News
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has submitted the names of its nominees to replace David Umahi and Eric Igwe, governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi, respectively, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A federal high court sitting in Abuja had, on Tuesday, ordered the removal of Umahi and Igwe from office, following their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Umahi had defected from the PDP to the APC in November 2020.
Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, ruled that the constitution does not recognise transfer of ballot from one party to another.
“There is no constitutional provision that made the ballot transferrable from one party to the other,” Ekwo held.
The judge also ordered INEC to receive — from the PDP — names of persons to replace Umahi and his deputy, or in the alternative, conduct a fresh gubernatorial election in Ebonyi state in line with section 177 (c) of the 1999 constitution, as amended.
Speaking on the development at a media briefing on Tuesday, Iyorchia Ayu, PDP national chairman, said the party has nominated Iduma Igariwe and Fred Udogwu to replace Umahi and Igwe.
“After due consultations with other colleagues, we are happy to inform you that for the position of governor, the party, after due consultations with stakeholders in Ebonyi state, is putting forward Iduma Igariwe as the new governor,” Ayu said.
“For position of deputy governor, the party is putting forward Fred Udogwu.”
The Cable
Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has reacted to the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja which removed him and his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, from office on Tuesday.
Umahi, who described the judgement as embarrassing, alleged that the presiding Judge was influenced to deliver the judgement against him and his deputy.
He noted that there is no provision in the Nigeria Constitution whereby a serving Governor or his Deputy could be removed on account of defection to another political party.
He explained it is only through death, resignation or Impeachment by the state House of Assembly that a serving Governor and his Deputy could be removed from office.
Sun
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered Governor David Umahi and his Deputy, Eric Kelechi Igwe, to immediately vacate office as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State on account of their defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo in his judgment held that by defecting from the party on which they were sponsored and elected as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State to the APC, a political party that did not win the election, they had resigned or are deemed to have resigned from office.
The court made the order in a judgement on a suit filed by PDP seeking the removal of Governor Umahi and Deputy Governor Igwe from office.
The court noted that the crux of the matter was their defection from PDP to APC.
The court said the averments of the Defendants did not address the issue of defection rightly and frontally but rather resorted to general denial to affidavit evidence.
Ekwo said the depositions of the 3rd and 4th Defendants in their counter affidavit were ‘evasive and insufficient’ to competently challenge the Plaintiff’s originating process.
It was the opinion of the court that the ‘Immunity Clause’ in section 308 of the Constitution is not absolute. Section 308 is a veritable constitutional shield’ and not for political reasons.
The court said Umahi and Igwe did not controvert the deposition that total votes scored in an election belong to a political party.
Ekwo said evidence abounds that the 2nd defendant (APC) contested the Ebonyi State Governorship election held on March 2019, with its own candidates.
‘It can be noted that the Constitution does not deal with the issue of defection lightly” the court stated.
‘The 3rd and 4th Defendants cannot transfer the votes and victory of the Plaintiff on March 9, 2019, to the APC.
‘Offices of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi state belong to the PDP.
‘The option for Umahi and Igwe is to vacate office and wait for next election to contest election under the platform of its new party, the court declared.
The court said the act of the APC, Umahi and his deputy was aimed at dismantling the 1999 Constitution.
Consequently, the court declared that under the democratic system operated in Nigeria, the plaintiff won the majority of votes during the election and is entitled to enjoy the same till the end of the tenure of office for which the election was made.
Sun
PRESS RELEASE
The Transmission Company of Nigeria wishes to notify consumers of electricity that the current load shedding being experienced nationwide is as a result of very low power generation by the Generation Companies (GENCOs) for TCN to wheel through the transmission grid to distribution companies nationwide.
The media has been awash with reports that TCN has reduced the load allocation to distribution companies. That information is incorrect. The correct position is that TCN can only transmit the quantum of power generated by GenCos through the national grid to distribution load centres nationwide.
For clarity, TCN does not generate electricity and therefore can only transport cumulative generation from all the generation companies nationwide to distribution load centres. The distribution companies are responsible for end-users consumption. TCN allocates power to distribution companies based on approved percentage (formula approved by NERC), of the total generation available per hour or on day-ahead nomination.
Presently, the cumulative generation nationwide is low and generation companies have attributed this to several factors including poor gas supply, fault in generating units of generating companies, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, all of which have caused most power generating companies to limit their generation, and sometimes not generate at all.
