The management of Innoson Automobile Company has finally broken silence on the N3 million scholarship awarded to Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme, saying the scholarship will stand if the latter found to be innocent of the allegation by JAMB of result manipulation.
Mr Cornel Osigwe, Head of Corporate Communications at Innoson Group, stated this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Onitsha.
NAN reports that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), had accused Ejikeme of using a software to manipulate her score to 362 as against 249.
According to Osigwe, it is strange to hear from JAMB that Ejikeme manipulated her result.
“It is strange to us because we did our independent verification and found out that Mmesoma Ejikeme actually scored 362, when we printed her result.
“When it was claimed that she was the highest, we waited for JAMB to come and clarify it, but they did not and the media was publishing that she was the highest.
“We also waited to see if there was going to be a counter claim, but since there was no counter claim, we awarded her the scholarship as the highest scorer.
“On Sunday, it was reported that JAMB claimed that she manipulated her result. We are doing our independent investigation as we speak to know if she actually manipulated her result or the fault was from JAMB.
“If we find out that the girl actually manipulated her result for obvious reasons, we will withdraw the scholarship.
“But if we find out that the mistake was actually from JAMB; that they were the ones that awarded her the score, or probably did a review and found out that her actual score was 249, then our scholarship will still stand.”
•Buhari submits nominee for Katsina
•Tinubu wades into choice of candidate from Kano
A list of ministerial nominees to be appointed by President Bola Tinubu is ready, Sun-Tribune can report authoritatively.
The list, according to top sources in power corridors, is the first batch and will be sent to the Senate this week. The list of other nominees will follow after.
The president is required to appoint a minister each from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to assist him to run the government.
Immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, appointed 44 ministers with some states getting two ministers.
Sunday Tribune gathered that the first batch is made up of technocrats in line with the desire of President Tinubu to get the economy running as quickly as possible.
Investigation by Sunday Tribune revealed that some serving senators from the North and the South are on the list.
“The president wants a Federal Executive Council that is performance-driven and has consequently head-hunted some highly competent technocrats to assist him in achieving his Renewed Hope Agenda upon which Nigerians voted for him.
“The president is aware of the need to depart from the old order in the appointment of ministers. He has demonstrated it in Lagos State that he is a talent spotter. Rest assured he is assembling a crack team to confront the problems in the country, said one of the sources contacted by Sunday Tribune.
It was gathered that a former Chief Executive Officer of a commercial bank from the South-West who joined partisan politics in 2020 is one of the technocrats on the list.
The person, a Fellow of Chartered Accountant (FCA) is being touted as the technocrat to be saddled with manning the Ministry of Finance where his core competence will fit in.
Sources confided in Sunday Tribune that the president has waded into the choice of nominee from Kano State as a result of the face-off between the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje and his predecessor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Tinubu, it was learnt, gave Buhari the honour of presenting a nominee from Katsina State. The former president is said to have sent a name to his successor.
As part of the demonstration of his determination to begin the rebuilding of the economy immediately, it was gathered that the Senate will receive the first batch this week.
Apart from the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who may have been penciled in as the nominee from the state, some of his colleagues in the G-5 camp may make the list.
It was gathered that those who lost their senatorial bids and could not install successors in their states might be considered for appointments.
“The president is taking time to select those he believes will add value and move the country forward, particularly on the economic front.
“The first batch of the list is ready,” Sunday Tribune was told by a source which added that “the list will be finalised at a meeting with the president today [Monday].”
The Presidential Petition Election Court has adjourned to Tuesday, July 4, the hearing of the defence filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The court on June 23 fixed Monday, July 3 for respondents to open their case in defence of the petition filed by aggrieved parties challenging the outcome of the February 25 election wherein Bola Tinubu emerged as the president.
According to the schedule, the electoral commission was billed to advance their argument against the petition filed by the Labour Party and its presidential election, Peter Obi on Monday morning.
