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reporters dispatch, May 21 — May 28, 2013
News
Around Nigeria
Police nab 3 suspected female kidnappers
T
he Police Command in Delta on Monday arrested three females suspects in connection with the abduction of the wife of a staff of the Delta State University in Abraka. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba, represented by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Lucky Uyabeme, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Asaba. He gave the names of the suspects as Jennifer Stephen, Oreva Ofiare and Esther Omemeye. The commissioner said that the
lecturer’s wife who was abducted on April 4 at Obiaruku in the Ukwuani Local Government Area was taken to a hideout in Ozoro in the Isoko South Local Government Area of the state. Aduba said that the police freed the victim, recovered N1.2 million ransom paid to the suspects, a gun and 50 rounds of cartridges. According to the commissioner, a team from the Special AntiKidnapping Unit, acting on information tracked the suspects to a house in Ozoro. “On sighting the squad the suspects opened fire and in a gun exchange that
3 PDP Members Want 11 National Officers Removed An Abuja High Court will on June 10th hear the case filed by three members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to nullify the election of the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Sam Sam Jaja, and 10 others.
J
ustice Suleman Belgore, who fixed the case for hearing ordered parties in the case to file all their papers before the adjourned date. He warned that he would not tolerate any distraction from parties involved. Three members of the People’s Dem ocratic Party, Abba Yale from
Borno State, Yahaya Aruwa Sule from Taraba State and Bashir Maidugu from Borno State, had instituted the suit seeking to enforce the Independent National Electoral Commission report which invalidated the election of Mr. Jaja as the party’s deputy national chairman, and the 10 others. The suit is predicated on the grounds that the emergence of the defendants as officers of the PDP was a nullity by virtue of the fact that certain provisions of the constitution of the party were breached. In a 27-paragraph affidavit, the plaintiffs averred that the continuous holding of office by the defendants as national officers of the PDP, will “jeopardise the workings and or activities of the party, including the conduct of future nomination or election of candidates into public offices.” It was further claimed that the INEC monitoring team, which monitored the contentious 24 March 2012 national convention, “observed and reported that the mode of election adopted for single candidates was not in accordance with the mode of election stipulated in paragraph 6.0 (ii) of page 17 of the guidelines for the conduct of year 2012 convention and therefore unacceptable to the commission.” Apart from Mr Jaja, other members of the PDP National Working Committee (NEC), who are battling to keep their jobs by virtue of the originating summons, include: Solomon Onwe (Deputy National
Sam Jaja
Secretary), Bala Ka’Oje (National Treasurer), Bode Mustapha (National Auditor), Umar Tsauri (Deputy National Auditor), Olisa Metuh (National Publicity Secretary). Others are Kema Chikwe (Women Leader), Victor Kwon (National Legal Adviser), and Anunakar Mustapha (National Organising Secretary). The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the purported appointment or selection by affirmation and continuous appointment of all the defendants is a nullity by virtue of the provisions of articles 2 and 85 of the constitution of the PDP. However, in separate preliminary objections, the defendants prayed the court to strike out the suit on the basis that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to file the action. The officers also objected to the hearing of the originating summons claiming that the questions raised for determination were not justiciable. They therefore asked the court to strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.
ensured, one of the suspect’s who was later identified as Vote Michael suffer fatal gunshots. He said that the command also cracked a gang of armed robbers and kidnappers who terrorising the Warri and Ughelli areas and that five suspects were killed during a gun duel with the police. He said that arrests were made at Warri, Obiaruku, Ogwashi Uku and other parts of the state, adding that items recovered include cash, two AK 47 rifles, locally made guns, magazines and other items. Aduba, however, warned
landlords and tenants in the state, giving their apartments to kidnappers to desist forthwith and report the suspects or face the consequences. He said that the command had so far pulled down six operational bases of the kidnappers, located in different parts of the state with four others identified and marked for demolition. “This warning has become imperative and absolutely necessary as such building or properties stand the risk of being pulled down and the right of occupancy revoked by the State Government,’’ he said.
Missing CPC certificate, acronym dispute may stall APC’s registration Contd. from Front Page has yet keep his promise. After the meeting with Mr. Tinubu, Hanga told journalists”We’re committed to have a change; we have discussed and we will have to consult our people in order to forge ahead. We understand that we have to do it for Nigerians.” “We are part of the APC. We are in court challenging the status of the CPC leadership but with this merger, there would not be anything like CPC leadership or that of any other party that belongs to the merger.” “I am not after clinging to the position of chairman, what we want is to declare them as illegal, but with the proposed merger and our meeting today with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a new leadership that can take us to the Promised Land is coming. We’re ready to do anything that
will make the merger possible. For Nigeria, for the masses and the downtrodden, we are ready to withdraw the case and release the certificate of registration to make the merger possible. For Nigerians, for the masses, for the downtrodden and for what we are suffering now, I am ready to do anything.” Meanwhile investigations reveal that the CPC has approached the police and the court to swear an affidavit that its certificate is missing.Observers of the emerging drama say Hanga risks being arrested. Another hurdle between APC and INEC registration is the court case instituted by the African Peoples Congress which insists that it is not contemplating withdrawing its legal action to pave way for smooth registration of the merging APC.
Nigeria retake five Boko Haram strongholds Contd. from Front Page statement said. All of the areas in northern Borno state near the Cameroon border were considered Boko Haram strongholds. President Goodluck Jonathan, who declared a state of emergency in Borno and two neighbouring states last week, said the insurgents had chased out local officials in some areas and removed the
Nigerian flag. Residents have previously told AFP that New Marte and Krenoa were among the areas targeted by military air strikes in the offensive launched last week. "The troops are already interacting with locals and citizens assuring them of their safety and freedom from the activities of insurgents," the statement further said.