Sacked PDP Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff Opens Up On His Next Move

Sacked national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has reacted to the Supreme Court judgement. 

The former Borno State governor was on Wednesday booted out of office by the apex court following a prolonged leadership tussle in the party.

Many prominent members of the main opposition party have reacted to the judgement, describing it as victory for democracy and Nigerians.

Also following the ruling, the party has rekindled its hope to reclaim power from the All Progressives Congress come 2019.

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike had immediately after the court verdict said Sheriff would obey the court order and still be part of the party.

In line with that, Sheriff, via his twitter handle, @senAliSheriff, wrote, “The Supreme Court has spoken, I congratulate Senator Makarfi.

“We must all put our hands together to channel a new course for PDP.

“This is the time to build the PDP and focus on the future, which includes reclaiming power from APC.”

By John Owen Nwachukwu

Supreme Court Saved Us From One Party System - Ozekhome

Constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has described the the judgement of the Supreme Court, which resolved the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership crisis as divine.

According to him, the verdict saved Nigeria from a one-party state.

DAILY POST reports that in a landmark judgement delivered on Wednesday, the apex court held that Senator Ahmed Markafi remains the authentic National Chairman of PDP.

The Supreme Court subsequently ordered Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to vacate the National Secretariat of the party with immediate effect.

Reacting to the verdict, Ozekhome said the decision saved PDP from self-destruct and internally-generated volcanic eruption.

“It saved Nigeria’s destructive and annihilating slide into an autocratic and despotic one-party state where absolutism and lack of opposition were already rearing their monstrous visages,” he said.

“Once again, the judiciary, the whipping ‘boy’ of our democracy, has risen to the challenge of saving Nigeria’s wobbling and imperilled democracy.

“A virile opposition constitutes the heart and soul of democracy. The alternative is dictatorship. God bless Nigeria,” he added.

By Ameh Comrade Godwin

Supreme Court PDP Judgement: Jonathan Calls For Unity

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to the Supreme Court ruling which affirmed ex-Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In a congratulatory message on his Facebook page, the former President said though “we have issues with some individuals” the Supreme Court ruling signifies “no winners no vanquish.”

Jonathan told Makarfi to run an all-inclusive policy, urging those who decamped to other parties due to the leadership crisis to return.

He said, “I congratulate my political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, on the successful resolution of its leadership crisis by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“I believe in our jurists. We may have issues with some individuals but the Nigerian judiciary deserves our respect and commendation. They have served this country well.

“Today’s verdict is a judgment where there are no winners or losers. It is a verdict that will bring our party together. We should all thank the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As I congratulate the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee, I want to strongly urge them not to see this as a victory of a section of the party, but as a moral victory of constitutionality over arbitrariness.

“Thus, they must take inspiration from General Yakubu Gowon and declare a ‘no victor and no vanquished policy’.

“As a senior member of the party, I hereby call on all those who left the party because of its leadership issues to return to their natural home and build the PDP.

“The PDP is an inclusive vehicle not an exclusive one. We see Nigerians as human beings deserving of the rule of law, separation of powers and a free market economy that provides a level playing ground for all.

“The party that gave Nigeria the largest economy in Africa is a party whose heart is large enough to find a place for all Nigerians.

“I thank God for this day of Justice and may God bless Nigeria. GEJ.”

By Seun Opejobi

Supreme Court Explains Why Sheriff Was Sacked As PDP Chairman

The Supreme Court has explained why it affirmed former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Recall that the apex court had on Wednesday sacked the National Chairman of the PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff while affirming Makarfi as the new leader of the party.

A three-member panel of the court presided by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, sacked Sheriff, for demonstrating , “infantile desperation to lead the party.”

A member of the three-member panel, Rhodes Vivour, while reading out the judgment said Sheriff was not within the category of an “unimpeachable leader,” adding that his removal of the former governor was not necessarily expected to follow a vote of no confidence.

Vivour said there was no clause in the constitution of the party that made it mandatory for the former Borno State governor to be removed using a vote of no confidence.

The judge said, “He demonstrated an infantile desperation to lead the PDP by filing almost 10 different applications in various courts. They shall forever gather dust in judicial archives.”

Vivour cited relevant sections of the party’s constitution which made it imperative for members of the party to respect the proceedings of the PDP national convention.

He said, “The subject matter in the issue is Article 33; 35 and 47.

“There shall be a national convention. All members of the party shall be bound by the decisions of leaders from the National convention. Article 33 states the supremacy of the National convention.”

He said PDP constitution allows the deputy national leader of the party to stand in for his principal, adding that, “when Sheriff abandoned the national convention in May 2016, the party asked his deputy to stand in for him, making his attendance noted at the convention.”

Vivour held that although PDP’s constitution allows the party to remove the National leader after two years through a vote of no confidence, the word used to denote Vote of no confidence was ‘may’, which does not indicate compulsory adherence.

“May is not the same thing as shall,” therefore “a national officer could be removed without a vote of no confidence.

“There can be no doubt that the National convention has enormous powers over the party,” Vivour said.

