![](\"https:\/\/metronews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Emmanuel-Uduaghan-1.jpg\")
<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nA
\nfrontline pro-democracy and Non-Governmental Organization, the Human
\nRights Writers Association of Nigeria, has raised the alarm that some
\nmushroom but politically motivated group of individuals have since last
\nMonday commenced frantic search for credible platforms in the nation’s
\ncapital, Abuja, to hire to tarnish the public standing of ex-Delta State
\n Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.<\/div>\n
\nfrontline pro-democracy and Non-Governmental Organization, the Human
\nRights Writers Association of Nigeria, has raised the alarm that some
\nmushroom but politically motivated group of individuals have since last
\nMonday commenced frantic search for credible platforms in the nation’s
\ncapital, Abuja, to hire to tarnish the public standing of ex-Delta State
\n Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nThis
\n was disclosed on Tuesday at a media briefing by the National
\nCoordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko; the Nigerian Human
\nRights Queen (2017), Miss Chioma Okoli; and other officials.<\/div>\n
\n was disclosed on Tuesday at a media briefing by the National
\nCoordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko; the Nigerian Human
\nRights Queen (2017), Miss Chioma Okoli; and other officials.<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nOnwubiko
\n confirmed to journalists that his organization has been inundated by
\npressure from some known political blackmailers to be enlisted in a
\nsinister plot to stage street protests to the premises of the Economic
\nand Financial Crimes Commission to attempt to hoodwink the hierarchy of
\nthe anti-graft panel to begin systematic witch-hunt of the immediate
\npast administration of Delta State.<\/div>\n
\n confirmed to journalists that his organization has been inundated by
\npressure from some known political blackmailers to be enlisted in a
\nsinister plot to stage street protests to the premises of the Economic
\nand Financial Crimes Commission to attempt to hoodwink the hierarchy of
\nthe anti-graft panel to begin systematic witch-hunt of the immediate
\npast administration of Delta State.<\/div>\n
\nThe
\n Rights group wondered why unscrupulous persons sometimes with powerful
\npolitical sponsorship will seek to continuously attempt to recruit
\nregistered groups that have credibility to do some sinister campaign
\nwhen legally such organisations can be sued by those politically exposed
\n persons whose well earned good reputation as statesmen\/women are being
\ntarnished on the alter of sensational media stories. <\/div>\n
\n Rights group wondered why unscrupulous persons sometimes with powerful
\npolitical sponsorship will seek to continuously attempt to recruit
\nregistered groups that have credibility to do some sinister campaign
\nwhen legally such organisations can be sued by those politically exposed
\n persons whose well earned good reputation as statesmen\/women are being
\ntarnished on the alter of sensational media stories. <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nThe
\n Rights group said the ongoing mass demonisation and character
\nassassination of some members of the political class whose political
\ntenures in various offices have remained untainted has created the
\nerroneous impression that all political office holders in Nigeria are
\ncorrupt. <\/div>\n
\n Rights group said the ongoing mass demonisation and character
\nassassination of some members of the political class whose political
\ntenures in various offices have remained untainted has created the
\nerroneous impression that all political office holders in Nigeria are
\ncorrupt. <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nOnwubiko
\n said: \u201cThis is a fallacy with far reaching negative implication for the
\n standing in the international community of civilised nations of the
\nNigerian Nation State.\u201d<\/div>\n
\n said: \u201cThis is a fallacy with far reaching negative implication for the
\n standing in the international community of civilised nations of the
\nNigerian Nation State.\u201d<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nHURIWA
\n noted that it has become imperative for it to go public with this
\ninformation so Nigerians would be made aware of the existence of many
\nphantom groups, whose major preoccupation is to stoke the embers of
\nhatred against targeted high profile Nigerians just because such persons
\n may not have agreed to be blackmailed into paying huge pay outs to such
\n professional and career blackmailers. <\/div>\n
\n noted that it has become imperative for it to go public with this
\ninformation so Nigerians would be made aware of the existence of many
\nphantom groups, whose major preoccupation is to stoke the embers of
\nhatred against targeted high profile Nigerians just because such persons
\n may not have agreed to be blackmailed into paying huge pay outs to such
\n professional and career blackmailers. <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nOnwubiko
\n said: \u201cThese evil intentioned Nigerians are exploiting the notorious
\nfact that corruption as a major factor that contributed to the
\nunderdevelopment of Nigeria has understandably forced the current