During Monday’s proceedings, counsel for INEC, A.B Mahmoud, SAN, informed the court that the commission had billed three witnesses to give their testimony in aid of their defence.
However, he said that the witness who was scheduled to testify was unavoidably absent from the court.
He thereafter sought that the matter be moved to the next day.
The PEPC headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani heeded the request following the agreement of other parties in the case.
Three aggrieved parties and their candidates are challenging the outcome of the presidential election in court.
The petitioners are the LP and Obi; the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Allied Peoples Movement.
Following, the parties, together with their candidates in separate petitions dragged the electoral commission, the president, his Vice – Kassim Shetima and their party, the APC to court.
They had closed their case on June 23, leaving the stage for respondents in the matter to table their defence before the court.
[Punch]
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said that 13 intending pilgrims from Nigeria lost their lives while performing the just concluded Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Head of the Medical Team of NAHCON, Dr. Usman Galadima, disclosed this to journalists Monday during the post Arafat briefing in Makkah with the Hajj stakeholders.
He said: “Seven of the victims died before Arafat, six died post Arafat (four in Arafat, two in Mina).
“Three of the dead victims were from the private tour operators, while two each were from Kaduna and Osun States.
“Plateau, Borno, Yobe, FCT, Benue and Lagos States recorded one death each.
“The post Arafat figure for this year is higher than the combined figures of 2022 (two) and 2018 (two).
“The figure is the same as that of 2019, while it is higher than the post Arafat figures of 2016 and 2017 when three deaths were recorded each.”
According to him, a total of 25,722 pilgrims were treated by the medical team throughout the post-Arafat period out of which the men were 10,454 and women were 15,268.
“There were 93 emergency cases out of which there were seven heat strokes, 22 severe malaria, seven DM emergencies and five psychiatric cases.
“There were also three reported cases of chicken pox, which the doctor said were all taken out of Mina to the hospital in Makkah to avoid contagion,” he stated.
Galadima also reported that two cases of deliveries by pregnant women, one on the roadside and another one in one of the NAHCON medical facilities.
He advised that elderly pilgrims should stop going to Jamarat, while all pilgrims should use the train service to access the place.
He added that medical screening at state levels should be scaled up to stop medically unfit pilgrims from coming for Hajj.
[ThisDay]
Within one week, Mayowa Adesina staggeringly watched the fuel expenses for the generator in his barbershop soar, the highest-ever jump since he entered the haircut business over 15 years ago.
“I’ve never bought fuel and paid N10,000 [$13] before. Now I buy it and it lasts for three days,” says Mr Adeshina, a barber in Festac Town, Lagos.
On the day he assumed office as Nigeria’s 16th president on 29 May, Mr Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy, a decision that saw the price of petrol jump three-fold across the country. In Lagos, the price of one litre rose from N180 to about N500. Outside Lagos, it costs even higher.
Mr Tinubu, who sacked the Central Bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele, also called for the unification of the country’s multiple exchange rates. While the move was widely lauded by economists, it has caused prices to skyrocket.
Several universities and other higher institutions across the country had increased their tuition by as much as 100 per cent.
Within one week, Mayowa Adesina staggeringly watched the fuel expenses for the generator in his barbershop soar, the highest-ever jump since he entered the haircut business over 15 years ago.
“I’ve never bought fuel and paid N10,000 [$13] before. Now I buy it and it lasts for three days,” says Mr Adeshina, a barber in Festac Town, Lagos.
On the day he assumed office as Nigeria’s 16th president on 29 May, Mr Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy, a decision that saw the price of petrol jump three-fold across the country. In Lagos, the price of one litre rose from N180 to about N500. Outside Lagos, it costs even higher.
Mr Tinubu, who sacked the Central Bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele, also called for the unification of the country’s multiple exchange rates. While the move was widely lauded by economists, it has caused prices to skyrocket.
Several universities and other higher institutions across the country had increased their tuition by as much as 100 per cent.
