute with the family of Chukwunenta Nwakozor who he had framed as an armed robber and was detained at Onitsha prison before a jail break in 2006 in which he was freed alongside other inmates.
"In spite of attempt for amicable settlement of the problem by the families as they both hail from Adazi- Nukwu Community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Okafor-Muo went and procured a vigilance group, who arrested Nwakozor at the venue of his marriage ceremony to eliminate him".
"Since Okafor Muo was granted bail in May 2010, he has refused to come to Court to state his innocence, claiming that he is sick and so the matter has suffered two unnecessary adjournments. And now that he has realized that he cannot claim sickness forever he has started raising false alarm to the Presidency as his last ploy to evade the course of justice.
CLO therefore appealed that, "Now the South-East zone is bedeviled with violent crimes, all stakeholders must show sincere commitment towards ameliorating the situation by not allowing any undue interference on the process of criminal justice.
"The perpetrators of crimes and injustice must be told that time has changed and there is no hiding place for criminals and criminality. If Okafor-Muo is sincere let him come to court to clear his name, instead of calling on the President to intervene on his behalf."
Source: Daily Sun, 31st August 2010.
Anambra Enlivened as Barracks Undergoes Rehabilitation
Adimike George
IT is easy to see that the military facility housing the 302 Artillery Regiment and 14 Field Engineering Corps in Onitsha, Anambra State means a lot to indigenes and residents of the state, particularly. Those in its commercial centre.
Its personnel have often demonstrated how the military should coexist with civilians. When lawless characters become a problem, its officers and men have cut them to size. Once, when the face of the commercial city became embarrassingly dirty, the cantonment detailed its personnel to clean it up. Thus, with shovels, brooms and pans, the military dug up waste, shoveled it into pans and emptied it somewhere it would not bother anybody anymore.
But that military facility that has given so much to Onitsha and other parts of the state has also been in dire need of some attention itself. Its fence has been in such grave disrepair that miscreants running away from the law are sometimes said to disappear into the barracks through it. That has left the police and the residents stumped. Appeals for its rehabilitation have been made but it seemed no one was listening or willing to do anything. Governor Peter Obi is said to have also presented the matter to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Now the appeals are yielding fruit. The President has given his approval and the blocks of the fence wall have been laid. The block-laying ceremony showed the excitement of the people. The high and mighty in the state turned up. The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe who chairs the state council of traditional rulers, was a prominent guest with his royal entourage. Governor Obi and his executive council members were unmistakable. Minister of Defence, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode and his team graced the event. There were top military officers, too.
The governor was highly elated for it is a project he personally pursued with vigour. In attendance were also top military officers who came from across the country.
Before laying the foundation stone, the Defence Minister noted that President Goodluck Jonathan had ordered the construction of the fence after he received complaints from Governor Obi.
The minister said over the years, the Onitsha army barracks had become a haven where criminals escaped to because of the cover the unfenced facility provided them.
He said the fence which would be completed in 90 days would be a modern one, complete with lighting and a sentry.
He added that government will not stop at providing a fence around the barracks. He added that it will also improve the facilities within it barracks and boost the welfare of the soldiers in the spirit of the new thinking for the military.
He said the era of military incursion into governance was over forever and that the Nigerian military have since subjugated themselves to civil authority.
Kayode appealed to the people of Anambra State to be thankful to Governor Obi for his commitment to the development of the state.
He noted that Obi, who is not a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, has always received the attention of the Presidency whenever he was in Abuja, insisting that apart from the friendly disposition of the Presidency, it also shows that the country has jettisoned the politics of acrimony and has entered the era of politics of development.
He also urged the state government and the Army Engineers to ensure strict supervision of the project to ensure prompt completion.
Governor Obi thanked the President for the prompt response to his request but recalled that he started the rehabilitation appeal several years ago without response from previous administrations. He noted that the project is important both to the state and the cantonment.
He thanked the Federal Government for involving the state in the project and disclosed that the state government will also execute some projects in the cantonment to complement the efforts of the Federal Government.
Obi also mentioned a certain N1.1 billion contract said to have been awarded by the Federal Government for a nonexistent ecological project in the state, saying such a scam would be avoided if the state and the communities were involved in projects that concern them.
The Obi of Onitsha expressed his happiness that the Federal Government had finally decided to solve the cantonment's security problem.
The monarch also said Onitsha people were equally happy that there was now a workable plan for the construction of the second Niger Bridge, which he said, will open up the South East not only to other parts of Nigeria but the rest of the world.
The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division, Major-General Muhammed Isah, noted that the open cantonment had continued to expose the troops and vital facilities to security risks.
He described the project as the fruit of Governor Obi's efforts and strong presentation to the President.
Isah traced the history of the barracks to the communal clashes between the people of Onitsha and their neighbours Obosi over land disputes which led to unnecessary loss of lives and property. He pointed out that the barracks was established to ensure peace in the community.
He also noted that the army has achieved the purpose of citing the barracks and in addition provided security for the residents of the city and environs through the urban patrol which had helped in the fight against violent crimes in the state. He commended Obi for the support he has shown to the Army.
