Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out an application by the candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu State in the March 18 governorship election, Hon Chijioke Edeoga, seeking to be joined in the lawsuit instituted by Governor Peter Mbah against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for alleged misrepresentation of facts on his discharge certificate.
The court dismissed the application for the joinder after it was withdrawn by the applicant.
It warned against false reportage of the court’s proceedings in the N20 billion lawsuit between the governor and the NYSC.
During the proceedings, before parties began to move pending motions, Justice Ekwo interjected and warned against false reportage.
He said, “In this court, I operate an open-door policy. I have instructed my registrars to make available to the media whatever document they need. I have always said that all that I want is accurate reportage of proceedings before this court.
“It is only in this country that some persons who called themselves journalists will report falsehood and get away with it. I am not even saying you should be objective but report the facts the way they are, that’s why the registrars have been working with the media to ensure court proceedings are not misrepresented.”
He warned about the consequences of misrepresentation of court proceedings.
During the proceedings, counsel to NYSC, Aminu Sadauki, told the court that he filed a notice of preliminary objection and the court asked, if he filed it alongside substantive matter, to which he responded in the negative.
The counsel to Governor Mbah, Mr Emeka Ozoani (SAN) conceded to more time to allow Sadauki regularise his papers.
The court, therefore, adjourned to July 11, 2023 for definite hearing of the substantive matter.
Shortly after the case was held, a section of online media, which did not cover proceedings reported that Justice Ekwo refused to grant an order of interlocutory injunction sought by Mbah to restrain the NYSC from appearing before the Election Petitions Tribunal to give evidence with respect to the alleged forged NYSC certificate he presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, the application being referred to was never moved before the court set the matter down for definite hearing for July 11.
Gov Eno To Overhaul State-owned Power Plant
BY INIOBONG EKPONTA, Uyo
As the federal government plans to grant leverage to states to generate and distribute electricity, Akwa Ibom State government has ordered effective auditing and overhaul of the state-owned Independent Power Plant (IPP).
Governor Umo Eno, who handed down the order during his familiarisation tour of the firm at Ikot Abasi local government area, explained that the move became necessary in order to ascertain the problem areas of the plant with a view to fixing them for optimum electricity generation and distribution.
He said it is not in his habit to act on reports from the field without confirming things by himself, and noted that it was his administrative style that prompted him to embark on the fact – finding mission with the full state government apparatus.
Governor Eno said that a lot has been unravelled on the operations of the power plant and called for a comprehensive audit report to enable him ascertain his take-off point in tackling the challenges.
He appreciated the Ministry of Power, Board and Management of Ibom Power and Savannah Energy, for agreeing to proffer solutions to issues affecting the efficiency of the company, assuring that repositioning the company would make it run optimally and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in the state.
He said, “This is part of my familiarisation tour of companies and parastatals of government; I mean companies that the government controls shares. It is just to familiarize myself with those facilities. That’s why we are doing this.
“My visit here is quite informative. I have uncovered a few things and I am sure we are going to correct all of them because everyone has agreed to work together; the Ministry of Power, Board and Management of Ibom Power. Then, we also have Savannah Energy that supplies gas, they are willing to assist by coming up with solutions.
“Let’s have an audit report of what the issues are so that we can tackle, solve them and get the place running. When there is progress in the management of the company, electricity will be more stable,” he said.
