UYO — Residents of Eniong, Anua, Mbiabong Housing Estate in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, have sent a Save Our Soul letter to the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, urging him to come to their rescue.
The letter, which came after most residents of the estate had packed out of their houses as a result of a heavy downpour which flooded their homes, appealed to the state government to consider the plight of the residents, who have been suffering untold hardship due to the effects of the rains.
The latest rain on Monday lasted several hours and brought down the fence of some of the houses in the estate, while household items were seen floating in the rain water that entered some of the houses.
When Vanguard visited the estate, most residents were seen battling the rain to remove their electrical appliances and other household items out of their houses as the rain water had flooded the entire area.
President of the Estate, Mr. Anselem Etuk, whose house was flooded, told Vanguard that the flood menace has remained a perennial problem, but wondered why the state government, despite repeated appeals had refused to come to their rescue.
Another resident of the estate, Mrs. Eyo, whose house was also affected, while recounting her experience in the last three years, said “in 2011, I lost all my property and started all over in 2012, I had the same experience, and now in 2013, it has happened again, yet the government will not even show concern.”
A pensioner in the estate, Mr. Uduak Archbong, told Vanguard “our problem is not that we don’t have a government, we have a government, but my worry is why this kind of problem will not attract the attention and sympathy of the government.”
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Enobong Uwah could not be reached for comment, as he did not pick calls placed to his mobile phone.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Few companies can boast of playing the partnership role that construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, has played in the infrastructural development of Nigeria. The advent of this company of German origin (which was originally a specialist in bridge building, and hence the moniker of its disbanded football team as “the Bridge Boys”) reads like a Cinderella story.
In August 1965, the Federal Government, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany and officials of Julius Berger Tiefbau AG, Germany, signed an agreement, which enabled German banks to loan Nigeria the funds to build the SecondMainlandBridge, which later came to be popularly known as EkoBridge. The Bridge connects Surulere at Alaka Bus-stop with Apongbon in LagosIsland. It was a major architectural marvel then (and even now) as it stretches about four kilometres over the mighty Lagos Lagoon.
Julius Berger became an instant hit. As soon as the Biafra – Nigeria war ended, Berger was also saddled with the task of rebuilding the RiverNigerBridge blown to bits by Biafra’s daredevil warrior, Col Joe Achuzia (Air Raid) to slow down the federal forces invading Onitsha from the Mid West. It took Julius Berger only seven weeks to repair the Bridge. The company thus warmed itself into fond embraces of Nigerians, both the high and low.
It was during the oil boom years that Julius Berger started reaping bountifully from its extension of goodwill that led to the birth of EkoBridge. By then, the company had diversified to virtually every section of construction activities. The oil boom led to the rapid increase in the population in Lagos, then the capital of Nigeria. The traffic nightmares began, especially after the Udoji Award, when a lot of people acquired their own cars.
The Federal Military Government under General Yakubu Gowon had to figure out how to ease the traffic gridlock. The lot fell on Julius Berger to construct the Lagos Inland Ring Road networks. These included the Lagos – Ikorodu Road, Apapa – Oshodi – Oworonsoki Express, Lagos – Badagry Express, and the Agege Motor Road that branched off into Agege with the left leg moving on to Ota in OgunState. All the beautiful flyover bridges in Lagos were built by JB nearly 40 years ago and funded by the Federal Government. It was the recognition that Lagos was simply no longer viable as a permanent capital that the idea of Abuja as the new capital (an original idea of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe) was approved in 1976. The then military Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, on February 5, 1976, signed the FederalCapitalTerritory (Abuja) Decree No 5.For Julius Berger, there was no stopping.
From that moment on, it became the construction company of choice, so prized that top members of the ruling class became interested in it personally. In the early 1990s it became a Nigerian company and was later floated on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In fact, today, a Nigerian is the single largest stockholder of the company though the Germans still have a commanding presence on its board. Julius Berger’s reputation spread nationwide.
