President Muhammadu Buhari and Russian President, Vladimir Putin Wednesday in Sochi, Russia, agreed to put Nigeria-Russia relations on a fast track, and pursue the completion of partially completed and abandoned projects initiated by both countries.

At a bilateral meeting held on sidelines of ongoing Russia-Africa Summit, the two leaders agreed to start new infrastructure projects and expand trade and investment, security and military cooperation.

In statements made by both leaders, Nigeria and Russia will work together to improve efficiency of Nigeria’s oil sector, which is the backbone of the economy, in a way that will see to rehabilitation of epileptic oil refineries through establishment of framework for a joint venture between Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Russia-based leading oil company, Lukoil.

Both NNPC and Lukoil will work towards prospection of oil in deep offshore.

Nigeria and Russia also agreed to revive and solidify the venture between the NNPC and Russia’s gas giant, Gazprom for the development of Nigeria’s enormous gas potential and infrastructure.

The issue of uncompleted and abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill was presented by President Buhari. His request for the return of Russia, on a government-to-government relationship for completion and commissioning of the plant was accepted by President Putin.

Earlier in the day, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch Olamilekan Adegbite had a very fruitful discussion with his counterpart in Russia on Ajaokuta.

The Russia government agreed to support development of Nigeria’s rail infrastructure by constructing 1,400 kilometres track from Lagos to the South-South city of Calabar.

There was also discussion on the advancement of ongoing project for the establishment of a nuclear power plant in Nigeria. According to President Putin, the next step in the implementation of the project should be the commencement of construction of a power plant.

On security and military cooperation, one that existed for fifty-nine years of Nigeria’s independence, President Buhari agreed to renew Nigeria-Russia Military Technical Agreement that had lapsed within a short time, saying: “I have directed the Minister of Defence to work with the Ministry of Justice to conclude this matter within the shortest possible time.”

This military cooperation agreement is expected to give impetus to further cooperation in direct procurement of military hardware on a government-to-government basis at a lower cost as well as training of military personnel and modernization of armed forces and renewal of infrastructure and equipment which President Putin promised to undertake.

On protracted issue of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, Ikot-Abasi, Akwa-Ibom State, President Buhari said that he had asked the Ministry of Justice, “to submit a comprehensive report on the UC Russel (the Russian owners of the plant) matter…I want to assure you that the aim of our reforms is to ensure such investments are concluded and actualized in a professional and painless manner.”

The two Presidents also addressed partnership in education and agriculture. The Russia leader said they would give additional scholarships to Nigerians.

“We seek your Government’s support especially in the areas of wheat production. Today, Nigeria produces less than one hundred thousand metric tons of wheat locally while our imports are projected to exceed five million tons in 2020.

“We therefore need your support to bridge the deficit which will create jobs and save our foreign exchange for other important areas like security, defence and infrastructure,” President Buhari said.

On this, President Putin promised to promote joint efforts, given his country’s ranking as the current number one wheat producer in the world.

“We can do a lot together,” Putin added.

The Russian President said Nigeria should take advantage of Russia’s potassium resources to advance President Buhari’s local fertiliser production program. Putin promised his country’s support for the geological prospection of Nigeria’s solid minerals and gave assurances of working with Nigeria and other African countries to secure and stop the incidents of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea as they did in securing the Somali coastal areas.

President Putin expressed further determination to secure Nigeria and the rest of Africa from terrorists. He told President Buhari that 2,000 ex-ISIS terrorists joined Boko Haram last year.

In conclusion, President Buhari said:

“ to move forward, may I suggest that our countries organize the fifth Joint Commission meeting to review and ratify all the agreements (about 40) contained in the Intergovernmental Nigeria-Russia Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Protocol of November 11, 2016.”

President Putin agreed to the proposal.

Both leaders emphasized the need for reform of United Nations Security Council. President Buhari asked Russia to support Nigeria’s aspiration for a permanent membership of the council.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 23, 2019

PRESS RELEASE

IN THE MATTER OF SUM PYEM OF PYEM CHIEFDOM, MANGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL OF PLATEAU STATE

The attention of the Plateau State Government has been drawn to several Publications in the Print, Electronic and Social Media wrongfully claiming that the Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Governor Simon Bako Lalong, allegedly on the basis of some undisclosed sentiments, is in defiance of the Judgment and Order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria mandating him to install Architect Hudu Ibrahim Manomi as the rightful Sum Pyem to the throne of the Pyem Chiefdom.