Read the full report here.
[Premium Times]A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has explained how President Bola Tinubu could have removed the fuel subsidy to reduce pains for Nigerians.
Galadima, who noted that President Tinubu took a hard decision to remove the fuel subsidy, said the President could have put palliative measures in place to mitigate the hardship it could cause for the ordinary people.
The NNPP chieftain stated this while speaking in an interview on Arise Television on Monday.
He said, “If I were him (Tinubu), I could have done it differently. I could have inquired on why and how this fuel subsidy keeps accumulating and got us to this level where we are. That is the difference.
“And part of it would have been that if I were an adviser to the President, I could have advised him to take some measures such that the removal will not be painful with far-reaching effect on the social life of the country especially the ordinary man.
“Subsidy as we know, nobody is subsidizing the poor, because the poor doesn’t have a car. The poor doesn’t have a motorbike. We are subsidizing the elites.
“But, I still believe that there are lot of things we can do to really inquire into this subsidy and a lot of money could be recovered.”
Recall that Galadima had earlier said decisions taken so far by Tinubu were poised to make the country better.
Galadima stated this at the inauguration of the Nuite De-Paris Restaurant owned by Maria Namvar, an Iranian investor, in Abuja.
He said Tinubu is starting well as president, adding that he hopes the tempo will be maintained.
“For those of us who have been in trenches in politics for the last 45 years, you will know that this time around the difference is clear,” he said.
“We do appreciate Mr President and so far he hasn’t disappointed us for having been on the right track so far.
“We do pray and hope that the action man will continue the work he is doing to make Nigeria a better place for us.”
[Vanguard]
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has described the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari as the worst ruler in the history of Nigeria.
He described President Buhari’s 8-year tenure as a “waste.”
Sani made the claims on Sunday, in Abuja, during the launch of the book, ‘The Nigerian Dream’ written by activist, Moses Paul.
The rights activist said, “[Muhammadu] Buhari wasted Nigeria’s time for eight years. And he appointed people who failed and he kept on extending their period in office. That is very wrong.
“He has accused all [previous] governments of corruption. All the ills of Nigeria, he accused all the previous governments [ of being responsible for them]. Yet, his government has proven the worst in the history of Nigeria.”
The former lawmaker said Nigeria can be a united and prosperous nation if the leaders “lead with the fear of God and a determination and commitment to fulfil your pledges.”
In Sani’s words at the book launch, he said, “It has been 63 years since our political independence and when you go through the manifestos of Nigeria’s first-generation politicians, it’s about light, water, education, bridges, unity. And here we are, over six decades, we are still talking of the same thing. So, I believe that the Nigeria of our dream should be the different one that we inherited; an improved version of it.”
[DailyPost]
The planned commencement of defence by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) was stalled this morning owing to the absence of its first witness.
INEC, the first respondent in the petition by Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP), was scheduled to open its defence today.
At the mention of the case around 9:30 am, lawyer to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) , told the court that although his client plans to call three witnesses within three days, the one slated for today is unavailable because of some family issues.
Mahmoud then applied for an adjournment till Tuesday to enable the witness attend court.
Lawyers to other parties in the case – Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) for Obi/LP, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettma, and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) – did not object to the request by Mahmoud.
Ruling, the Presiding Justice, Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned till Tuesday by 9am for hearing.
The court has risen but with a promise to return at 2pm for the petition by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The eight MRS Oil Nigeria Plc employees who were abducted in Lagos last week have been released.
On Sunday night in the Sangotedo region of Lagos State, the victims were freed.
However, it wasn’t apparent if a ransom was paid to secure their release.
On Monday at around 6 p.m., the oil employees were kidnapped while travelling from Lagos Island to Lekki on a private boat.
Their abductors were said to have whisked them into their boat, leaving behind the oil workers’ boat with their personal belongings.
Spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the release of the oil workers to The Nation on Monday morning.