\ngovernment to focus extensively on waging anti-graft war.\u201d<\/div>\n
\n said: \u201cThese evil intentioned Nigerians are exploiting the notorious
\nfact that corruption as a major factor that contributed to the
\nunderdevelopment of Nigeria has understandably forced the current
\ngovernment to focus extensively on waging anti-graft war.\u201d<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nHURIWA,
\n however, warned against the deployment of crude and illegal process of
\nmass hysteria and choreographed media trial to engage in the ongoing
\ncrusade to eradicate corruption and economic crimes. <\/div>\n
\n however, warned against the deployment of crude and illegal process of
\nmass hysteria and choreographed media trial to engage in the ongoing
\ncrusade to eradicate corruption and economic crimes. <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nOnwubiko
\n said: \u201cWe urge officials of EFCC to strive to maintain high
\nprofessional decorum even as they relentlessly chase after corrupt
\npoliticians. <\/div>\n
\n said: \u201cWe urge officials of EFCC to strive to maintain high
\nprofessional decorum even as they relentlessly chase after corrupt
\npoliticians. <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cEFCC
\n as an agency set up by law must operate within the ambit of principle
\nof rule of law and abide by all constitutional provisions.<\/div>\n
\n as an agency set up by law must operate within the ambit of principle
\nof rule of law and abide by all constitutional provisions.<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cWe
\n were approached by some professional political blackmailers from Delta
\nState to make our organization available to be used as a weapon of mass
\npolitically motivated battle against the person and character of the
\nformer governor of Delta State but we declined on the ground that the
\nallegations against Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan are not only false but are
\nwell orchestrated campaign of calumny meant to prepare the ground for
\nthe media trial of the immediate past governor. <\/div>\n
\n were approached by some professional political blackmailers from Delta
\nState to make our organization available to be used as a weapon of mass
\npolitically motivated battle against the person and character of the
\nformer governor of Delta State but we declined on the ground that the
\nallegations against Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan are not only false but are
\nwell orchestrated campaign of calumny meant to prepare the ground for
\nthe media trial of the immediate past governor. <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cWe
\n also declined to participate because we know with available records
\nthat as the governor of Delta State, Dr. Uduaghan carried out landmark
\nprogrammes and projects that significantly improved greater respect to
\nthe Human Rights of Delta State residents. <\/div>\n
\n also declined to participate because we know with available records
\nthat as the governor of Delta State, Dr. Uduaghan carried out landmark
\nprogrammes and projects that significantly improved greater respect to
\nthe Human Rights of Delta State residents. <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cThe then administration transparently handed over to the current administration. <\/div>\n
\n\u201cAs
\n a credible Civil Society platform that has been on ground for 10 years
\nnow, HURIWA meticulously monitored the immediate past administration of
\nDr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and we can without any fear of contradiction
\nassert that with the evidence at our disposal, those allegations being
\nbandied about are frivolous, unsubstantiated, malicious and lacks
\ncredibility. <\/div>\n
\n a credible Civil Society platform that has been on ground for 10 years
\nnow, HURIWA meticulously monitored the immediate past administration of
\nDr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and we can without any fear of contradiction
\nassert that with the evidence at our disposal, those allegations being
\nbandied about are frivolous, unsubstantiated, malicious and lacks
\ncredibility. <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cHow
\n on Earth could the former governor have pocketed a whooping N800
\nbillion and was able to consistently pay salaries for eight years and
\nimplemented far reaching impactful projects for the people of Delta
\nState?<\/div>\n
\n on Earth could the former governor have pocketed a whooping N800
\nbillion and was able to consistently pay salaries for eight years and
\nimplemented far reaching impactful projects for the people of Delta
\nState?<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cOur
\n fundamental reason for not making our platform available for media
\ntrial of politically exposed persons who we know had discharged their
\nconstitutional duties creditably is because the abundance of provisions
\nin the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 that
\nfrowns against media trial of all persons.<\/div>\n
\n fundamental reason for not making our platform available for media
\ntrial of politically exposed persons who we know had discharged their
\nconstitutional duties creditably is because the abundance of provisions
\nin the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 that
