Tag Archives: Sue

“Sue your governor if your rights are violated” – Fashola tells LGAs

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Former Lagos State Governor and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babtunde Raji Fashola, has advised local government chairmen and their executive committee members who may feel dissatisfied with the existing relationships between their councils and the state government, especially in terms of fiscal and political autonomy, should approach competent law courts for sound adjudication.

 

Fashola said the abuse of local government autonomy by state governments in connection with their allocations and dissolution of elected council administrations by governors was an abuse of existing laws and should be fought in law courts without calls for autonomy.

 

He made the remarks yesterday while delivering his keynote address in Lagos at the public presentation of two law books authored by a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo.

 

The books are entitled; Modern Administrative Law and Practice in Nigeria, and Local Government Law: Cases and Materials.

 

According to Fashola, local governments were too important to be abused. He said that the challenge with the third tier of government was that its governance had been left in the hands of “those we regard as local people and so when their rights were trampled upon, they do not protest because they do not know.”

 

He said: “It is unfortunate that we do not value our local government systems as the third tier of government. Maybe, because of the word ‘local’, we all believe it is too local to enjoy our participation, forgetting the fact that it is at that level that solid foundation for national development is laid.

 

“Here we have Prof. Osipitan with his knowledge, experience and exposure. Can he volunteer to be a local government chairman? Many of us will not because it is too ‘local’ to us. But we have forgotten that the local governments are in charge of our arrival to the world and departure from the world.”

Galaxy Note 7 Users To Sue Samsung

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Hundreds of Galaxy Note 7 smartphone users in South Korea are preparing to file a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics for recalling the device, which is prone to catching fire.

Over 520 people want Samsung to compensate them for psychological harm from using the hazardous phone, the costs and the time they took to exchange their devices, attorney Peter Young-Yeel Ko, head of the Harvest Law Firm said on Monday.

The South Korean tech giant was forced to recall its most advanced phone ever after reports of the handset catching fire spread in early September. The company stopped producing or selling the phone as well.

The costumers complained that as a result of the botched recall, they had to visit mobile shops first to get the battery checked and later change the phone. They spent hours in shops while changing the phone and transferring data, the attorney said.

Kim Chae Yong, who joined the lawsuit, said he spent almost $100 on gas and highway fees to return a Note 7 phone after the first recall.

“I feel betrayed,” he said. “I am angry and I don’t ever want to use it again.”

The company started pre-sales of the smartphone on August 2, but had to start recalling 2.5 million phones on early September.

Samsung’s mobile chief D.J. Koh said at a news conference on September 2 that the company had identified the problem with one of its suppliers and it would shift production to another supplier, without providing names.

“We recognized that we did not correctly identify the issue the first time and remain committed to finding the root cause,” she said. “Our top priority remains the safety of our customers and retrieving 100% of the Galaxy Note 7 devices in the market.”

Struggling to save its credibility, Samsung is now expected to launch its next smartphone, likely to be called the Galaxy S8, in February.

Credit: presstv

Defamation: Ex Rivers Governor, Peter Odili Sues Peterside, Claims N6bn Damages

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THE former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, has dragged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, to court for an alleged defamation of character.

Odili, who is claiming the sum of N6bn as damages in the suit, had stated that Peterside, who is the current Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, had defamed him through a newspaper publication (not The PUNCH) in February 2016.

The defendant was alleged to have said in a press conference that the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, during a victory thanksgiving service, alleged that Odili helped him (Wike) to secure the judgement that gave him (Wike) victory.

But Odili had described the statement credited to Peterside as false and malicious, maintaining that Wike never said that he (Odili) helped him to secure election victory at the Supreme Court.

However, when the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, Odili was asked to enter the witness box to adopt his witness statement.

Though the defendant and his counsel were absent in court, the Lead Counsel for the plaintiff, Kanu Agabi (SAN), told the trial judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, that Peterside was properly served.

Iyayi-Lamikanra, however, adjourned till October 27, 2016, for further hearing of the case.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after court proceedings, Agabi said, “We sued for libel and we called our first witness. We have adjourned for cross-examination till the 27th of October, 2016.

“We felt defamed by their (defendant) publication and we are here to vindicate ourselves.

“You could see that the defendants were not in court, but they have been served; they have been properly served. The court would not have proceeded otherwise.”

Nigerian Students Sue American College For Treating Them ‘Like Animals’

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Godsgift Moses, Promise Owei, Thankgod Harold, Success Jumbo, Savior Samuel, and 30 more Nigerian students came to America hoping it would be the promised land.

It’s only fitting that “Opportunity is here” is the motto of Alabama State University, listed as one of America’s 100 Historic Black Colleges and Universities, and where they got full scholarships from a Nigerian government fund for four years of education. Instead of getting opportunity, they say the school took their country’s millions and used the money to discriminate against them.

