Protesters on Monday paralyzed commercial activities in Lagos State in support of President Muhammdu Buhari’s decision to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen
The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, declared that Onnoghen lacks moral standing to remain in office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Comrade Festus Akintola, Convener of the protest, said Justice must take its full course to serve as a deterrent to others that it is no longer business as usual. He said: “We have all gathered here to express our disgust with the actions of some segment of the country that have viewed the action of the president in placing the Chief Justice of Nigeria on suspension for false declaration of assets in contravention of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act for public office holders in the country.
Nigeria is not a country where anyone should be viewed as above the law as the law is no respecter of persons. And what an irony that the chief law officer of the country would violate the law and would still want to evade justice.
If that should ever happen, then Nigeria is no longer a country but a banana republic. “We stand in absolute solidarity with our dear and amiable president who has risen in defense of the country by suspending the Chief Justice of the country and thereby sending a strong message to all that no matter how highly placed, once you violate the law, there would be consequences”. “We are also at a loss as to what case or position some people are pressing in a situation as glaring as this. Are they trying to deny the fact that the Chief Justice of Nigeria did not commit any offence? Are they trying to say that the president didn’t do the right thing by asking the Chief Justice to proceed on suspension pending the determination of the suit before the Code of Conduct Tribunal?
“We wish to state that it amounts to moral bankruptcy for the Chief Justice to cite “forgetfulness” as the reason for not declaring a part of his estate. And we now wonder how someone of such high standing would think he can take over 180 million Nigerians for a ride. “And quite ironically some ethnic and religious champions have taken turns to give the actions of the president all manners of ethnic and religious colouration at the detriment of the fact of the matter.
“But they shall be all put to shame because the majority of Nigerians are with the president and supports wholeheartedly the action of the president in the quest to rid the judiciary of corrupt elements such as the suspended Chief Justice.
“In Nigeria today, under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, we have indeed seen how and what it takes to fight the cancerous corruption. That is what President Muhammad Buhari has displayed in the bold action of his. “We are all gathered here despite our busy schedules to show solidarity to the man of the people. The man who has the interest of the country at heart. The man who has dared the path where no one dares venture. The man that has an unshaken belief in the unity of Nigeria. The man who says a yes and it is a yes. A man who would not dip his hands in government coffers and a man who has shown us what it takes to have integrity in a country like ours.
“The case of the Chief Justice of Nigeria presents us with one of such instances in which our president has risen in defense of the country. “And it takes more than a commitment and belief in the national development agenda for such actions to protect the people from dubious and corrupt minded individuals such as the suspended Chief Justice Walter Onnoghnen. “We are angry at the audacity if Justice Walter Onnoghnen to insult our intelligence as a people by wanting to whip up ethnic and religious sentiments through paid political jobbers.
“If Justice Walter Onnoghen has any atom of morals as the Chief Justice of the country, the rational thing for him to have done was to honourably resign from office to save the judicial arm of the country the shame and denigration that has it brought upon us. “So bad is this case that Nigeria has become a laughing stock among countries. And the ethnic champions do not see anything wrong with it the shame Justice Walter Onnoghen has brought upon our country.
“We hereby support President Muhammadu Buhari wholeheartedly in the fight against corruption in the judiciary. We are consequently of the firm opinion that if the judiciary is not sanitized, then we might be in for considerable trouble.”
IBEDC Celebrates Christmas, Urges Customers to Prioritize Safety and Energy Responsibility.
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc extends heartfelt Christmas greetings to all Christians, esteemed customers, and Nigerians at large.
In a statement, the Managing Director, Engr. Francis Agoha highlighted that the birth of Jesus Christ symbolizes sacrificial love—a virtue that humanity should strive to embody.
Engr. Agoha assured customers that IBEDC has implemented measures to ensure network stability and smooth operations throughout the holiday season. “In anticipation of customer needs during the holidays, we are fully prepared to address faults quickly to minimize disruptions in power supply,” he stated.
He also called on customers to avoid energy theft, including tampering with meters or making illegal connections. “Energy theft is a criminal act that affects service quality for everyone and hampers our collective progress. I encourage customers to report any suspicious activities immediately,” he said.
Additionally, Engr. Agoha warned against tampering with electrical installations due to their severe safety risks, including the potential for injury or fatality. Customers are urged to report any faults, energy theft, or other issues to IBEDC offices or the Customer Care Line: 07001239999. IBEDC also encourages customers to use its secure and convenient payment platforms to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply during the holidays.
These platforms include the IBEDCPAY app (available on Android and iOS), Quickteller, Payarena, Jumia, Watu, Buypower, IRecharge, and ATMs. IBEDC offices will be open from 9 am to 3 pm during the holiday to report faults, make inquiries, bill payments, and vending services. “We sincerely thank our customers for their continued support throughout the year and urge everyone to prioritize safety by avoiding hazardous practices, such as cooking under power lines, drunk driving, etc.,” added Engr. Agoha.