A summary of the power generating profiles in the last two months, for instance, clearly shows that fourteen (14) gas powered generating stations were either not generating at all or had limited generation at various times within the period, further depleting the quantum of power generation available for transmission into the grid on a daily basis. Power generating stations in this category include; Omotosho units 5 & 6, Olorunsogo units 3, 4 & 6, Omoku units 3 & 6, Omotosho NIPP units 3 & 4, Delta units 15, 17, and 18, Afam VI units 11 & 12, Olorunsogo NIPP unit 3, Ihovbor NIPP unit 2, Sapele Steam unit 3, Sapele NIPP unit 1, Odukpani NIPP units 1 & 3, and Okpai units 11, 12 & 18.
Also, within the same period, Jebba Hydro and Shiroro Power Generating Stations were either out or had limited generation, causing additional loss of 232MW from the grid, while other power generating plants such as Omotosho units 3&4, Olorunsogo units 1, Delta units 10 &20, Afam VI unit 13, Ihovbor NIPP units 4, Geregu NIPP units 22&23 and Odukpani NIPP units 2, 4 & 5, have also been out either on fault or for scheduled maintenance, causing a further loss of about 3,180MW from the grid.
A combination of the above scenarios have persisted and the total effect on the grid is persistent low generation, which TCN Operators have had to strive to dispatch in a way that will not jeopardize the stability of the grid.
More recently, from the 1st to 4th of March, 2022, there was generation shortfall due to water management in Shiroro and Jebba hydro with the loss of 307MW and 125MW respectively from both stations. Within the same period, there were fault and technical problems in Egbin, causing 514MW shortfall and in Geregu causing 230MW shortfall, while reported fault at Alaoji NIPP reduced generation from the substation by 263MW.
Gas constraint alone in Olorunsogo gas generating plant reduced generation from the station by 104MW, in the same vein, Omotosho gas lost 102MW and Sapele NIPP lost 263MW. In Omotosho NIPP, there was generation shortfall of 233MW and in Omoku a shortfall of 112MW. Two units in Okpai have limited generation due to technical problems causing a 204MW drop in generation and in Afam VI 511MW drop in generation.
Gas constraint and fault in Olorunsogo NIPP reduced generation by 240MW, Geregu NIPP by 435MW, and Ihovbor by 142MW. Also, due to gas pipeline pigging, Odukpani NIPP was SHUT DOWN which caused a reduction of generation by 575MW.
TCN further reiterates that a combination of issues ranging from gas constraints, fault, and technical problems within generating plants caused persistent low generation and consequently low load allocation to Distribution Companies nationwide. This is based on the fact that TCN can only transmit what is being generated by GenCos and presently they are all generating below capacity.
It is important to note that except cumulative power generation increases considerably for TCN to transmit to distribution companies nationwide, TCN will be left with no choice than to continue to load shed. We will however continue to work hard to ensure the efficient allocation of the total load generated by power generating stations into the grid, bearing in mind the need to ensure that the national grid is stable in spite of the challenges posed by insufficient load on the transmission grid.
Signed
Ndidi Mbah
GM, Public Affairs
8/3/22
The price of automotive gas oil, also known as diesel, has hit N625 per litre in some fuel stations.
This is 4 percent higher than the N540/litre it sold last week — and about a 30 percent increase in the two weeks.
It was reported that the ex-depot price crossed N500/litre, causing fuel stations to adjust their pump prices to current realities.
The development is coming amid fears that the United States and its European allies will ban imports of Russian crude.
On Monday, global oil prices hit their highest level since 2008 at over $130 a barrel before pulling back to trade around $120 a barrel.
Luke Ofojebe, head of research, Vetiva Capital, said the hike in diesel price was due to disruption in the global oil market.
Ofojebe said the reason is that Nigeria still depends on imported petroleum products from other advanced countries — and high oil prices translate to high landing costs for the products.
Since petrol is regulated, its pump price will remain relatively stable but will lead to high subsidy expenses on the part of the government.
The Cable
Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe state and now-ousted chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) caretaker committee, took steps to scuttle the party’s national convention scheduled for March 26, the Cable can report.
Amid the crisis in the ruling party over the national convention, Buni had held on tightly to the position of APC chairman.
