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Fire outbreak at the National Assembly destroys office supplies, records

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A section of the National Assembly was engulfed in fire on Thursday.

According to a statement signed by spokesperson of the parliament building, Agada Rawlings Emmanuel, the fire was trigged by an electrical fault.

“There was a fire incident this evening in one of the Jenitors, located on the 2nd floor, Room 227 in the new-wing, of the House of Representatives, suspected to have resulted from an electrical fault which was noticed by one of the Staff to the Clerk, House of Representatives, who promptly alerted the Federal Fire Service Unit stationed in the National Assembly Complex,” the statement said.

“Accordingly, the fire have be put out with assistance of staff on duty who immiediately broke into the affected office and effectively deployed Stationed fire extinguishers on the floor before the arrival of the fire service officer.

“Consequently, the combined prompt efforts, curtained the fire to the affected office only and power supply to the wing put off to enable a full assessment and investigations into the incident.

“It is expected that, after due assessment by the fire service and the Estate and works directorates, Normalcy in the New-Wings, housing all principal officer’s of the House of Representatives and Honourable members office’s,will be restored immiediately.

“Management wish to commend the prompt response/ actions by the first responders particularly, National Assembly staff and the Fire Service Unit in helping to curtain the fire outbreak.” (Channels TV)

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Six Labour Party members of Enugu Assembly defect to PDP

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The six defected Enugu lawmakers with Gov Peter Mbah

Six Labour Party (LP) members of the Enugu State House of Assembly have officially defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They made their defection known on Thursday in Enugu in a letter read by the Speaker, Chief Uche Ugwu, during plenary.

The defectors include the Majority Leader, Mr Johnson Ani (Enugu North); the Chief Whip, Mr Ejike Eze, (Igbo-Eze North 1); and the Deputy Chief Whip, Ms Princess Ugwu (Enugu South Rural).Others are Mr Pius Ezugwu (Nsukka East); Mr Williams Amuka (Igbo-Etiti West); and Mr Osita Eze (Oji River).

The defectors, in the letters, said their defection was as a result of the existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the labour party at the national level and across all the state chapters.

They regretted that the party had evolved into perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles, which undermine its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.

According to them, the Labour Party, once considered a beacon of hope for progressive ideas, have regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of electorates.

They cited the cases of Mr Julius Abure and Mr Limido Apapa factions as well as the national treasurer as some of the divisions within the party.

They expressed the hope that the PDP would give them the platform to continue to serve the interests of their people and thanked the leaderships of Labour Party for their supports.

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The defectors also acknowledge that the letters were sent to the office of the Speaker by themselves, adding that they would work wholeheartedly for the progress of their new party in Enugu State.

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In his remark, the Speaker welcomed the defectors into the PDP and promised that they would be carried along in the legislative activities of the House.

With the defection, the PDP now had the majority in the House with 17 members while LP had only six members.

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Gov Mbah appoints ENSIEC Chairman, reconstitutes other statutory bodies

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Enugu Governor, Dr Peter Mbah

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah has announced the appointment of Professor Christian C. Ngwu as the Chairman chairman of Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, ENSIEC.

The governor has also reconstituted statutory and other bodies.

In a public service announcement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, Mbah also announced the appointments of Dr. Eric Ogbonna Odo as Chairman, Enugu State Hospital Management Board and Dr. Edith Okolo, Chairman Enugu State Agency for Universal Health coverage.

The government also disclosed that His Royal Highness, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu is the new Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council.

The statement:

ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

The Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has approved the reconstitution of Statutory and Other Bodies in the state with the following appointments:

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ENUGU STATE TRADITIONAL RULERS COUNCIL
• His Royal Highness, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu in Asadu, Chairman
• His Royal Highness, Igwe Julius Nnaji, 1st Deputy Chairman
• His Royal Highness, Igwe G. N. Madu, 2nd Deputy Chairman
• His Royal Highness, Igwe Hebert Ukuta, 3rd Deputy Chairman
• His Royal Highness, Igwe Fidelis Nwatu, Grand Patron
• His Royal Highness, Igwe Abel Nwobodo, 1st Grand Patron
• His Royal Highness, Igwe Augustine Uzobuenyi Otiji, 2nd Grand Patron
• His Royal Highness, Igwe H. C. Eze, 3rd Grand Patron

