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  • Jarigbe Agom Vs Stephen Odey: The Favour Factor By First Baba Isa

    Jarigbe Agom Vs Stephen Odey: The Favour Factor By First Baba Isa

     

    Now, that I have read the full majority decision of the Supreme Court and the full minority decision of the Supreme Court, I make these comments.

    Jarigbe Agom has claimed several times that his battle is of the Lord, I’m beginning to see that. There is no way to explain what happened at the Supreme Court without ascribing it to the divine. The opposition handed him that victory on a platter of gold.

    Let me explain.

    1. That I love Jarigbe Agom is an open secret. Most people even think I’m one of his lawyers, on his pay roll, but I’m not. I was not that fortunate. 😀 I openly supported him in this fight simply because I felt and still feel that he was pushed into the battlefield. I feel the leaders of the PDP in Cross River State brought this unnecessary intra party fight upon themselves. My adumbrations on this is well known and well documented.

    2. Somehow I thought Jarigbe will win the legal battles about the authentic list, who is the party candidate and who was elected. I prayed for him to win. I wished I was even part of his legal team, even if it is pro bono. This is because I saw him as the underdog; I always support underdogs, I always want underdogs to win.

    3. So, as each of Jarigbe’s legal victories was announced, I celebrated, I congratulated him.

    4. However, when the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the FCT High Court ordering INEC to issue Jarigbe certificate of return as the duly elected senator representing Cross River State Northern Senatorial District, I went into a panicked celebration. I even wrote a piece where I expressed my fear that Jarigbe was at the cusp of winning big or losing it all.

    5. Why was I worried? It was clear as crystal to any lawyer who is not totally blinded by partisan politics that that decision cannot stand because necessary parties (PDP and Stephen Odey) were not joined. I didn’t say this much but I was 200% sure that the Supreme Court will throw it out. In fact, I was simply waiting for this to happen. That’s why I advised strongly against Jarigbe being sworn in before the determination of the case at the Supreme Court. I was worried he will lose his seat as House member and then still get thrown out as senator. There were still other ways (including the Election Tribunal) that he could still had bounced back; but I didn’t want him losing it all before bouncing back.

    6. When Stephen Odey appealed, I was like “oh my God, it’s gonna happen. Jarigbe can’t win this one.” First, appealing wasn’t the first best option I saw for Stephen, but appeal was the second best and his lawyers choose appeal. I wonder why they didn’t choose the first but well, it doesn’t matter, Jarigbe won’t survive the Supreme Court anyways.

    7. Of course, I didn’t shout about my fear and conviction that Jarigbe won’t survive Supreme Court; I didn’t want to dampen morale and I still hoped that he will come out victorious. In fact, I told my friend, Joseph Ishaje, that Jarigbe will only win at the Supreme Court if Stephen Odey and his lawyers make a grave mistake. And this is exactly what happened!

    8. Stephen Odey made that grave mistake. They failed to serve the notice of appeal properly. And when they were caught in the act, they attempted to correct it “fraudulently”; the majority of the Supreme Court Justices saw through it all and struck out the appeal.

    9. The minority of Supreme Court Justices who looked at the substantive appeal upheld it and overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal on the grounds I feared they would: the FCT High Court lacked jurisdiction because proper parties were not joined.

    10. The Supreme Court minority decision on the substantive appeal is sound and the majority decision striking out the Notice of Appeal is also very sound. In the end Jarigbe won. He won by the costly mistake of Dr Stephen Odey or what I see as favour from God. The appeal was struck out and the statutory period to relist has elapsed. So, the judgement of the Court of Appeal stands and the certificate of return issued to Rt Hon Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe remains valid.

    11. This looks more like God’s favour when you consider the fact that Stephen Odey was represented by the legal god of election petition. The revered SAN doesn’t make those kind of mistakes. Even the Justice who read the lead judgement insinuated this much.

    12. So, why has Jarigbe not been sworn in? Why is Stephen Odey turning round to say the judgement he appealed doesn’t apply to him? All those ones na politics. If politicians can play politics with people’s lives, is it judgement of the Supreme Court they can’t play politics with?

