Politics

Ifeanyi Ubah’s Song of Victory

Published

4 years ago

March 19, 2020

Adebayo

If a horse, as the Yoruba would say, could walk in the belly of Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah it would not tumble.

This feeling of excitement was even visible to the blind today , Thursday, March 19, when the Court of Appeal, Abuja division affirmed him as the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District. While the court nullified the judgment of an Abuja High Court removing Senator Ubah from the National Assembly.

A three-man panel of justices of the appellate court held that the judgment delivered by Justice Bello Kawu of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was a nullity because the suit was unlawfully instituted and did not comply with any known law.

Ubah, the candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the February 23 senatorial elections, had in January this year approached the Court of Appeal to upturn the judgment of Justice Kawu, which ordered his removal from the Senate over alleged act of forgery.

Delivering judgment in the appeal, the court held that its findings revealed that the originating summons was not signed by the counsel to the plaintiffs.

Ubah had in a motion filed on March 6, 2020 by his lead lawyer, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), urged the court to hold that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to have heard the matter in the first place because the originating summon was incompetent having not been signed by the lawyer who instituted the legal action.

In its ruling, the appellate court agreed that the failure to sign the originating summons was fatal to the case, as well as the judgment which arose from it.

According to Justice Adah, for the process to command legitimacy, it must be duly signed, adding that the rule of the lower court makes signing mandatory.

“An incompetent originating process cannot activate the jurisdiction of the court. Therefore in the instant case, the court processes are defective and incurably bad. The law is clear and unambiguous that it is mandatory that originating process must be signed. This is fundamental that validity of originating summon must not be in dispute. Any originating summons not signed by a counsel who issued it out is worthless and incompetent,” he said.

Also delivering judgment in the main appeal, Justice Adah held that the judgment and the entire process being incompetent cannot be affected by section 285 which makes a case invalid if not filed within 14 days.

The Court of Appeal also held that there was no evidence that Senator Ubah was given fair hearing before judgment was entered against him at the lower court.

Justice Adah also held that the lower court in the first instance ought not to have heard the case since the cause of litigation arose outside its jurisdiction.

Ubah, who represents Anambra South Senatorial District at the upper legislative Chambers, was declared winner of the February 23 Anambra South Senatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and was accordingly sworn in as a Senator of the 9th Assembly last year.

His election was also upheld by the Anambra State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

However, Justice Kawu delivering judgment on April 11, 2019 in a suit filed by one Anani Chuka, nullified Ubah’s election on the premise that he allegedly used a forged National Examination Council (NECO) certificate to contest the senatorial election that brought him into office as Senator.

Justice Kawu on January 17, 2020, further upheld his judgment in a ruling on Ubah’s application seeking a setting aside of his sack order on the grounds that the application lacked merit.

The court after sacking Ubah ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return it issued to Ubah and issue a fresh one to Dr. Obinna Uzoh of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second in the election.

Miffed by the decision, Ubah had on same day approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment which he insisted occasioned grave miscarriage of justice against him.

Respondents in the appeal include Anani Chuka, Young Progressive Party (YPP), INEC and Dr Obinna Uzoh as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively.

**Additional Information from Thisday.

Politics

WHY IS ODUNMBAKU BABA ETO’S NAME ON EVERY LIP? – By Sesan Lamuye, A Political Analyst

Published

2 weeks ago

April 12, 2024

Adebayo

Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku, the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) cleric and political engineer, is one of a kind who stands in a unique class of his own.

His types don’t happen too commonly. Infact, in our clime, he is a rarity, to have one person clothed in celestial and terrestial robes so fittingly.

Only few of his peers can honestly say they don’t envy his sartorial elegance whenever he appears in his ecumenical garments. And when he sheds that, to adorn the political regalia, he’s also a people’s delight.

Few of his type readily come to mind anywhere – in Africa or in any continent. I think of Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and, elegantly speaking, Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus who ruled from both the pulpit and the polity in his life time.

Odunmbaku, better known as “Baba Eto”, is a mortal, but given the extraordinary gift of the garb and demonstrable style that is uniquely his own, he’s fast assuming the status of an indispensable human specie.

His type acquire larger than life status that is bound to attract positivity and negativity.

Those who are enamoured of him present to the world a cult-like image of him. To them, he can do no wrong. One such person, before the satanic instinct in man, reared its ugly head in him, was so fanatical of the man, Eto, he registered some of his personal vehicles “Aremo”, for which he used to tell those who cared to know, that he was “heir-apparent” to Eto. Today, that person is singing new tunes, as if his new listeners cannot decipher sychophancy and crass opportunism in his new drumbeats.

Another was said to have appeared at a political interview panel where, when asked what credentials she had to seek a position, she matter-of-factly told the panelists “Eto”. And when repeatedly asked what qualifications did she have to think she was fit for the job, she retorted: ” Eto ! Eto !! Eto !!!

That secured the job for her !