\nfrowns against media trial of all persons.<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cSpecifically,
\n Section 36 (1) provides thus: \u2018In the determination of his civil rights
\n and obligations, including any question or determination by or against
\nany government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair
\nhearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal
\nestablished by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its
\nindependence and impartiality.\u2019<\/div>\n
\n Section 36 (1) provides thus: \u2018In the determination of his civil rights
\n and obligations, including any question or determination by or against
\nany government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair
\nhearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal
\nestablished by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its
\nindependence and impartiality.\u2019<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cImportantly
\n Section 36 (5) has it that even when any person has been charged in the
\n competent court of law, the person is presumed innocent until proven
\nguilty.<\/div>\n
\n Section 36 (5) has it that even when any person has been charged in the
\n competent court of law, the person is presumed innocent until proven
\nguilty.<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cWe
\n use this medium to appeal to reputable groups in the organized civil
\nsociety community not to allow the current economic recession to push
\nthem into making their organizations available for political
\nwitch-hunt.\u201d <\/div>\n
\n use this medium to appeal to reputable groups in the organized civil
\nsociety community not to allow the current economic recession to push
\nthem into making their organizations available for political
\nwitch-hunt.\u201d <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nHURIWA
\n reasoned that those championing these campaigns of calumny have
\nulterior motives to railroad the judiciary into passing thoughtful
\nverdicts against their perceived political opponents whenever the
\nanti-graft agency is armtwisted to head to court. <\/div>\n
\n reasoned that those championing these campaigns of calumny have
\nulterior motives to railroad the judiciary into passing thoughtful
\nverdicts against their perceived political opponents whenever the
\nanti-graft agency is armtwisted to head to court. <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\nIt
\n added: \u201cIt is our conviction that EFCC will not allow blackmailers to
\npush them into embarking on wild goose chase which will cost taxpayers
\nbillions of cash that could have been deployed to provide social
\nservices and other democracy dividends.<\/div>\n
\n added: \u201cIt is our conviction that EFCC will not allow blackmailers to
\npush them into embarking on wild goose chase which will cost taxpayers
\nbillions of cash that could have been deployed to provide social
\nservices and other democracy dividends.<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cJudicial
\n independence is essentially composed of two foundations (i.e individual
\n and institutional) that cumulatively ensure the independence of the
\njudiciary. <\/div>\n
\n independence is essentially composed of two foundations (i.e individual
\n and institutional) that cumulatively ensure the independence of the
\njudiciary. <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cIndependence
\n of the judiciary means that every judge is free to decide matters
\nbefore him in accordance with his assessment of the facts and his
\nunderstanding of the law, without any improper influences, inducement,
\nor pressures, direct or indirect, in any quarter or for any reason; and
\nthat the judiciary is independent from the executive and legislature,
\nand has jurisdiction directly, or indirectly, or by way of review, over
\nall issues of a judicial nature 15.<\/div>\n
\n of the judiciary means that every judge is free to decide matters
\nbefore him in accordance with his assessment of the facts and his
\nunderstanding of the law, without any improper influences, inducement,
\nor pressures, direct or indirect, in any quarter or for any reason; and
\nthat the judiciary is independent from the executive and legislature,
\nand has jurisdiction directly, or indirectly, or by way of review, over
\nall issues of a judicial nature 15.<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cSee \u2018Judicial Independence: the contemporary debate\u2019, Shimon Shetreet and Jules Deschenes eds: 1985.<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cJustice
\n Musdapher also reminds us that: \u2018Impartiality is essential to the
\nproper discharge of the judicial office. It applies not only to the
\ndecision itself but also to the process by which decisions are made.
\nJudges must perform their judicial duties without favour, bias or
\nprejudice and ensure that their conduct both in and out of court
\nmaintains and enhances the confidences of the public, the legal
\nprofession and the litigants in the impartiality of the judicial
\nsystem.\u2019<\/div>\n
\n Musdapher also reminds us that: \u2018Impartiality is essential to the
\nproper discharge of the judicial office. It applies not only to the
\ndecision itself but also to the process by which decisions are made.