The Commanding Officer, 14 Engineering Regiment, Colonel Mark Mamman thanked Governor Obi and President Jonathan for the project and their continued support, assuring that the Regiment will continue to work in the interest of the country.
Mamman also praised the people of the state for the cordial relationship existing between the military and the civilian populace.
Source: The Nation, 30th August 2010.
Church Leaders Have Failed, Says Obi
FROM CHARLES COFFIE GYAMFI, ABEOKUT
THE Church in Nigeria has failed woefully in its duties, as far as checking the excesses and of the country's political class is concerned.
Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, stated this, in Abeokuta, yesterday, during a lecture titled: "The Role of the Church in National Development."
Obi wondered why some church leaders offer front seats to well-known corrupt politicians and businessmen in their churches, instead of reprimanding and shunning such people publicly. He noted that as long as the Church continues in this direction, the country might not attain its collective goals.
Obi, who gave the lecture, to mark the 34th anniversary of the Egba Diocese of the Anglican Church, said: "It behooves the church, which has moral authority, to question the source of sudden wealth of individuals. But, unfortunately, the church is becoming part of the problem."
According to him, the church has a greater role to play to correct the ills of the country because "it is only Church leaders that can stand in their pulpits and criticise the ills in the country. But what is happening today is surprising."
Obi insisted that contrary to general opinion, the country's problem is not corruption but greed. He wondered that though church leaders are aware of some politicians, who have several houses abroad, the church is not only keeping quiet, but also honouring such corrupt persons.
"In Nigeria, people, who have no means of livelihood but are stupendously rich are respected, honoured and entertained by the church," the Obi said.
His words: "Elections are coming and politicians are busy planning how to rig and manipulate the polls. And after they have rigged their way into office, the church will not only keep quiet about it, it will allow such politicians to come for thanksgiving. Not only that, the church leaders will pray for such politicians for God to bless and protect them.
Obi revealed that during his three-year legal battle to regain his 'stolen' governorship mandate, all the church leaders he approached asked him to forget it because that was, how God wanted it. But he declined. And as soon as he obtained victory, the same church leaders told him "We have been praying for you since."
Source: The Guardian, 15th August 2010.
Anambra ex-deputy governor's hubby joins Senate race
Adimike George
DENNIS Onyemaechi Odife, a stockbroker and banker, has declared his interest to run for the Anambra North Senatorial seat. Odife is the husband of a former deputy governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Stella Odife.
He is running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he described as the only party that can offer internal democracy through free and fair primaries.
He challenged the people to make sure they troop out to vote on the election day as well as protect their votes, saying "if you don't cast your votes, you won't elect credible person you want. Be active member of your party. If you do these, your community will get good roads, electricity, water and other basic infrastructure".
Urging the community to join the PDP, Odife noted that "it is only by proper performance of his roles that an individual would have contributed his own quota in selecting the best man for the job in the primaries and elections proper.
"I urge you to understand and to play your roles so that we can indeed say welcome to a government of the people by the people and for the people in 2011 in Nigeria."
Mrs. Odife, ex-deputy governor of the State during the Andy Uba short stinct, urged the people to support her husband.
She said that "this time, everybody, fathers, mothers, youths must show interest in who represent them in the coming election", pointing out that the era of thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, violence and other forms of electoral malpractice was over in the country.
She added that the law enforcements agents will deal with any person who perpetuates any form of electoral fraud in the next year's general elections.
Source: The Nation, 5th August 2010.
Onitsha army Barracks for Fencing
As part of the measures to check criminal activities in Anambra State, especially Onitsha, Gov. Peter Obi wants the army barracks at Onitsha fenced. He says it is the only army barracks that he knew that is not fenced in Nigeria.
At a meeting with the minister of defence, Prince Adetokumbo Kayode (SAN), at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Obi said that the barracks was one of the security challenges Anambra State had. According to him, because of the markets around the barracks, some criminals and armed robbers, once being pursued, always run into the market.and once they do this, it becomes difficult for security agencies to access the place.
In his own remarks, Kayode commended Obi for his concern for the good of his state. He also announced that the president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, had approved the immediate fencing of the barracks, consequent upon his letters and representations on the issue
Source: Vanguard, 1st August 2010.
Onitsha DrugLords Sponsored My Kidnap, Victim Tells Court
FROM CHUKS COLLINS, AWK
A medical doctor-turned-estate-developer, Dr. Anayo Edemobi has told an Enugu High Court headed by Justice Romanus Odugo that his abduction and unlawful detention on December 1, 2008 were planned and sponsored by some yet-to-be-identified traders at the Onitsha Bridge Head drugs market.
Edemobi also contradicted the prosecution and the police on a principal prosecution witness, Mr. Ali Mohammed who he identified as one of his abductors who was arrested at the location of his rescue and liberation on December 4, 2008, when men of the Enugu State Police Command stormed the place following a tip-off.
Before adjourning the matter to September 16 for further hearing, the court was also told by the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Sergeant Godspower Onwuzor, that one of the defendants in the suit, Ejike Aneke (29), who is married with children, a personal driver to Dr Ignatius Nnubia who is also standing trial in the matter, was roped in and detained since December 4, 2008 due to human error.
