Edo Community Decries Invasion, Abduction Of Youth Leader

Residents of Kolokolo Community, Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha, Local Government Area, Edo State  staged protest over the whereabout of the youth leader, Mr Sunny Etchie , the Okaghele Of Kokoloko who was allegedly whisked away by unknown gun men 

The protesters accused one Johnson Asheleghe the Iyasere of Warri Kingdom and his cohorts of masterminding the 25 buses loaded with gunmen that invaded the community about nine days ago.

Spoke person for the group, Benson Ayokotse called on the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, the Police, DSS to declare the accused wanted and bring 77 him to justice.

He said the youth chairman travail started when the accused made several failed attempt to coerced him to halt the ongoing  construction of road from Kolokolo to Benin City.

"We are calling on Governor Obaseki and all the security agencies to help us talk to Johnson to help us release our brother, we want the Inspector General of Police to declare Johnson wanted because he is a threat, he once boosted that he was above the law, that the whole security agents in the state are under his control." 

Meanwhile the Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said the state police command will ensure justice and bring  the abductors to book.

On his part, the embattle Iyasere who had earlier granted an interview to a television station in the state before the escalation of the crisis,  denied having hand in the abduction of the youth leader adding that his accusers were out to drag his hard earned reputation to the mud.

COVID 19: Some Persons must Isolate - Obaseki insists

The Edo State government has so far screened over 404,000 persons and tested 4,344 Edo residents for covid 19. From this exercise, Edo state recorded 519 confirmed cases, 113 recovered and sadly 27 deaths, there is now rise case of community spread particularly, we the elderly being the most affected.

This breakdown was given by Governor Godwin Obaseki recently while addressing journalists in government house on the situation reports of coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world and Edo state in particular.

Governor Godwin Obaseki said that "the last three months has been very tough for us as a result of the restructure of our lives by the recent covid 19 pandemic. Based on this, we decided to screened 500,000 and tested 5,000 of our citizens with the hope that the information gathered will assist us in tailoring our response."

The Governor emphasized that "even though persons who are aged 60 years and above make up only 5 per cent of our population, over 50 per cent of the death we had recorded affects this category. This show that the coronavirus decease has more fetal imparts on elderly which results on their death."

He stressed further that "as a government, we are very concern of the exposure of our elderly population to this decease and we have resolved that these vulnerable persons must be protected. We must now intensify protective measures such as wearing of face mask, hand washing and practicing physical distances.  We cannot afford to acts irresponsibly."

The governor explained that since Edo State government had purchased facilities to police the covid 19 pandemic at Stella Obasanjo Hospital, some persons are still refusing to isolate in this facilities. They rather prefer to be self-isolate in their home thereby spreading the virus to their loves ones and increasing community spread. We frown on this behavior and we will henceforth publish the list of these persons who refuse to be isolate."

"In view of the upcoming election and to decrease infection during the political parties campaign, we issued a gazette that provide guidance on how political parties can conduct political rallies. There remains the restriction of gathering of more than 20 persons, however, when higher number of persons are require to gather, permission, guidelines and locations may be granted by the Edo state government." 

On partial lockdown in Edo State, the state governor said that "however, in line with the presidential taskforce recommendation to states, we are now going to commence gradual open of the state in two weeks time.  But immediately, the curfew which was  imposed in the state will not relax and will henceforth commence from 10.00pm to 4.00am."

Speaking on the reopening of school, Edo State governor said that schools will remain closed but guideline for states to reopening schools is being develop by the federal ministry of education  especially for the JSS3 and SS3 students who are preparing for their examinations.

He therefore encourage all Edo State parents and guidance of pupils in primary schools to continue to use e-learning platform for their educational needs while still at home.

"We will continue phase location and reopening of our markets and we strongly appeal to traders and markets leadership to strictly comply with the government directives and social distances for their health and wellbeing" the governor concluded.

Adam Oshiomhole's Suspension as APC National Remains - Appeal Court

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal has affirmed the suspension of Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole as Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Lamido, the three-man panel dismissed Oshiomhole’s appeal for lacking in merit.

The panel accordingly affirmed the decision of an Abuja High Court which had in early March ordered the suspension of Oshiomhole as APC National Chairman.

LEGAL IMPLICATION OF THE AFFIRMATION OF ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE'S SUSPENSION BY THE COURT OF APPEAL

By Barrister Afam Linus Anijekwu (ksji)

It is no longer news that the Court of Appeal has affirmed the suspension of Adams Oshomole as National Chairman of the APC. Recall that On March 4, 2020, the Federal High Court ordered the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole.

The order was based on an application by Oluwale Afolabi who contended that Oshiomhole is currently suspended by the APC in his ward in Edo and has not challenged the suspension. 

That consequently, Oshiomhole’s right as an APC member was currently abated and he cannot continue to act as chairman of the party since he is not, strictly speaking, even a member of the APC. 

Afolabi argued that Oshiomhole cannot continue to enjoy benefits from the APC despite his suspension. The High Court agreed with Afolabi. The Court of Appeal has now affirmed it.

The suspension of Oshiomhole is retrospective and relates back to the very day he was suspended by his APC ward in Edo. What this means is that he ceased to be Chairman of APC from that very day. 

This is because on suspension, all his rights as a member of APC ended. It is simple logic: a none member of a Party cannot be National Chairman of the Party. 

Consequently, all the actions Oshiomhole took as Chairman of APC, including all the committees he constituted, are null and void. This includes the committee that disqualified Obaseki.

Let me volunteer another approach. Oshiomhole was suspended by APC in Edo. The real issue before the court was the effect of that suspension on his capacity to act as Chairman of APC. It was not whether his suspension was valid. 

Effect/implication of suspension starts the very date of that suspension, not the date the court upheld the effect. Thus, from the date of suspension, Oshiomhole was no longer chairman of APC in the eyes of the law.