EDO JUDICIARY STAFF BLASTS CHAIRMAN OVER UNPAID SALARIES SUIT

Staff of the Edo State Judiciary have accused their Union’s Chairman for not carrying them along in the scheme of things.

They specifically accused the Chairman, Mr. Uyi Ogieriakhi, for allegedly colluding with politicians to file an ex perte motion, without their knowledge, in view of their unpaid seven months salaries during the Adams Oshiomhole’s administration.

While describing the moves as politically motivated, the staff threatened to pull out of the union which they alleged was trading with their unpaid salaries issue.

The staff who trooped out in their large numbers for a meeting called by their Chairman, grew wild when he announced that the meeting was aimed at organizing a protest march in view of the unpaid salaries.

They further accused their Chairman for not calling for Congress regularly which they alleged shows that he had something to hide, emphasizing that he must first tender unreserved apologies to them and the state government for the wrong steps taken and as well, issue a press release and a communique distancing himself from the motion ex perte which was thrown out by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

In his defence, Mr. Ogieriakhi denied knowledge of the suit which he said was filed by the National office of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN.

Mr. Ogieriakhi who stated that he does not belong to any political party consequently tendered an apology to the staff for the development and agreed to obey the terms stated by the angry Judiciary Staff.

Hon. Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday 27th August 2020, struck out an application filed by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria against the Edo State Government over an alleged seven months unpaid salaries of the Judiciary Staff in 2014/2015.

Delivering ruling in the Union’s motion ex perte, Justice Abang noted that the Union failed to disclose the exact amount it sought to target in the nine bank accounts which it furnished before the court.

Justice Abang refused the application to garnishee the nine bank accounts because, issuing such orders will amount to crippling the State.

The court questioned the motives behind the application coming at the time of the state’s Governorship election and described it as ill-motivated because the judgment of the court can still be enforced after the election in the state.

COURT RULES ON SEVEN EDO VIGILANTE SEPT. 8

A Benin High Court, sitting in Benin City has adjourned to 8th September 2020 ruling in a motion on notice for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of seven members of the Edo State Vigilante Group.

Counsel to the Applicants, Osarenren Matthias Obayuwana, who filed a twenty four paragraph affidavit in support of his motion, submitted that the motion was aimed at enforcing the fundamental rights to liberty and personal dignity, freedom from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of the Applicants by the police authorities.

He submitted that the Applicants were arrested while performing their lawful duties as Members of the state Vigilante group who were at the assembly complex at the instance of the Edo State Government to protect the place from being vandalized by hoodlums that fateful day.

Mr. Obayuwana also told the court that the Applicants were arrested by a team of Policemen led by one Supol Dahiru and taken to Force Headquarters Abuja where they were tortured and detained under unfavourable condition without food, emphasizing that the rights to personal dignity is not such that can be negotiated, waived, neglected or overlooked.

Citing sections of the law to drive home his points, the Applicants’ counsel told the court that the Respondents did not present any warrant of arrest, petition or Complaint by anyone against the Applicants on the basis of which they acted in the early hours of that day, an exercise that was ill-motivated and which smacks of partisanship in the electoral politics of Edo State.

He urged the court to accordingly, restrain the Respondents, their agents, servants and privies from further from further interference with the fundamental human rights to liberty of the Applicants in the discharge of their duties as Vigilante employed by the Edo State Government for the protection of Government properties.

Mr. Obayuwana also prayed the court amongst other reliefs to direct the Respondents jointly and severally to apologise to the Applicants in writing and publish same in at least one national daily for the unwarranted infringement of their fundamental rights to liberty pursuant to section 35(6) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Objecting the application, counsel to the Police, A. Adeghe, urged the court to rule against the Applicants because they were arrested with guns, an offence punishable by law.

The Applicants; Wilfred Ogbewe,52, Igbinobaro Collins,26, Salami Osayomore,25, Odion Osayande,23, Morgan Uwagboe,47, Ifeoluwa Oladele,36, and Agbonrere Festus,25, were arrested by a team of Policemen led by one Supol Dahiru Ibrahim from Abuja at the premises of the Edo State House of Assembly on 6th August 2020.

Joined as Respondents in the matter are; the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, the Edo State Commissioner of Police and Supol Dahiru Ibrahim.

The presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Efe Ikponmwoba, consequently adjourned the matter to 8th September 2020 for ruling.

OJIE OF ORA DISOWNS PASTOR OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU

The Ojie designate of Sabogida Ora in Edo State, Chief Joshua Unuigboje-Aisuku, has dispelled rumours trending on social media that he did not confer any Chieftaincy title on the APC candidate for the 2020 Edo State Governorship election.

The Ojie designate while addressing a press conference in Benin City disclosed that being the paramount traditional ruler in Ore, it was the duty of the Ojie to so invest or confer Chieftaincy title on whoever is so recommended.

Chief Unuigboje-Aisuku, who is also the Arah of Evbiobe Sabogida Ora, further disclosed that the purported installation was carried out by one Chief Joshua Ikhidero with the support of another John Akhihiero who had no such powers to so do.

