Confusion as court dismisses contempt suit against NERC

 A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, dismissed a contempt suit against the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over alleged disobedience of its order.

A Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Mr Toluwani Adebiyi, had filed the suit, challenging the hike in electricity tariff.

He had sought an order of court, committing NERC's Chairman and the Chief Executive Officers of the Distribution Companies (Discos) to prison for allegedly flouting a subsisting order of the court.

Justice Mohammed Idris had on May 28, 2015, directed NERC to suspend all actions relating to any increment in electricity tariff pending the determination of a suit filed by Adebiyi.

Adebiyi had argued that despite the subsisting order, NERC in conjunction with the Electricity Distribution Companies commenced the implementation of the new electricity tariff on Feb.1, 2016.

He said the implementation of the new tariff by the defendants indicated that the substantive suit meant nothing to them.

Delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Idris held that the procedure for committing a party for contempt outside the face of the court must be strictly adhered.

``Before a party can be committed for contempt it must be shown that he is aware of the order or judgment because a person cannot be said to be in contempt of an order he is not aware of.

``The best way to notify the alleged contemnor of the pending order or judgment is to serve him with the order personally.

``In the light of the law, it is clear in this case that the purported service of form 49 without service of form 48 is premature.

``In the circumstances, I hold that the defendant's objection have merit. The form 49 and the motion for order for committal are hereby set aside,’’ he said

Idris held that he set aside the contempt proceeding due to procedural irregularities.

``However, let me warn that where the disciplinary jurisdiction of this court is properly invoked, anyone found to have neglected the order of court will be dealt with.

``Those who intend to take the judicial system for a ride should think twice and those who have done so should retrace their steps.

``To be fore warned, is to be fore armed; this is the ruling of the court,’’ he said
Idris then adjourned the case to March 15 for hearing.

It was recalls that Adebiyi, in the substantive suit, is seeking an order restraining NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without a significant improvement in power supply.

He also wants an order restraining NERC from foisting compulsory service charge on pre-paid meters, until the meters are designed to read charges per second of consumption. (NAN)

APC govs tackles Buhari over N5000 stipends for youths

A crack may have developed among the ranks of the governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as Governor Tanko Umaru Al-makura of Nasarawa State and his Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, yesterday took different positions in their reaction to President Muhamnadu Buhari’s decision to ditch the N5000 unemployment benefits to Nigerians, The Guardian reported.

The governors gave their opinions separately yesterday while speaking with reporters after their meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.

To Al-makura, the President has the prerogative to so review any policy at any given time and his decision stands in as much as it is to the best interest of the nation.

According to the Nasarawa governor, “the President is the person that can tell you precisely how he is working on campaign promises and interventions that he has created, using his ingenuity. And if at any point in time, the President is reviewing that issue, I think he is the only person that can do so in the best interest of the country. And so, it is not challengeable by anybody whatever his position.” In the report.

He, therefore, called on Nigerians to give the benefit of doubt to enable him implant the laudable agenda that he has for Nigerians.

While Okorocha, who is Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) agreed with the President on the need to improve on infrastructure to boost productivity, he, however, believed that, one way or the other, the APC campaign promises must be fulfilled to the people.

“To be honest with you, it is a great idea, but there are many ways to give that support. Sometimes, it could be in cash which has its own challenges. Handling of that is also in itself a wonderful and great idea,” he said.

The President had declared in Saudi Arabia, during a meeting with a select group of Nigerian community in Makkah that, rather than paying the N5000 as canvassed by his party on the heels of the presidential election, he would instead focus on repairing infrastructures such as roads, bridges, schools, among others.

Committee On Appropraition Ends Collation of Reports on 2016 Budget - Rep

The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation has formally closed the collation of reports on the 2016 budget from Standing Committees.

This is contained in a statement issued by Rep. Abdulmumini Jibrin, (APC-Kano) Chairman, Committee on Appropriation and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja. He said that the committee would appropriate funds to Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) supervised by substantive committees that failed to present their 2016 budget defence reports. Jubrin listed the committees to include Public Accounts, Loans, Aids and Debts Committee, Committee on Gas Resources, Public Service Matters Committee, Maritime and Safety Committee, Interior Committee and Committee on National Security‎. He said that only 60 substantive committees met the Feb. 26 deadline of presenting their budget defence reports and recommendations, covering improvements, shortcomings and actions to be taken in their respective MDAs.

“Due to pressure of time we have to tidy up the final report with the Senate.

“The Committee on Appropriation will have to take over the work of committees that failed to present their reports by appropriating funds for the MDAs that they supervise.

“The committee will also interface with officials of the Ministry of Finance, Budget Office on March 3 to fine tune the reports,’’ the lawmaker said.

The chairman commended the 60 substantive committees for their cooperation and for heeding the call to submit their reports within the deadline.

“This is for the overall interest of the nation and the commitment of the National Assembly to pass the 2016 budget, latest by the second week of March,” Jibrin said.

(NAN)

Pakistan anti-blasphemy law gov killer dead by hanging

Pakistan has hanged the assassin of a governor who sought to reform the country’s controversial blasphemy laws, officials and supporters said
Mumtaz Qadri – feted as a hero by many supporters – was executed at a prison in Rawalpindi.

“I can confirm that Qadri was hanged in Adialia jail early yesterday morning,” police official Sajjid Gondal told the AFP.

Qadri, a bodyguard of Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab province, shot him dead in the capital, Islamabad, in 2011.

Dozens of rangers and police in riot gear, as well as ambulances, were stationed outside Qadri’s home in the city early yesterday.

During his trial, Qadri’s legal defence was that Taseer opposed Pakistan’s so-called blasphemy laws by supporting Christian woman, Asia Bibi, who was charged with allegedly desecrating Islam’s holy book, the Quran.

Engineers Are Warn Not To Give Bribe To Influence The Award Of Contracts

Chairman, Engineering Society of Nigeria (Abuja)

After a successful test, exams, and other prerequisite, Engineers were satisfied and were charged to obey all code of ethics for engineering practice in Nigeria.

In line with one of the present administration’s cardinal point, to fight corruption, Engineers were charged not to offer or receive bribe to influence the award of a contract, And comparing take home at the end of the month, they want the Federal Government to look into it.

The Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Yakubu Garba said, “In order to stamp out corruption completely, the salary of the Engineers should be looked into”.

Observers say workers salary must be reasonable as it will go a long way in the successful fight against corruption.