Akwa Ibom State | InsideOjodu https://www.insideojodu.com ...conecting the community Sat, 08 Apr 2023 16:04:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.10 http://www.insideojodu.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/favicon.ico Akwa Ibom State | InsideOjodu https://www.insideojodu.com 32 32 Businessman drags Akwa Ibom govt to court over debt https://www.insideojodu.com/businessman-drags-akwa-ibom-govt-to-court-over-debt/ https://www.insideojodu.com/businessman-drags-akwa-ibom-govt-to-court-over-debt/#respond Sat, 08 Apr 2023 16:04:47 +0000 https://www.insideojodu.com/?p=42076 A businessman in Akwa Ibom State, Ubokubom Nyah, has dragged the state government to…

The post Businessman drags Akwa Ibom govt to court over debt first appeared on InsideOjodu.]]>
A businessman in Akwa Ibom State, Ubokubom Nyah, has dragged the state government to court over alleged non-payment of consultancy fees on a project executed.

Joined in suit number HT/2/2023  instituted at State High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area were the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, and Landsea Construction and Engineering Limited as defendants.

According to particulars of the case obtained by our correspondent in Uyo on Saturday, the plaintiff is suing the defendants over the alleged refusal to pay his consultancy fee which was shortchanged to the tune of N10,279,391 for service rendered.

Counsel to the applicant, Andem Ndem, in a motion on notice filed on March 7, 2023, prayed the court for an order compelling the defendants to pay the applicant the sum of N10,279,391 which they had admitted in a letter dated April 27, 2021.

He also prayed to the court for an order compelling the Ist defendant to cause the 2nd defendant to pay his client the admitted sum.

In an affidavit in support of the motion, the applicant, Ubokutom Nyah, under ‘Otto Trinity Studios’ as his business name noted that the defendants/Respondents had actually admitted shortchanging him to the tune of  N10,279,391, from the bill he submitted after completion of architectural consultancy services he had rendered.

He noted further that the defendants had in March 2014 through a letter from Commissioner for Special Duties appointed him as a resident consultant to render architectural consultancy services to the Hotel complex then under construction at Ikot Ekpene, which he accepted.

He said on his successful completion of the service, “I submitted my bill/invoice in the sum of N1, 025, 838, 385.96 (One billion, twenty-five million, eight hundred and thirty-eight thousand, three hundred and eighty-five naira, ninety-six kobo only) via a letter dated January 18, 2016.

“I know that the 1st Respondent in reaction to my bill/invoice for payment of professional fees dated January 18, 2016, unilaterally introduced the 2nd Respondent, into the contract to handle payment of professional fees due to me for unknown reasons.

“I protested against the forceful injection of the 2nd Respondent into my bilateral contract with the 1st Respondent and the consequential financial shortchange resulting from this strange procedure.

“I carefully audited all payments made to me by the 2nd defendant/respondent and discovered the following short-payments which cumulatively resulted in the shortchange of N42,083,853.37 (Forty-two million, Eight-three thousand, Eight hundred and fifty -three naira, thirty-seven Kobo) only.

“I state further that I demanded the refund of the aforestated short-payments from the Ist Defendant/Respondent via my letter dated March 22, 2021. I also know that the Ist Defendant by their letter dated April 1, 2021, forwarded my protest letter to the 2nd Respondent for reaction.

“But the 2nd Defendant/Respondent by their letter dated April 27, 2021, responded to Ist Defendant/Respondent and admitted that they actually shortchanged me to the tune of Ten million, Two hundred and seventy-nine thousand, three hundred and ninety-one naira, thirty-one kobo (N10,279, 391.31) only.

“That on January 10, 2023, I wrote a letter to Ist Respondent herein and demanded that they prevail on 2nd Respondent who is their agent to pay me the admitted sum but they refused.

That except this honourable court orders the Defendants/Respondents to pay me this admitted sum, they will continue in their intransigence,” the applicant stressed.

