Tag: Imo State

Uzodinma Dissolves All Boards And Parastatals Constituted By Ihedioha

Imo APC Faction Expels Hope Uzodinma
Senator Hope Uzodinma

 

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has dissolved all boards and parastatals constituted by the ousted government of Emeka Ihedioha.

Governor Uzodinma ordered the chairmen and members of the boards and parastatals to hand over all government property in their possession to the most senior civil servants in their respective agencies.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: ‘Tanko Must Go’ – Ihedioha’s Supporters Troop To The Streets

The Chief Press secretary to the Imo state Governor, Ogwuike Nwachukwu who confirmed this dissolution to Channels Television, said the directive is with immediate effect.

Governor Uzodinma had on Sunday debunked rumours making rounds in the state that he planned to probe his predecessors.

He explained that his directive to the Accountant-General of the state and the officials of the civil service to furnish him with the financial statement of the state may have been misconstrued.

PHOTOS: ‘Tanko Must Go’ – Ihedioha’s Supporters Troop To The Streets

 

Supporters of Mr Emeka Ihedioha trooped to the streets of Owerri on Sunday to kick against the verdict of the Supreme Court which led to the removal of the PDP candidate as governor of Imo State.

The apex court had on Tuesday last week ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to return Hope Uzodinma, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election.

The APC candidate had placed a distant fourth in the results announced by INEC but the apex court declared him winner based on Uzodinma’s claim that his votes across 388 polling units were annulled.

Diverse reactions were stirred by the verdict, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) threatening and carrying out protest marches across the federation, including a peaceful walk in Abuja on Monday.

READ ALSO: PDP Stages ‘Mother Of All Protests’ Against Supreme Court Judgement

Below are some photos from the protest which held on Sunday.

 

PDP Stages ‘Mother Of All Protests’ Against Supreme Court Judgement

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has embarked on what it termed “mother of all protests” against last week’s Supreme Court judgement on Imo Governorship appeal.

The apex court on Tuesday last week nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha as the governor of Imo State and unanimously declared Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 9 governorship election.

READ ALSO: Supreme Court Affirms Election Of Governor Ganduje

A huge crowd of protesters, led by the national chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, armed with placards, waving party flags, took off from the PDP headquarters annex in Abuja, to the Supreme Court to express their dissatisfaction with the judgement.

See photos below:

 

 

 

‘Reverse This Injustice Now’ – PDP Members Troop To Streets Across Nigeria

 

Hundreds of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in some states across the nation are currently staging a protest against the supreme court ruling that sacked Emeka Ihedioha as the governor of Imo State. 

The protesters carrying placards with various inscriptions could be seen calling on the leadership of the Supreme Court to immediately take a judicial review of the judgment and make a quick reversal in the best interest of the people.

Some described the supreme court judgment as an anomaly that does not reflect the true desires of Imo voters during the 2019 governorship elections.

The protests are currently taking place in Abia, Imo, Anambra, Taraba, Gombe and some other states of the federation.

A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court last week unanimously nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha and declared Hope Uzodinma of the APC as the winner of the march 9 governorship election in the state.

Uzodinma placed a distant fourth in the results announced by INEC was announced the winner after the Apex court declared him the right person for the governorship seat, based on the APC candidate’s claim that his votes across 388 polling units were annulled.

Below are photos from the protests taking place in different states across the federation.

 

 

 

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Imo: I Never Said I’ll Probe My Predecessors, Says Gov Uzodinma


 

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has debunked rumours making rounds in the state that he planned to probe his predecessors.

Governor Uzodinma disclosed this after inspecting some structures at the government house in Owerri.

The Governor said even though the business of governance includes probing and accountability, his directive to the Accountant-General of the state and the officials of the civil service to furnish him with the financial statement of the state may have been misconstrued.

“When I asked for a status report from all the ministries, many people misunderstood it or assumed that the purpose of calling for that information is because I want to probe; I never said that I was going to probe anybody.

“The business of governance involves probing if need be; so I needed that information because there is no official handover from anybody, and for me to start the work, I need to know what is on the ground.”

READ ALSO: Imo Election: Nigeria Will Emerge Stronger – Ihedioha

 

 

He said since there’s been no proper handover from the immediate past government, if during an investigation and for proper accountability there’s need to call on anyone for Questioning as it deems fit, the Government will not hesitate to do so, but he hasn’t made any pronouncement of probing anyone. He urges the media to get accurate facts and statements before publishing.

“We will start and in the course of doing our business, if there are things that require investigation, we will subject them to an investigation. My business here is to govern the people, and in the process, if there is any need for any particular issue to be investigated or probed I will do that, but let nobody begin to speak for me because I have not said that yet.”

On the state of infrastructure in the government house, he said the government will begin renovation as soon as possible to enable the business of governance kick start in earnest.

Hope Uzodinma Sworn In As Imo State Governor

 

 

Senator Hope Uzodinma has been sworn in as the governor of Imo State.

The governor-elect and his deputy, Professor Placid Njoku, were sworn in by the Chief Justice of the state, Justice Pascal Nnadi.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Imo State Government House, hours after Senator Uzodinma received his certificate of return from INEC in Abuja and one day after the Supreme Court nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha and declared him the elected governor of the state.

The National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of the State, Senator Rochas Okorocha and governorship candidate of APGA in the 2019 governorship election, Ifeanyi Ararume were among those in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony.

Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, who had predicted that Senator Uzodinma will emerge as governor of the state, was among those who were present at the event.

The priest had drawn a large crowd upon his arrival as many swarmed his car praising him for his prediction.