In 1987, I had just started my working life in a newspaper in Minna, Niger State. Julius Berger came to town, apparently to prepare Minna for the eventual homecoming of the then military President, General Ibrahim Babangida. Berger completed the ChanchagaBridge leading into Minna within three weeks.
They simply piped away the river, brought the pre-cast bridge parts and assembled them over the river bed. They worked day and night. It took the company less than a year to transform Minna from a sleepy rural railway town to an infrastructurally sufficient city where two former presidents and other retired generals now feel truly at home. Anywhere Nigerians saw the big “B” of Julius Berger on a project site, it was automatically concluded that government was serious not only in ensuring high quality job but also speedy execution of the contract.
However, in recent years, it would seem as though the magic of Berger is beginning to leave it. The company seems to have slowed down. The horrendous experiences of users of the Apapa – Oshodi – Oworonsoki Express, which the company is reconstructing, are simply unspeakable.
The reconstruction, which started over two years ago from Berger Yard Bus-stop, is just getting to Cele Bus-stop, barely six kilometres away, and that is only one side of the express. At this pace, it may take Julius Berger up to 15 years to complete a road that leads into the nation’s highest source of non-oil revenue; a road that services more than six industrial estates, two seaports, and numerous security and military installations and zones.
In fact, the former headquarters of the company (before it was moved to Abuja) is on this road. I do not know if this company has a functional media or public relations unit because efforts to find out why the work on this all-important Express by newsmen either hits the brick wall or produces little effect. All we know is that a company known to work day and night in its heydays now works only during the day, at the height of economic bustle. It does not turn up for work on this site during weekends and public holidays.
Sometimes the express is totally sealed for hours and nothing moves. And all complaints by the members of the suffering public and the many media houses on this stretch simply fall on deaf ears. Julius Berger is beginning to exhibit streaks of impunity as if it is now entitled to do whatever it likes without explaining to anyone why it is putting members of the public to such dehumanising ordeals on its worksites.
The Federal Ministry of Works must wake up and remind Julius Berger that the public is their main customer. And customer is still the king.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Distinguished gentlemen of the press, I welcome you all to this briefing. You will recall that on 12th October, 2013, INEC conducted a bye election in Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State to fill the vacant position which the death of Senator Pius Ewherido created. The result of the said bye election has been released by INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the greatest and largest party in Delta State, in Nigeria and in Africa, won overwhelmingly.
To this end, I want to thank the great people of Delta Central Senatorial District for this massive support given to our party. We can only assure them of efficient and effective service to the good people of Delta State.
Let me also thank the INEC for a job well done. To the security agencies of this great nation, we say a big thank you for disappointing those who wanted to use the exercise to maim, burn, steal, kidnap and destroy the properties and lives of innocent Deltans. I want to appeal to you, our dear security agents, not to be deterred by the unguarded statements of professional political failures and neophytes. To the defeated candidates and their parties, I say a big thank you for participating in the election which has afforded you all the opportunity of experiencing the full weight of the PDP political machinery and revival in Delta State.
I have read and heard the comments of some of the defeated candidates and their parties so far on the elections, but as the Igbo adage goes “you cannot beat a child and deny him or her the right to cry”. Yes, they can cry for the beating or thrashing just like we, the African people cried during the colonial rule in Africa and our experienced fathers kept telling us to “weep not child”.
Distinguished gentlemen of the press, I have read and seen the press statement and comments from some of the parties and candidates that participated in this election. Our first reaction was to ignore them as that of “weeping children”. But it has now become necessary to put the records straight for the world to judge, especially that of Chief O’Tega Emerhor of the APC. In rejecting the election, he said that “the environment was militarized with road blocks where voters were intimidated to stay at home”.
Let us examine the empirical validation of this unfounded allegation by using the results from his ward. Chief O’Tega Emerhor is from Ward 3 (Evwreni) in Ughelli North Local Government Area. The total registered voters in that ward is 6,349. APC, his party, scored 6,033 votes; PDP scored 158 and DPP got 75, totaling 6,266 votes cast. This represents about 98 percent of registered voters. Does this show that voters were intimidated to stay at home?