This unfounded allegation is attributed to one Auwalu Haruna Magaji, said to be the Leader of some Concerned members of the Gindiri Community.
We make bold to say that nothing could be farther from the Truth. Governor Lalong’s antecedents clearly vindicate him as a Man of

Peace, a true Believer and Advocate of the Rule of Law and a Bridge- builder par- excellence.

The Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in question delivered on 1st February, 2019, in Appeal No: SC/883/2015 in ARCHITECT HUDU IBRAHIM MANOMI & ANOR AND JOSEPH D. MATO DAKAT & 3 ORS. merely restored the Declaratory Judgment of the High Court of Plateau State of 13th day of April, 2006, CORAM JUSTICE J.H. SANKEY (as he then was).

It was not an executory Judgment on the basis of which the Governor of Plateau State, or anyone else for that matter, was mandated to do anything in respect of the Stool of Sum Pyem.

Under Nigerian Law declaratory Judgments and Orders are not binding as they merely declare the existence of a Legal relationship without any Order directed at a specific person for compliance or enforcement.

The Judgment of the Supreme Court merely restored the declaratory Judgment of the High Court of Plateau State, which went no further than to pronounce Architect Hudu Manomi as being eligible to Contest and that he was duly Selected at the Selection exercise held on 17th May, 2004, without more!

The Judgment of the High Court, which the Supreme Court restored contained no order nullifying the Selection of the current Sum Pyem conducted on 26th November 2013; it contained no order directing the Governor of Plateau State, the Mangu Local Government Council or any Government Agency to install Architect Hudu Ibrahim Manomi as Sum Pyem.

The Court could not have so ordered because Architect Hudu Manomi had no Counter-Claim before the Court on the basis of which specific mandatory Orders could have been made in his favour by the Court.

Let it be known that the Governor of Plateau State cannot, without a mandatory Order of a competent Court of Law, remove the incumbent Sum Pyem, a beneficiary of the exercise of Official acts by then Governor of Plateau State, which acts the Law presumes to be regular until the contrary is proved.

Therefore, for now, the occupation of the Stool of Sum Pyem by His Royal Highness Charles Mato Dakat is presumed to be regular in Law until the contrary is proved.

Architect Hudu Manomi is consequently advised to seek judicial determination of the Status of the Judgment of the Supreme Court being relied upon by him in his demand for installation as Sum Pyem of Pyem Chiefdom.

In the meantime, the Plateau State Government appeals to all Citizens to continue to be Law abiding and to maintain the hard- earned relative Peace in the State.

Plateau State Citizens should also rest assured that his Excellency Governor Simon Bako Lalong will continue to be Governor in Fact and in Deed to all Citizens of the State, irrespective of Tribe or Creed.

LONG LIVE PLATEAU STATE!

LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

---

DAN MANJANG
HON. COMMISSIONER FOR INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION

The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has ordered all parties in the police recruitment controversy to maintain status quo as the issue undergoes litigation.

Meanwhile, Justice Inyang Ekwo, who issued the restraining order on Wednesday, granted an application joining the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as a party to the suit.

The parties affected by the presevative order of the court are the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Minister of Police Affairs and the Attorney General of the Federation.

The application for the joinder of the AGF was moved by counsel to the defendants, Dr Alex Iziyon (SAN), who told the court that the AGF was a necessary party to the suit.

Counsel for the plaintiff, Kanu Agabi (SAN) did not object to the application.

In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1124/2019, the Police Service Commission is seeking for an injunctive order against the defendants and their privies or agents from appointing, recruiting or attempting to appoint or recruit by any means whatsoever, any person in the Nigeria Police Force.

The motion was brought pursuant to order 28 Rule 1of the Federal High Court rules.

Justice Ekwo had while adjourning further proceedings to November 4 ordered all parties to maintain status quo having submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the court.