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year filled with peace, joy, and progress.
Overriding Public Interest: Delta warns against impeding govt projects
DAN DENT (ASABA)
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Delta State Government has cautioned citizens against impeding projects meant to serve the general public, saying such actions were illegal and constituted an abuse of the law.
Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze (middle) discussing with the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir. Festus Ahon (right) shortly after Inspecting the maintaininers of Uti Road on Wednesday, while the Project Manager Mr. Milad Boutros (left) look on. PIX: SAMUEL JIBUNOR.
The State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, gave the warning in Effurun on Wednesday during an inspection of the DSC Roundabout Link Road to PTI Junction.
According to him, “no citizen is bigger than the state; I learnt that a citizen has said a particular portion of the road that has been approved cannot be constructed because that is his private property.
“I want to sound it to our people as a note of warning, that, to impede government project in the name of private property is an abuse of the law.
“If your property is on the right of way and we know it is not a road, this administration has made it a point of duty to pay compensation for the use of such properties in the overriding public interest.
“This project has an overriding public interest; if your property is in the right of way and your property has approval, the best we can do, as we have always done, is to give you compensation.
“But to say you stop government officials from doing their job because you feel you are bigger than the government or you are bigger than the law is absolutely unacceptable.”
Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze (right) taking the measurements of the Rod while the zonal Chief Engineer Uvwie and Opke local government Area, Engr. Kporon Ennah (left) look on. PIX: SAMUELm JIBUNOR.
Speaking further, he said; “so, we are constructing a drainage that would discharge all the water on this road. If you look at this place, it was originally a swamp.
“Meanwhile, this place had all along been intended to be a road that should take traffic from the East-West Road to reduce the volume of traffic on DSC Roundabout and PTI Junction straight to the Eku highway.
“We have come to see what the contractors are doing and I must express my displeasure at the poor quality of engineering work that I have observed here in this drainage.
“In fact, as things stand, considering the volume of water that will be coming from the Julius Berger projects, the existing volume of water from the swamp.
“What is being done here, therefore, necessitates that this drain be done according to the engineering specifications because the volume of water we will be dealing with is enormous.
“However, on getting down here and measuring the distance between the reinforcements, we discovered that the contractor apparently did not pay attention to details.
“So, I have instructed them to remove everything, start afresh and we will come back. They should not put the reinforcement until I have come to inspect what they have done to be sure that they have complied with the spacing as provided for in the Bills of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation.”
Brutality Victim: Anambra State Executive Council Approves Medical Expenses of Victim
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo undertakes the medical expenses of a victim of brutality by some contractors of the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Mr. Okechukwu Akaneme.
Soludo
The governor took this humanitarian decision to relieve the victim while strongly denouncing such despicable conduct. In addition to the governor’s gesture, the contractor has been relieved of his engagement with the state agency (ASWAMA) immediately, to serve as a deterrent to others.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, the victim who was assaulted is being hospitalised.
The Council has resolved to pick up his medical overheads, while sympathising with Akaneme ‘s family and prays for his quick recovery.
This profound empathy reflects Soludo’s sincere dedication to offering not just solutions but also a genuine commitment to providing helping hands, support, and hope to the people whenever and wherever required in the state.
END
Press Release
Anambra State Executive Council Awards More Road Contracts
The 37th Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) has awarded the contracts for the construction of new roads in the state in preparation for the yuletide season.
This is aimed at ensuring a memorable Christmas for Ndi Anambra, who will be celebrating the season in the state, from across the country and other parts of the globe.
In a release by the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, ANSEC at its 37th Meeting, approved the construction of the 3.75 km Igwe Orizu Road, in Nnewi, to New Idea Construction Company Ltd, and to be completed within six months.
The 10.8 km Nkwor Nnewi to Nkwor Oraifite was awarded to Infratech Construction Ltd at N7.2 billion, with a 12-month completion timeline, while the Oraukwu-Abatete-Nimo bypass in Idemili North measuring 4.922km was awarded to GMG Global Construction and Development Company Ltd, with a delivery date of six months.
At the meeting, the Council observed that many roads awarded at the last executive council meeting, including the New Tarzan Road and the three roads whose contracts were revoked and re-awarded, have not been reported.
Recently, Governor Soludo kept his promise with the completion of the 12.5km Ezira-Umuomaku-Enugu Umuonyia-Achina Road, linking several communities, and the 11.9km Mmiata-Anam-Nzam road, linking the headquarters of Anambra West Local Government Area (LGA).
With the ongoing and completed road projects in the state, Governor Soludo has literally turned Anambra into a construction site in his pursuit of transforming the state into a country-wide destination brand.