    13. Is it over for Stephen Odey? From where I stand, there is still a lot of legal tiki taka to be played on this issue, but trying to stop Jarigbe Agom from being sworn in through letter writing by lawyers is not one of them.

    – Written By First Baba Isa (FBI), a Legal Practitioner, based in Abuja.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa and does not represent The Lumine News or the organization the author works for.

  • Man Arrested, Arraigned For Refusing To Return N2m Wrongly Paid Into His Bank Account

    Man Arrested, Arraigned For Refusing To Return N2m Wrongly Paid Into His Bank Account

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, arraigned Odejobi Temitope Michael, before Justice E. N. Alukwu of the State High Court in Enugu.

    Michael was charged for failing to return N2,000,000 wrongly sent to his account. The money was inadvertently paid in February 2019, by Chikezie Chukuma, who thought the account belonged to an auto dealer. It was when Chukuma went to take delivery of the car he realized the error in payment.

    But the defendant failed to refund the money, forcing the owner to report the matter. Michael pleaded “not guilty” when the charge was read to him. His lawyer, B. J. Adigwe filed a motion for bail pending the determination of the case. The prosecution counsel, S. C. Anyanwu, opposed.

    Anyanwu argued that Michael might not return to face trial if he goes back to Benin Republic where he resides. Justice Alukwu ordered the remand of the defendant in EFCC custody and adjourned the case until April 25, 2021.

     

  • Sandy Onor’s Heroism And Patriotic Leadership By Ori Owan

    Sandy Onor’s Heroism And Patriotic Leadership By Ori Owan

     

    It was the famous English playwright, William Shakespeare who postulated that “to be honest as this world goes is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.” And one man picked out of ten thousand as Escriva Balaguer succinctly averred, “must sanctify his work, and sanctify others through his good works”.

    Distinguished Senator Professor Sandy Onor is one man picked by God to lead and to redeem humanity. Amongst millions, he has the crown of stewardship placed on his shoulders. Amongst his contemporaries, he distinguished himself in brilliance, oratory, character of politics. Amongst his counterparts, he has become a shining model. Amongst his kinsmen, he remains the light, pathfinder and touch-bearer. In fact, he has restored dignity and pride to the good people of Cross River Central. He has totally redefined and sanctified the business of politics, with seemingly hopeless and shattered dreams, revived. In addition to this, his functional competence has become a reference point in many climes around the world.

    It is worthy of note that several undeveloped communities which hitherto were in darkness, have been taken out of the wilderness by virtue of Sandy Onor’s unparalleled performance in all spheres of life. These tangible achievements have made several Nigerians to describe him, and correctly so, as the functional ship with the largest “rudder on the wide-open sea”. This is in view of the developmental strides that characterize his quality of leadership and representation in the past years. As a symbol of peace, he plays his politics without mudslinging, which has made it possible for him to reconcile several political factions in his immediate constituency and in other senatorial districts of the state. Indeed, he has inspired and sustained confidence in his followers and this is the reason why he has become more like a beautiful bride with many potential suitors. Unlike many politicians who are deserted, Sandy Onor moves with a mammoth crowd wherever he goes, especially on his regular visits to his constituency.

    Like him or hate him, Distinguished Senator Sandy Onor is a seasoned legislator, a quintessential Patriot, and a crown jewel of inestimable value. His character and leadership style clearly smack of true statesmanship. And by words, deeds, and actions, he speaks truth to power and performs accordingly.

    Thus, from the ancient hills of Obanliku to the seas of Bakassi, Professor Senator Sandy Onor is without a stint of doubt, one of the most peaceful, responsible, and outstanding politicians in Nigeria’s fourth republic. This is because he is the first politician who has given the common men and women, who constitute the hoi poloi of the society, the pride of place in representation. He does this by visiting his constituents regularly to feel their pulse. He is so simple but disciplined to the extent that he runs an open-door policy around his home and office. What manner of a man is Senator Sandy Onor!