Dr Edemobi said he was accosted while inspecting his building project at the site along Nza Street, Independent Layout, Enugu on December 1, 2008, at about 10am by two men who he initially thought were looking for menial jobs. He said they allowed him to conclude his telephone conversation and pulled out a gun, causing all his labourers took to flee.
Source: The Guardian, 1st August 2010.
Awka traders spoil for war over market leadership
•Invite Gov Obi to internene
From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka
The relative peace in Awka, capital of Anambra State, has been threatened by an alleged refusal of the state government to recognise the elected leadership of Awka Market Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATA).
Consequently, Governor Peter Obi is being called upon by both the traders and the Awka community, including the traditional ruler, Obi Gibson Nwosu, to urgently intervene so as to prevent the situation from snowballing into mayhem.
They urged the governor to direct his Special Adviser on Parks and Markets, Chief Sylvester Nwobu Alor, to without further delay present the usual government certificate of recognition to the alleged elected President General of AMATA, Sir Charles Ikechukwu Anierobi.
Already, the situation in the various markets that made up AMATA is one of complete break down of law and order as traders now act lawlessly, while infrastructure in the market have been abandoned to dilapidate as no authority is recognised to issue instructions or organise things.
Worse still, youth bodies in Awka are spoiling for war because the leadership that is not recognised is headed by a native of Awka, Sir Anierobi, who is said to have won the AMATA election twice.
Currently, protest posters authored by six different organisations in Awka – Awka Movement for Actualisation of Hope, Awka Peoples Vanguard, Conference of Awka Age-Grade, Awka Cultural Protection Forum and Awka Youth Movement – adorn streets of the city, demanding for justice, equity and fairness.
Daily Sun gathered that for three years now election for the leadership of AMATA had been conducted three times and each won by a native of Awka, but the government cancelled them, hence the anger of the community in the last election won by Sir Anierobi.
However, while the Awka people and traders are clamouring for Anierobi's recognition, his fellow contender to the position, Hon. Alex Okoyeugha, who allegedly came second in the election, is also laying claim to the office, saying he won the election.
Narrating what happened to Daily Sun, Anierobi said: "When the tenure of Chief Christian Nwozor, the immediate past president-general of AMATA, expired sometime in 2006, he conducted election on June 31, 2006, in the AMATA executive in which one Godwin Chijioke Godwin Nwosu was declared winner, but Awka South Local Government cancelled the election on the ground of gross irregularities and directed Nwozor to continue in office until fresh elections were conducted.
"Aggrieved and saddened by the extension of Nwozor's tenure in AMATA, Alex Okoyeugha and some members of his group went to court, challenging the authority of Christian Nwozor to continue to lead AMATA. The court in suit No: A/261/2006 gave judgment on October 15, 2007, and among other decisions, ordered Christian Nwozor to conduct election unfailingly into the AMATA executive on or before December 17, 2007."
The judgment, which was handed down by Justice Celine O. Nweke, read in part: "That election shall be held into the vacant positions of AMATA executives not later than 12th December, 2007.
"…That the plaintiffs, their agents, cohorts or any person who may intend to cause mischief are hereby restrained from interfering with the functions of the first defendant and members of his executives in the performance of their functions as AMATA executives until fresh elections are held as ordered by this court."
According to Anierobi, in compliance with the orders of the court, Nwozor initiated the process of election into the AMATA executive in accordance with the provisions in the AMATA constitution, while Okoyeugha and his group made spirited but unsuccessful efforts to get Chief Alor, Special Adviser to the Governor on Parks and Markets, to stop the election process for a caretaker committee.
"However, the election was conducted and I emerged winner. So, later on when the ABS, NTA reported it on TV and radio, the same Sylva Nwobu Alor, Special Adviser to the Governor on Parks and Markets, went to the air to announce that Anambra State government will not recognise any election held into the office of AMATA. Now, we went to court to challenge it because it's a court order, court gave order to conduct the election and the election was conducted before I came into office and the matter was lingering in court. Now, even before this final election of March 8, 2010, we were still in court before Sylva Nwobu Alor brought a notice of election to the market, saying there must be an election in the market on March 8, 2010. Then, we told him there was still a court order and that the case was still pending in Enugu Appeal Court. But in the interest of peace, we obeyed, we submitted ourselves for the election and it was conducted, constituted by Anambra State government under the Special Adviser to the Governor on Parks and Markets.
"Then after the election, I was declared winner of the election; I scored 228 votes while the other person scored 193 votes, they called C.I.D. Anierobi as the winner. Then, they told the Special Adviser to the Governor that C.I.D. had emerged as the winner, he called them on phone to stop the election, this is what happened. He is the person who constituted those that conducted the election; we didn't know anything about the election."
Noting that security agencies and even Awka traditional ruler's representatives were present at the election, he said, "Of course, government had their own representatives to monitor the election, the town union of Awka had their own representatives to monitor the election, even the Eze Uzu of Awka sent his own representative to monitor the election; all these people have written their own reports to the government, but Nwobu Alor denied all these reports, even the Nigeria Police were there, the Nigerian Army, SSS and even the civil defence were all there; all these organs of government were there to monitor the election because that was the third time, and we alerted everybody so that they would be aware of what was going on. That was why all these organs were there to monitor the election."