He equally directed the plaintiff to amend its beginning processes to reflect the name of the AGF as the 4th defendant and serve same on all the parties.

PROTOCOL
With profound joy and due sense of responsibility, I, on behalf of all the members of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, welcome you the Chief of Naval Staff and your retinue of dependable officers to the House of Representatives wing of the National Assembly on this auspicious, but tasking national assignment of the 2020 budget defense of the Nigerian Navy.

It is a sacred tradition garnished with constitutional flavor, that the National Assembly is tasked with the onus of scrutinizing budget proposals of the various ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after its presentation to the legislature by Mr. President, as enshrined in S.81 (1). This is in tandem with the principles of checks and balances propounded by Montesquieu in his theory of separation of powers.

Being the first budget defense in the life of the 9th National Assembly, this activity is particularly spectacular because it is the first time this august committee is officially coming in contact with the top echelon of the Nigerian Navy; and perhaps, the harbinger to a cordial and mutually beneficial relationship between the Navy as an armed force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the National Assembly, through its committee on Navy. It is on this note that I once again, warmly welcome you to this committee room as we get down to brass tacks.

I want to assure you of our resolve to work assiduously with the Nigerian Navy in order to add value to its operations while engendering a safe and secure water ways and the defense of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

Like any other armed forces in Nigeria, the Nigerian Navy is of strategic importance to the economy of this great nation, embedded in its traditional role of securing our waterways and maritime industry. This brings to light the desire of this committee to give the navy the legislative support required to achieve its mandate of tackling the menace of piracy, oil theft, bunkery and other maritime related crimes.

We shall not renege on our sacred responsibility of providing the needed oversight on the activities of the Navy, but we shall have as our underlying principle, the idea of adding value to the Navy than being a cog in its wheel of progress by reason of unnecessary antagonism.

We shall not misconstrue the concept of checks and balances to mean executive/legislative bickering, but we shall also, not fail to adhere strictly to rules and procedures in order to ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians are not shortchanged.

With all modesty, I want to appreciate my fellow committee members for being very cooperative and displaying the desired zeal and commitment to work in unison towards actualizing the goals and the legislative agenda of the 9th House of Representatives in their various assigned roles. This has only gone to confirm our patriotic believe in the Nigerian project and contributing our quota towards attaining the Nigeria of our collective dream, without recourse to our divergent political and primordial sentiments.

As we look forward to undertaking familiarization tour of Naval formations across the country in the exercise of our oversight functions in no distant future, I call on the Naval authorities to be transparent in their dealings to forestall the possibility of any gridlocks with the committee. This committee is willing and ready to work with the Navy as partners in progress for optimal productivity, but we shall not hesitate to wield the big stick where you are found wanting. Let me reiterate that the progress and development of Nigeria remains our topmost priority.

Once again, I welcome you most warmly and wish us an eventful day.

On behalf of myself, family and friends, i join millions of well wishers to celebrate with you on the occasion of your birthday and to wish you long life and prosperity, indeed you are a leader, father and friend, a detribalized personality, a lover of peace and an employer of labour.

Dara, may the Lord bless your new age and protect you always, enjoy your day my leader.

Press Release!

The 774 Local Government Vice-Chairmen in Nigeria under the aegis of Association of Local Government Vice-Chairmen of Nigeria, ALGOVC, has concluded arrangement to hold its maiden National Security Summit, November 6, 2019 in Abuja.

The summit with the theme “Effective Local Government Administration As A Panacea To Insecurity” will be attended by all the Local Government Vice-Chairmen in the country with a view to engaging them as leaders of the people at the grassroots level to come up with strategies that will help to solve the current security challenges bedeviling the nation.

Later in the evening of that day, there will be award dinner where prominent Nigerians and corporate organizations would be honoured with Awards of Excellence in view of their immense contributions to peace and security in the country.

The Council Vice-Chairmen believed that the time has come to deliberately change the narrative in the society by encouraging hard work and patriotism in the country.

The award dinner which will hold at Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Sheraton Abuja Hotel will be chaired by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, former Governor of Kano State, with the Senate President Ahmed Lawan as Special Guest of Honour.