READ ALSO: We Owe This Victory To Functional Judiciary – Uzodinma

Several APC chieftains, including APC National Vice Chairman, Emma Eneukwu, APC National Organising Secretary, Emma Ibediro, the Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly Chiji, as well as Ahmed Gulak and Andy Uba, were also in attendance.

Earlier, Senator Hope Uzodinma had said that he owes his gubernatorial victory at the Supreme Court to a functional judiciary.

Speaking after he received the Certificate of Return from the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) as the governor-elect of Imo State, Sen Uzodinma stated that the Supreme Court’s judgment is justice for the Imo People.

“We owe this victory to the almighty God, we owe it to the functional judiciary, the Supreme Court used the eagle eyes of the law and gave us justice, and there is so much excitement down there in Imo state,” Uzodinma said.

Senator Uzodinma told newsmen that the verdict was the wish of the Imo people who came out and voted for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and himself.

Mr. Uzodinma also noted that there is happiness in Imo State, adding that this is a sign that the peoples’expectations and the mandate which they have given him, was protected.

The governor-elect promised to deliver for the Imo people, stating that he owes them that much.

We Owe This Victory To Functional Judiciary – Uzodinma

 

Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that he owes his gubernatorial victory at the Supreme Court to a functional judiciary.

Speaking after he received the Certificate of Return from the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) as the governor-elect of Imo State, Sen Uzodinma stated that the Supreme Court’s judgment is justice for the Imo People.

“We owe this victory to the almighty God, we owe it to the functional judiciary, the Supreme Court used the eagle eyes of the law and gave us justice, and there is so much excitement down there in Imo state,” Uzodinma said.

READ ALSO: Hope Uzodinma Receives Certificate Of Return As Imo Governor-Elect

Senator Uzodinma told newsmen that the verdict was the wish of the Imo people who came out and voted for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and himself.

Mr. Uzodinma also noted that there is happiness in Imo State, adding that this is a sign that the peoples’expectations and the mandate which they have given him, was protected.

The governor-elect promised to deliver for the Imo people, stating that he owes them that much.

“I think I owe them a great deal of work to ensure that their democratic dividends and the things that they believed I will do as a governor will be done and brought to a conclusive end.”

Imo Election: Uche Nwosu Withdraws Appeal Against Governor Ihedioha

Imo APC Governorship Candidate, Uche Nwosu

 

The candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the March 9, 2019 governorship election in Imo State, Uche Nwosu, has withdrawn his second appeal filed against the election of Governor Emeka Ihedioha before the Supreme Court.

According to his counsel, Mr. Solomon Umoh (SAN), the withdrawal on Tuesday is based on the judgment of the apex court delivered on the 20th of December 2019.

The apex court canceled out the candidature of Mr. Nwosu under the flagship of the Action Alliance (AA) over the double nomination.

READ ALSO: Supreme Court Stands Down Judgment On Imo Governorship Election

Mr Nwosu had won the nomination to contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC), but the internal wrangling within the ruling party made it impossible for him to be presented as the party’s candidate, which necessitated his defection to AA at the last minute.

The Supreme Court held that by virtue of Nwosu’s double candidature and in line with the clear provisions of the Electoral Act, he was bound to be disqualified from the election and affirmed the judgments of the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Imo State Gets New Police Commissioner

 

A new commissioner of police has been posted to the Imo State Police Command.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesman SP Ikeokwu Godson Orlando, the new commissioner is CP Fafowora Bolaji Olaniyi.

Mr Olaniyi takes over from CP Rabiu Ladodo who is retiring after thirty-five years of service.

CP Fafowora Bolaji Olaniyi hails from Osun State, He enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1986.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Another Abuja Bank Robbery Suspect

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science.

He has served the force in various capacities and in different commands and formations. Until his recent posting to the command, he was in charge of Counter-Terrorist Until (CTU) force Headquarters Abuja.

“He is happily married and blessed with children, he assumes duty as the thirty-fifth (35) commissioner of police Imo State police command,” the command’s statement partly read.

Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Hospital Facility Owned By Sitting Senator

Man Bags 15 Years In Prison For N5.2m Fraud

 

 

A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital has ordered the final forfeiture of a multi-million-naira hospital facility allegedly belonging to the senator representing Ideato North and South Federal constituency, Pascal Obi.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on August 22, 2019, secured the interim forfeiture of the property from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following evidence that the multi-million naira facility may have been acquired through fraudulent and corrupt activities.

According to the anti-graft agency, funds belonging to the Imo State Government were traced to the hospital after it was established that Mr Obi was a signatory to the government house account under the Rochas Okorocha administration.

Obi who was a Principal Secretary to the former governor, however, denied ownership of the facility.

The agency further stated in a statement, that the managing director of the hospital on invitation, could not give a clear account of how the hospital was funded.

Consequently, this prompted it to file for the forfeiture of the property on July 25, 2019, under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud, and Other Related Offences Act 2006.

In granting the request for the interim forfeiture of the property, the court ordered the anti-graft agency to publish the order in a national newspaper, which was accordingly complied, asking interested parties to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the federal government within fourteen days from the dates of the publications.

Upon the expiration of the 14-day notice and with no one showing interest in the hospital, the commission filed for the final forfeiture of the facility which was finally granted by the federal high court in Owerri.

Imo DPR Sets Up Laboratory To Checkmate Sale Of Adulterated Petroleum Products

file photo

 

The Department of Petroleum Resources, Owerri, Imo State, has set up a laboratory for petroleum quality analysis.

According to the Zonal Controller Operations of the DPR in the state, Peter Ijeh, the setting up of the laboratory is part of efforts to identify and checkmate sales of adulterated petroleum products in the state.

While showing journalists around the new laboratory, Ijeh said the agency will soon commence operations and serious sanctions await any independent marketer or groups found guilty of selling adulterated products to the public.