The Ojie designate stated that on the 27th of August 2020, there was an enlarged meeting of the community elders in his house when the convoy of the APC candidate drove passed his house to that of Chief Joshua Ikhidero where they went for the purported installation.

He stressed that there is an existing Gazette to the installation of any person as a Chief in Ora land, emphasizing that the purported installation of the APC candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was a scam.

COURT REMANDS SIX OVER MURDER OF UNIBEN STUDENT

Six persons who were recently arrested by men of the Edo State Police Command, in connection with the alleged murder of a 21 year old Micro Biology student of the Universitt of Benin, Uwaila Vera Omozuwa, have been remanded in custody by a Benin High Court.

The Defendants; Osabuohien Nosakhare, Collins Ulegbe, Akhator Valentine, Nelson Ogbebor, Tina Samuel and Mary Aden and others now at large allegedly conspired to commit the offence on 13th May 2020 inside the hall of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City.

The presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Efe Ikponmwoba, made their remand order while directing that their case file be duplicated and forwarded to the office of the Edo State Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, for legal advice.

EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY CRISIS

Efforts to secure bail for seven members of the Edo State Vigilante, Before a Benin High Court, suffered setbacks due to non service on the officer in charge of the team that arrested the suspects at the premises if the Edo State House of Assembly on 6th August 2020.

Counsel to the Defendants, Osarenren Matthias Obayuwana, told the court that the court’s Bailiff, served the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police as well as the Commissioner of Police, Edo State, emphasizing that the 4th Respondent, Supol Dahiru Ibrahim, who led the team from Abuja to arrest the Defendants have been evading service of the court processes.

Obayuwana submitted that the matter was for hearing of the motion on notice for the enforcement of the  fundamental human rights of the Defendants but with the prevailing situation, the matter cannot proceed without service on Supol Dahiru Ibrahim.

The applicants’ counsel who said a representative of the Police can be served with the processes and same will be deemed as proper.

The Police representative who agreed with the submission, asked for five days within which to file a counter affidavit in response, a position Obayuwana said was too long a time and urged the court to abridge the time for the Police representative to reply to the motion on notice.

The court then adjourned the matter to Friday 28th August 2020.

The Defendants are; Wilfred Ogbewe,52, Igbinobaro Collins,26, Salami Osayomore,25, Odion Osayande,23, Morgan Uwagboe,47, Ifeoluwa Oladele,36, and Agbonrere Festus,25.

OLOGBO MURDER: COURT REFUSES ABRIDGMENT FOR RULING.

A Benin High Court has refused a motion which sought to abridge the time for ruling on the bail application for Chief Johnson Atseleghe who is being charged for alleged murder and kidnapping related offences.

The court refused the argument posited by the Applicant’s counsel, Bamidele Abina, that the health of the Applicant was deteriorating owing to inadequate medical facility at the Correctional centre where he’s being remanded.

The court held that the medical report exhibited by the Applicant’s counsel does not state any illness suffered by the Applicant, moreso, nothing has changed between the time the matter was adjourned for ruling and the present day.

Chief Johnson Atseleghe,63, was earlier remanded by the court alongside Felicia Otikpere,55, Oluwa Esimijie,38, Monday Iluwa,58, Ayokotse Robinson,54, Nosa Omoregie,54, and Mofe Samuel,40.

Others be are; Magnanimous Omawumi,40, Ayuwa More,65, Amerete Ejiro,25, Onyeburutan Jeffery,25, and Benjamin Erewa,39.

They were alleged to have kidnapped and murdered one Sunny Etchie the Okaighele of Kolokolo community in  Edo State.

OLOGBO MURDER: COURT ADJOURNS BAIL OF TRADITIONAL RULER

A Benin High Court sitting in Benin City has adjourned for ruling, argument on the bail of one 63 years old Chief Johnson Atseleghe who is currently standing murder charges alongside ten others.

Counsel to the applicant, Bamidele Abina, via an emergency motion to abridge ruling of a pending motion for bail which was earlier slated for 14th September 2020, submitted that the development was as a result of the Applicant’s failing health.

He tendered a medical report from the Delta State Hospitals Management Board dated 10th August 2020, in aid of his submission, emphasizing that if granted bail, the applicant will always be available to take his trial.

Counsel to the late Etchie’s family, Matthew Edeghese, opposed the emergency bail application and termed same as an abuse of court process hence, it lacks merit.

Ruling on the arguments was consequently reserved for 25th August 2020.

Chief Johnson Atseleghe was earlier remanded by the court alongside Felicia Otikpere,55, Oluwa Esimijie,38, Monday Iluwa,58, Ayokotse Robinson,54, Nosa Omoregie,54, and Mofe Samuel,40.

Others be are; Magnanimous Omawumi,40, Ayuwa More,65, Amerete Ejiro,25, Onyeburutan Jeffery,25, and Benjamin Erewa,39.

They were alleged to have murdered one Sunny Etchie the Okaighele of Kolokolo community in Edo State.