Minister of transportation, Chibuike Amaechi describes as frivolous, ridiculous and laughable the court action by PDP seeking to commit him to prison
– Queries why PDP instituted the court action against him when he lacks the powers to deploy soldiers
– Promises to meet the party in court
For deploying soldiers during the March 19 Rivers rerun elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers has asked a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt to commit the minister of transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, the chief of defence staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin, and the chief of army staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai to prison.
According to This Day, the party also requested that the commander of the 2 army brigade, Port Harcourt, Brigadier General Stephenson Olabanji, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Rivers state resident electoral commissioner (REC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak be jailed.
The court action was instituted by the Rivers state PDP chairman Felix Obuah in a motion of notice filed by their solicitor, Kingsley Chuku, before the state High Court registry on March 22.
Recall that Justice George Omereji of High Court on March 16 granted an interim injunction restraining the federal government from deploying soldiers during the rerun elections following a court process by the PDP.
However, soldiers were massively deployed and seen all over the state, monitoring the conduct of the legislative rerun elections which necessitated the recent court action by the PDP.
The presiding judge, Justice Omereji, has adjourned further hearing on the matter till April 14.
Reacting to the development, Amaechi, described the move by the PDP as “ frivolous, ridiculous and laughable”, promising to meet the party in court.
The minister of transportation in a statement by his media office yesterday, March 28, said he was unaware of the matter in court, pointing out that he had not been served the processes.
Amaechi however queried why the PDP joined him in the court matter when he does not have the powers as a Minister of Transportation to deploy soldiers.
He asked: “Who has the powers to deploy soldiers according to our constitution and laws? Does Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, have powers to deploy soldiers anywhere in the country?
“If Amaechi as Minister of Transportation does not deploy soldiers, why is he being dragged into the matter? And is the court saying that soldiers can’t be deployed for the safety and protection of lives and property when there is a clear need to do so?
“However, like I said earlier, we will meet them in court.”
Meanwhile, Some aggrieved Anambra state House of Representatives members- elect have written an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Leadership, the reps-elect want the president to wade into the dispute surrounding the legitimacy of those currently serving as federal lawmakers from the state.
In the letter dated March 29, 2016, the lawmakers; Emmanuel Nweke, Benedict Obaze, Anthony Offiah, Charles Odedo, Princess Ifeyinwa Anazonw, Mrs Uchenna Obi, Dr Ejike Nwene and Julius Oforma are accusing Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) of being partisan in the matter
– Queries why PDP instituted the court action against him when he lacks the powers to deploy soldiers
– Promises to meet the party in court
For deploying soldiers during the March 19 Rivers rerun elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers has asked a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt to commit the minister of transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, the chief of defence staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin, and the chief of army staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai to prison.
According to This Day, the party also requested that the commander of the 2 army brigade, Port Harcourt, Brigadier General Stephenson Olabanji, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Rivers state resident electoral commissioner (REC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak be jailed.
The court action was instituted by the Rivers state PDP chairman Felix Obuah in a motion of notice filed by their solicitor, Kingsley Chuku, before the state High Court registry on March 22.
Recall that Justice George Omereji of High Court on March 16 granted an interim injunction restraining the federal government from deploying soldiers during the rerun elections following a court process by the PDP.
However, soldiers were massively deployed and seen all over the state, monitoring the conduct of the legislative rerun elections which necessitated the recent court action by the PDP.
The presiding judge, Justice Omereji, has adjourned further hearing on the matter till April 14.
Reacting to the development, Amaechi, described the move by the PDP as “ frivolous, ridiculous and laughable”, promising to meet the party in court.
The minister of transportation in a statement by his media office yesterday, March 28, said he was unaware of the matter in court, pointing out that he had not been served the processes.
Amaechi however queried why the PDP joined him in the court matter when he does not have the powers as a Minister of Transportation to deploy soldiers.
He asked: “Who has the powers to deploy soldiers according to our constitution and laws? Does Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, have powers to deploy soldiers anywhere in the country?
“If Amaechi as Minister of Transportation does not deploy soldiers, why is he being dragged into the matter? And is the court saying that soldiers can’t be deployed for the safety and protection of lives and property when there is a clear need to do so?
“However, like I said earlier, we will meet them in court.”
Meanwhile, Some aggrieved Anambra state House of Representatives members- elect have written an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Leadership, the reps-elect want the president to wade into the dispute surrounding the legitimacy of those currently serving as federal lawmakers from the state.
In the letter dated March 29, 2016, the lawmakers; Emmanuel Nweke, Benedict Obaze, Anthony Offiah, Charles Odedo, Princess Ifeyinwa Anazonw, Mrs Uchenna Obi, Dr Ejike Nwene and Julius Oforma are accusing Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) of being partisan in the matter
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