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Why I went to Court to declare Ekweremadu’s Senate seat vacant -OAU Onyeama

Published

4 years ago

September 24, 2022

Top Enugu lawyer and politician Barr. OAU Onyeama has been in the news since he filed a suit asking a federal High Court sitting in Enugu to declare the Enugu West Senate position currently occupied by Senator Ike Ekweremadu vacant.

The action has received mixed reactions with some attacking his conscience for taking such a step against a man passing through difficult times in London.

But the legal luminary and former Senatorial aspirant who contested the 2018 PDP Senatorial primary with Ekweremadu has come forward to react and explain his actions.

Hear him: I can understand the emotions and sentiments of the people mostly employees of the Senator representing Enugu West.

Simply put, the name callings are uncalled for, as the law is straight on this matter.

I, Sir OAU Onyema ( Notary Public) have only instituted action for interpretation of the relevant sections of the 1999 constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, the Senate Standing Order 2015, the Senate legislative Calender 2022, the PDP Constitutions 2017, and the PDP Senatorial Guidelines For Nomination of Candidates 2018 / 2022. I did not manufacture their contents, and I only adverted the mind of the court to it.

I instituted this action without sentiment, but as a patriotic citizen of this country (Nigeria). The law is justice, and justice quite different from sentiments , friendship, pretence and name-calling. That is why the symbol of justice is a blindfolded lady, who hold a scale of balance.

As a lawyer, I am devoid of sentiment, emotions, pride or prejudice when it comes to what the law provides.

At all times, the judgment of the court ( which is the decision of the judge in line with the law) is recieved with mixed feelings. While those it benefits jubiliate, those it did not, go sulking.

7. The issue is that everyone cannot shy away from speaking- out. We understand the predicament of our brother, the distinguished Senator who is under incarceration because he wants to help his daughter; indeed I personally feel for him, and pray that he will be vindicated at the end.

However, I know that it is incorrect for our Senatorial zone (Enugu West) to remain UNREPRESENTED at the Senate while the proceedings are on, and decisions are being taken, all to our detriment.

What we thought was a minor issue graduated from days, to weeks, and weeks to months. This is the 3rd month now, that we are unrepresented according to the provisions of the constitution. He has already represented us for 19 years in the Senate, and issues arose in this final 20th year, making it difficult for him to continue offering his services.

I was triggered to speak-out, when the media became awashed with the fact that he was denied bail severally, and his pre-trial fixed for October 2022 and Trial to commence on or around 28th May, 2022, barely 1 day to the end of the current administration.

As a lawyer, my interpretation of this remains that it will be difficult for him to continue this representation under this circumstance. And the question remains, do we fold our arms and remain unrepresented until the end of this administration because of our Senator’s current travail.

The frustrations are that the seat is not delegatable, and he does not have a deputy, more so proceedings goes on with or without him, to the detriment of my humble self and the people of Enugu West.

Surely, it is not the best for the system, and anything one can do to help our system, in the interest of posterity, should be done devoid of sentiments.

The Senator is my Senator, and I grew under him. I ve contested for this seat of Senate thrice without success. That is years 2010, 2018 and 2022. I know the shrewdness, wickedness, meaness, injustice, treachery, inequity, betrayal, lack of conscience and sabortage I experienced, which resulted to my not securing PDP nomination despite my qualifications and hundreds of millions of naira expended. I have contested for House of Reps for Udi / Ezeagu / Federal Constituency twice in Enugu State being in years 2002 and 2006 PDP primary Elections with Hon Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi. I know what I experienced; and at each time, I am made to understand that lack of conscience, sentiment, and shrewdness are the norm, which must be imbibed by politicians. I did not fancy it, but the trait surely crept into me.

I contested the seat of the PDP primaries for the Senate of Enugu West District in 2010 and 2018 with the distinguished senator who is presently being held. It went the way it went, and I did not hold it against anyone.