Corroborating what Anierobi said, some chairmen of the Line Markets, who spoke with Daily Sun, stressed the need for government to recognise Anierobi as the elected leader and not to politicise the market.
Chairman, Motor and Motorcycle Spare Parts Union, Mr. Iwuchukwu Okoye, said, "Well, the election was conducted in our presence, free and fair. All along we have been waiting for government to recognise our new chairman, Sir C.I.D. Anierobi, but up till now nothing has been done about that and because of that there is tension everywhere."
Reacting, however, Chief Nwobu Alor said that government does not conduct market elections, but rather supervises to make sure the election was peaceful, free, fair and transparent, just as it engages the services of security agents to ensure the elections were held according to the provisions of the market constitution.
"In the case of this Awka thing, my attitude was the same, I even went to the extent of going there to make sure it's an adult suffrage delegate election. I was informed that it was a delegate election and that also means that the 65 lines will produce five persons per line, which is 325 or so, and then I was satisfied that that was done, they got accreditation and we expected 325 votes; that should be the maximum, it cannot be more.
It can be less because some may not vote, but it cannot be more. In this situation, I left the place and the market carried on with the election because we must supervise it to make sure it complies with the provisions of their constitution and, of course, morality will get involved, too. Immediately after I returned to the office, they phoned to say that there was fighting and other things like that, I asked what is it, I was told that somebody was counting far and above the required number, and I said can the election go on, they said it's not possible, that there was fighting all over the place and that people were running away, in fact, including the police, everybody ran away.
"So, I sent for the contestants, they came here, I asked them what happened, they told me, I sent for the observers; the police, the SSS, the government representatives and president of ASMATA, that is, the president of all the markets in Anambra State, who were there. They told me the same thing, that the people counted totally over the required number and because of that somebody intervened and the entire crowd surged in and there was crises all over the place.
"In order to avoid unnecessary bickering, I sent for the man who actually won the election and I begged him in my office to see, for sake of peace, whether he could surrender his position and take the position of a deputy.
He almost slapped me, saying that was madness, that he didn't know that I was as low as this, he said all sorts of things, in short, he refused. I said in a situation like this I would now get back to the governor, which I did, and made my recommendations, which is still pending. As soon as it gets response, we will do whatever the governor says. If he supports conducting another election, we will do it. I don't buy the idea of appointing caretaker or appointing an Awka man as chairman. That has nothing to do with a person of my integrity; it is a way of destroying democracy.
However, one of the illustrious sons of Awka and former Representative of Anambra Central senatorial district in the Senate, Senator Ben Obi, in a frantic bid to check the looming crisis had earlier written to the governor, urging him to listen to what the traders are saying, "I have therefore, read with keen interest the submissions made by the President-General of AMATA, Sir C.I.D. Anierobi, a gentleman, good Christian of Catholic faith and well known big trader in Eke Awka market in his appeal for your intervention, which I hereby forward to your office via this letter, for your attention and favourable consideration.
The traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu, is said to have also appealed to the governor to intervene and allow the elected leadership of AMATA to be.
But in a swift reaction, Chief Okoyeugha laid claim to the leadership of AMATA, saying he won the said election of March 8, 2010, with 193 votes against 132 votes, which he said Anierobi scored.
He also alleged that Anierobi created disorderliness during the election to deny him victory, just as he claimed that his political opponents bombed his car and had been sending him threat messages.
Source: Sun, 14th July 2010.
Anambra loses 4,000 sickle cell children yearly
FROM UZOMA NZEAGWU, AWKA
PRESIDENT, Anambra State Sickle Cell Association, Mrs. Nnena Umera-Okeke, has attributed the rising incidence of deaths among infants to a lack of knowledge of the sickle cell disease by parents.
Consequently, Umera-Okeke disclosed that about 98 per cent of over 4,000 children born with sickle cell diseases in Anambra State yearly do not survive after birth.
Besides, Umera-Okeke lamented that HIV/AIDS is receiving more attention in the state, leaving sickle cell patients without care or concern.
According to her, sickle cell, like HIV cannot be cured but could only be managed.
Mrs. Umera-Okeke spoke yesterday at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Awka, Anambra State during a lecture on the management of the disease by Mrs. Flora Ilonzo of the Centre for Psychic and Healing Administration and the distribution of free drugs to sickle cell patients.
She noted: "Anambra Sickle Cell Association has the vision of helping in breaking the sickle cell cycle through knowledge, help and hope. It is a necessity to create awareness in the society as to the need for every one to know their genotype. This is of utmost importance to the association.
"Love is not enough to make a couple want to marry each other; they must also look at compatibility with their partners as a determinant for whether to marry each other or not.
"Right now we are organising seminars for young people on the need to go out and know their genotype in order to reduce the number of people with sickle cell diseases."
However, Mrs. Umera-Okeke charged parents not to give up on their sickle cell children but to counsel and manage them properly, "believing that God heals."