Asked if any arrest was made, Hundeyin answered in the negative, declining further comments on the issue.
Details Shortly…
More than 50 names of military officers across the three services of the Nigerian Armed Forces – army, navy and the air force have been penciled down for promotion following the deadline given to top generals to exit the service, Daily Trust reports.
The officers, who are on the rank of brigadier generals and colonels respectively in the Nigerian Army and its equivalent in the navy and the air force, are expected to fill the vacant positions at various formations of the armed forces in the country.
Although the Military Council Board saddled with the responsibility of promotion approval is yet to sit, it was learnt that those to be considered for the promotion are of Regular Course 43 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Apart from the CDS who is a member of Regular Course 38, the three service chiefs – Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff are members of 39 RC of the NDA.
Daily Trust reports that the new development on promotion came following the July 3 (today) deadline given to the senior military officers by the Military High Command to voluntarily tender their resignations and exit the service.
The order, which was contained in a memo dated June 26 and signed by Maj.-Gen. Y. Yahaya on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, was directed to generals, brigadier generals, air vice marshals, and rear admirals in the three services, who are seniors to the new service chiefs.
A memo by the Defence Headquarters with reference number DHQ/I5/PLANS/801/13 explained that it was meant to preserve and uphold the tenets of the military profession which values hierarchy and service discipline.
The memo, copied to the army, navy and air force headquarters, directed all officers with seniority on commission above that of Regular Course 39 of the NDA to submit their applications for voluntary retirement from service with immediate effect.
Findings by Daily Trust revealed on Sunday that all members of 38 Regular Course of the NDA had submitted their voluntary retirement applications before the close of work on Friday as directed by the Defence Headquarters.
A senior military officer, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said some members of 39 Regular Course of the NDA submitted their applications except those redeployed newly by the new service chiefs.
The source also explained that recommendations are already being made on those to be considered for the promotion in the three services, adding that the approval will come after the Military Council Board will have interviewed and ratified the names of those recommended.
In the same vein, a member of RC 43 who spoke anonymously also told Daily Trust that some members of RC 40, 41 and 42 have reached the rank of major generals, rear admirals and AVM, and they are currently filling the vacant positions in the latest shake-up.
He said, “Those positions that were left vacant have already been occupied or are in the process of being occupied, and the officers that are occupying those positions are already in the rank cadre. I mean they are already wearing the rank they require to occupy them.”
Tinubu to decorate new service chiefs
Speaking further, he said, “When the service chiefs are promoted, except they want to change the old order, their course mates cannot be promoted because we cannot have two captains in a boat. When the service chiefs are promoted to lieutenant generals, their course mates will remain major generals while they are still in service.”
Several calls to the telephone lines of army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu; the acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau and the NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, went unanswered.
The trio were yet to reply to separate text messages sent to them.
But the spokesman of the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, said, “I don’t know, I’m not aware. The promotion that normally comes at this time, except you’re talking about another one, is the service chiefs that have just resumed.
“Normally, when they resume office like this, and the National Assembly confirms them, then, the Chief of Defence Staff will be promoted to the four-star general (full general) while the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Lagbaja will be promoted to Lt.-Gen.
“Rear Admiral Ogalla will be promoted to vice admiral, while Air Vice Marshal Abubakar will be promoted to air marshal. That’s the only one we anticipate. I don’t know of any other one because promotion in the services comes at about this time when middle cadre officers are considered by the promotion board.
“Around the last quarter of the year, the senior officers or cadre are considered for 1-star and 2-star generals. That’s the only one I know and the timetable has not changed over the years. It cannot just change now.”
Army chief retains course mates
Meanwhile, the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has retained some of his course mates to work closely with at the headquarters in order to achieve the mandate of containing insecurity challenges.
Checks by Daily Trust showed that Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, the course mate of COAS, has now been appointed as the Chief of Administration at Army Headquarters, Abuja.
In a statement on Saturday by the army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the deployment of Akpor and other officers will take effect today.
