Former military Governor of Delta State dies at 64

A former military Governor of Delta state, Retired Col. John David Dungs has died. He died yesterday while being rushed to the hospital after he slumped at his residence in Rayfield, Jos. 

 

His death is said to be very devastating to his family as he just lost his own father, Chief Dung Jok only last week and his body was still in the mortuary.

Late Rtd. Col. Dung was the Military Governor of Delta state from August 1996 until August 1998 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. May his soul rest in peace.

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Jonathan Calls For Stronger Executive-Legislative Collaboration

 
President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a stronger and better collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government in order to build a more inclusive administration.
At the 1st Africa Legislative Summit in Abuja, President Jonathan said that despite the progress made in some African countries, there still exist threats to democracy and good governance.
“These challenges must be addressed jointly and comprehensively through legislative and executive action in the interest of the people,” President Jonathan said.
In the 3-day summit, Nigerian lawmakers and their counterparts from different African countries will exchange ideas on how to strengthen emerging democracies and the crucial role parliaments play in this task.
Issues Of Concern
However, Nigeria’s Senate President, David Mark, is worried that because of the long military rule in the country, Nigerians are still to come to terms with the role of the legislature.
Senator Mark also mentioned the entrenched tradition of executive dominance as one of the challenges confronting emerging African legislatures.
Many African countries are still struggling with armed conflicts, terrorism, under development and poor social economic conditions.
These are issues that should also be of serious concern to the law makers, as Nigerians have called for legislation and oversight functions that would not only stimulate economic growth but also foster political cohesion and stability.

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Supreme Court Adjourns Okorocha’s Suit To Jan. 2014

 

The Supreme Court in Nigeria has fixed January 24, 2014 for judgment on the suit filed by the governor of Imo State, Mr Rochas Okorocha challenging the decision of the Appeal Court in Owerri to allow Mr Ikedi Ohakim to join in the suit filed by Mr Ifeanyi Ararume.

Mr Ararume, who was the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the 2011 governorship election, had challenged the constitutionality of the May 6 supplementary election that brought Okorocha to power.

Mr Ohakim was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At the resumed hearing of the suit in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, counsel to governor Okorocha, Mr Niyi Akintola adopted his brief of argument and prayed the court to rule in his favour.

The lawyer to the PDP, Mr Wole Olanipekun however informed the court of a preliminary objection he filed, saying the appeal by Governor Okorocha is an incompetent one.

Mr. Awa Kalu representing Mr. Ifeanyi Ararume, who did not challenge the suit, stressed that every litigant had a right of appeal.

It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal in a ruling delivered by Justice Hussein Mukhtar has dismissed Okorocha’s objection to Ohakim’s application and consequently made Ohakim an appellant in the case.
Okorocha in his Supreme Court appeal argued that Ohakim’s party, the PDP, had earlier challenged the subject matter of the suit at the election petitions tribunal and lost arguing further that the PDP also challenged the decision of the election tribunal at the Supreme Court and lost.
According to him, allowing Ohakim to challenge the high court’s judgment on appeal was to afford him the opportunity to pursue two remedies against the same infraction in two courts at the same time.

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Supreme Court Stops PDP’s Planned Campaign in Anambra

 
The Supreme Court in Nigeria has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from going ahead with its planned flag-off campaign for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.
Vice President, Namadi Samabo was to lead the Tony Nwoye flag-off campaign in Awka on Saturday.
The appeal was filed by Nicholas Ukachukwu challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt which affirmed Nwoye as the candidate of the PDP for the November polls.
After extracting an undertaking from counsel to the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Nwoye, the court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Muhammed Tanko, directed the counsel to advise their clients appropriately until Monday November 4 when the court would hear the appeal.
The Supreme Court also stopped Mr. Andy Ubah from joining in the appeal seeking to decide who the authentic flag bearer of the PDP in Anambra State is, between Tony Nwoye and Nicholas Ukachukwu.
Andy Ubah had through his counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, brought an application seeking to be joined as an interested party in appeal between Tony Nwoye and Nicholas Ukachukwu which will be coming up before the court on Monday.

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