By Ali Adoyi

Supreme Court PDP Judgement: Wike Opens Up On Sheriff's Fate

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has disclosed that sacked National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff will remain in the party irrespective of Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling.

Wike claimed that the former Borno State governor “called him last week,” to assure him that he will “respect whatever decision reached by the Supreme Court.”

The Rivers State governor made the disclosure while reacting to the Supreme Court ruling which affirmed Ahmed Makarfi as the leader of the party.

Wike declared that the judgment of the Supreme Court affirming Makarfi as PDP leader is a “victory for democracy” as the nation will now have a viable opposition.

In a statement sent to DAILY POST by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike urged Sheriff to keep to his word and work with other stakeholders in the interest of the party.

He noted that the PDP will emerge from the crisis stronger because all stakeholders will work hard to rebuild the party.

According to Wike, “This judgment shows that there will be opposition in Nigeria.

“I am very happy. Rivers people are very happy because we have no other party aside the PDP”.

“I urge them to keep their word. All of us will work together to re-position the party. The party will go back to the drawing board to move ahead.

“I don’t see any reason why Sheriff will not be a part of the party. He spoke to me last week that whatever the situation he will remain in the party”.

He urged the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee to meet with all stakeholders to plan the time-table for the party’s national convention.

By Seun Opejobi

Supreme Court PDP Judgement: No Victor, No Vanquished - DSP Ekweremadu

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, says the Supreme Court judgment on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leadership crisis, ushers in a new dawn of peace, reconciliation, and recovery for the party.

Reacting to the apex court’s verdict on Wednesday, Ekweremadu said it was a no victor and no vanquished situation for individual party members, but rather a collective victory for the entire party faithful and the nation’s democracy.

He said: “I am happy that the Supreme Court has brought this protracted leadership tussle to an end today. There is no victor and there is no vanquished, but a collective victory for our party and the nation’s democracy. No democracy can prosper in the absence of a virile opposition or under the extreme hardship Nigerians have faced over the past two years. Citizens deserve a viable alternative. 

“The ruling party has indeed profited from the prolonged power contest, not just in terms of defections, but also in the unchallenged degeneration of democratic values, rule of law, electoral practice, and the economy because the PDP has been too distracted to keep them on their toes.

“But, it is heartwarming that calm is returning after the storm. I salute millions of our party faithful and Nigerians who stood firm to weather the storm for their courage and loyalty, and sincerely appeal to those who left for one reason or the other to return to our big political family.

“Importantly, I call on our party leadership and elders to immediately initiate an all-inclusive peace, reconciliation, and rebuilding process to reunite everybody under the big umbrella and reinvigorate the biggest party in Africa to bounce back to the rescue of the suffering masses of Nigeria come 2019”.

By Yemi Itodo

JUST IN: Supreme Court Confirms Makarafi As PDP Chairman

Senator Ahmed Makarfi has won his position as chairman of the caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Supreme Court in Abuja affirmed the PDP national convention in Port Harcourt that established Makarfi’s committee and described the process that led to it as correct and in line with the Party’s Constitution.

It consequently sacked Ali Modu Sheriff and members of his National Working Committee from the leadership of the Party.

By Chijioke Jannah

Supreme Court Affirms Obaseki's Victory

The Supreme Court, on Monday affirmed Godwin Obaseki as the governor of Edo State.

The apex court gave the ruling while dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the last governorship poll in the state, Ize-Iyamu challenging the election of Obaseki for lacking in merit.

The Supreme Court also disclosed that it would give its reasons for the judgment on July 24, 2017.

By Seun Opejobi

Ize-Iyamu Rejects Appeal Court's Ruling, Heads To Supreme Court

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate in the last governorship election in Edo State -Osagie Ize-Iyamu, have rejected the Appeal Court ruling that affirmed the All Progressives Congress (APC), Godwin Obaseki, as winner of the poll.

They have also vowed to head for the Supreme Court to claim the governorship mandate that was allegedly subverted by the APC and its candidate.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu told newsmen after the Court of Appeal ruling that certain issues raised at the tribunal were yet to be addressed.

He said, “Until one is actually able to lay hands on the judgement and read,that is when one can make a fair comment. All we know is that our appeal and the cross appeal were dismissed. But the reasons are not known.

“By the time we lay hands on it, we will meet with our lawyers and our party leaders and take a decision. There were fundamental issues we raised against the tribunal judgement.

“There are things it said that we believe cannot stand the test of time. We are not bound to depend only on corrupt practices to prove our point. Non-compliance is a ground in the Electoral Act and we depended on it.”

State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said nothing would stop the party from appealing against the appellate court ruling.

His words, “I was in court and we were waiting anxiously to hear their verdict. But what we got was a very brief statement saying that they have dismissed the appeal. They did not give the reasons for their judgement.

“But on the strength of our case to the Appeal Court, I believe that there is nothing that will stop us from going to the Supreme Court‎ to see that justice is done on this case.”

By Chijioke Jannah

Bags, Boxes Of Cash Presented By FG Against Supreme Court Justice Ngwuta

The Federal Government has tendered as evidence nine bags and boxes filled with local and foreign currencies, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, against Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta.