    However, Senator Onor’s socio-economic policies and programmes have reduced poverty to the barest minimum. His financial support to both small and medium scale enterprises have gone a long way to revive several businesses within and around the state. On infrastructural development, Sandy Onor has left profound legacies in the rural communities of the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State. Projects are executed and commissioned routinely across the local government areas of the district. As an efficient and uniquely gifted Senator, he awards his contracts in line with international best practices, and supervises same from start to finish. In fact, Senator Sandy Onor made a vow that he will never leave any project abandoned, hence, with nearly two years in power, he has convinced his constituents that he is indeed the Original Caterpillar and the “Irrunandu of Ejagham Nation”.

    In his legislative responsibility, he has performed excellently, with several important bills and motions to his credit. His unparalleled intellect, foresight, and vision leave many erstwhile leaders and followers in utter amazement as to whether Distinguished Senator Professor Onor was born in a different world. All these, in the considered opinion of this writer, remains the reason why he is rising higher and higher through the ladder of leadership with the determination to pull Cross Riverians out of the tinderbox. This is possible in line with Senator Onor’s commitment to justice, equity, poverty reduction, and infrastructural development for the present and future generations.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of Ori Owan and does not represent The Lumine News or the organization the author works for.

  • Governorship Zoning Process In Cross River State Politics: The True Position From Our Institution Library And Archives – Joe Bisong

    Governorship Zoning Process In Cross River State Politics: The True Position From Our Institution Library And Archives – Joe Bisong

     

    From the fits and starts of intervening Civilian and Military rule of decades past, democracy finally settled and stabilised in Nigeria in I999. Since then, to present day it has been unbroken civilian rule. It is therefore a given and common sense that when Cross Riverians talk of ZONING OF THE GOVERNORSHIP OF THE STATE, such dates back to 1999.

    1.ZONING in Cross River State has neither been a FORMALISED NOR INSTITUTIONALISED ARRANGEMENT. Although the three Senatorial Districts of the State have each produced a Governor dating back to Mr Donald Duke (South), Sen Liyel Imoke(Central),
    Sen Prof Ben Ayade(North), at no time has the political class of Cross River State, either intra Party or inter Party, institutionalised or enacted on the modus operandi or modus vivendi of the Rotational Governorship basis for the three Senatorial Districts! This is why in virtually all Gubernatorial elections, both intra Party and inter Party, ALL SENATORIAL DISTRICTS HAD CONTESTED!

    2.Rather, ROTATION HAS BEEN THE TREND BASED ON THE SIMPLE AND CONVENTIONAL PROCESS OF SELF ELIMINATION! Once a given Senatorial District got the Governorship for eight years, it eliminated itself from eligibility from the succeeding contest that followed. Such has the wily nilly process of ROTATION BY SELF ELIMINATION evolved that has seen all three Senatorial Districts get the Governorship and accordingly,all have been duly placated!

    3.This first circle of Rotation by self elimination ends in May 2023; and a new circle of same Rotation by self elimination commences . Accordingly, we shall provide proof to our assertion that conventionally, IT HAS BEEN AN ALL COMERS AFFAIR FOR ALL THREE SENATORIAL DISTRICTS IN ANY GIVEN GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION and that Rotation has been based on self elimination of the immediate Senatorial District that just left office after eight years; but not on any formal or institutionalised process!

    4. In 1999 intra Party Primaries in PDP, Mr Donald Duke from the South ran the Governorship Primaries with Barr Kanu Agabi from the North, while Prof Eyo Etim Nyong from the South ran with Mr Mark Ukpo from the North in APP.

    The Governorship election of 1999 was ultimately between Donald Duke from the South and Mark Ukpo from the North.

    5.In 2003,the Governorship election was between Mr Donald Duke of the PDP from the South and Chief John Okpa of the APP from Central.

