NEWS
NSE Leadership Turmoil Deepens, Court Bars Elections
The Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) faces heightened discord because a court order from Justice Venchak Gaba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has bared it from conducting its 2023 election, scheduled for November 29 and 30.
The internal strife within the NSE originated on December 9, 2021, stemming from the use of an online platform for the 2022 National Executive Committee election.
Discontent arose among certain members of the society who alleged that individuals had tampered with the organization’s database to manipulate the election results.
This led to a return to legal proceedings within the case marked as CV/158/21, where Engr. Joseph Akinteye, a participant in the election, filed a motion on notice (M/490/23) brought before the court on Friday, November 24, 2023.
The motion was presented to the court by Salisu Umar, along with A.A. Liman and Charles Ikechukwu representing Engr. Joseph Akinteye.
In his filing, Engr. Joseph Akinteye listed the Nigeria Society of Engineers, its Board of Trustees Chairman, Engr. Emeka Eze, the NSE 2021 Election Appeal Chairman, Engr. Charles Mbanefo, and Mrs. Margret Aina Oguntala as defendants.
Following this, Justice Gaba issued an interlocutory injunction restraining the first three defendants, their representatives, agents, and related bodies like the NSE Electoral Panel, the Council, and Board of Trustees, from inaugurating Engr. Oguntala as the elected NSE president, scheduled for January 2024.
This injunction was granted in accordance with the society’s Memorandum and Articles of Association (MEMART).
The judge set January 25, 2024, as the date for the substantive suit’s hearing and instructed the Nigeria Society of Engineers, its Council, NSE Electoral Panel, Board of Trustees, and anyone acting on their behalf to maintain the current state of affairs until the claimant’s substantive suit is resolved by the court.
Additionally, the judge mandated the formation of a caretaker committee to prevent a leadership vacuum within the NSE while the suit is being determined.
In a bold move, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has announced plans to launch a comprehensive inquiry into the governance conducted by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
The announcement came on Monday, following the swearing-in ceremony of Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the state.
Governor Fubara stressed the critical timing of Iboroma’s appointment amidst political tensions and revealed intentions to establish a judicial panel of inquiry to scrutinize governance practices predating his administration.
Fubara said, “So, my brother, Dagogo Iboroma, you are going to be the brand new Attorney-General of our dear State. SSG, give him his letter, he is the Attorney-General.
“Why are we bringing you at this very critical time? We have a lot of issues around us. We believe that you are not going to be the one that when they send service to you, you go and file “nolle prosequi” or you go and file one thing that would kill us here.
“Let me also say this, you have a big task. As it is today in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affair of governance. So, brace up, I am not going back on it.
He added “Please, defend us. We know that you are going to defend us because your record is clean. You are a gentleman and peaceful. You are not a noise maker. People like you are endowed, and they have the fear of God.”
In the midst of political tensions, the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara has conducted the screening and confirmation of legal expert Dagogo Israel Iboroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the Commissioner-designate.
Led by Speaker Victor Oko Jumbo, the faction endorsed Commissioner-nominee Dagogo Iboroma on Monday, within the Chambers of the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
Iboroma is poised to assume the role of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, succeeding Professor Zaccheus Adangor SAN, who resigned upon his redeployment to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s office) two weeks ago.
According to report, Iboroma received an invitation on Sunday, signed by Dr. G.M. Gills-West, the Clerk of the House, summoning him for screening as the Commissioner nominee and potential member of the Rivers State Executive Council.
Recall that last week, Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, a factional Speaker aligned with Governor Fubara, was elected after Governor Fubara asserted that the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers, loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital, ceased to be Rivers State lawmakers in the eyes of the law following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Observers speculate that Governor Fubara is pushing forward to instigate governance activities, with more Commissioner nominees expected to undergo screening by the Victor Oko Jumbo-led three-man Lawmakers.
However, our correspondent highlights that the invitation for screening is already stirring controversies.
In a Facebook post by lawyer Oraye St Franklyn, he raised various legal issues.
Former Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, Edison Ehie has revealed that he was offered money to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ehie, now serving as Chief of Staff to the governor, was previously the majority leader when the first attempt to impeach Fubara took place.
Along with a few others, he opposed the move, leading to a split from the lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ehie later became the speaker of the faction, which disbanded after President Bola Tinubu intervened and a peace accord was signed between the Wike and Fubara camps.
The peace efforts faltered shortly thereafter, and the two factions resumed their conflict.
Speaking at an event in Ahoada East area of Rivers State over the weekend, Ehie reiterated that he was offered money to oust the governor.
While he didn’t reveal the identities of those behind the offer, he affirmed that he declined it.
He said “They invited me, your son, to impeach the governor and I told them clearly, I was not interested. They gave me all the money that was hidden before, which I rejected. And because I refused, they conspired and declared me wanted.”
Recall that in 2023, the police declared the Chief of Staff wanted in connection with the invasion of the State House of Assembly.
Also, in October 2023, an explosion rocked the state assembly building amidst reports of lawmakers attempting to impeach Fubara.
The lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule reportedly lodged criminal complaints against Ehie with the Rivers State Police Command over the invasion and arson of the Rivers State House of Assembly chambers by unidentified hoodlums.
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