Headlines
We Are Ready for Probe, Ihedioha, Okorocha Tell Uzodinma
Former governors of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha and Rochas Okorocha said on Thursday that they were not bothered by Governor Hope Uzodinma’s resolve to probe the financial activities of the state from 2010 till date.
Former Governors Ikedi Ohakim, Okorocha and Ihedioha were in charge of the state during the period.
Uzodinma had, in his inaugural speech said, “I hereby direct the Accountant-General of the state to, within four days, forward to me the comprehensive financial status of the state from May 2010 till date.
“I also direct the permanent secretaries of all the ministries to, within the same period, forward the status of the contracts awarded within the time frame. Payment of all ongoing contracts is hereby stopped.”
But Ihedioha on Thursday said he did not misappropriate the state’s funds while in office between May 29, 2019 and January 14, 2020.
Ihedioha was sacked by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The former governor spoke to our correspondent through his media aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu.
Onyeukwu said Ihedioha’s administration was hinged on due process, accountability and transparency.
He said, “The former governor is not tensed about the probe order. His Excellency hinged his administration on due process, accountability and transparency.
“There is nothing wrong if the new governor says that he wants to look into the books. We are fine by it.”
Also, Okorocha said he was not opposed to the planned probe.
The former governor, in a tweet on Thursday, said, “Let me reiterate that I have nothing against being probed. What I did not agree with was the attempt to misuse power to harass and intimidate me or any of my supporters.”
Okorocha also dispelled the speculation that he was having serious political battle with Uzodinma.
The former governor, who spoke to our correspondent through his spokesperson, Sam Onwuemeodo, said the political disagreement he had with Uzodinma ahead of the All Progressives Congress’ governorship primary election in the state in 2018 did not resort to a quarrel.
Okorocha, who described the governor as his brother and party man, said whatever disagreement he had with Uzodinma remained “politics.”
The Punch
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (NWC) has suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature for one month.
The suspension comes on the heels of the judgement of the Federal High Court On Friday, which stopped the party’s planned national convention.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists in Abuja on Saturday, that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the national working committee, which was held in Abuja.
President Donald Trump of the United States on Friday designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), in response to allegations of widespread persecution and genocide against Christians.
Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that Christianity faces a serious threat in Nigeria.
The US leader also added Nigeria to a State Department watch list.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.
According to the US president, he was placing Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, on a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations the US deems to have engaged in religious freedom violations.
According to the State Department’s website, the list includes China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan, among others.
Trump said he had asked US Representatives Riley Moore and Tom Cole, as well as the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, to look into the matter and report back to him.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Hon. Abubakar Gummi from the House of Representatives after he left the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmaker represented the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the ruling, holding that Gummi’s defection breached the Constitution.
The court said the seat does not belong to any politician but to the political party that sponsored the election.
According to the judgment, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, is barred from recognising Gummi “as a member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.”
The judge also instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission to “conduct a fresh election” for the vacant seat within 30 days.
The case was instituted by the PDP and its Zamfara chairman, who insisted that Gummi’s move to the APC had no legal justification. They argued that there was no division in the PDP to support his defection, as required by Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution.
Gummi, through his counsel, claimed he left the PDP due to internal crises which he said made it “impossible” to serve his constituents effectively. The judge, however, dismissed his arguments and granted all the reliefs requested by the plaintiffs.
Justice Egwuatu, in a firm comment, warned politicians against what he described as reckless party hopping.
“Political prostitution must not be rewarded,” he declared, adding that lawmakers must not transfer votes won on one party’s platform to another party.
The court also ordered Gummi to refund all salaries and allowances received from October 30, 2024, until the date of judgment. He is also barred from earning any further benefits as a member of the House.
Additionally, the judge imposed a N500,000 cost against the defendants in favour of the PDP.