14. Indeed, I ve never gone to court to challenge the party or anyone for over 22years that I have been denied party Nomination to National Assembly, despite my loyalty, and consistency in the party. Many left the party and returned, and were rewarded, but I have never left PDP, even for once, despite all the disappointments meted to me for no just cause, and I have never been honoured or rewarded. I was forced to learn the bitter lesson that, loyalty to the party does not pay anymore. I work hard to excel on my own. Other incredulous factors now reign supreme, in the choice of candidate.

All these notwithstanding, as a litigation attorney, Notary Public and an employer of labour, I always retire to my shell and face my legal practice. There I remained, till the present unfortunate incident which created a vacuum in the Seat of Senate of Enugu West district.

I then reviewed the provisions of the law, as the next available runner-up in the Senatorial Primary election which sent the present senator-in-trouble to the 9th Senate; and realized that I am the next in law to go in as his replacement without any bye election, in line with the laws, hence I sued, so as to ensure that our representation in the Senate does not suffer set-back.

I am aware that many of those who worked against me during our primary election with the present Senator, has taken to the radio and media to criticize my audacity and temerity to sue, irrespective of whether it is right or wrong. I do not blame them, for they are apprehensive of loosing their allowances. But, if I find myself in the Senate within this last lapse, I do not think my priority will be to sack any aide of the Senatorial Constituency offices. We will work together as brothers.

Mind you, the Senator whom I am seeking for his seat to be declared vacant by default has been in the Senate for 5 ( Five) Tenures of almost 20years. We are at the 19th year plus, before this trouble erupted. Is it this remaining 1year, which I sought to complete because of his default of representation, that they are so bitter about.

To them, let all keep quiet, fold arms and watch the remaining 1 year of the 9th Senate eflux without representation of our people, and the attendant loss, no problem. Honestly, my father Barr T.A.Onyema did not train me that way. I cannot encourage waste in the system; even in my own private enterprise.

Some of the senator’s hench-men and beneficiary, like Mr Emeka Ezenwugo of my maternal town- Umuabi, Udi has bolded-up to fiercely confront me, threatening fire and brimstone, but I am not perturbed. God has designed the destiny of all man, and only time shall tell.

The State authority has intervened, to see how the issue could be sorted out, and for more time to be given, considering the predicament of our brother-the Senator, and their position is seriously recieving attention.

This matured intervention is considered a better approach, rather than threat being offered by Mr Ezenwugo.

It is about 11 (eleven) lawyers in my chambers and other Senior lawyers outside my chambers that reviewed the laws and instituted this action; and I am only the Plaintiff as the next available runner- up. Any other person from Enugu West district could have been the plaintiff and still bring up the reliefs sought; so even my demise does not solve the problem. It is the law in action; and the primary Cause of action of ‘declaring the seat vacant’ survives the exit of parties, hence parties can always vary, and the case continue.

In summary, the action was brought on good faith, without prejudice or sentiment. It is all about speaking up to save the country.

I was disappointed with those supporters saying “what of when Governor ‘this and that’ were in prison, were they not taking their salaries and allowances as Senators? I felt so bad with these illustrations, and shall we continue in a lackadaisical attitude in this country, where abnormality is made a norm? Mind you, those cases of Ex- governors in prison, that were then recieving salaries were NEVER judicial precedents. No court pronounced it right. And to the best of my knowledge, no one sought to declare their seat vacant by default. Is it unheard-of, that a person in prison will be taking salary for job not done , or sitting allowance for sitting not done, and no one raises eye- brow. So shameful for a nation. Meanwhile, our children have been out of school for almost a year now because of incessant strike of aggrieved lecturers seeking for their entitlements.

I will only seize this opportunity to ask our people to stop being pretentious, or allowing sentiment to becloud our sence of reasoning. People, should find something doing, so that they can feed themselves and their families; by that, they can have independent reasoning to give the best of appraisal to issues.

Someone has represented for 19years, out of his 20years (5 tenures) mandate; and issues arose that he is in default of representation in the 20th year, and someone with good sense, is saying that it is evil or Satanic, to sought for another person to complete the representation in the few months remaining. I believe, you will know who is actually evil or satanic.

