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Lawyer, six others sue IGP, Enugu monarch for alleged rights violation

A Lagos-based lawyer, Vincent Okafor and six others have dragged the Inspector General of Police, the Traditional Ruler of Agunese Mmaku autonomous community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, HRH Igwe Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi, and 16 others, to court for alleged violation of fundamental human rights and freedom. DAILY POST recalls that Okafor
Lawyer, six others sue IGP, Enugu monarch for alleged rights violation

A Lagos-based lawyer, Vincent Okafor and six others have dragged the Inspector General of Police, the Traditional Ruler of Agunese Mmaku autonomous community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, HRH Igwe Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi, and 16 others, to court for alleged violation of fundamental human rights and freedom.

DAILY POST recalls that Okafor and two other members of the community, Mr. David Okeke and Chukwu Theophilus, were clamped in detention over the communal conflict in the area, a development that attracted condemnation from their kinsmen.

The plaintiffs, who are members of the Agunese Mmaku autonomous community, have now initiated civil proceedings at the Federal High Court Enugu Division, through their team of lawyers, led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chukwuemeka Ofodile, the son of a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, late Chike Ofodile SAN.

In suit no. FHC/EN/CS/198/2024, the applicants sought injunctive orders, declarative reliefs and directive orders against the defendants/respondents in the matter.

Joined as the 1st to 18 defendants/respondents, respectively are the Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), HRH Igwe Nevobasi and Mr. Onuselogu Nevobasi.

The remaining defendants/respondents are Mr. Jonathan Azubike Onuoha, Sir Laz Udeogboke, Oliver Chukwuobasi, Okekefi Iloham, Nnamdi Muodebe Okolo, Frederick Ngene, Patrick Ekweani, John Anugwa, Okonkwo Kenechukwu, Christian Chukwuemezie, James Chukwude and Ikechukwu Okpala.

Besides Okafor, the other plaintiffs are Chief Theophilus Chukwu, Mr. David Okeke, and Chiefs, Okeke Emmanuel Uwa, Ochie Moses Chuka, Okolie James Ikegwuonu and Simeon Ogbonna Okike.

The suit commenced through a writ of summons and accompanying motion on notice, sought among other reliefs, a declaration that the invitation, arrest and detention of the 1st to 7th plaintiffs/applicants by the 1st to 4th defendants, were illegal acts, done as agents of the 5th to 18 defendants, and therefore never lawful, illegal and a violation of the fundamental rights of the plaintiffs.

The court was also asked to declare as unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional, the invitation, arrest and detention of the 1st to 7th plaintiffs by the 1st to 4th defendants under the pretext that they were carrying out their duties under Section 4 of the Police Act, based on a complaint by the 5th to 18th defendants that the plaintiffs were purportedly a security threat to Agunese autonomous community.

Further reliefs include a declaration that the 5th to 18th defendants collaborated in setting the law in motion against the plaintiffs by making a false, malicious, ill-motivated and unfounded allegation of security threat, obtained by false pretence, with the intent to criminalise and incarcerate the plaintiffs, using the police, knowing full well that the allegation was fabricated and concocted, purely to punish and tarnish the reputation of the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs asked the court to declare as “unlawful” their invitation and continued harassment by the 1st to 4th defendants/ respondents, on the basis of a withdrawn petition against them by the 5th to 18th respondents, which constituted false arrest, detention and imprisonment on a fabricated none existent complaint/petition.

Referring to the letter of withdrawal of the petition against them by the 5th to 18th respondents, dated April 28th, 2022, the applicants prayed for a declaration of the court that the purported arraignments of Vincent Okafor, Theophilus Chukwu and David Okeke, the 1st to 3rd plaintiffs, and others at large, by the police at various magistrate courts in Enugu State and their remand in Correctional Centre Enugu, for purportedly carrying out warlike undertaking against Nevobasi and Agunese indigenes and cyber stalking, constitutes illegality, false imprisonment and clear violation of the fundamental rights of the affected persons.

They further asked the court to make a declaration that the 5th respondent (HRH Igwe Cyprian Nevobasi) falsely and with clear intention to deceive the public at large, holds himself out to the international community (Nigeria and South African Authorities included), with differing surname and identities, especially in his passport and other identification documents.

The plaintiffs consequently requested for an order of the Honourable Court, compelling Igwe Nevobasi to publish his correct personality under oath, instead of maintaining a dual deceitful personality, considering the high position he occupies as a traditional ruler in Enugu State.

They also requested for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants/ respondents by themselves/operatives, or through their agents, privies, or whosoever and howsoever defined, from all actions, including arresting, further invitation, charging/arraignment or interfering with their civil rights and freedom, and or any purported security threat complaint against them, pending the herein and determination of the substantive suit.

The plaintiffs requested for an order of interlocutory injunction, restraining the 5th to 18th defendants/ respondents from harassing, intimidating and holding traditional courts to hear any complaint against them or members of their immediate family, bordering on the matter pending before the court.