ENUGU STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION (ENSIEC)

• Professor Christian C. Ngwu, Chairman
• Solomon Edeh, Member (Re-appointed)
• Chinenyenwa A. Ogbu, Member (Re-appointed)
• Barr. George Obiora Ani, Member (Re-appointed)
• Arthur Ifeanyi Ede, Member
• Barr. Paully Eze, Member
• Emmanuel Ogbodo, Member
• Emeka G. Ukwuaba, Member
• Barr. Ifesinachi Umeobika, Secretary

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ENUGU STATE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
• Dr. Eric Ogbonna Odo, Chairman

ENUGU STATE AGENCY FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

• Dr. Edith Okolo, Chairman

The appointments take immediate effect.

Signed:
Professor Chidiebere Onyia
Secretary to the State Government
Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Court quashes Debe’s suit, awards Ojukwu’s will to Bianca

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 •Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu
The Enugu State High Court presided over by Justice A.O Onovo has thrown away for lack of merit, a suit initiated by the late Chief (Dr) Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu (who claimed to be the first son of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu) against Ikemba’s window, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu.

Debe had gone to court challenging the authenticity of Ikemba’s will, arguing that as the first son of the late Biafra leader, his name was supposed to be contained in the will which his name was not therein.

Debe further claimed that Ojukwu’s will was tampered with and sought from the court for an order restraining the defendant, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu from interfering with the administration of the estate of the late Ikemba, as well as a declaration that Ojukwu died without writing any will. He also claimed entitlement to letters of administration of the late Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s estate.

The Biafra leader, Ojukwu, died on November 26 2011. His wife, Bianca, who is the first defendant in the case, as well as Mr James Ezike, the second defendant, were named within Ojukwu’s will, as trustees and executors of his estate .

Debe brought the matter the court in 2013 challenging the validity of the late Ojukwu’s will, insisting that he was the first son of the deceased but was not mentioned or acknowledge in the will.

The Issues determined by the court were: Whether the plaintiff had adduced enough evidence to establish that he was a son the deceased and had been acknowledged as such by the deceased in his lifetime; and whether the deceased’s will was properly and validly made, and were entitled to benefit from the estate of the deceased, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

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The plaintiff, Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu died in 2018 while the matter was still pending in the court, but his two daughters, Nene Grace and Obianuju Sarah applied for substitution in the suit which, though challenged by counsel to the defendants, Messrs Emeka Onyemelukwe and Ngozi Abafor, was allowed by the court.

Delivering judgement on the matter which lasted for over two hours, on Wednesday, Justice Onovo held that from all the evidence presented before the court, the plaintiff was not able to prove that he was acknowledged by the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in the course of his lifetime, as his biological son.

According to the Judge, “it is the prerogative of a man to recognize a child born out of wedlock as his child,” maintaining that acknowledgement of paternity could also be inferred from certain acts by a father towards a purported son, and were not evident in the instant case.

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The plaintiff had averred that he had been recognized by groups, associations and other members of society as a son of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, but the Judge queried, “Can Public opinion be the sole basis of determining the paternity of a child born out of wedlock? I do not think so.”

The Plaintiff also challenged the validity of the will of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, citing some typographical errors and signatories, and seeking for a declaration that Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died intestate.

The Court after examination of all the evidence presented before held that the will and codicil were properly and validly made, and valid in the eyes of the law.

On the right of the children of the Plaintiff to challenge Ojukwu’s will, the court held that “in order to have the locus to challenge the will they must first prove that they are the grandchildren of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and entitled to the benefits accruing therefrom.

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“Since in the suit initiated by the plaintiff, their father, he was unable to prove himself to be a son of the Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, then on what basis would the children of the plaintiff be challenging the will of the latter?

“Having failed to prove this, they have no beneficiary interest through their father Chief (Dr) Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu, in the estate of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and there is therefore no merit to this case,” Justice Onovo declared. (Vanguard)

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