Mo Ibrahim, founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday denied a motion ex-parte filed on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil and Gas Ltd., Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, and four others, seeking their release on bail.
Mr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), counsel to the applicants, in the bail application, argued that the action of the police Special Fraud Unit in detaining his clients since October 9 was a violation of their fundamental rights.
According to him, the action of the respondents is reprehensible, barbaric and a clear contravention of Section 36 (4) (5) (a) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Uba, Nsika Usoro, Godfrey Okorie, Chibuzor Ogbuokiri, and Joseph Orji,, were on October 11 arraigned by the SFU over an alleged N43.29 billion fuel subsidy fraud.
The SFU had accused the men of economic sabotage, obtaining money by false pretences, stealing of N43.291 billion, property of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, money laundering and forgery.
The four other defendants are employees of Capital Oil and Gas.
The defendants, who appeared before Magistrate Martins Owumi of a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, were ordered to be remanded in SFU custody for 14 days.
In his ruling, Justice Okon Abang declared that the order sought by the defendants was not possible in law.
According to him, it will be just to hear the respondents before taking any decision on the issue of bail.
Citing Order 26 Rule 10 of the Federal High Court Procedure Rules, Abang also converted the ex-parte application to a Motion on Notice, and ordered that hearing notices be served on the respondents.
Abang also ruled that the respondents were at liberty to file their responses to the converted motion on or before 12 noon Oct. 16, and that the application would be argued without fail on that date.
The case was adjourned to October 16 for continuation of hearing.
She said the NLC would lead over 120 leaders of all industrial unions under its congress while the TUC would lead over 38 leaders to the rally which would hold simultaneously with the LP mega rally in Akure at the same venue.
She enjoined all workers’ unions in the state, artisans and lovers of democracy and good governance to come out and join the rally for Governor Mimiko’s re-election.
The rally will be the third to be held in support of Mimiko by workers in the last three months.
Ashley Cole is prepared to begin contract talks with up to five interested foreign clubs in January if an agreement is not reached to end his contract deadlock with Chelsea.
Cole, 31, is hoping that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich can be convinced to change his policy of only offering one-year deals to players over 30, with the England defender having already rejected the prospect of a short-term extension, ESPN reports.
There are no new talks planned imminently, but the two parties will meet again before Christmas in a bid to end the stand-off.
There is no fall-out or rift between Cole and club chiefs over the negotiations, with the former Arsenal star remaining “calm and collected” over discussions and viewing the option of talking to other clubs as a last resort.
Cole would like to end his career at Stamford Bridge and could be convinced to settle for a two-year-deal if it was offered.
If an agreement cannot be reached, Cole may reject the opportunity to sign a pre-contract agreement in January and wait until the summer before finalising his future in a bid to convince Chelsea that he is deserving of his demands.
Didier Drogba adopted a similar approach last season before quitting for Shanghai Shenhua
A similar situation faces Frank Lampard, 34, but while the midfielder might be tempted to stay on a year-to-year deal rather than take up a lucrative offer in the MLS, Cole is not willing to consider such an option.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria on Monday urged the Federal Government to stop casualisation in the petroleum sector.
PENGASSAN National Industrial Relations Officer, Chika Onuegbu, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt.