In a lawsuit filed last week in federal court, 41 Nigerian nationals—many of whom are now Alabama State University alumni—allege the school overcharged them for books and meals, enrolled them in classes they never took, and more, all because they were black foreigners.

“They called us cash cows,” said Jimmy Iwezu, an ASU alum who claims the university intentionally mismanaged millions from a scholarship fund set up by the Nigerian government that was paid in advance for every exchange student. “I’m a black man and I’m proud to be black, but I felt discriminated against.”

The 37-year-old social work grad cites the school’s self-proclaimed autonomy to do whatever it wished with the seven-figure sum Nigeria prepaid back in 2013 for some 41 students to go to the school.

Attorney Julian McPhillips, who brought the lawsuit to court for the second time—the first attempt, back in April, accused the school of breaching its contract with Nigeria and was dismissed—suggests ASU violated Title VI civil rights.

The students allege they were shorted their deserved monies by ASU “because of their Nigerian national origin,” according to the lawsuit.

McPhillips contends ASU hammered the students with exorbitant “billing” and they weren’t “being treated like other students” when the school allegedly inflated the costs of staples like books and room and board, and repurposed the funds to pay for the school’s “bond issues” and to help front costs for “a new stadium,” and, ironically, a center for civil rights awareness.

Read More: thedailybeast

Sacked PDP Officials May Sue Party Over Crisis-Ridden Convention

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The Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has commenced consultation on the outcome of the Saturday’s Port Harcourt national convention of the party.

Inuwa Bwala, the Special Adviser on Media to the former Chairman Sheriff, disclosed this during an interaction with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr. Bwala said members of the NWC were already meeting in an undisclosed location to look at legal action that could be taken on the decision reached at the convention.

“I can tell you that the Sheriff and other members are still meeting to deliberate on what transpired at the convention.

“They have invited their lawyers to advise them on the next line of action,” Mr. Bwala said.

He said the meeting might continue till Monday.

Mr. Bwala Mr. Sheriff did not receive any court order stopping the convention until Friday, adding that the four court orders received on that day were “parallel and conflicting.”

He said in order not to violate any of the orders, Mr. Sheriff called a meeting of the NWC and other organs who advised that the convention be suspended.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Housewife Threatens To Sue Edo State Over Alleged Loss Of Pregnancy

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One Mrs. Oghosa Ejemai who allegedly lost her seven-week pregnancy and sustained injuries, following alleged attack by officials of the Edo State Government, yesterday threatened to sue the State Government for the sum of N100 million for assault.

She alleged that the State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Isimeme Iriogbe supervised her alleged assaults along with his staff.

Mrs Ejemai spoke in Benin when she was presented to journalists by the Publicity Secretary of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Chris Nehikhare, at the state secretariat of the party.

She explained that she was in her shop at 14, Mis­sion Road, Benin City, at about 5:00p.m. on February 2, 2016, when some people led by the Commissioner stormed her shop and started packing her wares, adding that in her attempt to prevent the commissioner and his team from taking her goods, she was slapped and hit.

“They tried to push me into a vehicle, hit my head and fired shots into the air. People rushed at me that day. I was taken to the Benin Central Hospital and reported to the Oba market police station.

“The third day, I started bleeding. So I went to the hospital. At the hospital, doctor confirmed that I had lost my seven-week-old pregnancy.

“When they called me to come and pick my goods, I only saw about five per cent of the goods taken from my shop. They told me to take whatever was available as they don’t usually release seized goods,” she said.

But in a swift reaction, the Commissioner for Trans­port, Mr. Iriogbe said Mrs. Ejemai was trading along the walkway and had attacked officials who came to clear the walkway of traders and their wares.

“She was trading along the walkway and she ac­costed the officials that were clearing the walkway. She almost tore the dress of one of the women who was removing the wares. By going to the PDP for her press conference, it means her blocking the walkway was political

“I expect her to be at the court and we shall meet there because the court is for everybody. I acted de­cently and I did not beat her.”

Credit: Sunonline

Ikorodu Robbery Suspects Drag IGP To Court

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The four suspects paraded in connection with the recent bank robbery in Ikorodu, Lagos State, have dragged the Inspector General of Police before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, saying that their alleged confessional statements given out to journalists, was extracted from them behind their lawyer.

The suspects – Agbojule Bright, Promise Abiwa, Monday Omoboye and Monday Ikuesan, were on July 6, 2015, paraded by the police in connection with the robbery of the Ipakodo branches of First  and Zenith Banks in Ikorodu, where an 18-man gang, which they allegedly belonged to, made away with about N80 million on June 24, 2015.