All the items were allegedly recovered from his home.

The items were allegedly recovered from his official residence in Abuja during a search operation carried out by men of the Department of State Service, DSS.

Recall that Justice Ngwuta is being prosecuted by the federal government on 13 counts, including passport fraud, money laundering allegations of retention and concealment of origin of the sums contained in the nine bags and boxes.

A prosecution witness, Mr. John Utazi,‎ a DSS officer , had in his testimony on May 16, 2017, given details of how his team searched Justice Ngwuta’s official residence in Abuja on October 7, 2016 and what was recovered during the search.

Continuing his testimony on Thursday, Utazi revealed further that the bags and boxes contained naira, United States dollars, British pounds sterling, euro, South African rands, United Arab Emirates dirham and Gambian dalasis.

The items were flung open during court proceedings, showing to the glare of everybody the cash in them.

Of the nine items, eight of them contained naira notes, totaling N35,358,000, Utazi had disclosed.

He said the ninth bag contained £25,915; $319,596 (USD); R50 (South African rands); 380 ( dirhams); 420 dalasis and €280 (euros)

By Ali Adoyi

PDP Crisis: Supreme Court Stikes Out Sheriff's Application, Grants Makarafi’s Appeal

The Supreme Court on Monday struck out application by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, seeking to stop the party’s appeal against him.

The Justice Walter Onnoghen-led court consequently granted the appeal filed by the sacked Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Ahmed Makarfi on behalf of PDP.

Recall that a Port Harcourt Appeal Court had affirmed Sheriff as the authentic Chairman of the former ruling party, while sacking the Makarfi’s committee.

Against this backdrop, Makarfi had filed an appeal at the apex court to challenge the judgement.

The hearing of the matter was fixed for May 25.

But, the former Borno State Governor in an application prayed the court not to entertain Makarfi’s appeal.

Sheriff explained that the Caretaker Committee could not initiate legal proceedings in the name of the party, having been sacked by the appeal court.

However, counsel to the party’s National Chairman, Akin Olujimi, during today’s proceeding said Makarfi through his lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, was abusing the court by using two processes to sustain his appeal.

“This constitutes an abuse of court processes. He is using two different processes to sustain his appeal,” Olujimi said.

On his part, Olanipekun urged the court to allow his appeal challenging the Appeal Court’s judgement.

He said, “I urge your lordships to discountenance all that he has said, saying we did not seek leave for our grounds. He is the one abusing court processes,” he said.

“Our appeal was dated April 27 and the judgement of the court of appeal was dated February 17. According to the supreme court rule, we have three months. Why will we be asking for leave for time when we were within time. Application for leave to appeal is also an appeal.”

After listening to both sides, the five-man justices led by the Chief Justice of the Federation, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, allowed the appeal.

By Seun Opejobi

Suspended Supreme Court Judge, Sylvester Ngwuta Re-arraigned By FG

The Federal Government on Tuesday re-arraigned a suspended Justice of the Supreme Court, Sylvester Ngwuta at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.

Ngwuta had earlier been arraigned on corruption related offences based on 16-count charge.

The prosecution had on March 16, slashed the 16-count charge to 12-count.

At the resumed sitting, counsel to the prosecution, Mrs Fatunde Olusegun, sought the leave of the court to further jerk up the number of charges to 13.

Justice John Tsoho went ahead to grant Olusegun’ prayer which necessitated the re-arraignment of the defendant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the entire 13-count charge was read to Ngwuta, but he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

NAN reports that the additional charge accused the defendant to have given false information to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in order to obtain additional diplomatic passport.

In a related development, the fourth prosecution witness, Tanimola Alao, a staff of the Department State Service (DSS), while testifying, said he met the defendant on Oct. 9, 2016.

Alao said he was directed by the department to witness the defendant’s statement.

He said those agents that took the statement had followed the procedure as he (Ngwuta) was given a cautionary word before writing the statement.

“My Lord, he was not forced or intimidated to write the statement he generated by himself.

“After he had finished, I signed the defendant’s statement form which was counter signed by the Chief Investigator,’’ he said.

Also, John Otazi, the fifth witness, narrated the sequence of the event that took place at the defendant’s residence during the search.

Otazi told the court that the DSS agents that went for the operation were hindered by policemen and security guards at the defendant’s apartment.

According to him, the defendant’s guard tried hard to abort the operation in spite the display of the search warrant.

The witness further stated that after they had gained entry, the defendant led the team to his bedroom for the search.

“During the search we found large sums of foreign currencies in a bag inside one of the defendant’s wardrobe,’’ he said.

Otazi also said the defendant led the team to his study room where they discovered some bank statements, building plans, documents relating to the defendant’s salary and some vehicles papers.

“At the end of the search, the items recovered were recorded at the back of the search warrant and was given to the defendant who read and signed,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the court admitted the defendant’s statement and search warrant in evidence at the instance of the prosecution’s request.

The judge adjourned the matter until May 17 for cross examination and continuation of hearing.

(NAN)