No fewer than six Governors and four Senators are billed to receive various award. They are Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Simon Lalong (Plateau); Bala Muhammed (Bauchi); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) and Emeka Ihedioha (Imo).

Signed:
Chief Dayo Lawal,
Secretary, Seminar/Award Planning Committee.

PRESS RELEASE

POSITION OF THE GAMAI UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (GUDO) ON THE ATTEMPT TO SHORT-CHANGE JUSTICE MONICA MENSEM-DONGBAN, JCA AS PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL.
The attention of the Gamai Unity and Development Organisation (GUDO) has been drawn to the controversy trailing the recent invitation of our illustrious daughter Justice Monica Bolnaan Mensem-Dongban and Justice of the Court of Appeal by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for interview to the Supreme Court. We have received this news with mixed feelings and reservations in view of the glaring ulterior motives behind the exercise. We are compelled, on behalf of the entire Gamai people both at home and in the Diaspora, to speak strongly against what appears to be a grand design to short-change our illustrious daughter who has served and is still serving this country meritoriously at the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal.

1. We feel constrained to voice out against this unwholesome politicisation and unabashed violation of the established tradition of succession to the Presidency of the Court of Appeal for which Justice Dongban-Mensem is eminently qualified and payed her due impeccably.
2. It is already a well-known fact that Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, is the next most senior Justice of the Court of Appeal after Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa who is due for retirement at the end of this year. Indeed Justice Dongban-Mensem, as is the practice, is expected to replace Justice Bulkachuwa as President of the Court of Appeal. What is most worrisome to us is the emerging arm-twisting by certain vested interests driven by unpatriotic and narrow interests to craftily elevate her to the Supreme Court in order to pave the way for their preferred choice to assume Presidency of the Court of Appeal at the expense of our illustrious daughter who is next in line for the exalted post. This is a plot that is already being interpreted in negative terms by a wide spectrum of Nigerians.
3. Details about these orchestrated and subterranean moves are already in the public domain, and the dire consequences of such actions on the integrity of the judiciary and our national unity are rearing their heads. It is our strong belief that the National Judicial Council shall be setting a bad precedence which is capable of demeaning the status of the judiciary and compromising its integrity as the hallowed temple of justice. Such subterfuge is also a bad omen, with great potentials to undermine the much-clamoured good governance and rule of law of this administration. It is indeed sad that the judiciary which should be insulated from politicking is being consciously or unconscionably dragged into mundane politics of sentiments to the detriment of our national interest!
4. In conclusion, having made our position clear and unequivocal on this issue, we are passionately appealing to the National Judicial Council to resist this subtarrenean invitation to judicial anarchy and the immolation of trust by shelving the planned interview of Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem and if done, toe the path of honour and sanity, by adhering strictly to the established rule of succession at the Court of Appeal through confirming Justice Monica Dongbam as the next President of the Court of Appeal as Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa retires at the end of the year. We are also appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari, The National Assemblt, all men and women of good conscience, those on the Bench and at the Bar, political leaders, Civil Society and other stakeholders to lend their voice against this dangerous precedence and act of impunity that is capable of derailing the most cherished sanctity of the judiciary in the dispensation of Justice in the country.
   Thanks and God Bless
   Fidelis Damsuk Bitkop
   Secretary General