Having played politics in the Apex in Enugu State for over 22years, the outcome from the pupil, is what he was taught.

Those supporters who have gone to URBAN RADIO, AND DREAM FM radios to be castigating and slandering my name, are only doing a great disservice to the meaningful States intervention. I strongly advise them to retrace their steps and retire home, if they have no ideas or solutions to offer.

News

MainPower Restores Electricity Supply to Parts of Enugu After Outage

Published

13 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has restored power supply to parts of Enugu metropolis, which witnessed darkness.

Some parts of Enugu metropolis, under the Band A tariff regime, during the weekend witnessed three consecutive days of blackout.

The Head, Communications of MainPower, Mr Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Enugu.

According to him, MainPower wishes to inform its esteemed customers that power supply to the Gariki Injection Substation was successfully restored on Monday, July 20, at about 8:30p.m.

“This is following the successful resolution of a major fault involving the indoor 11kV breaker at the station.

“The fault, which occurred on Friday, July 17, affected electricity supply to customers served by the Army and Gariki 11kV feeders.

“Consequently, normal electricity supply has now been restored to all affected areas,” he said.

Ezeh appreciated residents and customers for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout the outage.

He noted that the company remained committed to delivering safe, reliable, and improved electricity services to its customers and residents of the state.

It would be recalled that MainPower, which is a subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), is in-charge of electricity distribution in Enugu State.

News

Four Herders, Several Cattle Killed As Gunmen Attack Ranch In Anambra

Published

13 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

By Okey Maduforo, Awka

Four herders and several cattle were killed on Tuesday when suspected gunmen attacked a cattle camp in Ifite Awka Community, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The incident has sparked concern in Awka, the state capital, as the attackers reportedly invaded the settlement and opened fire on the herders before fleeing the scene.

The attack has also prompted the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to appeal for calm among its members, expressing confidence that the perpetrators would be apprehended and brought to justice.

In a statement, the National Deputy Director-General of MACBAN, Gidado Siddiki, said the four deceased herders were members of the same family.

According to him, the incident occurred at the cattle camp of Alhaji Aminu Mohammed on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

He said, “According to reports, unknown armed assailants invaded the cattle camp while the herders were peacefully engaged in their legitimate cattle-rearing activities.

“The attackers opened fire sporadically, resulting in the deaths of four herders, namely Mohammed Bujumi, Hassan Bujumi, Abubakar Bujumi and Sani Bujumi.

“Several cattle were also killed during the attack, while the assailants reportedly fled with some of the cattle carcasses towards the nearby Mgbakwu Community.”

Siddiki added that another herder, identified as Usman Iliyasu, narrowly escaped the attack.

MACBAN condemned the incident as “heinous and senseless,” calling on security agencies to immediately investigate the attack, apprehend those responsible and prosecute them.

The association also urged the Anambra State Government to take urgent steps to strengthen security and protect the lives and property of residents.

While appreciating the prompt intervention of the Joint Task Force and the state government in recovering the bodies of the victims, Siddiki appealed to MACBAN members to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.

“We urge everyone to cooperate fully with the security agencies and allow the government to carry out the necessary investigations and take appropriate action to ensure justice is served,” he said.

Confirming the attack, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a police-led joint security team responded to the scene following a distress call.

He said the operatives discovered the bodies of four male victims who had suffered fatal injuries.

“Preliminary observations revealed that the victims had their hands tied and sustained multiple injuries, including machete cuts and blunt force trauma. Also, two residential huts within the settlement were set ablaze during the attack,” Ikenga said.

The police spokesperson further disclosed that four dead cows were found within the vicinity, while two other cattle had been slaughtered, with portions of their meat removed.

He added that security operatives recovered sacks containing abandoned chunks of meat a short distance from the scene.

According to Ikenga, preliminary findings indicated that the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, double-barrel guns and machetes.

He said one survivor escaped unharmed and was assisting the police-led joint security team with useful information that could aid the investigation.

The Anambra State Police Command urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist the ongoing investigation.

The Command said further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.