Does this justify Chief Emerhor’s claim? Emerhor should tell Nigerians where he got the “big security details” around him before, during and after the elections. Please, those who live in glass houses should not throw stones! I want to also thank Emerhor for acknowledging that PDP has strong holds in Delta Central, but at the same time advice him to learn to respect his elders. To insult the Deputy Governor of Delta State who is his elder and senior on all spheres is the height of irresponsibility. All good and well meaning Nigerians should condemn this outdated and childish action of Emerhor.
Finally, we advice Emehor to stop heating up the political system. The law is clear, nobody can annul an election once concluded except the courts. He should channel his grievances to the court or tribunal which will soon be set up and we shall meet him and his party there.
To my brother, Ede Dafinone, we will advice to take a cue from his father who never took the Urhobos throughout his illustrious political life to the opposition.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Fox News has altered all news stories that mention the Affordable Care Act and Obamacare and replaced those words with “slavery.”
On FoxNews.com, an Associated Press story that initially read “Democrats say no to defunding Obamacare” was changed to “Democrats say no to defunding slavery.” All mentions of Obamacare in the story were also changed to “slavery.”
Other news stories posted online included “Tea Party to Congress: Repeal slavery now”; “Poll: 75% of Republicans, 15% of Democrats oppose slavery”; and “Obama says lasting legacy will be slavery.”
The network reportedly ordered the change in the terminology after Dr. Ben Carson, a Fox News pundit, compared Obamacare to slavery, claiming that, like slavery, Obamacare is a “clear evil” that will have a negative impact on society.
Politics and language
Critics of Fox News have often mocked it for altering or changing words to suit its agenda. The network was criticized this month for describing the ongoing government shutdown as a “slimdown.”
In the past, the network has demanded its hosts and journalists to describe the “public option” as a “government option.” It has also turned “suicide” bombers into “homicide” bombers and “feminists” into “man-hating bitches.”
The network’s new word choice of “slavery” caught on with its television hosts.
On Hannity, host Sean Hannity and guest contributors S.E. Cupp and Bob Beckel repeatedly used the word “slavery” in place of “Obamacare” during a debate about health care.
“I still cannot figure out why President Obama and the Democratic Party are so keen to force slavery on every American,” Hannity said. “The United States Constitution explicitly forbids slavery, yet it doesn’t seem to matter to this president.
“Let me tell you this: Just because Congress passed slavery and the Supreme Court uphelp slavery does not make slavery right.”
“You’re absolutely right, Sean,” Cupp said. “I don’t know a single American who is in favor of slavery, or who thinks they’ll be better off with slavery.
“Yet the liberal media would have you believe that slavery will help Americans who are going bankrupt and dying in the streets because they can’t afford to pay their doctors and hospital bills. It’s ridiculous.”
“I don’t understand why you conservatives are so opposed to slavery,” Beckel, the token liberal, added. “Slavery makes us more like Europe. Personally, I think slavery is the best thing to happen to America in years.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
A Lagos-based businessman Kamorudeen Lamina has accused a grade 1 monarch in the state, Obateru of Egbim, Oba Adeoriyomi Oyebo, of attempting to kill him.
Lamina made this accusation at a press briefing where he alleged that the monarch was after his life over parcels of land he bought at Ikorodu area of the state.
He said, “The land he is claiming that I encroached upon has been duly awarded to me by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos and as such I do not have any issue as regards that land with any body or the Obateru as an individual. The Obateru said I was behind his arrest by the police after some hoodlums attacked policemen at the Mowola community.
“I never wrote any petition against the Kabiyesi as they are insinuating, the only petition I instructed my lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana to write was to the IGP and it was as regards the conduct of the men of the Mobile Police Unit 22 led by one Ayeni, who invaded my office and home turning everything upside down in the process and making away with my properties worth millions of naira.
“It is also false that I gave a car gift to policemen at Area N Command at Ijede as a bribe to prevent them from arresting me.”
Lamina added that he had sent an appeal to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, and security agencies over the alleged threat to his life.