\nJudges must perform their judicial duties without favour, bias or
\nprejudice and ensure that their conduct both in and out of court
\nmaintains and enhances the confidences of the public, the legal
\nprofession and the litigants in the impartiality of the judicial
\nsystem.\u2019<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cAs
\n a Civil Society group active in the media, we are aware of the
\nexistence of verifiable documentary evidence to show that the last
\nadministration in Delta State achieved many landmark projects that
\nimproved human development such as the following: \u201c100 bed Mother &
\nChild Unit at Central Hospital in Warri; Upgrade renal unit (including
\ninstallation of chemotherapy machine) at Central Hospital in Warri;
\nConstruction of 18km Trans Ode Itsekiri road project, including 24
\nbridges; Construction of Internal roads in Ode Itsekiri; Dualization of
\nOkumagba Avenue and Deco Roads in Warri; Commissioning of 300 kilometers
\n of streetlights in Warri, Asaba, Ughelli and Sapele; Uplifting and
\nimprovement work at Jakpa and Enerhen Junctions; Construction of fly
\nover at Effurun Roundabout; Construction of 169 kilometres Federal
\nGovernment owned Ughelli -Asaba highway including completion of section B
\n of the Road; Payment for West African Examination Council Exam for SS3
\nstudents for seven years; Free education for primary and secondary
\npupils and students; Payment of bursary and scholarship for Delta State
\nstudents in higher institutions; Payment of N5 million to first class
\ngraduates from any institution of higher learning to pursue postgraduate
\n studies anywhere in the world; Free maternal care from conception till
\ndelivery, including ceaserian section (surgery); Free health care for
\nchildren from zero to five years and elderly above 65 years; Free Mobile
\n clinic to boost rural health care; provision of more than 1000 Buses
\nand Taxis as intervention into the transportation sector, including the
\nconstruction of modern bus stops and parks; Subsidising of transport
\nfares of mass transit buses by 50 per cent and free buses for children
\nin public schools; Dualization of Refinery Road in Warri; Completion of
\nJakpa Road Dualization; Completion of the Odion Road\/Cemetery Road;
\namongst others.<\/div>\n
\n a Civil Society group active in the media, we are aware of the
\nexistence of verifiable documentary evidence to show that the last
\nadministration in Delta State achieved many landmark projects that
\nimproved human development such as the following: \u201c100 bed Mother &
\nChild Unit at Central Hospital in Warri; Upgrade renal unit (including
\ninstallation of chemotherapy machine) at Central Hospital in Warri;
\nConstruction of 18km Trans Ode Itsekiri road project, including 24
\nbridges; Construction of Internal roads in Ode Itsekiri; Dualization of
\nOkumagba Avenue and Deco Roads in Warri; Commissioning of 300 kilometers
\n of streetlights in Warri, Asaba, Ughelli and Sapele; Uplifting and
\nimprovement work at Jakpa and Enerhen Junctions; Construction of fly
\nover at Effurun Roundabout; Construction of 169 kilometres Federal
\nGovernment owned Ughelli -Asaba highway including completion of section B
\n of the Road; Payment for West African Examination Council Exam for SS3
\nstudents for seven years; Free education for primary and secondary
\npupils and students; Payment of bursary and scholarship for Delta State
\nstudents in higher institutions; Payment of N5 million to first class
\ngraduates from any institution of higher learning to pursue postgraduate
\n studies anywhere in the world; Free maternal care from conception till
\ndelivery, including ceaserian section (surgery); Free health care for
\nchildren from zero to five years and elderly above 65 years; Free Mobile
\n clinic to boost rural health care; provision of more than 1000 Buses
\nand Taxis as intervention into the transportation sector, including the
\nconstruction of modern bus stops and parks; Subsidising of transport
\nfares of mass transit buses by 50 per cent and free buses for children
\nin public schools; Dualization of Refinery Road in Warri; Completion of
\nJakpa Road Dualization; Completion of the Odion Road\/Cemetery Road;
\namongst others.<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n\u201cWhilst
\n not holding brief for ex-Governor Uduaghan, we make haste to denounce
\nthe current blackmail in a section of the media and advice the relevant
\nagencies to play by the Rule of Law.\u201d<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n not holding brief for ex-Governor Uduaghan, we make haste to denounce
\nthe current blackmail in a section of the media and advice the relevant
\nagencies to play by the Rule of Law.\u201d<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A frontline pro-democracy and Non-Governmental Organization, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, has raised the alarm that some mushroom but politically motivated group of individuals have since last Monday commenced frantic search for credible platforms in the nation’s capital, Abuja, to hire to tarnish the public standing of ex-Delta State Governor, Dr. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-default"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metronews.ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metronews.ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metronews.ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metronews.ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metronews.ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=795"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.metronews.ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/795\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metronews.ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metronews.ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metronews.ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metronews.ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}