News

“I Did Not Kill Him, He Died on Top of Me” — Woman Who Was With Abacha Reveals

Published

14 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

A former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has offered a fresh account of the circumstances surrounding the death of former Nigerian military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
Amachree claimed that Abacha died of a cardiac arrest during an intimate encounter with a female pharmacist at the Aso Rock Guest House in Abuja.
The revelation was contained in his newly published memoir, DSS @40: My Journey Behind the Shield, in which he presented what he described as the true account of Abacha’s controversial death on June 8, 1998.
Abacha, who ruled Nigeria from November 1993 until his death in office, has remained the subject of several conspiracy theories concerning the circumstances of his demise.
According to excerpts of Amachree’s memoir published by The Nation, the former DSS officer, who was then Assistant Director of Operations and Intelligence at the Lagos Command, said Abacha died at about 4:05 a.m. while in the company of a female pharmacist at the Presidential Villa.
Amachree said the woman had accompanied her elder sister, whom he described as Abacha’s girlfriend, to the Presidential Villa after the former military ruler reportedly purchased a new SUV for the sister.
He stated that shortly after the intimate encounter, the pharmacist noticed that Abacha had suddenly become motionless and unresponsive.
According to his account, she checked his pulse but could not find one. She then hurriedly dressed and requested transportation back to her hotel.
The former DSS officer said the soldier on duty, unaware of what had happened, arranged a vehicle for her.
He added that after informing her elder sister about Abacha’s condition, the pharmacist was taken to the Abuja airport, where she boarded a 7:00 a.m. Okada Air flight to Lagos.
Amachree further disclosed that Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Abacha’s Chief Security Officer, was informed of the former Head of State’s condition at about 5:00 a.m. and immediately ordered efforts to locate the woman who had been with him.
However, by the time security operatives arrived at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja, the pharmacist had already left for Lagos.
Amachree said he later received instructions from the DSS headquarters in Abuja to locate and interrogate the woman in Lagos. She was eventually traced to Ogudu and brought to his office for questioning.
He recalled that her first words during the interrogation were: “I did not kill him, he died on top of me.”
The former intelligence officer said he obtained a detailed statement from the woman and subsequently contacted the DSS headquarters, after which she was flown back to Abuja.
Amachree maintained that the pharmacist’s account supports the conclusion that Abacha suffered a cardiac arrest during sexual intercourse.
He said the account also challenges longstanding claims that the former military ruler was poisoned or died after being entertained by foreign women.
According to Amachree, the account contained in his memoir represents what actually happened and should help end decades of speculation surrounding Abacha’s final moments.
General Sani Abacha died on June 8, 1998, after nearly five years in power. His death occurred less than a month before the death of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, widely regarded as the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, who died in detention under the Abacha regime.

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Anambra LG Polls Threatened as 56 Councillors Sue to Stop ANSIEC

Published

14 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

By Okey Maduforo, Awka

The proposed local government elections in Anambra State may face fresh legal hurdles as 56 serving councillors have approached the court seeking an order restraining the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) from conducting the polls.

The councillors, who filed the suit barely one month before the scheduled election, are challenging the planned exercise on the grounds that their tenure of office has not yet expired.

Recall that the Anambra State House of Assembly recently passed an amendment to the state electoral law, limiting the tenure of elected local government chairmen, deputy chairmen and councillors to two years.

In the suit, marked No. A/261/2026, the plaintiffs joined the Attorney-General of Anambra State, the Anambra State House of Assembly and ANSIEC as the first, second and third defendants respectively.

The plaintiffs are seeking, among other reliefs, a declaration that the statutory system of local government guaranteed under Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, requires a secure, stable and reasonable tenure capable of promoting effective grassroots governance.

They are also asking the court to declare Section 110(A) of the Anambra State Electoral (Amendment No. 3) Law, 2024, which limits the tenure of democratically elected local government chairmen, deputy chairmen and ward councillors to two years, inconsistent with Section 7(1) of the Constitution and therefore unconstitutional, null and void.