“I am appealing to them to come to my aid as my life and that of my family are no longer safe. We have resorted to sleeping outside our home for fear of being killed.”
When contacted, Oba Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbim denied the allegation, saying that Mr. Lamina was a threat to the community.
He said, “I fell out with him (Lamina) because of his activities of land-grabbing, maiming and the destruction of lives and properties in the community. I was the one who drew the attention of the authorities to Lamina’s activities for which he was arrested and taken into custody for several months.
“He has used the police and other unscrupulous ways to eliminate me and cause mayhem in the communities but he has not succeeded and he has now resorted to blackmail and name-calling.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The NOIPolls, on October 16, released results of its Food Security/Agricultural sector poll carried out in March 2013, in commemoration of the World Food Day.
The study was carried out to determine Food Security and Agricultural sector development in Nigeria.
According to the report released by the organisation, “The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) announced at the beginning of year that the theme for the World Food Day in 2013 is ‘Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition’. According to the FAO, today almost 870 million people worldwide are chronically under-nourished. Unsustainable models of development are degrading the natural environment, threatening ecosystems and biodiversity that will be needed for future food supply.
“A food system is made up of the environment, people, institutions and processes by which agricultural products are produced, processed and brought to consumers. Every aspect of the food system has an effect on the final availability and accessibility of diverse, nutritious foods – and therefore on consumers’ ability to choose healthy diets.
Factors that constrain food supply and food demand invariably affect food security. Agriculture plays an obvious role in providing food and it is also an important source of income to purchase food particularly in rural Nigeria. Since agricultural policy issues and lack of policy implementation affect the food security situation in Nigeria, it is critical that ‘Government plays a more dedicated role in implementing policies that affect food insufficiency, food security and poverty alleviation’”.
Results from the study showed that the majority of the participants, including experts from the agricultural sector, believed that Nigeria had the resources to sufficiently feed its growing population. Experts in the sector, however, claimed that in order for the country to achieve this, certain policies would need to be properly implemented and maintained. 68 percent of the participants, as well as experts in the industry expressed their support towards existing reforms in the sector and acknowledged the efforts of the current Agriculture minister.
Participants in the poll were asked five questions:
1. To what extent do you agree or disagree that Nigeria has the ability to adequately feed her citizens?
Results showed that 90 percent (32% + 58%) of the participants agreed that Nigeria could adequately feed her citizens and seven percent (6% + 1%) disagreed.
2. What can be done to encourage more Nigerians to take up farming as a career?
Majority of the participants, with 40 percent, said that the agricultural sector needed to be supported (government support). 23 percent said farmers should be educated on modern farming techniques and technology and 21 percent said that mechanised farming needed to be promoted.
Experts opined that farming should be included in the education curriculum and introduced to children from a young age. The experts also said that an enabling environment for agri-business should be provided for it to thrive and also the provision of loans to encourage Nigerians to embrace agriculture. They also responded that in Nigeria, agriculture was seen as a job for old persons or those in rural areas but in developed nations, agriculture was viewed as a “big business.”
3. Which of the following programs currently being implemented to support the agricultural sector are you aware of?
A slight majority of the participants, with 26 percent, said that they were not aware of any of the programs mentioned. The responses, however, showed that “the program with the highest awareness was the seven-point agenda (24%), followed by the Cassava Bread initiative (21%).
Also, about 14% of respondents were aware of the Agriculture Transformation Agenda, the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (12%), and the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (3%)”.
The report also said that, “As one would expect, the panelists seemed quite knowledgeable about most of the past agricultural development programs, as well as the on-going programs being implemented by the Minister of Agriculture.
“It is worth noting that the panelists commended the administration for sustaining the 7-point agenda, introduced by late President Yar’adua, as it remains a viable policy within which agriculture remains one of the seven pillars in this current administration, signifying continuity and sustainability. The panelists also commended the efforts of the current Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for his policies and programs aimed at boosting agricultural sector development in Nigeria.
