11042018 - Buhari’s ‘one term’ offer in 2011 no longer applies

34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018
:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
Rainy Season: NEMA alerts
S'East States of possible flood
By Dennis Agbo
E NUGU—THE
National Emergency
Management Agency,
NEMA, has alerted
residents of South- East of
possible flooding in some
parts of the zone as the
rains set it. It therefore,
advised them not to
hesitate in alerting relevant
agencies of such natural
disaster when noticed.
South East Zonal
Coordinator of NEMA, Mr.
Walson Ibarakumo
Brandon, gave the warning
while speaking with
newsmen in his Enugu
office.
He disclosed that 14 local
government areas across
Enugu, Ebonyi and
Anambra states are more
prone to the flood disaster
and advised on the need
for clearance of drainages
and water ways to reduce
the impact or eliminate the
disaster.
According to him,
NEMA met recently with
sister agencies including
Nigeria Metrological
Services Agency, NIMET
and the Nigeria
Hydrological Services
Agency, among other
establishments to map out
strategies on how to
mitigate the disaster and
embark on massive public
enlightenment campaigns.
Brando said : “From the
recent annual flood outlook,
in Enugu State, we have
Enugu South LGA,
Enugu East LGA and Oji
River. These are the three
LGAs that are identified as
high risk areas under the
annual flood outlook
released by Nigeria
Metrological Services
Agency.
“In Ebonyi, we have
Afikpo North, Ikwo, Ezza
South, Ohaukwu and
Ebonyi LGAs.
"In Anambra, we have
Orumba North, Awka
South, Anaocha, Oyi,
Dunukofia and Njikoka
LGAs. So when we carry
out our sensitisation, we are
going to focus on those
highlighted areas.
“I will implore those
communities not to wait for
government but be on the
alert and contact the
appropriate agencies
whenever incidences that
are beyond their capability
come up,” he said.
Reminisce of Biafra at
Achuzia’s Night of Tributes
By Dennis Agbo
E NUGU—DEFUNCT
Biafra Republic came
alive, Monday night,
when Ohanaeze Ndigbo at
the Enugu Sports club,
hosted a night of tributes in
memory of the late former
Secretary-General of the
body, the Ikemba of Ahaba
and Biafra war veteran,
Chief (Col.) Joseph
Oseluka Achuzia.
Achuzia died on
February 26, 2018 at the
aged of 90 years. He will
be buried on Friday April
13, 2018.
In a well attended night
of tribute organised by the
Apex Igbo organisation,
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the
President General of the
body, Barr Nnia Nwodo
;lauded the virtues of the
Biafran general and called
on Ndigbo and Nigerians
to emulate the virtues of the
patriot. Speaker after
speaker at the event
narrated their experiences
with the military warlord
both in Biafra and outside
Biafra. The tough soldier
fought at almost all fronts
in Biafra and dealt a blow
to his foes at Onitsha,
Oguta, Okigwe and
Abagana sectors of the war.
The night of memory
recalled how Biafra
practically fought self
defense against assault by
the Nigeria armed forces on
Eastern Nigeria
government that declared
secession on May 1967.
Col. Achuzia’s many
names were disclosed,
starting from when he was
growing up that he was
nicknamed “Governor” by
his uncle that foresaw the
rare traits in him. In Biafra,
he was also nicknamed
“Hannibal” same as “Air
Raid.”
The Achuzia family that
attended the night in their
numbers said the war
veteran resolved the
identity problem that some
persons of Delta-Igbo have.
They said he was proud of
the Igboness in him till he
died.
His nephew, Chief Ejiofor
Onyia said “He protected
the Igbo man in every
sphere of life. We knew him
as Governor in Delta. As a
young man, he had shown
the characteristics he was
made of.”
Another relation of
Achuzia who is the Vice
President of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo in Delta State, Dr.
Olisa Ebigwa spoke in the
same manner, noting that
the sage never suffered
identity crisis. “He was
highly patriotic, believed
he was an Igbo man to the
core and never suffered
identity crisis. In 1970,
when he was released, he
said he had suffered, yet he
was focused, assertive and
bold. He was a strongman
till death,” Diokpa Ebigwa
recalled.
Police arrest council boss for demolishing
nonagenarian's home in Ebonyi
By Peter Okutu
A BAKALIKI—
EBONYI State Police
Command yesterday, said
it had arrested the coordinator
of Ezeukwa
Development Centre in
Onicha Local Government
Area of the state,
Chukwuma Igwe for his
alleged role in the
demolition of a building
and fence belonging to a 94
year old man, Pa Omabe
Obini in the community.
The incident which
occurred at Uwani Anike
village in the area was
allegedly carried out by
nine suspected hoodlums
under the supervision of
the co-ordinator.
Confirming the incident,
the Police Public Relations
Officer, PPRO, in the state,
ASP Loveth Odah
explained that Igwe had
been arrested and was
undergoing interrogation.