PUBLIC STATEMENT

It has come to our knowledge that, in their haste to showcase loyalty to Gov Lalong, the APC kingpins in Izere land have surreptitiously induced a band of stooges disguised as Afizere women to proceed on a solidarity visit to Hon Shehu Bala tomorrow Wednesday 23rd October 2019 over his imposition as caretaker Chairman Jos North. Plans are on top gears to give the event massive publicity particularly on the radio and TV arms of government-owned PRTVC and NTA.
It has become important to inform the general public that they do not represent the interest of Izere land whatsoever. We are not unaware that most of the women being recruited for this evil plan are not even of Izere ancestry in the first place. It is crystal clear that the national leadership of Afizere Women Development Association is completely oblivious. It amounts to betrayal of monumental scale against our heroes past like Ada Azi Nyako et al, some of them paid the supreme price to free our people from the dark forces of oligarchy. Izere land CANNOT return to its vomit, we will NOT go back to Egypt.
Since the announcement of this illegality, it has become obvious to the generality of our people that the APC in Izere land secured many appointments from Gov Lalong administration in exchange of our ancestral heritage. Izere land is absolutely aghast by this wickedness and we totally reject any attempt to sell the destiny of our people and of our generations yet unborn. Gov Lalong will not be governor after 2023, even if his appointments were to last a lifetime, the destiny of our people remain timeless and cannot be compromised.
We will not grow weary of adumbrating the point that the appointment of Hon Shehu Bala as caretaker Chairman Jos North is a direct affront on Section 7(1) of CFRN 1999 (as amended) which says, “The system of Local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this constitution guaranteed.” In its latest pronouncement on this matter in December 2016, the Supreme Court firmly insisted on the “sacrosanctity on the elections of such officials whose electoral mandate derives from the will of the people freely exercised through democratic process.” Notwithstanding that Gov Lalong declared the return of peace, PLASIEC is yet to conduct any council elections in Jos North since 2015.

Grassroots politicians and kinsmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Robert Enogha and Chief Claudius Enegesi have dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Prior to his defection, Enogha was the Chairman, Bayelsa Environmental Sanitation Authority and former two-time member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

Enogha, who was until his defection one of the restoration leaders in Ogbia, was also a former Commissioner for Environment in the state.

Enegesi, one of the political associates of Jonathan, was a Speaker in the old Rivers State when Ada George was the governor.

The party stalwart, who was the pioneer Chairman of the PDP in Bayelsa when the party was formed in 1998, was a former national executive member of the party and a former caucus chairman of PDP, Ogbia chapter.

Also in Nembe, Chief Bright Erewari-Igbeta, a former House of Assembly member and presently Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment resigned his appointment from the government and also from the party.

In the same council, Chief James Jephthah aka Octopus after series of meeting with leaders and supporters of PDP under the Octopus Umbrella said he and his political associates had decided to withdraw their membership of the PDP.

But Enigha while jointing the APC cited dictatorial tendencies in PDP as a reason for his decision to leave the party.

He said: “I write to formally inform you of my withdrawal of membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). I am doing this with so much pain as a founding member of the party which was truly democratic as at then.

“I must acknowledge the immense benefit and experience I have gathered over the years through service as a loyal and faithful member. However I have lost confidence in the party’s ability to accept where the opinion of majority counts, hence my resignation”.

Also in Brass, Chief Beimo Spiff the coordinator of the PDP governorship campaign council in Brass Local Government Area and brother to Senator Inatimi Rufus Spiff, Chairman of the PDP reconciliation committee, dumped the party for the APC.

Spiff and his supporters were received by the Secretary of the party, Alabo Martins.

Beimo- Spiff in his letter of resignation addressed to the Chairman of the party said he was resigning from the party due to some “despicable injustices in the party”