    6.In 2007, the PDP Governorship Primaries was between Sen Liyel Imoke from Central and Mr Walter Eneji and Dr Julius Okputu from the North. The Governorship election proper of 2007 was between Sen Liyel Imoke of PDP from Central versus Prof Eyo Etim Nyong from South and Paul Ukpo from the North

    7. In fact, it is worth mentioning in retrospect, that even after Sen Liyel Imoke of Central had won the Governorship election in 2007, the North in Ukpo, engaged the Central in prolonged and convoluted litigation at the Election Tribunal that saw
    Imoke’s victory annulled twice.
    8. In 2011,Imoke from Central ran again for his second term against Eyo Etim Nyong, Ima Isa Adegoke(Labour Party),both from the South and Dr Onyuike(Accord Party), Mary Ekpre(CPC), Goddy Akpama (PPA) and Usani Usani(ACN)from the Central.

    9.Then, finally came the present tenure which dated back to 2019. The Governorship election was between Sen Prof Ben Ayade from the North, Sen John Owan Enoh from Central and BARR EYO EKPO FROM SOUTH! In fact, it is instructive to note that Barr Eyo Ekpo, then a renowned stalwart of PDP, decamped from PDP to Social Democratic Party (SDP) only for the purpose of running the 2019 Governorship election.

    10.Conclusively therefore, as it was in the beginning, and now is, so shall it be in 2023 Cross River State Governorship Election! To whom God wills, let the power fall, then the conventional or normative process of ZONING BY SELF ELIMINATION FOR THE THREE SENATORIAL DISTRICTS starts from there and then again in this new circle.

    Chief Joe Obi Bisong is the former State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Cross River State Chapter

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, Joe Obi Bisong and did not represent The Lumine News or the organization the author works for.

  • IWD 2021: Linda Ayade Identifies Poverty As The Main Challenge That Women In Africa Face Today

    IWD 2021: Linda Ayade Identifies Poverty As The Main Challenge That Women In Africa Face Today

    By Fred Abua

    The Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Dr. Linda Ayade has identified poverty as the main challenge that women in Africa face today. She said most of the other challenges like access to education, gender-based violence, right to inheritance and choice of who and when to marry would easily be surmounted or brought down to a minimum if women were not limited by lack of financial muscle.

    The Governor’s wife who was a guest on Galaxy TV on the eve of the 2021 International Women’s Day said reasonable progress has been made since the struggle for women emancipation started, and vowed that women will not allow their voices to be drowned by the masculine majority that already occupy the leadership and political space.

    Dr. Linda Ayade recalled her growing up years and praised her secondary school principal, Rev. Sister Eunice Atsu and other women whose integrity and focus left an early impression on her mind that she could achieve her goals. While congratulating the new Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the newly elected Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, Dr. Ayade posited that even if equality is not achieved soon, women will continually break the glass ceiling and find their way to the front row of every human endeavour.

    To mark the 2021 IWD theme of Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 World Dr. Linda Ayade’s NGO, the Cross River Women Emancipation Initiative, CROWEI, presented cash gifts to selected less privileged women across the state and launched a new mentorship programme tagged “Urban-Rural Support Initiative”. While calling on women to love one another and shun the unhealthy trend of pulling others down, Dr. Ayade identified the mentorship of achievers as one effective way of changing the lot of rural women. The Urban-Rural Support Initiative will pair outstanding urban members of CROWEI with members in the rural areas for a mentor-mentee relationship with the aim of improving the socio-economic worldview of the rural women.

  • Hon. Maria Akwaji Makes List of 50 Most Influential Church Girls In Africa

    Hon. Maria Akwaji Makes List of 50 Most Influential Church Girls In Africa

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Member representing Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs. Maria Godwin Akwaji, has made the list of 50 most influential Church Girls in Africa.

    Church Girl Africa is a leading Christian Magazine and has announced the publication of the 50 Most Influential Church Girls in Africa 2021 as part of activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day 2021 with the theme #ChooseToChallenge.

    The list is curated to celebrate 50 influential Women, who are constantly challenging Church Girls to become a better version of themselves.

    In addition to Hon. Mrs. Godwin Akwaji, the list also features notable Cross River faces such as Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu, Dr. Nchewi Ani, Grace Ihejiamazu-Etuk, Mina Hope Obeten, Sandra Itu & Pauline Idemudia.