She noted that police would
investigate the matter
before charging the suspect
to court.
“There was an arrest on
alleged case of malicious
damage involving one
Chukwuma Igwe,” she
said.
Narrating his ordeal
before newsmen in
Abakaliki, Pa Omabe Obini
alleged that suspected
thugs in company of Igwe
invaded his compound
with axe, digger and
cutlass and chased away
members of his family
before embarking on the
demolition of his building
and a section of his
INSPECTION: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle)
with the Vice Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area,
Hon. Sunday Nnamani (left) and a stakeholder, Chief Mike Onu
(right) during an inspection tour of urban renewal projects on flood
control and traffic de-congestion at Four-Corner junction, Ozalla,
along Enugu -Port Harcourt Expressway, yesterday.
Why FG can’t seize my assets,
Ekweremadu tells court
...says Obno-Obla led presidential panel illegal
...some of the properties have been sold, FG laments
By Ikechukwu
Nnochiri
A BUJA—SENATE
President, Ike
Ekweremadu, yesterday,
challenged the powers of
the Federal High Court in
Abuja to grant interim
ownership of his 22
properties to the Federal
Government.
Ekweremadu, via a
motion he filed through his
lead counsel, Chief
Adegboyega Awomolo,
SAN, maintained that
under the 1999
Constitution, as amended,
the High Court lacked the
jurisdiction to entertain and
exercise judicial powers in
matter related to, connected
with and arising from the
Code of Conduct and
Declaration of Assets.
It will be recalled that FG
had in an ex-parte motion
marked FHC/ABJ/CS/284/
2018, applied for an interim
order temporarily
attaching/forfeiting
Ekweremadu’s properties
to it, pending the
conclusion of further
inquiry/investigation by the
Special Presidential
Investigation Panel for the
Recovery of Public Property
and/or possible
arraignment of the
respondent.
Nine of the properties FG
asked the court to freeze
because they were not
declared by the embattled
lawmaker, are in Abuja; two
of them in London, the
United Kingdom; eight in
Dubai, the United Arab
Emirates; and three in
Florida, the United States.
FG predicated the motion
on section 330 of the
Administration of Criminal
Justice Act, 2015, section
8 of the Recovery of Public
Property (Special
Provisions) Act, section 44
(2) (K) of the 1999
Constitution, as amended.
However, Ekweremadu,
in his counter-motion, told
the court that the Chief Okoi
Obono-Oblah led Special
Presidential Investigation
Panel that is moving to seize
his properties for the
government “is an illegal
body”, saying it was not
created under any law
made by the National
Assembly.
“The so called Special
Panel was never Gazetted
in any publication in the
Federal Government of
Nigeria Gazette. The
President and
Commander-in-Chief
never inaugurated any
panel anytime and
anywhere in Nigeria”, he
argued.
He contended that the
panel lacked the locus
standi, competence and
legal vires to receive
complaints, investigate and
initiate legal proceedings in
matters connected with
assets he declared to the
Code of Conduct Bureau
in 2007 and 2015.
“The Constitution of
perimeter fence.
The victim who
showcased a 30 minutes
video clip to journalists to
prove his story added that
the development was the
second time the coordinator
was sponsoring
such level of attack against
his property in the village.
Pa Omabe who said he
had reported the matter to
the police, appealed to the
state government and
human right activists to
come into the matter for
justice to reign.
'My health condition has
worsened following the
demolition of my home.
There is no basis for the
action considering that I
have no land dispute with
members of the community
or Igwe," he lamented.
In his reaction, Igwe who
said he was the chairman
of Anike General Assembly
said what was demolished
was Pa Obini’s perimeter
fence which constituted
boundary between him
and Umu Anike.
According to him, the role
he played was to ensure
justice prevailed in the
community as he was not
against Pa Omabe Obini.
"The decision to demolish
the building was taken by
the Anike General
Assembly following Pa
Obini’s refusal to appear
before it for violating the
resolution on the disputed
boundary," he alleged.
Nigeria 1999 (as
amended) has laid down a
set of guidelines for the
behaviour of public officers.
It is known as the Code of
Conduct, which is
contained in the Fifth
Schedule to the
Constitution.
“The Code of Conduct
Bureau is an institution
created by the Constitution
and charged with ensuring
compliance with the Code;
whilst the Code of Conduct
Tribunal is responsible for
enforcing it.
“It is important to invite
the court’s attention to the
fact that the Recovery of
Public Property (Special
Provision) Act, CAP R4,
LFN, 2004 gives
jurisdiction to the Federal
High Court under Section
2(2)b which is not only
inconsistent with the Code
of Conduct Bureau and
Tribunal Act, but
inconsistent with section
251 of the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, which did not
include code of conduct
matters under the
jurisdiction of the Federal
High Court."