More...
The death toll of Nigerian pilgrims during the 2023 hajj exercise has risen to 13 just as 41,632 others fell sick in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The head of the Nigerian medical team for the pilgrimage, Dr Usman Galadima, stated this Sunday night in Makkah during post-Arafat review session.
He said his team made consultations for 25,772 pilgrims during the Muna-Arafat period in addition to the 15,680 treated in Madinah and Makkah during the pre-Arafat period.
Galadima recalled that seven pilgrims had died during the pre-Arafat period.
He gave the breakdown of the casualties as: Plateau (1), Kaduna (2), Osun (2), Borno (1), Yobe (1), FCT (1), Benue (1) and Lagos (1); while private tour operators recorded three deaths.
Galadima said during the Muna-Arafat period, four pilgrims died at Arafat and two at Mina.
He recommended thorough pre-hajj medical screening with the issuance of a certificate of medical fitness.
He said elderly pilgrims and those very sick should be discouraged from going to Jamarat (the place where pilgrims performed the symbolic stoning of the devil).
He also said the grouping of pilgrims as recommended by Saudi authorities should be enforced.
He urged states with functional ambulances to place their vehicles in the national medical team’s pool for a more coordinated response to emergency cases.
The commissioner of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in charge of aviation, Goni Sanda, announced that return flights of Nigerian pilgrims would begin on July 4 and end on August 3.
The Labour Party, in a swift reaction to the federal government’s position on the conclusion of the European Union over the 2023 election, described the Presidency’s comment discrediting the report as medicine after death.
The party in a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Pastor Obiora Ifoh said the report from the EU was one out of many international observers who had submitted that the election was rigged in favour of the ruling party.
The Statement reads: “The leadership of the Labour Party has noted with dismay the statement by the Federal Government discrediting the European Union’s conclusion on the 2023 General Election wherein it faulted the modalities by which the conclusion was reached.
“We see this face-saving measure by the Federal Government which is coming days after the submission of the report as feeble and medicine after death.
“It will interest the government to note that the European Union’s report is only one out of numerous submissions by other international Observers who have described the outcome of the election as a sham and an exercise that did not reflect the will of the majority of Nigerians.
“Labour Party stands by the position of the EU observation mission. We have always said that this election was massively rigged in favour of the APC and their candidate.
“What the FG is saying is just an afterthought and a shameless effort to mask the obvious. Even the blind can see, the deaf can hear and they know this election was manipulated.
“Huge pieces of evidence are abound for even the deaf and the blind to hear and feel. We are only hoping that the judiciary will dispense justice without fear or favour in the interest of the nation and posterity.
“Nigerians already know the true winner of the 2023 presidential election and no amount of slandering, denial, or rebuttal can change the fact that the party in power has no mandate of the electorate.
“We must also note that whatever position the INEC has taken is with active connivance with the Federal Government to deny the electorate and it clearly shows that INEC is not in any way independent.
“The Commission’s action is at the whims and caprices of the government and we know it. But Nigerians looking to the Judiciary for justice. That’s where we stand,” Obiora stated in the statement.
The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has vowed to stop the Monday sit-at-home in his constituency with immediate effect.
Ubah said the adverse effects the exercise has so far inflicted on the commercial, economic, and well-being of the South-East residents have become so devastating that the exercise has to be tackled with every strength it deserves.
He urged the people of his constituency to start opening for business on Mondays, starting today, saying that adequate security measures and equipment have been put in place to ensure water-tight security of lives and properties.
The senator stated these at the Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium, Nnewi, Anambra State, on Sunday, when he addressed the state vigilante and community security watch operatives from the four quarters of Nnewi, comprising Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewi-Ichi.
He used the avenue to unveil a number of security gadgets and equipment he procured for security operations in the Nnewi constituency and environs while tasking the vigilante operatives to ensure water-tight security for the people.