Such a person is bound to attract envy, jealousy and disdain, dislike, or even hatred to himself. That is the fate of Baba Eto !

There must be something extra going for the “priestly-politico” that the talent-discoverer, otherwise known as Bola Ahmed Tinubu, identified him to drive his gubernatorial campaign in Lagos State; and has ever since held on to him so fanatically that he has solely led the campaign of other guber candidates like Babatunde Raji Fashola, Akunwunmi Ambode and Babajide Sanwoolu to roaring successes.

If beneficiaries of Baba Eto’s gifts turn round to paint scurrilous pictures of the man, such people can only be consigned to the dustbin in which immortal Chief Obafemi Awolowo put those he described as ingrates of his large-ness of heart. As the late sage declared: ” There’s no escape for those who deny benefits”

Let the person without any blemish come out and cast the first stone. If we put aside belly-aching, jealousy and such-like vices, you cannot encounter Odunmbaku, Baba Eto, on the pulpit or the political rostrum and not doff your hats for this quintessential orator, mobiliser and professor of political mobilisation.

If some see him negatively from the positive binoculars with which Tinubu and many more view Baba Eto, then such minority must be wearing blurry blinkers in their faces.

45
/ 100

Politics

Ondo 2024: Akinterinwa meets APC SWC, formally declares for Governor

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Adebayo

Frontline aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state Hon. Wale Akinterinwa, on Tuesday, visited the state secretariat of the APC in Akure, where he formally declared his intention to contest the state Governorship election billed for later this year.

Accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Oluremi Akinterinwa, and a host of notable party leaders from across the 18 local government areas of the state, Akinterinwa met with members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party during the visit.

During the program, Barr. Ajisafe introduced Hon. Akinterinwa’s campaign team, which included the member of the House of Representatives representing Ile-Oluji/Odigbo and past commissioners in the state.

The APC state chairman, Engineer Ade Adetimehin, supported by the party’s publicity secretary, Mr Alex Kalejaiye took turns to introduce other members of the state Working Committee to Hon. Wale Akinterinwa and his team.

In his address, Wale Akinterinwa outlined his extensive educational career and political experience, spanning from Lagos to Ondo State. He passionately presented his plans for the government and people of Ondo State if he is elected governor.

Emphasizing his commitment to the well-being of the people and evelopment of the state, Akinterinwa highlighted several key areas of focus.

According to him, emphasis would be placed on the following key areas:

(i) Education: Improving the quality of education at all levels, from primary to tertiary.

(ii) Healthcare: Expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare services.

(ii) Infrastructure: Investing in critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and energy.

(iv) Agriculture: Boosting agricultural productivity and creating job opportunities in the agricultural sector.

(v) Youth Empowerment: Providing skills training, employment opportunities, and support for young people.

Speaking further, the frontline aspirant emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration within the party to ensure a successful election

41
/ 100

Politics

APC Group, Ondo Govt, Quarrel Over Money for Endorsement

Published

1 month ago

March 19, 2024

Adebayo

Lucky Aiyedatiwa

The Ondo State government and a group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Ondo State Redemption Initiative (OSRI) have disagreed over the allegation that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is using the State resources to fund his governorship ambition.

While OSRI said the governor has planned to use the resources of the State to procure endorsement of State lawmakers in Abuja’s secretariat of the APC, the government described the allegation as balderdash and not worthy of its reaction.

The group through its President, Pastor Adebayo Ogunsanmi, Secretary, Jide Oriola, and Publicity Secretary, Sunday Ayeni accused the Aiyedatiwa of setting aside $180 million to bribe lawmakers for phantom endorsement.

The group said it would be wrong for a Governor to use the State’s resources for selfish political ambition when majority of citizens are wallowing in abject poverty.

In a statement titled ‘Aiyedatiwa offers lawmakers $10.000 dollars for Abuja endorsement’ said Aiyedatiwa has taken his desperation to another level by using dollars to bribe lawmakers for endorsement.

The group said the previous endorsement has been denied and warned the governor against using the State’s resources meant for Infrastructural development to bribe lawmakers who have lost relevance in their constituency.

The OSRI said “Desperate effort by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state to offer 10,000 dollars to each member of the state assembly for endorsement has been exposed.

“The plot, according to inside sources, will involve a trip by 18 lawmakers from the state to accompany the governor to the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during which they will stage the endorsement.

“Aiyedatiwa is desperately going round for endorsements. The latest is a plan to get 18 lawmakers from the state to accompany him to the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja where they will endorse him.

“But since he knew that he could not get the 18 members to do the dirty job, he has offered each member 18,000 dollars, believing that the money would be too tempting to reject.”

However, the government in its reaction through Special Assistant to Aiyedatiwa on New Media, Mr Sunday Abire described the allegation as hogwash.

Abire said “Why will the Governor bribe the Ondo State House of Assembly in the first? The same Governor that has been accused by politicians of not being a spendthrift? Which should we hold dearly now? It is the season of mischief and the Governor is too focused to be distracted.”