Press Conference
…Asserts Delay in his Trial Creates Bad Precedence, Encourages Impunity
Gentlemen of the press, we have called you up today to update you on our demand for the prosecution of the sacked former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari. INEC Nigeria
You may recall that Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari brazenly attempted to subvert our nation’s constitutional democratic rule by trying to install an illegal government in Adamawa State in violation of Section 1(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Nigerians can still remember how Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari on Sunday April 16, 2023 recklessly attempted to override the Will of the people of Adamawa State in the Saturday April 15, 2023 election by illegally declaring the candidate of the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner while collation of results was on-going.
For emphasis, Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides;
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.
The action of Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari therefore amounted to a “civilian coup” which tried to undermined the nation’s sovereignty, triggered serious crisis in Adamawa State and threatened national peace and security.
You may also recall that since after his removal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the declaration of Governor Ahmed Fintiri at the end of collation as the lawful and duly elected Governor of Adamawa State, Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari has been on the run.
However, time they say, does not run against the State in criminal matters. Such subversive conduct cannot go unpunished and our Party is determined to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
Nigerians are invited to note that the High Court of Justice of Adamawa State, No. 9, Yola Division has issued a Warrant of Arrest of Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari dated May 21, 2024, wherein it ordered the Inspector General of Police to apprehend and produce Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari to appear before it to answer to the charges preferred against him.
The said Order of Court was received at the Office of the Inspector General of Police on May 23, 2024.
The delay in the prompt and diligent prosecution of Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari for his alleged criminal conduct constitutes a clear and present danger to our Democracy and the Rule of Law that nobody is above the law.
The failure of the Nigerian police so far to apprehend and bring Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari to justice is capable of creating a bad precedence and encourage other public officers to act with impunity, behaving as if there are no consequences for acts contrary to law and their Oath of Office.
The PDP therefore charges the Inspector General of Police to, in compliance with the Order of Court, immediately fish out, arrest and bring Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari before the Court for prosecution.
This is especially as there are allegations and apprehension in the public space that Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari has perfected plans to escape from the country and evade trial.
The PDP insists that Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari must be made to face the full wrath of the law for his assault against our democracy.
Thank you for listening and God bless Nigeria.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
June 7, 2024
Press Statement
PDP Constitutes Ebonyi State Caretaker Committee
The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) pursuant to Section 29(2)(b) of our Constitution (as amended in 2017) approved the composition of Ebonyi State PDP Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the Ebonyi State Chapter of our Party.
The Ebonyi State Caretaker Committee is charged with the responsibility of running the affairs of the Party in Ebonyi State as stipulated in Section 21(2) (a-b) of our Party’s Constitution for a period not exceeding 90 days (three months) or until a new Executive Committee is elected.
Members of the Committee are as follows:
1 Barr. Steve Oruruo – Chairman
- Barr. Jude Omoha – Member
- Francis Ibiam – Member
- Ude Akaji – Member
- Chief Godwin Nwode – Member
- Hon. Amechi Oken – Member
- Chief Christopher Elechi Ngwuta – Member
- Dave Odey – Member
- Hon. Ezekiel Igede – Member
- Hon. Chika Nwoba – Member
- Hon. Emmanuel Uka A. – Member
- Engr. Edward Ifeanyi Odanwu -Member
- Okoro Monday Ogbonnaya – Member
- Hon. Mark Onu – Member
- Barr. Pascal Ukwuani – Secretary
The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in Ebonyi State to remain united and continue to work together for the progress of the Party in the State.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
SERAP sues Tinubu govt over failure to account for loans by ex-presidents
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the government of president Bola Tinubu “over the failure to publish spending details of the loans obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.”
The suit was filed against the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, and the Debt Management Office (DMO).
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/353/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel the Tinubu government to publish the loan agreements obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.”
SERAP is also asking the court to “direct and compel the Tinubu government to publish the spending details of any such loans, including the interests and other payments so far made on the loans.”
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that, “No one should be able to pull curtains of secrecy around decisions on the spending of public funds which can be revealed without injury to the public interest. Democracy requires accountability and accountability requires transparency.”
SERAP is also arguing that “The Tinubu government should make it possible for citizens to have access to the agreements and spending details to judge whether their government is working for them or not.”
According to SERAP, “The information may help to explain why, despite several billions of dollars in loans obtained by successive governments, millions of Nigerians continue to face extreme poverty and lack access to basic public goods and services.”
SERAP is arguing that, “Nigerians’ right to a democratic governance allows them to appreciably influence the direction of government, and have an opportunity to assess progress and assign blame.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “The accountability of government to the general public is a hallmark of democratic governance, which Nigeria seeks to achieve.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: “Publishing the loan agreements would improve public accountability in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).”
“Nigerians are entitled to information about what their government is doing in their name. This is part of their right to information.”
“Publishing the agreements and spending details would allow the public to see how and on what these governments spent the loans and foster transparency and accountability.”
“Publishing the loan agreements signed by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, and widely publishing the agreements would allow Nigerians to scrutinise it and to demand accountability for the spending of the loans.”
“According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country’s is N97.3 trillion ($108 billion). The Federal Government’s debt is N87.3 trillion ($97 billion).”
“Nigeria paid $6.2 billion in 2019 as interest on loans while the country paid $6.5 as interest in 2018. Nigeria also paid $5 billion as interest on loans in 2017 while the country paid $4.4 billion as interest in 2016. For 2015, the interest paid on loans was $5.5 billion.”
“Substantial parts of the loans obtained by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 may have been mismanaged, diverted or stolen, and in any case remain unaccounted for.”
“Persons with public responsibilities ought to be answerable to the people for the performance of their duties including the management of the loans obtained between May 1999 and May 2023.”
“The Tinubu government has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in how any loans obtained by the Federal Government are spent, to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.”
“The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information, including to copies of the loan agreements obtained by successive governments since 1999.”
“By the combined reading of the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, there are transparency obligations imposed on the Tinubu government to widely publish the agreements and details of the projects on which the loans were spent.”
“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
9/06/2024
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202