    Alongside celebrities such as Stella Damascus, TY Bello, Adesua Etome-Wellington, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Stephanie Linus, Khafi Ekpata & Tomike Adeoye.

    The criteria for selection included successful women, Ages 15-50, in any profession, any African Country, who are not ashamed to identify with Christianity.

    Reacting to the development, the lawmaker averred that “this is the best and most precious recognition I have received recently because I yearn and desire to be an ambassador of Christ.

    “This nomination and award came to me as a surprised pleasure, and I am humbled.

    “I want to specially dedicate this award to my late husband, Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji, I wish he was here to be part of this great honor”

    This is the Second award Hon. Mrs. Godwin Akwaji is receiving in two months. She was awarded the Peace Ambassador in February, 2021.

  • Pastor Kills One Year Old Boy For Ritual In Calabar

    Pastor Kills One Year Old Boy For Ritual In Calabar

     

    A man identified as Obo- Ekpenyong, a pastor in Calabar was arrested alongside six of his accomplices for killing a baby for Ritual.

    Obo- Ekpenyog the suspect is reported to be the pastor of Royal God’ s Commandment Ministry, Calabar.

    Parading the suspect at the police headquarters, the spokesperson of the command, ASP Irene Ugbo, said that the suspect was arrested alongside six others based on intelligence reports given to the police.

    The police PRO said that they were arrested when the parents of the baby raised alarm that their child had been abducted by some masked men who stormed their house in the night.

    She maintained that “immediately some police men were immediately deployed to search the church and its surroundings, and they found some incriminating items and arrested the pastor and six others”

    The man who was identified to be a pastor was taken to the police headquarters for serious interrogations.

    During the interrogation, the man accepted his charge and beg for forgiveness, he confessed to the numerous crimes he has been committing hiding under the pretense of being a pastor.

    The pastor confessed and told the police how he kills people’s children and use them for rituals. He said he has been killing little babies every end of the month just to renew his powers and wealth. The men that were arrested with him were so shock to hear the confession and the were so disappointed at the pastor.

    The police commissioner who confirmed the arrest said the suspects were arrested with so many incriminating items with them, the police boss displayed the items.

    The police commissioner gave kudos to his men for always delivering when necessary, he told the entire public that the police is doing everything possible to make sure crime is reduced in cross river state.

  • We Will Formally Transmit The Judgement Of The Supreme Court And Follow Procedures To Take The Oat Of Office As Senator Of FRN- Jarigbe

    We Will Formally Transmit The Judgement Of The Supreme Court And Follow Procedures To Take The Oat Of Office As Senator Of FRN- Jarigbe

    By Elijah Ugani

    The controversy and absolute quietness about the recent judgement of the Supreme Court where the appeal filed by Dr. Stephen Odey challenging the consequential orders granted Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom by the Court of Appeal was struck out by a majority judgment on the 25th of February, 2021 seemed to have had a lead way with Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom following the laid down procedures to enable him take the oat of office as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom has for the first time spoken after the judgment was delivered. He assured that having being a lawmaker for six years now, he should understand their procedures.

    His words “As a Law Maker and being in Parliament for 6 years, I should understand our procedures. We will formally transmit the Judgment of the Supreme Court and follow laid down beurocratic procedures for taking the Oath of Office as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “While we wait to get a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court Judgment, which resolved the issue of- ” The Authentic Candidate for the PDP in the last CRNorth Senate By- Election “, I wish to throw some light, for the benefit of those who were not in Court and seek to know the truth. I will publish the Lead/ Majority Judgment when it is made available to us. Justice Nweze who read the Lead Judgment is yet to hand it in. The important thing here is that, the Appeal was Struck Out at the Supreme Court because of an Incompetent Notice of Appeal. That means there was no Appeal before the Supreme Court. The Decision of the Court of Appeal was upheld.