He said, “The abrogation of the self-inflicted injury called Monday sit-at-home would start from this Monday, July 3. We are going to march on a road show across various markets and roads tomorrow (Monday) to demonstrate to the people that they are safe and should start coming out for business on Mondays.
“The vigilante operatives have been charged to beef up security around all the major markets in Nnewi and ensure that traders and their goods are given adequate protection from the so-called unknown gunmen this Monday and subsequent Mondays to stamp out the cankerworm called sit-at-home.
“Monday is a serious day for business and economic activities, but the sit-at-home has spoiled businesses, commerce, and economy in the region. It has thrown our youth out of jobs and this cannot continue. The Nnewi community used to be known as an industrial area, but the sit-at-home has dealt with the once-industrial hub of Africa. This cannot continue.
“I have procured a number of security gadgets and equipment such as CCTV cameras, patrol vans, motorcycles, walkie-talkies, wooden ‘osisi agaga’ from Nnewi evil forests and I am handing these equipment over to the vigilante operatives to help them in tackling any resultant security breach that may arise as we resolve to end this cankerworm called ‘sit-at-home’.”
The Indigenous People of Biafra initiated the Monday sit-at-home in 2021 to protest the rendition and detention of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Although the exercise had been suspended, the people have continued to observe it for fear of attack by hoodlums.
Speaking on Kanu’s continuous detention, Ubah said, “I am sure he will come out from detention sooner or later. We in the 10th national assembly are going to give Kanu’s case a new legislative option to facilitate his freedom and I have even personally initiated a move towards that direction.
“It is one Simon Ekpa in Finland who is promoting the sit-at-home and using it to inflict injuries and fear on our people. We cannot allow him to continue to destroy our economic base while he stays in Finland without feeling the pain.
“Ekpa has continued to mention my name during his broadcast in Finland and he has mentioned my name 17 times. He is from Ebonyi State, he should come home and feel the pain we are feeling. He has nationalised in Finland, where he is currently contesting for a councillorship seat, and he has the effrontery to dictate to us how to sit at home on Mondays here in Igbo land.
“We will forgive Ekpa for the injuries he has inflicted on us so far, but if he continues, we will deal with him furiously. He should leave Anambra State alone. We are warning him to steer clear of Nnewi with his sit-at-home order forthwith.”
The senator lamented that for the past two years, Ekpa had been enforcing his sit-at-home order in the South-East, despite the huge misfortune and hardship that came with it.
“Enough is enough and we have resolved in agreement with our constituents that there will be no more observation of sit-at-home orders in Nnewi from Monday, July 3, 2023.
“We have cooperated to obey the sit-at-home order all this while, but we have also found out that we are losing our economic base, jobs, and business opportunities.
“As a representative of the good people of Anambra South senatorial district, Nnewi North is the political capital of Anambra South, I deem it fit to say we will not continue to have sit-at-home on Mondays.
“From this Monday, every business area in Nnewi shall be open for business. We have our men; we have our system. I know saboteurs will try to sabotage our efforts, but we’re resolved to fight any aggressor that will come into this town,” Ubah added.
The senator noted that he had made available between 6,000 and 10,000 street lights at several strategic places in Anambra South, adding that about 300 invisible security cameras, solar systems embedded with CCTV and tracking devices, in addition to wireless security cameras, have been provided for security surveillance across Nnewi to ward off insecurity.
Also speaking, the President-General, Nnewi Town Union, Dr. Maduako Atuenyi, warned that anybody who does not open for business starting Monday will have his or her business premises sealed for six months.
“By Monday, July 3, we will embark on a show of force, it is our economy that is suffering. Anybody that does not open his shop on Monday, the community will lock his or her shop for six months,” he added.
A Federal High Court, in Lagos has discharged 22 banks from a garnishee proceeding filed by Glonik Industries limited and Glonik Hotels limited, against the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and its sister company, Pipeline and Products Marketing Ltd (PPMC) on a N4, 705,139,686.78 judgement debt.