The plaintiffs further want the court to strike down, invalidate and expunge Section 110(4) of the Anambra State Electoral (Amendment No. 3) Law, 2024, from the state’s statute books on the grounds that it is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

They are also seeking an order affirming that democratically elected local government officials are entitled to a secure four-year tenure, which they contend is in line with the tenure enjoyed by elected officials at the federal and state levels.

In addition, the councillors are asking the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, privies or anyone acting on their behalf from dissolving, terminating or interfering with the tenure of the elected local government councils at the expiration of two years.

They are equally seeking an order restraining ANSIEC from taking any steps, publishing election timetables or conducting any elections aimed at replacing the current elected local government officials until they complete what the plaintiffs describe as their full four-year tenure.

The suit could potentially affect the planned local government elections in the state, depending on the outcome of the legal challenge.

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PFIPC scandal: How CBN opened domiciliary accounts for phantom agency

Published

1 day ago

July 21, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday said it had opened two foreign-currency domiciliary accounts for the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.

This is as the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, appeared at the headquarters of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to testify in the ongoing investigation into the activities of the fictitious agency.

The apex bank’s admission came at the public hearing convened at the National Assembly Complex by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the existence and operations of the PFIPC, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi and inaugurated by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

Monday’s hearing revealed critical gaps in the bureaucratic processes that allowed the fictitious agency to obtain the functional perks accorded to real government agencies.

Represented by the Director of its Banking Services Department, Hamisu Ibrahim, the CBN said the accounts, one in US dollars, the other in British pounds sterling, were opened following a mandate received from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

“On July 30, 2025, we received a mandate dated July 29, 2025 from the Office of the Accountant-General. We received the mandate to authorise two accounts, one a US dollar domiciliary account, the other a pound domiciliary account, for the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council,” Ibrahim told the committee.

He explained the CBN’s verification process, saying, “The process of opening an account requires a mandate from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

“Once we receive that mandate, we perform all the necessary verifications to confirm that this mandate is actually coming from that office.

“The department that handles the mandate is different from the department that actually does the account opening,” he said.

Nevertheless, he noted that no one came to activate the accounts after they were opened.

“We did not receive any correspondence, mandate, signature or mandate cards. We were not introduced to the authorising or approving officers.

“Based on that, those accounts remain inactive, with zero balance. There have been no foreign exchange allocations.

“The accounts have maintained zero balance from inception to date and have never recorded any inflow or outflow,” Ibrahim said, adding that a statement of account had been attached to the committee’s records.

However, the CBN’s account directly contradicted an earlier submission by Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, who had claimed that no accounts were opened in the PFIPC’s name.

Also testifying before the committee, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, said her office never allocated any space to the PFIPC.

Records available to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, she said, showed that the office space reportedly occupied by the council at the Federal Secretariat Phase III had been officially allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, not to the fictitious council.

“There is speculation that the council occupied office space in the Federal Secretariat Phase III. We can state categorically that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation did not allocate any office space to the council.

“The office space indicated as the council’s official address forms part of the office accommodation allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the use of the OSGF and presidential bodies,” she said.

Walson-Jack, however, told the committee that during the 2025 Annual Manpower Budget Defence Exercise, the council submitted additional documents through one Patricia Akhigbe, including the appointment letter of its Director-General and details of its mandate, after which its request was processed alongside those of 87 other ministries, departments and agencies.

An authorised establishment for 314 positions was subsequently issued to the council, and a recruitment waiver followed days later, she explained.

Walson-Jack said Akhigbe had since been invited for questioning by the police.

She stressed that her office neither deployed staff to the council nor approved any recruitment, and urged the committee to direct further inquiries to the Office of the SGF.

In his ruling after the day’s hearing, committee chairman Gagdi asked the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and other top government functionaries to appear before the panel on Thursday.

He stated, “In continuation of this assignment, the secretariat should invite the SGF to appear and brief this committee on the issues raised.

“Also to appear on Thursday are the Inspector-General of Police, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the Minister of Budget and National Planning.”

“Also invited are the Accountant-General of the Federation, heads of the Budget Office of the Federation, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.”