They demanded for exemplary damages of N20 million in their favour, against the 1st to 4th defendants (the IG, NPF, CP, Enugu State Command and DG of the DSS) and damages of N100 billion jointly and severally against the 5th to 18 defendants as compensation for the false allegation made against them without a proof.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the matter in court.

Lawyer, six others sue IGP, Enugu monarch for alleged rights violation

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• November 3, 2024
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Declare state of emergency on metal industry – Metallurgical Society tells Nigerian Govt

The Nigerian Metallurgical Society, NMS, has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the metal industry. This was part of the communique issued by the body after its Annual Conference which ended in Enugu, on Saturday. In the communique signed by the Society’s President, Engr. Prof. O.B. Oloche, the umbrella
Declare state of emergency on metal industry – Metallurgical Society tells Nigerian Govt

The Nigerian Metallurgical Society, NMS, has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the metal industry.

This was part of the communique issued by the body after its Annual Conference which ended in Enugu, on Saturday.

In the communique signed by the Society’s President, Engr. Prof. O.B. Oloche, the umbrella body of all metallurgists stressed the need to revitalise the moribund metal industries in Nigeria.

It said the aim of this year’s conference was to challenge governments, industries, relevant metal companies, the academia, and research institutions to engage in actions that would enable the nation to become an active participant in the metal industries.

Among other recommendations, the Society advocated that “all necessary government policies concerning development of metal industries should be put in place and their implementations vigorously pursued to actualize the establishment and operationalization of the metal industries at the downstream and upstream sectors.

“In addition to infrastructure, the government should strengthen the regulatory framework governing the metal industries, ensuring transparency, and boosting investor confidence to attract both domestic and foreign investments.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria should declare a state of emergency in the metal industries in order to revitalise the moribund metal industries in Nigeria.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria should ensure that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in September 2024 between the original builders of Ajaokuta Steel Plant Messrs, Tyazhpromexport (TPE), members of their consortium and Nigeria for the Rehabilitation, Completion and Operation of Ajaokuta Steel Plant (ASP) and National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in Kogi State, should be pursued to a logical and viable conclusion. This move is highly commendable as it will go a long way to re energise metal industries in Nigeria.

“The Society urges the government to, matter of urgency, settle the rift delaying the re-take-off of Aluminium Smelter Company (ALSCON), Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State. This company will meet both local and regional demands for aluminium, a major input in the metal industries.

“Massive investment in Research and Development, Capacity building, and adoption of modern technology essential for revitalising metal industries greatly improve productivity and reduce waste.

“Deliberate development of our mining sector will enable the building of a resilient local supply chain that is essential to reduce dependence on importation of metallic materials.

“Adequate financial investment from the Federal Government, private sector and international investors is paramount for the establishment and running of medium and small scale metal industries.”

It added that to address the challenges facing the sector, “there must be cooperation between public and private sectors.

“Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are vital to ensure investment in infrastructure, access financing, and alignment of growth strategies with market needs.

The theme of the conference and general meeting of the Society was “Economic Recovery Through The Development of Metal Industries”.

The conference was attended by members of the Society from across the country.

Declare state of emergency on metal industry – Metallurgical Society tells Nigerian Govt

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• November 3, 2024
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I want teachers to own houses – New Adamawa NUT chairman

The newly elected chairman of the Adamawa State chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Abubakar Mohammed, has identified a campaign to make teachers own their own houses as his priority. Mohammed, who has assumed office after his election earlier last week, told newsmen in Yola at the weekend that empowerment of teachers to achieve
I want teachers to own houses – New Adamawa NUT chairman

The newly elected chairman of the Adamawa State chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Abubakar Mohammed, has identified a campaign to make teachers own their own houses as his priority.

Mohammed, who has assumed office after his election earlier last week, told newsmen in Yola at the weekend that empowerment of teachers to achieve long lasting milestones is dear to his heart.

He, along with other NUT officials elected during the November 29 delegates conference of the union, will hold office for the next four years.

The NUT chairman while addressing reporters mainly from local media covering NUT activities, said he was elected based on the confidence that he could squeeze water out of stones and revamp the union.

He stressed that he is determined not to disappoint teachers.

“The issues of promotions, training and retraining of teachers, accessibility to soft loans for members to own houses and cater for their families in this hardship are some of my priorities,” the NUT chairman told the newsmen.

Leader of the NUT media delegation, Samaila Yunusa urged the new NUT Chairman to deploy his wealth of experience in entrepreneurship to reactivate the union to push for better working conditions for teachers.

Among the other new officials of NUT in Adamawa State are Deputy Chairman: Steven Ayuba; Internal Auditor: Tukur Yakubu; and Social Secretary: Dina Adamu.

I want teachers to own houses – New Adamawa NUT chairman