Ngige: A Symbol of Nigerian Demo-cracy

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I believe many also read in papers that: "Confusion reigned in Anambra State on Tuesday as Governor Chris Ngige again went underground a few hours after he resurfaced on Monday afternoon in the Government House, Awka."

His excellency keep disppearing and then suddenly re-appears. Is somebody after Ngige's life? I thought they were only interested in his 'Chair?'

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Assalamu alaikum,

Remove Ngige, FG tells Supreme Court
The Federal Government on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to remove Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige from office, saying he was unconstitutionally sworn into office in 2003 by Justice Joseph Chuka Okoli, who should have retired after the expiration of his term as the state Chief Judge.

In a counter-claim filed by the government to the suit by Anambra State seeking to declare as unconstitutional the removal of Ngige's security personnel, Abuja said the state has no constitutionally valid governor in office who can enjoy the rights, privileges, recognition and other facilities under the Constitution.

Federal Government lead counsel Philip Umeadi informed the court at the resumed hearing on Thursday that what the state is asking is for the Supreme Court to give an advisory opinion on the issue before it.

He said such a request is not known to law and asked the court to strike out the case.

The suit by Anambra State, in which the 36 states are defendants, is seeking to compel the Federal Government to restore the police security of Ngige.

However, the Federal Government urged the Supreme Court to declare, among others: that the oath of office and oath of allegiance purportedly administered on Ngige on May 29, 2003 is unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect; Ngige cannot constitutionally assume the functions of governor not having taken  the oath of office and the oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and he ceased to be governor on July 10, 2003 following his letter of resignation and the receipt thereof by the speaker of the state Assembly.

According to Abuja, from official records, Okoli who swore Ngige into office should have retired by June 15, 2002 in line with Section 291( 2) of the Constitution.

Okoli, according to records in the Society of Middle Temple in England and the Council of Legal Education, Bwari, Abuja, was born on June 15, 1937 and should have retired on June 15, 2002.

Abuja argued that all the acts of Okoli while  in office from June 15, 2002 –  including but not limited to the administration of the oath of office on Ngige – are unconstitutional and, therefore null, void and of no effect whatsoever.        

However, in the substantive suit, Anambra State is asking the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution on the power of the President and the National Assembly to remove a governor from office.

It is seeking a declaration, among others, that President Olusegun Obasanjo has no constitutional right to remove police protection from the governor of Anambra State or of any other state.

The state  is asking the court to declare that neither the President nor the inspector general of police has the right to withdraw the security apparatus of any governor.

It wants a declaration that Ngige cannot be removed by the President through a proclamation of a state of emergency.

Other declarations being sought include:

• That the high court of any state has no constitutional power or jurisdiction of entertain any suit and to make any order therein for the removal of a governor having regard to Section 184 of the Constitution and

• Having regard to the Constitution, state high courts have no extra territorial jurisdiction outside their state and the law establishing them so as to entertain a proceeding and to make any order for the removal of the governor of any state

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Assalamu alaikum,
Nigerian Politics palaver....

I'm the Ibori Convicted, Says Truck Driver
From Lillian Okenwa in Abuja

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The criminal conviction saga allegedly involving the Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, took a new turn at the weekend when a truck driver claiming to be James Onanefe Ochuko Ibori filed an intervening suit at the Abuja High Court alleging he was the person convicted of criminal negligence in 1995 by the Bwari Upper Area Court.

The truck driver in the action he filed as James Onanefe Ochuko Ibori, said he had to come forward to own up to his actions so that an innocent person will not suffer "for my misconduct and sin."

He said his decision to admit the offence was informed by the advice of his pastor who urged him to do so.

The truck driver in a 12-paragraph affidavit filed in support of his application for joinder dated August 5 but filed on Friday August 6, 2004 made the following admissions:

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Assalamu alaikum,

Anambra:They want to kill me —Ngige


By Wale Akinola & ANAYO OKOLI, Awka
Sunday, November 21, 2004

THE protracted crisis in Anambra State has taken a new dimension as the state government alleged a plot to kill Governor Chris Ngige and eight other top members of his administration.

"The government was reliably informed that the planners and sponsors of this assassination plot have concluded that having failed to achieve their inordinate ambition to force a declaration of a state of emergency in Anambra State and sack the Ngige administration, the next available option to illegaly remove the governor from office is to kill him and his principal officers," the state government said in Awka yesterday.
The planners and sponsors of the assassination plot were not identified.

The plot was alleged as Ngige listed his term for peace to return to a state which has been embroiled in political crisis since July 10, 2003 when some policemen abducted the governor allegedly at the instance of his estranged godfather, Chief Chris Uba.