CDHR Mourns Death Of General Secretary, Comrade Kabiru Ibrahim

With grief and bleeding heart, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) announced the death of a NEC member, General Secretary, Comrade Kabiru Ibrahim, who lost his life to a ghastly motor accident along Abuja-Kaduna express way on Monday 8th July. The organisation received the death news of our gallant Comrade with shock and grief. It is indeed a sad one.

We want to use this medium to sympathise with our National President, Comrade Debo Adeniran, and the NEC members. The organisation equally sympathise with Kaduna branch of CDHR for the great loss and the entire CDHR family in Nigeria.

Until his death, Comrade Kabiru Ibrahim was a vibrant activist, human right fighter, and a voice to the voiceless. We beseech Almighty Allah to forgive all his shortcomings and grant him the highest place in paradise. May Allah give his family great fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

E-Signed:
Comrade Idris Afees Olayinka,
National Publicity Secretary CDHR Nigeria.

Rivers: Group Welcomes Appeal Court Judgement Rejecting Tenure Elongation for Ex-LG Chairmen

The National Vanguard for Rule of Law (NVRL) has commended the Court of Appeal’s decision to strike out two appeals filed by former Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State, loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike.

The appeals sought to extend their tenure, but the Court of Appeal found them to be without merit.

In a statement by its President, Comrade Johnson Babatunde, the NVRL praised the justices of the Port Harcourt Division for their courage and integrity in delivering a sound judgment, despite alleged attempts to induce them with money to pervert justice.

He said the judgement is a resounding victory for democracy, the rule of law, and the people of Rivers State.

Babatunde added that the ruling serves as a strong message to politicians who seek to exploit loopholes and manipulate the system for personal gain.

The group believes that this judgement gives Nigerians hope in the judiciary and demonstrates that the court remains the hope of the common man.

The appeals, marked CA/PH/137M/2024 and CA/PH/145M/2024, were filed by Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and six others, challenged the decisions of the lower court on the elongation of their council leadership tenure.

However, the Court of Appeal found the appeals to be without merit and consequently struck them out.

Babatunde said: “We commend the justices of the Portharcourt Division for once again delivering a sound judgment, upholding the rule of and giving Nigerians hope in the judiciary.

“We understand the enemies of Rivers State have been inducing judges with money to deliver black market judgments in their favour. We believe that the Justices of the Portharcourt Division must have been tempted with all forms of inducement to pervert justice, but as men of courage and integrity, they have chosen to uphold the rule of law.

“We criticize the former Local Government Chairmen for their attempt to subvert the democratic process and extend their tenure illegally.

“Their actions were driven by a desire for self-preservation and a disregard for the welfare of the people they were elected to serve. Their tenure elongation bid was a brazen attempt to defy the constitution and perpetuate themselves in office.

“We commend Governor Simi Fubara and the Rivers State Government for their unwavering commitment to upholding the constitution and defending the interests of the people.

“We urge the government to continue to prioritize the welfare and well-being of the people, and to ensure that democratic governance is entrenched in Rivers State”.

The NVRL also called on Nigerians to support judges who deliver sound judgments and urged the people of Rivers State to continue to support Governor Fubara in delivering dividends of democracy to the state.

The group encouraged the people to prepare for the forthcoming local government elections to replace those who sought to extend their tenure through illegal means.

Fresh Court Order Bars Rivers CJ, House Clerk From Taking Resolutions From 27 Lawmakers

A High Court of Justice of Rivers State presided over by Justice Jumbo Stephen has barred the chief Judge of the state, Justice Someone Amadi, from giving effect to any resolution by 27 defected lawmakers in the state.

The court in a fresh order dated July 8, 2024, also barred the state clerk of the State House of Assembly from acting on the their resolutions.

Twenty seven members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, defected from the People’s Docratic Party, PDP, to the All Progresaivea Congress, APC.

There has been legal battle over the defection of the lawmakers to the opposition party in the state.

The fresh order issued by the court reads: “That an Order of Interim Injunction is hereby made restraining the 31st and 32nd Defendants from dealing or howsoever relating with the 1st-27th Defendants as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and from receiving, forwarding or howsoever acting on any resolutions, articles of impeachment or other documents or communication from the 1st — 27th .Defendants. pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.

“That the parties to this suit are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante in this suit as at 5th July 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.

3. An Order is hereby made for substituted service of the originating and other processes in this suit on the 1st— 30th Defendants by pasting the same at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters, opposite former NDDC headquarters, off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

4. That this matter is hereby adjourned to the 15th day of July 2024 for the motion on notice for interlocutory

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Lawmakers affected by the order are Hon. Dumle Maol, Hon. Major Jack, Hon. Franklin Uchenna Nwabochi, Hon. Christopher Kagbang Ofiks, Hon. Azeru Opara, Hon. Enemi Alabo George, Hon. Granville Tekenari Wellington, Hon. Ngbar Bernard, Hon. John Dominic Iderima, Hon. Queen Uwuma Tony Williams, Hon. Loolo Isaiah Opuende amd Hon, Abbey Peter.

Others are Hon. Igwe – Obey Aforii, Hon. Justina Emeji, Hon. Ignatius Onwuka Defendants, Hon. Chimezie Nwankwo, Hon. Lemchi Prince Nyeche, Hon. Barile Nwakoh 20. Hon. Emilia Lucky Amadi, Hon. Nkemjika Ezekwe, Hon. Davios Arnold Oxobiriari, Hon. Nwankwo Sylvanus, Hon. Gerald Oforii and Hon. Wami Solomon.