Meanwhile, Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has restated his support for the development of education in the state, assuring that his administration would do everything possible to sustain all gains made in the sector.
Obi gave the assurance in a speech when a delegation from the Federal Polytechnic Oko, led by the chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Anene Uzuakpunwa, in company of the Rector, Prof. Godwin Onu, called at Government House, Awka.
He stressed that education remained the most important investment any nation or state could make.
According to the governor, the state government since his inauguration had not discriminated among institutions owned by it or the Federal Government and even voluntary agencies, saying that he believes that government should assist all of them since they are in Anambra and provide services to the people of the state.
Source: The Guardian, 29th June 2010.
Anambra, UNICEF tackle child/maternal deaths
Wale Ejibunu
WHEN the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) introduced the
maternal/neonatal/Child health week in Nigeria few years ago not many doubted the impact this would have on the nation's health sector.
And indication to this effect was showcased recently in Anambra State when the state observed the health week at the event, the discoveries of the falling standard of living and other health indicators would never be forgotten in a hurry, especially by any government that prides itself as being committed to the well-being of the people.
The awesome discovery of cases of children who are acutely malnourished should rattle the state government that has shown great interest in the development of the health sector, even as it is, as it were, the number one in the South-east zone and number three in the country as far as health indices were concerned.
Declaring the programme open, Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi who took time to administer Vitamin A Supplement and other vaccines to children less than five months, said the exercise was aimed at de-worming the children and eradicating maternal/child killer diseases in the state.
Obi, who spent the better part of the day playing with the children at the Ekwueme Square, Awka venue of the flag-off, attributed the social and political crises in the state to collapsed family values, insisting that the children are the future of every society, even as he added that any society that plays with its future is sick unto death. He prided that the state was committed towards securing a better future for her children.
Reinstating the commitment of his administration to ensure a healthy Anambra State, the governor promised to pay N10, 000 and N5, 000 to anyone that reports fresh case of polio and guinea worm respectively, adding that the state wants to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), where the health sector is given prime importance, by the year 2014.
Obi said: "Today, we are living in a terribly challenged world. A cursory observer would notice that all the positive values the society holds dear are challenged.
Today, we witness increase in crimes and other vices. The remote cause of this is traceable to broken family values."
Blaming the bane of the nation on collapsed family values, he pointed out that "the reference to the family as the basic cell of the society is because it is a place where the life and character of our children are molded. Sadly, today, many families are in disarray–broken marriages and absence of values all of which have direct bearing on the type of children the families unleash on the society. No wonder our state is on a fast-track of decline.
Blaming the bane of the nation on collapsed family values, he pointed out that "the reference to the family as the basic cell of the society is because it is a place where the life and character of our children are molded. Sadly, today, many families are in disarray–broken marriages and absence of values all of which have direct bearing on the type of children the families unleash on the society. No wonder our state is on a fast-track of decline.
"The crisis in our society has made it imperative that, on a day like this, we, especially the adults, should take out time and reflect on our relationship with children and ask ourselves if we are their fathers, mothers and guardians in name or in fact.
"On our own part, let me take this opportunity to assure our children that our government shall remain committed to their future.
" It is therefore little wonder that our strategy –the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS), is essentially geared towards the empowerment, nay, development of our children and our children's children.
"Let me call on all of us to resolve to pursue those things that will guarantee and assure a fruitful and sustainable future for our children. Let us stop abusing our society since the children are the greatest losers. As I have always said, the best gift for our children is to build a better society for them and stop abusing the society today to avoid regrettable revenge of the society on our children tomorrow," he concluded.
Earlier in his address, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Amobi Illika said "children are the only assets we have on earth and they deserved to be well catered for by giving them adequate medical attention at all times and as at when due."
Illika added that women also needed to be well catered for, particularly, the pregnant ones, stressing that a woman's chance of dying from pregnancy and at childbirth in Nigeria has reached an alarming rate in recent times. This was why the state government in, collaboration with UNICEF, has decided to fund the programme.
This, he said, would go a long way in eradicating infectious diseases and reduce the unacceptably high maternal, newborn and child mortality rates in Nigeria in general and Anambra State in particular.
He enumerated causes of maternal death as hemorrhage, infections, toxaemia/eclampsia, obstructed labour, unsafe abortion, malaria among others.
He noted that, as part of the state government's contributions to the programme, it had made available a total of 250,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets which would be distributed to pregnant and nursing mothers at various health facilities in the state, pointing out that "all our immunisation are safe and not contraceptives."
He appealed to parents, especially mothers, to allow their children to participate in the programme where Vitamin A Supplement, de-worming tablets and vaccines against polio would be administered.
When Newsextra visited Onitsha North Council headquarters as part of the team monitoring the programme, it discovered that the number of children less than five years who were acutely malnourished were alarming.
Unlike last year's edition of the exercise, when no such cases were recorded in the entire state, the council area on the third day recorded 69 such cases, prompting the State Nutrition Officer, Ngozi Onuora to leave every other thing on her table to rush down to Onitsha and took the patients and the parents to the General Hospital for prompt attention.