Former Controller General, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nde David Shikfu Parradang and his party the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, has approached the Appeal Court to challenge judgement of the Legislative Elections Petitions Tribunal for Plateau Central Senatorial Zone Seat which was delivered on 10th of September, 2019.
In a statement by the Former Immigration Boss’ Campaign Organization as signed by him (David Shikfu Parradang), which shaded light on the development, Parradang revealed to the electorates of his constituency, Supporters and the general public that, he has filed a suit at the Appeal Court challenging the decision of the Three-man Tribunal which had on the 10th September, 2019, dismissed his Petition against Hezekiah Dimka of the APC and subsequently upheld Elections of the 2nd respondent (Dimka) for the Senatorial Seat as declared by the 1st respondent (INEC) during the February 23rd, 2019 General Elections.
Giving an analytical rundown of votes scored by parties in the elections to proof that, the three-man tribunal erred in law while deciding on the matter, Parradang through the Campaign Organization reminded electorates how well over 200,000 voters in the Plateau Central Senatorial Zone went to the polls on 23rd February 2019.
Parradang said, “During collation of results, we won roundly in Bokkos, Mangu, Pankshin and Kanke, LGA polling the majority of votes in the four out of five Local government areas that constitutes the senatorial district”
Parradang’s major claims at the Tribunal is that, the election was marred by irregularities in Kanam Local Government area, and that he (Parradang) of the PDP scored more votes than his opponent (Dimka ,APC) did not score the required votes to make him a winner in the elections as announced by the 1st respondent (INEC)
“You may also recall that the results from Kanam LGA were delayed for over 60 hours raising the suspicion of voter fraud to diminish and surpass our 19,000 vote lead over the APC candidate. At last, on the arrival of the Kanam LGA results, they announced an APC lead of 23,000 votes in one LGA” Parradang stressed.
Assuring party faithfuls and Supporters of his resolute stand to restorations of their mandate, Parradang further reiterated his decision, to challenge in Court, what he termed as, “daylight robbery of the mandate freely given to him and his party” by the majority of the electorates in the Zone.
Parradang Statement explained how unfair the Tribunal Judgement was despite glaring facts in testimonies from witnesses of parties involved in the matter that supported the petitioner’s case as called, documentary evidence
tendered, all of which were vigorously, logically and eloquently argued by his
lawyers.
Parradang through the Organization expressed dismay at the manner the tribunal panel of three judges discountenanced all these and dismissed their petitions without any consideration of justifiable reasons.
Although Parradang’s Statement appreciated the panel for the manner in which they handled the hearing of the petition, but also quickly described their decision to dismiss his petition in its entirety, as “bizarre with no correlation at all to the trial proceedings and flow of the trial”.
He maintained, “Though experienced
and learned, we believe that the best of men, even the best of judges is just a man
and not all knowledgeable as God. The decision of these three persons against the decision of the majority of voters in
the senatorial district is at best whimsical.
To rely on technicalities to deny our
people of self-chosen proper representation cannot be allowed to go unchallenged.
We are firmly of the opinion that this decision is not correct, and we have challenged it and we know victory is certain”
“We are aware that federal might was deployed to the collation centre at Pankshin
comprising about 300 mobile policemen and soldiers to secure the Returning Officer
to announce the candidate of the powers that be as elected and not the people of our zone.
Shall we allow the rule of force to go unchallenged? Shall we just give up on the
precious mandate of our people?
What will our children say to all these, that we gave in at their threats and force?
We say no! We have challenged this, and we will not succumb to fear.
The Plateau spirit is fearless especially in the face of injustice. Injustice to one is injustice to all.”
“Let me assure our party faithfuls and all those who have been calling and praying for
our mandate to be restored that we cannot thank you enough and that this will end
in victory” He emphasized.
“ Each time I close my eyes in meditation I recall the faces of our people from Bokkos to Kanam, Mangu to Kanke and Pankshin including some parts of Kanam who are eager for good representation and assure them that I will not carelessly throw away the baton of
the mandate they cheerfully gave me”
He emphasized with his constituents and reasured them of his commitment to fight the political injustice using legal means.
The PDP’s Candidate concluded his Statement with saing, “ I end this by paraphrasing Theodore Roosevelt who in a speech made in 1910
said “Though our face is marred by dust, sweat and blood, we shall continue to strive valiantly, though we err and come short again and again, we know that there
is no effort without error and shortcoming, because we have great enthusiasm and a great devotion to the service of our people”.
“We know it is a worthy cause to
represent the people of Plateau Central. We will not give up our place. Our place shall never be with any cold and timid souls who will not know victory and we are certain that we will savour triumph and high achievement reserved for the
courageous and valiant”.
He blessed God and said, “I am happy and fulfilled when I serve my people”.
Sawabiya recalled, just like in the case of Useni -VS- Lalong where the Tribunal unfortunately ruled without giving any due consideration to the supreme Court Judgement on validity and qualifications of Petitioner’s witnesses which were 21 in number.
So, it was observed during the process of ruling on this matter between Parradang and Dimka ,where the Presiding Judge similarly delivered the judgement to the surprised of counsels listening to the tribunal verdict, relying on appeal Court judgement and not that of supreme Court ruling on that note, to expung the testimonies of most of the Petitioner’s witnesses on its records and upheld the preliminary objection of the respondents on that matter, there by declaring Hezekiah Dimka as duly elected Senator to represent the good people of Plateau Central Senatorial Zone in the National Assembly
.