The Cable had reported that his desire to stay in office nearly jeopardised plans for the national convention.
The Yobe governor has been feet-dragging on preparations and issues bordering on the convention.
Unknown to members of the party, Buni and John Akpanudoedehe, national secretary of the APC caretaker committee, had hatched a plot to hold on to the control of the party.
The Cable understands that they used a third party to obtain a court order temporarily restraining the ruling party from holding its convention until a substantive suit has been heard and determined.
The suit, filed by one Salisu Umoru at the high court in the federal capital territory (FCT), had the APC and Buni as respondents.
“That the 1st Defendant/Respondent can only conduct its national convention after the hearing and determination of the substantive suit pending before this honourable court,” the court order seen by The Cable reads.
“That in the interest of justice accelerated hearing of the substantive suit is hereby ordered.
“That this matter is hereby adjourned to the 10th day of January 2022 for hearing of the substantive suit at High Court No. 15, Kubwa, FCT-Abuja.”
BUHARI ASKS NIGER GOVERNOR TO REPLACE BUNI
The Cable understands that after learning of Buni’s ploy and the court order, President Muhammadu Buhari directed Abubakar Sani Bello, governor of Niger, to replace the Yobe governor who is currently on a medical trip in Dubai.
A highly-placed source disclosed that the president got to know about the court order a week ago.
“The president asked the Niger governor to replace Buni when he became aware of the document,” the source said.
“Buni and Akpanudoedehe who is the national secretary will have to vacate their offices immediately.”
Speaking with reporters at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Monday, Bello said he has been acting as the party’s chairman “for a while.”
BUNI OUT IN THE COLD?
The Cable understands that Buhari’s decision on Buni has set off a chain reaction resulting in the isolation of the Yobe state governor by his formerly-sympathetic colleagues.
Muhammad Badaru, Jigawa governor; Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna governor; Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi governor; and Yahaya Bello, Kogi governor, are believed to have turned their backs on Buni, another source said.
“Buni does not have anybody to speak for him now. The APC governors who supported him have taken sides with Mr President,” the source added.
Nice Andrew Omininikoron, the BRT driver, who allegedly killed a lady passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, in Lagos, was arrested by officers of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Ososa-Ijebu, Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.
His friend, “who was protecting and hiding him”, was also arrested.
This was disclosed on Monday by Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi.
Alabi said the suspect, after committing the act, ran to Ososa-Ijebu, where he was arrested.
There was public outcry following the release of an audio and video conversation Ayanwola had with a friend while inside the bus which she boarded in Lekki area of Lagos.
She told the friend that she was afraid because the driver did not pick other passengers. She also sent the bus number.
Later, the driver picked three other ‘passengers’, a move that looked suspicious, forcing Ayanwola to tell her friend through video call.
A few minutes later, the friend could not reach her again.
Her mother later stormed the BRT Yard with some relatives, shouting ‘this is the bus that took my daughter. Where is the driver?’
Alabi said following the disappearance of the driver, detectives were immediately dispatched to look for him.
The body of the lady was later found on Carter Bridge, Lagos Island.
Family members immediately identified the body, prompting security agents to intensify their search.
The body has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy to be conducted.
Alabi said: “After the recovery of the body, information came in that the suspect has been arrested by officers of the Department of State Security at Ososa -Ijebu where he went to hide in a friend’s house. The friend was also arrested.
“The 47-year-old suspect has not made any useful information on why he killed the lady. We condole with the bereaved family and assure them that justice would be served accordingly.” he said.
The lead counsel to Sunday Igboho, Yomi Aliyyu, SAN says the Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo has not been released finally.
According to him, "he was only released to be taken to the hospital to attend to his ill health in a Beninoise hospital after about 231 days in detention".
"The last time we spoke, I told you that we were making arrangements to take him to the hospital over his ill health. So, he was released based on health grounds".
Barrister Aliyyu said, "I am to inform you that Chief Sunday Adeyemo has been released from prison to his medical practitioners under the agreement that he should not leave the medical centre or Cotonou for any reason".
"Praises should be given to two prominent Yoruba personalities to wit Professor Wole Soyinka and Professor Akintoye for this turnaround in our client’s matter" he stated.
Earlier, the Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Ighoho, was widely reported to have been released by the Government of Republic of Benin, finally.
The umbrella body of Yoruba Self-determination Group, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, announced this in a statement on Monday.