    “The Appeal Court had upheld the decisions of the Trial Court, which granted Consequential Orders in my favor. One of the issues sought for in my Counter Affidavit, was that I should be accorded all the Privileges as required by Law, due to me, as Candidate of PDP. This was granted by the Trial Court and affirmed by the Appellate Court. The Supreme Court received an Appeal against the Judgment from Stephen Odey but Struck it Out for being Incompetent. I have long been issued my Certificate of Return, which automatically invalidated the former, issued to Stephen Odey”

     

    The lesson to Learn;

    “We cannot supervise the shooting and killing of our people for a mere Senate Seat and expect that God will go to sleep. The blood of those murdered before and during the PDP Senate Primary Election will haunt the perpetrators, now and in the future. None of them has shown any remorse but go ahead to pay bribes for the Case to be compromised. Can we bribe God? The answer is NO! How can we get so brutish and inhumane?

    “May the Soul of Charles Onwe RIP, as vengeance is of the Lord”.

  • Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong To Fund  2021/2022 JAMB Registration Forms For Students in Bakassi and Akpabuyo

    Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong To Fund  2021/2022 JAMB Registration Forms For Students in Bakassi and Akpabuyo

     

    Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, the founder and Chancellor of Arthur Jarvis University has concluded plans to fund the 2021/2022 JAMB registration forms for eligible students in Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas.

    The beneficiaries of this magnanimity are SS3 students across Akpabuyo and Bakassi who are eligible to write JAMB.

    For two weeks, Sir Jarvis painstakingly toured the two local government areas in search for students who could, at least, qualify to write JAMB.

    After the survey and quick research, names of qualified candidates were immediately received for full funding of the 2021/2022 JAMB examination forms.

    According to the donor, Sir Jarvis, this benevolence is out of his desire to encourage students of these two local government areas towards being passionate about education and to further reduce financial burden on the parents.

    He gave some analysis of financial status of the majority of families in these two local government areas and concluded that for students in these areas to succeed academically and otherwise, there must be some sort of support from well meaning philanthropists.

    Stressing the peculiarity of these areas, Sir Jarvis emphasized that the solution to rising challenges is simply education as it exposes the mind for growth, development and productivity.

    He further promised that those who will perform exceedingly well in the 2021/2022 JAMB examination would be absorbed into Arthur Jarvis University on full scholarship.

  • UNICROSS Emerges Regional Semifinalists of Science and Technology Innovation Challenge

    UNICROSS Emerges Regional Semifinalists of Science and Technology Innovation Challenge

    By UNICROSS Media Team

    A team of entrepreneurs from University of Cross River State known as DC Solar Element Stove Team, has emerged as semifinalists of the first-ever Science and Technology Innovation Challenge (STIC).

    The team achieved this feat courtesy of their idea titled “DC Solar Element Stove”.
    Their emergence as regional semifinalists
    qualifies them for a chance to win the 10 million naira grand prize and this grants the university the chance to win a special grant for research and development center, courtesy of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
    In addition, the university’s Faculty Guide for the team stands a chance to win Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) cash and a laptop computer.

    DC Solar Element Stove Team comprises Miss Victoria Ekpenyong Effiong, a second Year student of Visual Arts Department and Mr. Paul Okim, a third Year student of Electrical/Electronic Engineering Department.

    A letter addressed to them by Michael Ajayi, Country Director of Enactus Nigeria, implementing partner for NCDMB, states that: “Of the 511 entries received from 129 tertiary institutions across all 36 states of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, 179 eventually made it to the first screening stage and were screened by 63 distinguished professionals who have over 100 years of cumulative experience in business development, information technology and social enterprise development. The judges committed over 156 man-hours to peruse and score in 3 rigorous screening stages over a 3-weeks period. After each of the three stages of the screening, the results were collated and verified by KPMG Professional Services.”

    The letter explains that the STIC is a nation-wide, enterprise-development program designed to challenge undergraduates from all accredited Nigerian tertiary institutions to stretch their ingenuity and apply science and technology to create home-grown, innovative and technology-driven business solutions that address pressing everyday problems.
    The letter adds that the initiative will create wealth and provide job opportunities for the growing number of unemployed Nigerians.

    The management, staff and students of UNICROSS congratulate the DC Solar Element Stove Team on this feat and wish them success at the regional competition.