Urhobo News

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the 36 state governors in the country to “disclose details on spending of the N2 billion palliative recently disbursed to each state by the Federal Government, including the names of beneficiaries and details of the reliefs so far provided with the money.”

According to reports, the Federal Government recently disbursed N2 billion out of the N5 billion palliative package for each state of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT), to address the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.

In the open letter dated 9 September 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “It is in the public interest to publish the details on spending of the N2 billion palliative and any subsequent disbursement of funds to your government.”

SERAP said: “Nigerians have the right to know how their states are spending the fuel subsidy relief funds. It is part of their legally enforceable human rights.”

According to SERAP, “Transparency and accountability in the spending of the N2 billion and any subsequent disbursement to your state would help to reduce the risk of corruption, mismanagement, diversion, or opportunism.”

The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and your state to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“The oversight afforded by public access to the details of the spending of the N2 billion palliative and any subsequent disbursement would serve as an important check on the activities of your state and help to prevent abuses of the public trust.”

“The constitutional principle of democracy also provides a foundation for Nigerians’ right to know details on spending of the N2 billion fuel subsidy palliative. Citizens’ right to know promotes openness, transparency, and accountability that is in turn crucial for the country’s democratic order.”

“The effective operation of representative democracy depends on the people being able to scrutinise, discuss and contribute to government decision making, including on the fuel subsidy relief funds.”

“SERAP notes that the removal of subsidy on petrol continues to negatively and disproportionately affect the poor and socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians in several states, undermining their right to adequate standard of living.”

“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 about how the N2 billion fuel subsidy relief funds are spent.”

“By the combined reading of the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, applicable throughout Nigeria, there are transparency obligations imposed on your state to publish details of spending of the N2 billion fuel subsidy palliative.”

“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.”

“Your state cannot hide under the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act is not applicable to your state to refuse to provide the details being sought, as your state also has clear legal obligations to provide the information as prescribed by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and. Enforcement) Act.”

“SERAP urges you to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to jointly track and monitor the spending of the N2 billion fuel subsidy palliative and any subsequent disbursement of public funds to your state.”

Kolawole Oluwadare

SERAP Deputy Director

10/9/2023

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

ribunal: My victory was arranged by God – Umeh

The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Chief Victor Umeh, has said that God did everything to pave the way for his overwhelming victory during the 2023 elections and in the tribunal where a number of petitions were filed against his triumph.

Umeh, a Chieftain of Labour Party (LP), made the remarks while reacting to the tribunal judgements which upheld his election as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District.

In a statement he personally signed, the Ohamadike Ndigbo, said: “To the glory of God, this is the second Judgment in the various Petitions filed against me. On Wednesday, the Election Petition Tribunal in Awka dismissed the Petition of the NNPP and her Candidate for lack of merit and abuse of court process. Today (Friday) also, the Petition by APGA and her Candidate was dismissed. This happened to be the big one because it generated lots of tension and hype. But I have remained calm over the period since after the Election because I knew I won the Election and I did not do anything to compromise the process.

“The Election went as designed by the Electoral Commission and the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District, convinced that I will represent them better than any other candidate, voted overwhelmingly for me. I scored over 103,608 votes, the person who came second scored 69,702 votes (that’s the APGA Candidate), the PDP Candidate scored 49,532 votes. So looking at the margins, I did not see what anybody could go to the Tribunal to look for, as I was clearly the choice of the people. But they have gone to the Tribunal to claim all sorts of things and make so much noise about them. Mine is that I am a great stickler to due process, I always study the law and I follow it judiciously.”

Continuing, he added: “There was a High Court Order against my nomination on the 26th of January this year but the Appeal Court set it aside on the 23rd of February (just two days to the Election) and I won. I was surprised that someone could go to the Tribunal to rely on the same Federal High Court Judgement to attempt to say that I was not a Candidate in the Election.

“So, this Judgment was well considered. I commend the Tribunal because they took all the issues they raised and trashed them based on Law. So there’s nothing anybody can complain about against this Judgement.

“I am happy because this Judgment has put to rest the distractions. No matter what they intend to do further, the distractions have abated. So that I can concentrate fully to work for my people.  We have a lot of work to do for them, so it is important that we be given the space to go all out and do that work. Our people are challenged in Nigeria; my Constituency is challenged in Nigeria and I want to be given the opportunity to confront their problems head-on.

“With this victory, I think the coast is now very clear unless anybody has intentions to do anything further. But even if they do anything further, God who arranged my victory will not allow them. My victory was orchestrated by God. It was God who did everything—saw me through the Elections, gave me the victory and today, emphatically, all Petitions have been dismissed!”

The LP stalwart further stated: “September 8th is a special day for me, I am a Catholic and a Marian Devotee. I am a great follower of Mother Mary and today is Her birthday. When they scheduled the Judgment on September 8th, I knew ‘they’ have lost. So I give all the glory to God. I dedicate this victory to the Blessed Virgin Mary whom the Judgement coincided with Her birthday.

“I congratulate the Anambra Central people on this victory. The way they fought for me in this Election show that they desire to have me as their Senator. I also want to thank all my supporters, my Campaign Organization, the Ohamadike Media Team, they are very formidable.

“I thank my Lawyers, the lead Counsels and for me, my personal Lawyer, Sir Patrick I.N. Ikwueto SAN who has been my lawyer since 2005. All my legal exploits, every time Victor Umeh wins, it has been through his hard work. In this Petition, Chief Barrister Alexander Ejesieme SAN partnered him. He was the lead Counsel to Labour Party. So we all worked together. And their submissions became unassailable to see the Tribunal agreed with them in all the points of law they raised and the Petition was actually struck out for lacking in merit.”

Saturday 9, September 2023.

Press Release

Ikate Kingdom Gets White Cap Chiefs, As Oba Elegushi Confirms new Olowa, Alawe Of Ikate 

In line with extant tradition and customary laws on the composition of the Elegushi-in-council, the traditional ruler of Ikate-Elegushi, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi has concluded the rites for the installation of new Olowa and Alawe of Ikate kingdom, following the transition of the last occupiers of the two thrones.

The rites, concluded within the conclave of the palace, saw the coronation of High Chief Salisu Oluwadare Elegushi as the new Olowa of Ikate kingdom and High Chief Mukail Olamilekan Elegushi as the new Alawe.

With the completion of all rites, the new White Cap chiefs will go into seclusion for 7 days, and this will be followed by an elaborate celebration to present the new chiefs to the public.

This development has therefore put the Elegushi-in-council in its full strength, to help in the administration of the kingdom under the leadership of His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi to be ably assisted by the Odofin of Ikate, Opemolua of Ikate, Olisa of Ikate, Aro Oba of Ikate, Eletu of Ikate, Olowa of Ikate and the Alawe of Ikate kingdom.

Signed

Temitope Oyefeso

Special Assistant, Public Affairs to HRM