The State Technical Facilitator (STF) and the Nutrition Officer (NO) for the Council area, Miss Chinyere Ebede and Mrs. Eberendu Joy told Newsextra that the Council had been supportive, especially in the provision of vehicles and other logistics for the field workers to reach their target population.
They gave their target population for the exercise as about 25,000, adding that they had already achieved 50 per cent on the third day.
They disclosed that "initially, the turnout was low because of a shift in the initial date.
But we took the campaign to their door steps, churches and schools to achieve our target.
They commended the state government for keying into the programme through the provision of 200 mosquito nets and toilet soaps, lamenting that the supply of drugs on the first day was inadequate, which they said improved later on.
According to them, among the places worst hit by the severe acute malnutrition (SAM) were the Onitsha Army Barracks, the Marine Quarters and the Ogboli Eke Quarters opposite the Onitsha General Hospital.
At Fegge, the Onitsha South Council headquarters, the exercise was impressive especially because people trooped out to get medical attention.
Mrs Unegbu Josephine and Ngozi Ezenwafor confided in Newsextra that the target opulation for the area was 28,900 for Vitamin A supplement and 24,356 for de-worming tablets, adding that they got 200 mosquito nets from the state government which they distributed to pregnant women. The ailment were recorded at Bridge Head ward of the council. They commended the field workers who did their best during the programme.
They however decried poor level of logistics, pointing out that transportation was a major hindrance to the exercise. They further decried late arrival of funds with which the programme would have been executed, adding that they had to borrow money to meet up with the programme.
Also, at Ogbaru Council Area, there were two cases of children with severe acute malnutrition. The cases, according to Uzomba Angela, were recorded at Okpoko, a suburb of Onitsha, bringing the number of severe acute malnutrition to 75 around the commercial city of Onitsha.
According to the STF in the council area, Ikegbuonu Chinwe, the target population for de-worming exercise was 39,647 while Vitamin A Supplement was 44,603 including 4,956 for the blue and 39,647 for the red.
She commended the people of the council for the great turnout, urging them to always make use of health facilities in the area as prevention is better than cure.
She also urged the expectant mothers who got the mosquito nets to ensure that they make use of them to prevent malaria, adding that the motive for which it was distributed would never be actualised if they were not used.
At Ojoto, the headquarters of Idemili South Council Area of the state, News- extra discovered also that the turnout in the primary schools was quite impressive.
According to Ifeyinwa Udoji and Lady Okoye Jane, cases of severe acute malnutrition were recorded in three places at Nnobi.
They gave their target population as 38,009 for de-worming and 41,749 for Vitamin A.
Supplement, adding that they had almost reached the target on the fourth day and disclosed that they would commence mop-up exercise after the fifth day to ensure that the target was met.
They commended the state government for the provision of 200 mosquito nets for expectant mothers and 1,008 pieces of toilet soaps which were also distributed to the people of the area.
They called for adequate sensitisation programme in the future to ensure that the fight against child/maternal deaths would be won, even as they commended Newsextra for its interest in the programme.
Source: The Nation, 26th June 2010.
Catholic Priests to Proclaim Blessed Tansi Patron
Onitsha — Catholic Bishops of Nigeria have concluded arrangements to proclaim Blessed Iwene Tansi as patron of Nigerian Catholic Priests to enable them to learn from his exemplary life-style.
This was contained in a statement by Rev. Fr. George Admike, the Press Secretary to the Archbishop of Onitsha in Onitsha yesterday. The statement indicated that the proclamation would be made to mark the celebration of the end of year for the Catholic priests, to be held between 2 June and 4 June.
"Catholic Bishops of Nigeria will use the concluding mass of the celebration on 3 June, at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, to proclaim Blessed Iwene Tansi as Patron of Nigerian Catholic Priests.
"At the local level, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria are placing Blessed Iwene Tansi as an exemplary priest to inspire Nigerian Catholic priests.''
The statement added that the event will be attended by Catholic bishops, priests all over the country, as well as religious men and women, government officials and other faith-based interest groups.
Source: Vanguard, 29th April 2010.
Anambra North Senatorial Election Dispute: Superiority of the two Conflicting Decisions
The Court of Appeal, Enugu Judicial Division had on February, 10 2009 delivered a judgment in a suit where it declared Senator Joy Emodi of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) as the winner of the election into the National Assembly for Anambra North Senatorial District which was held on April 28 2007.
The same Court of Appeal on March 25 2010 delivered another judgment declaring Hon. Alphonsus Uba Igbeke of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) the winner of the same election into the same senatorial district without making reference to or setting aside the earlier decision. Thus, we have two conflicting decisions from the same appellate court which unfortunately is the final court on election matters. But how did the court arrive at giving conflicting decisions on the same subject matter?
After the National Assembly elections held on April 28 2007, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared Senator Joy Emodi of the PDP as winner. Three candidates including Alphonsus Igbeke who participated at the election challenged this declaration before the National Assembly, Governorship and Legislative House Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Awka which consolidated the three petitions.