“They further said that if the current agricultural sector reforms being implemented by the Minister are sustained, they would have great impact on the sector’s development and huge rewards in the years to come. In addition, the review of the Land Use Act was identified as very critical for the agricultural sector, as it would ensure the availability and access to land for agricultural purposes.”
4. Are you in support of the reforms currently being undertaken in the agricultural sector?
Majority of the participants, with 68 percent, indicated their support for the reforms currently being carried out in the sector and 21 percent responded in the negative. Nine percent of the participants responded with “not really,” saying that they were neither in support nor against the reforms and 2 percent refused to answer.
“Generally, the panelists had positive views regarding the on-going agricultural sector reform being undertaken by the Minister of Agriculture. They were of the opinion that all the policies and programs emanating from the reform process are well-thought ideas and genuine motives aimed at stimulating growth in the sector and the nation at large. It is believed that if the current reforms are well implemented and sustained, it could well ease Nigeria’s dependence on the oil sector, reduce importation of agriculture products and create enormous employment opportunities, particularly for the youths,” the report stated.
5. Which of the following challenges currently facing the agricultural sector needs to be immediately addressed by the government?
Majority of the participants, with 38 percent, said farming in Nigeria was mostly manual and done in small scale. 25 percent said bad road networks affected the ease of farmers getting their products to the market. 23 percent said lack of effective storage facilities resulted in the loss of harvested items; ten percent said land degradation affected the output of farms; two percent said farmers struggled because imported food was cheaper and one percent said loan facilities.
The report went on to say that, “several issues were raised as the immediate challenges that need to be addressed by the Minister of Agriculture and the government. Panelists saw a need to strengthen agricultural research centres and institutes across the country, so that farmers can have access to improved farming processes and methods emanating from rigorous and well-funded scientific research.
“Also, agricultural education needs to be better encouraged and enhanced by the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, food processing and production industries need to be located across the country to reduce post-harvest wastage.”
The poll was carried out through a national representative quantitative survey, involving telephone interviews with 1,001 participants of legal age from the six geo-political zones across Nigeria, and also a Qualitative approach involving interviews with experts in the agricultural sector.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Federal Government’s anti-graft war, which many have dismissed as ineffective, may have even collapsed as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting corrupt men and woman, is now broke. In fact, most senior staff are disappointed in the Presidency.
Investigations by Punch in Abuja on Tuesday revealed that the EFCC had been finding it difficult to meet its obligations to the lawyers handling cases on its behalf.
The most affected are senior lawyers in charge of cases against influential politicians/suspects who are either involved in high profile money laundering or outright stealing.
One of the lawyers, who disclosed this to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said he and some of his colleagues, were not happy with the turn of events. He said that some of them had not been paid their professional fees for long, adding that this was capable of affecting their performance in court.
“It may interest you to know that we have not been paid for long. I believe that the commission is broke,” the lawyer said.
It was also gathered that the cash crunch had seriously affected the commission to the extent that most of its enlightenment programmes on radio and television stations had been suspended. No money to pay.
The media programmes called Zero Tolerance, is used to educate Nigerians on the evils of corruption in the society. But due to lack of money, these very important programmes have been suspended.
A top source in the commission said,
“It is painful we could be in this mess. Imagine an agency fighting corruption to be financially incapacitated? It is bad. The programmes we suspended were designed to project the commission and also keep Nigerians abreast of the activities of the commission.
“But now, they are dead because we can’t pay the affected stations,"a top EFCC source cried out.
This is very interesting, since President Goodluck Jonathan and all his supporters are always quick to claim that he has not abandoned the fight against corruption, but Nigerians can see the signs clearly.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The United Kingdom’s (UK) Milton Keynes Trading Standards department has commenced investigations into the controversy surrounding a Nigerian national, Dr. Tina Beloveth Powerful, who runs a university from a city centre flat in North Third Street in CMK.
Dr. Beloveth Powerful, whose school is named Havard School UK, has also been sued by the American university of almost the same name.
A spokesman for Trading Standards confirmed that the Nigerian is under investigation but refused to give details.