Meanwhile, Landsea Construction & Engineering Ltd in the letter addressed to Commissioner Ministry of Special Duties & Aviation Akwa Ibom State, via the Permanent Secretary, dated, April 27, 2021, admitted net shortchange to Otto Trinity to the tune of N10, 279, 391 only.

A copy of the letter which was signed by the Project Consultant Manager, Oliver Ebong, and made available to journalists in Uyo reads in part, “I  take responsibility for the sharing mistakes and will effect redress to Otto Trinity willingly.

“At no point was there any intention to ‘defraud’ any consultant, definitely not myself Landsea that also got shortchanged.

“In reaction to your letter on issues raised in Otto Trinity’s consultancy fees shortchange, I have checked all the payments received from inception, painstakingly computed/shared same and compared such to the initial sharing with my colleagues and admit to net shortchanges to Otto Trinity and Landsea, but net overpayments to Dranibs.

“However, the shortchange to Otto Trinity is N10, 279,391.31 only not what he claimed for reasons provided above.

“I reiterate my readiness to make good this shortchange as soon as you conclude your mediation,” the letter stated.

The post Businessman drags Akwa Ibom govt to court over debt first appeared on InsideOjodu.]]>
https://www.insideojodu.com/businessman-drags-akwa-ibom-govt-to-court-over-debt/feed/ 0
Breaking News: Court nullifies Akwa Ibom APC gov primary https://www.insideojodu.com/breaking-news-court-nullifies-akwa-ibom-apc-gov-primary/ https://www.insideojodu.com/breaking-news-court-nullifies-akwa-ibom-apc-gov-primary/#respond Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:47:25 +0000 https://www.insideojodu.com/?p=35997 The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, has nullified…

The post Breaking News: Court nullifies Akwa Ibom APC gov primary first appeared on InsideOjodu.]]>
The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, has nullified the All Progressives Congress governorship primary conducted on May 26, 2022, and ordered that fresh governorship primary within 14 days.

Delivering judgment on Monday, November 14, 2022, the presiding judge, Justice Agatha Okeke, also disqualified the governorship candidate of the party, Akanimo Udofia, from participating in the primary, saying that he was not a member of the APC in the state.

The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognise him (Akan Udofia) nor accept him as candidate according to section 77 sub-section 3 of the Electoral Act.

The post Breaking News: Court nullifies Akwa Ibom APC gov primary first appeared on InsideOjodu.]]>
https://www.insideojodu.com/breaking-news-court-nullifies-akwa-ibom-apc-gov-primary/feed/ 0
Detained lawyer sues Akwa Ibom CJ https://www.insideojodu.com/detained-lawyer-sues-akwa-ibom-cj/ https://www.insideojodu.com/detained-lawyer-sues-akwa-ibom-cj/#respond Tue, 16 Aug 2022 17:49:05 +0000 https://www.insideojodu.com/?p=33374 Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has sued the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State,…

The post Detained lawyer sues Akwa Ibom CJ first appeared on InsideOjodu.]]>
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has sued the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaette Obot, over her refusal to furnish him with his conviction order and copies of court proceedings, despite repeated applications.

The human rights lawyer filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Uyo, praying the court to direct Justice Obot to furnish him with a copy of the 27 July judgment.

Effiong also urged the court to declare as illegal and unconstitutional, the judge’s refusal to release the conviction order, as it violated Section 36 (7) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

In a court document made available to The PUNCH by the counsel to the plaintiff, Femi Falana, it was noted that Effiong was entitled to a copy of the judgment within seven days of the conclusion of the case.

Effiong was remanded in prison on July 27 by Justice Obot, for alleged contempt of court.

He served the first two weeks of his 30 days sentence at the Ikot Ekpene Custodial Center of the Nigeria Correctional Service.

He was later transferred to Uyo Custodial Centre to serve the remaining days.