In their fundamental rights enforcement suit filed before Justice Mohammed Yunusa, counsel, Akanbi, claimed that the police violated the right of the suspects to remain silent or to avoid answering any questions until consultation with a legal practitioner or any person of their choice as stipulated by Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

Akanbi in the suit said that the suspects “made confessional statements to newsmen under duress,” arguing that the police had no right to parade the suspects to be interviewed by the press “unless such a suspect wishes to give interview after the matter has been charged to a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Read More: vanguardngr

Fasheun, Adams, Dokubo Others Threaten To Sue NNPC Over Contract Termination

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The pipeline security contractors have threatened to sue the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over the termination of contracts signed during the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

In an open letter to President Muhamadu Buhari by the contractors, they stated that the NNPC must, immediately, settle its three months’ indebtedness having fulfilled their own part of the deal. Â The security companies are Dr Fredrick Faseun’s New Age Nigeria Limited; Otunba Gani Adams’ Donyx Global Concept Limited; Alhaji Asari Dokubo’s ATEF Nigeria Limited; Chief Bibo Pere Ajube’s Galery Security Services Limited; Chief Joshua Machiever’s Bajeros Nigeria Limited; Chief Omo’s Close Body Protection Limited and Izon Ibe’ Security Limited.

‘It should be known that the contractors had valid and duly signed contract agreements with the management of the NNPC to protect the pipelines for a period of three months’, the letter read in part, saying instead of NNPC fulfilling its own part of the deal, ‘the public perception of the NNPC Pipeline Security and Surveillance job was that former President Goodluck Jonathan gave the job to the contractors on the platter of politics’.

Credit: thisdaylive

Death Row Soldiers Sue Army For Contempt

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Soldiers in the Nigerian Army who were recently sentenced to death by a military court martial have initiated contempt proceedings against the Chief of Army Staff over non-release of the record of proceedings that convicted and sentenced them to death.

This is just as the army, in a statement by its acting director of public relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, confirmed reports that the it had commenced an administrative procedure to review some recent disciplinary cases but dismissed insinuations that the review amounted to a recall of dismissed and deserter soldiers.

“The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a correspondence making the rounds in some media regarding an administrative procedure to review some recent disciplinary cases in the Nigerian Army.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the Nigerian Army is reviewing all recent disciplinary cases due to the wave of litigations and petitions by some aggrieved personnel. The public should not misconstrue the recent directive to mean total recall of dismissed and deserter soldiers,” the terse statement read.

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Paul Play Dairo Sues Etisalat for 200M

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Paul Play Dairo has filed a N200m lawsuit against Etisalat for using his song, Mosorire in its popular reality series, Nigerian Idol, without seeking his consent. In the suit filed at a Lagos High court in Nigeria and marked FHC/CS/581/2014, Optima Media Group was made co-defendant. Paul stated that the defendants had used his hit song, Mosorire, which he composed himself, to promote their TV show, Nigerian Idol in 2012 and 2013.

He alleged that during the course of the programme, a contestant was made to reproduce his song and sing it without his express permission as the owner of the song.

Read More: xwaizi.com

Buhari Might Sue NTA & AIT for Hate Speech

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General Muhammadu Buhari , has threatened to take legal action against the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, and the African Independent Television, AIT, for airing hate broadcasts against his personality.

This came on a day the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, warned all broadcasting stations operating in the country to adhere strictly to the provisions of the broadcasting code or risk sanctions.

In a protest letter lodged through the Legal Director of APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, Buhari, insisted that the two television stations must not only retract the “hate documentaries,” but also issue a public apology to him.

Read More: vanguardngr.com

Lil Wayne Sues Cash Money for $51 Million

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Lil Wayne is suing Cash Money with the hopes of ending his contract with the label, according to TMZ. The lawsuit alleges that CEO Bryan “Birdman” Williams and the company have withheld a substantial amount of money that it owes him with regard to the rapper’s still-unreleased new album, Tha Carter V. Because the label has not paid him the money he claims he’s owed, Wayne contends that he should be able to leave Cash Money.

In addition to severing his contract, Lil Wayne is seeking $51 million and has asked a judge to declare him the joint copyright holder of everything released on his Cash Money imprint, Young Money, including recordings by Drake and Nicki Minaj. A spokesperson for Birdman was not immediately available for comment.

Last month, the rapper publicly spoke out against Cash Money, tweeting, “I want off this label” and calling himself a prisoner. Tha Carter V was originally due out last May, but was delayed to a December release; it did not come out and the Cash Money website still advertises it as “coming soon.” Around the time of Weezy’s tweets, his manager, Cortez Bryant, told TMZ that the rapper had no intention of leaving the label.

Read More: yahoo.com/music