“As it is an ongoing investigation we cannot comment in detail about it,” he said.
Media reports, however, suggest the trading standards investigation may involve false claims on Havard’s website that the school is affiliated to the Institute of Administrative Management. The wording on the school’s website has been changed to read “is to be accredited to.”
However, Dr. Beloveth Powerful insists she has not done anything wrong, adding that she was on a “mission from God to help people study.”
“I have six degrees myself, two of them from Nigeria where I came from,” she said in a report. “I transformed my life and God has given me power to transform others’.”
The Nigerian claimed she is not aware of the trading standards investigations into Havard.
America’s Harvard University files suit
Dr. Powerful, whose school is named Havard School of Management and Technology UK, is also being sued by Harvard University of the US. The American university, which name differs from Dr. Powerful’s institution by just a letter, is suing for alleged trademark infringement.
But Dr Powerful is counter-claiming for £2 million – the money, she says, she has spent so far on setting up her school.
“A good name is better than silver and gold,” she said. “Having said that, we are telling them we want to step aside but we have spent money in advertising, marketing and productions.”
The 46-year-old Nigerian also denied claims she caused academic confusion by calling her school Havard, explaining that the name ‘Havard’ was from her grandfather.
“My paternal grandfather’s first name was Havard. I chose to immortalise his name. I never thought about Harvard,” she said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Following the recent allegations levied against a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Nigerian Army, by some aggrieved individuals over forceful eviction from a property located at House Number 311, B close, Festac town, Lagos, a counsel to the officer identified as Victor Chinedu, has cleared the air on the allegations.
The counsel who was armed with documents claimed that the officer did not do anything outside the confines of the law insisting that rather, the man who claims to be the authentic owner of the house illegally rented the property to a tenant without the consent of the real owner. He further claimed that when the issue came before military authorities, they advised that it should be settled amicably or other legal remedies be sought but the reverse turned out to be the case.
He told Crime Alert: “On the 4th of October 2013, an execution was carried out on our client’s property at Festac town at about 7am. We have not done anything outside the confines of the law. The aggrieved woman by name Rachael Nwosu is unknown to us, the person we know as our tenant is Emmanuel Ekanem and he was duly served the application.
“The property in question at no point in time was sold by our client, the ownership is presently before a competent court of jurisdiction that looked into the matter, referred us back to multidor court, which advised us to resolve the matter amicably given the fact the tenant enjoyed a good relationship between himself and our client while it lasted between both parties. Our client and Emmanuel Ekanem were friends long before he became his tenant. He lived there and paid rents for a long time.
“At no point in time did our client sell the property to Emmanuel Ekanem. He went against the law by renting the property to somebody else. As I speak, the document to that property still belongs to our client. The offer’ is before a competent court and still under investigation; So we cannot determine the document now. It is only the court that has the power to decide who owns the property.
“What really happened was that our client borrowed the said amount of money from Mr Ekanem on the ground of their relationship. Not long, he was selected to go for an official trip outside the country and Mr Ekanem felt there was no certainty that he would come back alive. And my client said okay, since you are a tenant in my house, continue to hold on to it, and if I don’t come back, take over the house.
“When my client came back, he called Mr. Ekanem to effect the payment back to him but he declined. Along the line, Mr. Ekanem wrote series of petitions to the Nigerian Army on ‘threat to life’. At the end of investigations by the Nigerian Army, their response dated 27th July, 2011 directed both parties to explore ways of settling the matter amicably or seek other legal remedies as appropriate. That was why we went to court.
“I want to firmly state our position concerning the matter, The onus is for Emmanuel Ekanen to respect that the case is in court. I see his conduct is borne out of mischief against the person of our client. Concerning the threat allegations by Mrs Rachael Nwosu, as far as we are concerned, our client would never at any point reduce himself to that. We advise Mr. Ekanem to decline from his actions,” he stated.
Meanwhile, both parties are still contesting the legality or otherwise of the court papers used in ejecting the aggrieved Mrs. Nwosu and members of her family from the house.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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