The election petition tribunal in its judgment delivered on June 17 2008 resolved the two main issues in dispute: Was there election on the 28/4/07 in the Onitsha South and Ayamelum Local Government Areas in the Anambra North Senatorial District; In the other five Local Government Areas of Anambra East, and West, Onitsha North, Ogbaru and Oyi which of the results as tendered by the petitioner and the 1st Respondent in evidence are the authentic genuine result of the election held on 28/4/07 in the Anambra North Senatorial District in the National Assembly Election.
In its judgment, the Election Petition Tribunal held that: "upon a review and evaluation of the evidence led by the petitioner (Alphonsus Igbeke) it is a far cry from the legal requirements o proof of an allegation of non voting and no Election and we hold the petitioner has failed to discharge the burden placed on him to prove that the Election did not hold in Onitsha South and Ayamelum Local Government Areas on 28/4/07. He neither called any single voter in these two local governments areas nor tendered any unmarked voters card or an unmarked voters register to show that there was no accreditation of voters in these two local government areas.
On the other hand, though no such initial burden was placed on the 1st respondent (Emodi), to show that the election held, in the absence of any credible evidence of no election by the petitioner, the 1st respondent led unchallenged evidence that she voted in Onitsha South Local Government Area on 28/4/07 and tendered her marked voters card and also called DW2 who led unchallenged evidence that he voted in Ayamelum Local Government Area on 28/4/07 and also tendered his marked voters register.
"In the circumstances therefore and on the credible unchallenged evidence of the 1st respondent and her witness, we find as a fact that the election of 28/4/07 was duly held in Onitsha South and Ayamelum Local Government Areas in the Senatorial District and that the results generated in those election from the polling units and duly collated at the various levels of collation are presumed genuine and authentic and are the valid scores of the candidates in those two local government areas and we are not impressed with the belated attempt to attack the results of these two local government areas in the address of the learned SAN for the petitioner as that was never part of the case of the petitioner as he was content with relying on his unproved allegation that the election in these two local government areas did not hold due to non distribution of election materials in the absence of the polling units results sheets. "We have already found that the petitioner's witnesses were not truthful witnesses and we do not believe them and would therefore attach no weight to their very unreliable evidence.
"Consequently, the only issue for determination is hereby resolved in favour of the 1st respondent and we find as a fact that in the Senatorial Election in the Anambra North Senatorial District held on 28/4/07 the 1st respondent scored a majority of the total valid votes score of 326,700 as against the petitioner's total valid votes score of 12,466 and the 1st respondent was thus validly returned as duly elected and so declared by the 2nd to 4th respondents (INEC). We hold firmly therefore that the 1st respondent was validly elected and returned as the winner of the Senatorial Election of 28/4/07 in the Anambra North Senatorial District by the 2nd to 4th respondents.
Dissatisfied with this judgment, the Labour Party candidate in the Senatorial Election, Hon. Jessie Balonwu and the ANPP candidate, Hon. Alphonsus Uba Igbeke filed separate appeals against the judgment at the Court of Appeal, Enugu. The appellate court comprising Justices Victor A.O.Omage, M.Ladan Tsamiya and Olukayode Ariwoola decided Jessie Balonwu's appeal on February 10 2009. In the judgment delivered by Justice Victor Omage, the court held that the Election Petition Tribunal was right to disbelieve the appellant and the witnesses when they depose that election materials were not distributed.
The election was properly conducted. The court below was right to uphold the election of the 1st respondent. The appellant also failed to make out a case of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2006. The contradictory evidence of the appellant witnesses fail to discharge the onus of proof that there was no compliance with the Electoral Act 2006. The court below would have been wrong to nullify the election of the 1st respondent and the court below was right to refuse to nullify the election of the 1st respondent because the appellant is not entitled to succeed in the petition without the joinder of presiding officers. Why were the presiding officers not joined, the answer will be that they would have spoken the truth and the falsity of petitioner would have been revealed. The parties' failure to join the presiding officers is fatal to the petition of the appellant". The court therefore dismissed the appeal.
Justice Mohammed L.Tsamiya who concurred with the judgment said, "I had a preview of the lead judgment of my learned brother, Omage JCA which has just been delivered. I agree entirely with his reasoning and conclusion that this appeal lacks merit and deserves to fail. My learned brother has exhaustively dealt with all the relevant issues in the appeal and resolved same. I therefore have nothing more to add. The appeal is accordingly dismissed. I abide by the consequential orders made in the said lead judgment including the order as to costs". Justice Ariwoola in his concurring judgment said, I read in advance the lead judgment of my learned brother Victor Omage. I agree with the reasoning and conclusion in this appeal and I abide by the consequential order that is contained in the judgment".
Justices Mohammed L.Tsamiya and Olukayode Ariwoola who were part of the panel that upheld the election of Senator Joy Emodi were members of another panel that decided another appeal filed by the ANPP candidate, Hon Alphonsus Igbeke against the same judgment of Election Petition Tribunal, Awka. In fact, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola wrote the lead judgment where he resolved all the issues in favour of the ANPP candidate and declared Senator Joy Emodi was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the election and further ordered that Alphonsus Igbeke should be issued with certificate of return.