The post Detained lawyer sues Akwa Ibom CJ first appeared on InsideOjodu.]]>
https://www.insideojodu.com/detained-lawyer-sues-akwa-ibom-cj/feed/ 0
Akwa Ibom gets new police commissioner https://www.insideojodu.com/akwa-ibom-gets-new-police-commissioner/ https://www.insideojodu.com/akwa-ibom-gets-new-police-commissioner/#respond Fri, 24 Jun 2022 09:19:06 +0000 https://www.insideojodu.com/?p=32067 The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has approved the posting of CP Olatoye Durosinmi…

The post Akwa Ibom gets new police commissioner first appeared on InsideOjodu.]]>
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has approved the posting of CP Olatoye Durosinmi as the new Commissioner of Police for Akwa Ibom State.

Durosinmi took over from Andrew Amiengheme, who has since been promoted to Assistant Inspector-General of Police and posted out of the state.

A statement issued on Thursday by the Stae Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, said the new commissioner has assumed duty as the 31st Commissioner of Police in the state.

It read in part, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Baba Alkali, has approved the posting of a new Commissioner of Police to Akwa Ibom State Police Command. The new CP takes over from AIG Andrew Amiengheme.

The new Police boss holds a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Sociology from the University of Ife, an LLB from the Delta State University, Abraka.

“He was called to Bar in 2001 and has a Master’s degree in Law from the Lagos State University and a PhD in Law from Imo State University is in view.”

The statement added that the new commissioner was “appointed into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on the 3rd of March 1990, and has served in various capacities and attended courses both locally and internationally.

“Before his present appointment, he was Assistant Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, Imo State Police Command. (He has served) as Assistant Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Akwa Ibom Police Command; Area Commander, Akure; Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Kebbi State Police Command, and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Federal Special Weapon and Tactics Annex, Lagos.”

The post Akwa Ibom gets new police commissioner first appeared on InsideOjodu.]]>
https://www.insideojodu.com/akwa-ibom-gets-new-police-commissioner/feed/ 0
Akwa Ibom women won’t stop praying till gender bills become law – First Lady https://www.insideojodu.com/akwa-ibom-women-wont-stop-praying-till-gender-bills-become-law-first-lady/ https://www.insideojodu.com/akwa-ibom-women-wont-stop-praying-till-gender-bills-become-law-first-lady/#respond Mon, 07 Mar 2022 08:52:17 +0000 https://www.insideojodu.com/?p=29609 The wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Martha Udom Emmanuel has vowed…

The post Akwa Ibom women won’t stop praying till gender bills become law – First Lady first appeared on InsideOjodu.]]>
The wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Martha Udom Emmanuel has vowed that women in the state would resort to prayers and won’t back down until the gender bills were passed into law.

She said this would be done in solidarity with the recent protest embarked upon by women at the National Assembly gate on Wednesday last week.

Speaking in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area during the International Women’s Day celebration on Sunday at Apostolic Church Ikot Abia Edem, the First Lady said women would continue to fight until the needful was done.

She said, “On the rejection of the proposed bill by the National Assembly to give women 35 per cent of affirmative action, we are saying not so. We are going to join our voices together and speak in one voice that women should be given a chance. We have all that it takes to be in the position of authority. Our governor and so many governors have done that. We want it to be signed into law so that generations upon generations would not temper with that, but, shockingly, the national assembly decided not to consent to the bill. We shall fight for it. The whole world has come to the knowledge that women cannot be toyed with and Nigeria cannot be exempted. We are going to pray unto God for Him to touch the hearts of those legislators that voted against the bill and I have confidence that they will finally agree to do it.”

The governor’s wife charged women to continue to unite and speak with one voice for inclusive leadership in the country, calling on the Federal Government to see the need for including more women in the political podium of the nation.

In her opening remark, the commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare Dr Ini Adiakpan commended the First Lady l for always celebrating women.

Dr Adiakpan stated that on a day like this, women across the state must in one spirit celebrate the governor’s wife in return for her quality leadership.

The post Akwa Ibom women won’t stop praying till gender bills become law – First Lady first appeared on InsideOjodu.]]>
https://www.insideojodu.com/akwa-ibom-women-wont-stop-praying-till-gender-bills-become-law-first-lady/feed/ 0