The statement issued by Ilana Omo Oodua’s spokesperson, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, was titled, ‘Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo Ighoho released to Yoruba leader, Banji Akintoye; French language expert, Adeniran by the Benin Republic Government’.
Details of his release were sketchy as at the time of filing this report.
The statement reads, “Yoruba Nation Activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Ighoho, has been released by the Government of Republic of Benin.
“The Activist was released on Monday to a Yoruba Leader and Leader of the Umbrella body of Yoruba Self-determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Banji Akintoye and a French Language Expert/ Deputy Alana of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Wale Adeniran.
“Akintoye described the release of Ighoho as a triumph of truth over darkness in Yorubaland.”
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command on Monday says the driver of a Bus Rapid Transit, BRT who drove murdered 22-year-old Oluwabamise Ayanwole has been arrested.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Adekunle Ajisebutu, made this known in a chat on Monday, even as he confirmed that the dead body of the lady has been found.
He also said the killers of Ayanwole, who got missing in transit while onboard the bus would face justice.
According to the PPRO, the remains of the lady was dumped on the Carter Bridge by Ogogoro Community by her abductors.
It will be recalled that Ayanwola got missing while returning to Ota from Ajah on February 26 when she boarded a BRT bus with number 240257 going to Oshodi at about 7pm at Chevron Bus-Stop.
A 22-year-old lady, Miss Oluwabamise Ayanwola, who got missing after boarding a Lagos Bus Rapid Transit vehicle, has been found dead.
One of Ayanwola’s relatives confirmed this on Monday.
“We are at the morgue. We have confirmed the corpse,” the relative said in an emotion-laden voice.
It was learnt that her corpse was dropped on Lagos Island by a BRT vehicle and a jeep.
Upon sighting the corpse by the roadside, an unknown man reportedly informed officials of Ebute Ero Police Station on Saturday evening.
The corpse was later taken to the Mainland Hospital mortuary.
“An autopsy will be carried out to confirm if any part of her body is missing,” the relative said.
Ayanwola got missing while returning to Ota from Ajah on Saturday, February 26 when she boarded a BRT bus with number 240257 going to Oshodi at about 7 p.m. at Chevron Bus-Stop.
It was gathered that the victim worked as a Fashion Designer at Chevron Estate, Ajah and spent weekends at Ota, Ogun State, with her sister.
Sensing danger as the bus did not pick any other passenger at subsequent bus stops, Oluwabamise had engaged a friend using voice notes on her phone.
The voice notes showed that the bus driver said he liked Oluwabamise and asked for her name and other details.
She told her friend to pray for her as she became suspicious of the bus driver and in response, the friend told her to alight at Oworonsoki bus stop — before Oshodi bus stop.
Oluwabamise had also sent a video to her friend showing how dark it was in the bus and said, “There are three men and one woman in the bus. The woman is sitting at the back. That’s the number of the bus in case. Please pray for me.’’
That was the last that was heard from Oluwabamise, according to her mother.
It was also reported that the missing lady’s elder brother, James, said that Bamise was heard struggling with someone on the bus during last phone conversation with her.
He said, “The driver took to his heels. As we speak, he is at large. We learnt that he no longer resides where he claimed he resided. It is a case of kidnapping.
“If the driver were available, we may have said it was a case of a missing person. Moreover, she boarded the bus and three people were picked up along the road. When she was called, she didn’t pick up her call. When she picked, she was heard struggling with a man, so this is not a case of a missing person. I believe this (kidnapping) has been ongoing.
“From my little investigation, I discovered that the company does not have proper documentation of their drivers. We learnt that the driver moved from where he claimed to be living over a year ago and his guarantor doesn’t live where he claimed to be living. The company is trying to push us aside and keep it away from the press. Our parents are aware but they aged, so we had to convince them that all is well. But we have been having sleepless nights.
The Police in Lagos and the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit are still searching for the BRT driver in whose bus the 22-year-old lady was allegedly kidnapped.
More...
President Muhammadu Buhari is still expected to travel to London, United Kingdom, for his medical checkup despite his surprise return to the country.
The president’s aircraft touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 1pm on Friday.
Bashir Ahmad, personal assistant to the president on new media, had tweeted Buhari’s arrival in the country.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja, after his participation in the 50th Anniversary of the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya,” he wrote on his Twitter handle.