In the judgment delivered on March 25 2010 the Court of Appeal faulted the lower tribunal for failing to properly evaluate the evidence of the petitioner's witnesses and to ascribe probative value to their evidence. The court also held that the tribunal was wrong to have admitted and accorded probative value to the results of the election tendered by Senator Joy Emodi as they were not filed along with her reply to Igbeke's petition before the tribunal in accordance with the requirements of the Practice Directions 2007.
According to Justice Ariwoola, "these documents ought not to have been admitted or received in evidence at all in the first instance, much more relying on the documents which were neither frontloaded with the 1st respondent's reply as required by the Practice Direction nor indeed physically available for the trial of the case as Exhibits. Therefore, relying on them as holding that they constitute valid and authentic results of the election in dispute was a grave error on the part of the tribunal and has occasioned miscarriage of justice, to say the least".
The court further held that "the respondents in the instant case who asserted the positive fact of holding election had the burden to prove the fact which burden they failed woefully to discharge after it had shifted to them. Therefore, the tribunal was wrong in its decision that the appellant did not prove that election did not hold in Onitsha South and Ayamelum Local Government Areas. The burden was on the respondents to prove that election held and the failed to discharge the burden. Accordingly this issue is resolved in favour of the appellant but against the respondents.
"The tribunal adopted the unit results of the 1st respondent as the authentic one and thereupon held that the appellant failed to prove that he scored the majority of the votes cast at the election. This decision of the tribunal was based on the wrongful admission and attachment of probative value to the unit results tendered by the 1st respondent which ought not to have been admitted by the tribunal much more attach any probative value to any of them. "It is clear that the appellant won the majority of lawful votes cast in the election held on 28/4/07 and ought to have been returned and declared winner.
The 1st respondent was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the election. Accordingly, the 2nd respondent is ordered to withdraw the Certificate of return issued to the 1st respondent forthwith. It is further ordered that the appellant be issued with certificate of return without any further delay".
It is a statement of law that a court is not bound by its previous decisions since it can overrule its earlier decision particularly it was arrived at in error. In doing so however, the court is duty bound to refer to its earlier decision on the matter and distinguish it out for the late one to replace it.
It is very worrisome that the judge who delivered the judgement in Igbeke's appeal sat in the earlier case filed by Balonwu and knew of its existence. He should have referred to the earlier case which was on the subject matter with the latter case. The Igbeke's case was decided as if nothing exists. On the issue of superiority of the two conflicting decisions of the Court of Appeal on the same subject matter of election conducted on 28/4/2007 in Anambra North Senatorial District, the first judgment should prevail particularly since the second declaration did not mention the first declaration or distinguish it. This was the decision of the Court of Appeal in 2005 in the case of Agbakoba Vs Ikpeazu.
Source: Vanguard, 29th April 2010.
Onitsha market leader preaches against violence
By Agency Reporter
The Chairman of Electronics Dealers Association, Onitsha in Anambra State, Chief Okechukwu Okoli, has called on traders to eschew violence and embrace peace in all their dealings, News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Okoli told newsmen in Onitsha on Monday while reacting to an alleged assault on some members of the former executive of the market. He said he had set up a committee to resolve the issue.
He explained, "My executive would not involve itself in any dastardly act of using thugs or any intruder to cause personal harm or property loss and breakdown of law and order in the market.
"The alleged assault on the former executive by anybody is regrettable. I have called on those affected to report to the peace committee as well as the executive.
"Nobody should take the law into his or her hands or call the police when we have a committee that will do justice and fairness to everybody involved in the matter," the chairman said.
However, the former treasurer of the market, Mr. Joseph Ajaero, alleged that he and two others, the former financial secretary, Chibueze Egbebu and Chinwike Ede, were on Friday beaten-up by thugs in their respective shops while goods and cash worth thousands of naira were removed.
Ajaero said that he was sitting in his shop while his workers were preparing to close for the day when some thugs entered his shop.
He alleged that one of the thugs slapped him while the others took away goods and cash.
Ajaero said that the same thugs moved to Egbebu's shop and gave him a similar treatment, and that Ede's experience was more pathetic as he was dragged to the office and beaten up.
Source: Punch, 28th April 2010.
Robbers kill, burn 3 policemen
Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Awka
Three police men attached to Anambra State Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) were yesterday shot dead at Umunze by armed robbers who allegedly invaded the state from Okigwe, Imo State.
Names of the affected officers were not readily available as at press time but conflicting reports said about three police officers were killed and burnt with many other civilans injured during a shoot-out between armed robbers and SARS.
The policemen after being shot equally were roasted by the robbers before escaping. Eye witness accounts said the robbers robbed filling stations at Ogbunka before proceeding to Umunze but were confronted by the SARS, who they allegedly overpowered and killed.
When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emeka Chukwuemeka confirmed that the robbers clashed with the police at Umunze, but declined further details on the incident.
Accoridng to him, the command was still battling with the situation as at 6:30 pm in the evening.
He also said the robbers were pursued to Nnobi, as they raced down towards Nnobi after the Umunze episode. However he could not confirm number of deaths when probed further.
Source: Daily Champion, 22nd April 2010.
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