The court presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa had in a judgement delivered on May 16, 2023, in suit number FHC/L/CS/794/2020 filed by Glonik Industries limited and Glonik Hotels limited, ordered NNPC and PPMC to pay N4, 705,139,686.78 for the demolition of hotel building situated at number 33, Wamom Taofeek Street, New Okoba, Lagos belonging to the Plaintiffs.
Following the judgement, Justice Lewis-Allagoa also in a garnishee proceeding attached the judgement sum in 23 banks and directed them to show cause why the sums standing to the judgement debtors’ credit in it various accounts should not be attached to satisfy the judgement debt.
The court directed that all debts due or sums accruing from the Garishness to the judgement debtors be attached to answer a judgment secured against the debtors for payment of N4,705,139,686.78.
The court also granted an order attaching the funds in the garnishees’ possession standing to the credit of the judgment debtors to pay the debt or monetary sums due from the garnishees to the judgment creditors in satisfaction of the judgment sum.
Justice Allagoa also directed the named garnishees to appear in court to show to show cause as to why they should not pay to the judgment creditors the judgment sum from the monetary sums due from the garnishees to the judgment debtors, in satisfaction of the judgment debt.
But, when the matter came up, counsel to the judgement debtor, Mr. Wale Akoni, in an application urged the court to vary the garnishee order, and limit was to the 6th garnishee (Fist Bank of Nigeria Limited), submitting that the funds in the bank was enough to satisfy the judgement sum.
Consequently, he urged the court to discharge other 22 garnishees to enable the defendants carry out their businesses.
Justice Allagoa in a Bench ruling granted the request and discharged other garnishees with the exception of the 6th garnishee.
The plaintiffs, (Glonik Industries limited and Glonik Hotels limited) had in their statement of claim stated that sometime in 2017, the defendants invaded the 1st plaintiff’s property which the 2nd plaintiff used for its hotel/hospitality business on the pretext that NNPC (1st Defendant) pipeline was being vandalized from the property, arrested some members of the staff of the 2d plaintiff alongside the chairman, sealed the property and stationed their task force at the property denying the plaintiff access to the property.
The plaintiffs added that the entire building was then demolished by the defendant, adding that the demolition was done without an order of court.
Specifically, the 1st Plaintiff stated that it obtained building approval from the Lagos State government before the building was erected on the land.
Consequently, the plaintiffs sought for “a declaration that the sealing, demolishing of their building situate at 33, Wamom Taofeek Street, by Social Club Road, New Okoba, Lagos and carting away of all items was illegal.
“The sum of N840,879,686.75 being the fair and estimated value to replace the hotel building situate at 33, Wamon Taofeek Street by Social Club, New Okoba, Lagos belonging to the 15 plaintiff destroyed by the Defendant.
“The sum of N3,863, 160,000 being the loss suffered as a result of the breach of contract between the 2nd Plaintiff and Ignite Energy Limited induced by the defendants as a result of the sealing and destruction of the plaintiffs’ hotel.
“The sum of N1, 000,000,000 as general damages, and additional N1, 000,000,000 as exemplary damages for defendants wrongly conduct.”
However, the defendants in their statement of defence/counter claim dated 13th of October, 2022 prayed the court for a declaration that the activities of the Plaintiffs of the Defendants’ Pipeline Right of Way at Atlas Cover-Mosimi are illegal and unlawful.
Therefore, the defendant prayed the court for, “an order for the sum of N500, 000,000,000 only to be paid to the defendants jointly and severally by the plaintiffs as general damages due to the Plaintiffs act of economic sabotage to the defendants’ facilities.”
However, Justice Allagoa in his judgement held, “in all the Plaintiffs have proved their case on the preponderance of evidence but the defendants have failed to prove their counter claim. Reliefs A, B, C is hereby granted as prayed. Relief E is granted in the sum of N1, 000,000 (one million naira)”