The president’s return took many by surprise, given the earlier spelt-out details of his itinerary.
Femi Adesina, senior special adviser to the president on media and publicity, had announced the planned medical trip in a statement issued on Tuesday, March 1.
“From Kenya, Buhari will proceed to London for routine medical checks that will last for a maximum of two weeks,” Adesina had said.
The trip to Kenya was for the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
In spite of his unexpected return to the country, TheCable understands that Buhari’s medical checkup has not been cancelled.
According to a source in the presidency, the trip is “still on” and the president will see his doctors as planned.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the president is expected to depart for London in the next couple of days, the source added.
The Cable
Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has approved a new dress code allowing hijab for female officers in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
According to the police, the new dress code also allows female officers to wear stud earrings under their berets or peak caps while in uniform.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, in a statement on Friday, said the new dress code was unveiled on Thursday at a meeting involving the IGP and “strategic police managers”.
Adejobi said the new dress code was approved to guarantee gender inclusion in the police for “optimum output and professionalism”.
“The IGP noted that the Nigeria police workforce has officers from every local government in the country with a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds, and an increased inclusion of female folks,” the statement reads.
“This, therefore, brings the need to guarantee inclusion, gender mainstreaming, ethnic and religious diversity in the workplace for optimum output and professionalism.
“This has informed the improvement for effective global workforce diversity management. Other countries that have adopted the same dress code include Canada, the United States of America, Sweden, Turkey, Australia and the United Kingdom, amongst others.
“The dress code is optional and senior women police officers have been tasked by the IGP to ensure compliance with the approved standard for women police officers who have opted to adopt the dress code.
“The Inspector-General of Police noted that this development, which is in line with international best practices, addresses the growing concern for gender mainstreaming and respect for culture and diversity.”
The Cable
The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has donated $1 million to Afghanistan.
Secretary-General of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, disclosed this in a statement.
Commending the Nigerian government, Taha said OIC remains committed to supporting Afghanistan.
“The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha has commended with appreciation the generous donation of one million dollars made by the Republic of Nigeria to the Humanitarian Trust Fund for Afghanistan.”
“This donation comes in time to add a new momentum to OIC’s efforts to contribute to easing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and to help in catering for the needs of millions of Afghan people, including women and children.
“OIC remains committed to the noble cause of supporting the Afghan people and will spare no effort in implementing to the full the special resolution on Afghanistan issued by the last extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held in December 2021 in Islamabad, Republic of Pakistan.
“The OIC appeals to all Member States, stakeholders and partners to come on board and make contributions to the humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan through the bank account reserved for this fund within the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).”
Afghanistan was plunged into crisis after The Taliban took control following the withdrawal of American troops in August.
The country currently faces hardship under the oppressive regime of The Taliban.
Daily Trust
Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, has explained reasons behind the recent poor power supply, citing hydro capacity during dry season and maintenance work at gas plants.
Since February, most parts of the country have been experiencing poor power supply — worse than it used to be.
The minister at a press briefing Thursday in Abuja said the outage experienced around the country is being addressed through three approaches.
“I would like to discuss the increased load shedding you may have observed in Abuja and other areas in the country. With the reduction in hydro capacity during the dry season, additional load needs to be taken up by our gas plants,” he said.
“We are having maintenance work in the Eastern Axis around Odukpani leading to reduced power supply from the usually reliable NDPHC Calabar Power Plant and we are having challenges at Okoloma Gas Station linked to Afam VI power plant.
“We are working with NNPC and other gas suppliers also to improve the pressure on the Western Axis that is precluding units from reaching optimum supply.”
In addressing the challenges, the minister said the government is working on more gas supply contracts for the power sector backed by improved funding. He said the contracts will have stiff financial penalties for underperformance.
He also said there will be an increased energy mix to improve energy security.
“We will complete the Zungeru Hydro plant, the Katsina Wind plant, Kashimbila Hydro as well as ensure the challenges with Gurara are permanently resolved (partnering with the Ministry of Water). We are also working to resolve issues that have prevented large on-grid solar from taking off in Nigeria.
“We are re-tooling the system operator for improved dispatch optimization based on technologies and improved maintenance schedule alignments across generators.
“The challenges have been identified and we have short term solutions as well as long term solutions,” he said.
PT