news

Appeal Court in Enugu Dismisses Innoson’s Preliminary Objections Against GTBank

Published

7 years ago

July 15, 2018

Ogunwumiju also ruled that, “The fact that the respondent counsel raised objections to some of the grounds of appeal is not a bar that can deprive the appellant of the right to amend his notice of appeal.

The respondent has not argued that the notice of appeal that the appellant is seeking to amend is fundamentally defective. He has failed to identify any substantial or legally acceptable reason to support the objection.

There is no limitation of time to amend a notice of appeal, the objection by Innoson is not only frivolous but is vexatious and hereby dismissed”, she ruled.

Concluding her ruling, Justice Ogunwumiju noted that “this court had at an earlier adjourned date observed that it found it strange that Innoson, a judgment creditor will be employing all manner of tactics to delay the hearing of the substantive appeal entered in this court as far back as 2013”.

“I see no reason to refuse the appellant’s (GTBank) request to amend its notice of appeal”.

“Everyone in this judicial drama knows that the substantive appeal must be decided in this court and no matter how much time is wasted, the Supreme Court can only hear the substantive matter after it has been decided in this court”.

“Without any disrespect to whatever legal gymnastics being displayed by the 1st to 4th Respondents’ (Innoson) Counsel, these are the types of practices that give the administration of Justice a bad name considering that this case involves money and has been hanging in this court since 2013”.

“Considering all the reasons and circumstances set out above, I hold that it is in the interest of Justice that the appellants application be granted in terms of the following orders:

• Leave is granted to the Appellant (GTBank) to raise new issues in this appeal,

• Leave is granted to the Appellant (GTBank) to amend its notice of appeal in terms of the particulars and specifics highlighted in its supporting Affidavit

• The amended notice of appeal which has already been filed and served is properly filed and served

• Leave is granted the Appellant (GTBank) to amend its brief of argument to reflect the reliefs granted.

Delivering ruling yesterday, Justice Ogunwumiju held that, the court would be in serious error if it decides to wait and hear Innoson Motors preliminary objection.

“There is no doubt that the application for amendment of the notice of appeal will, if successful, give the appeal a chance of being considered and disposed-off on the merit rather than on technicalities. It is implicit in the constitutional rights of fair hearing that parties in a case be accorded every reasonable opportunity of being heard, and that extends to the right to amend their processes and place before the court all the issues they may wish to canvass to enable the court reach a fair and just conclusion”.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu yesterday dismissed the preliminary objections brought before it by the Chairman of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Ltd.

Innoson arguing through his counsel, Prof. McCarthy Mbadugha had at the last hearing of the matter on June 14, 2018 raised objections to a motion brought before the court by GTBank seeking to amend its notice of appeal before the court.

Post Views: 1,505

news

Warri- Itakpe train derailment: Police parade suspects, CP Kwaimo, Says vandalism is an economic sabotage

Published

8 hours ago

November 8, 2025

NewsThumb Magz

Warri- Itakpe train derailment: Police parade arrested suspects … this act of vandalism is an economic sabotage – CP Kwaimo

…… Railway properties are critical national assets and not scraps, we are going to deploy technology for rail tracks monitoring – Opeifa

The Railway Command of the Nigeria Police Force today Friday 7th November 2025 at it’s headquarters in Ebute Metta, Lagos, paraded the two suspects arrested in connection with the derailment of the Warri Itakpe train service on Sunday 1st of November 2025.

Speaking to newsmen, the Commissioner of Police Nigeria Police Railway Command, CP Vungmoh S.M. Kwaimo, described the vandalism of train tracks as an act of economic sabotage which will be fought to a standstill. According to CP Kwaimo, the suspects, identified as Mudansuru Mutari (male, aged 27) and Blorie Kokori (aged 39), were apprehended around Kilometer 208 before Abraka, Delta State, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, by operatives of the NRC Police Command in collaboration with local security agents.

CP Kwaimo described the arrest as a breakthrough in the fight against train tracks vandalism in the Agbor Abraka axis. According to him, “We are going all out against the vandals because we have a responsibility to ensure safety of life and property in line with section 4 of the Police Act”.

According to the CP, preliminary investigations and their confessional statements revealed their direct involvement in tampering with vital components of the rail track. He said, “We will pursue this case to see that justice is served”. He also promised to go after the sponsors, some of whom have been identified in Lagos and Agbor.

The CP used the occasion to inform the public that the number of policemen attached to each coach in the operations of the Nigerian Railway is to be increased. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of police and the management team of the NRC for their support and zero tolerance for railway vandalism.

CP Vungmoh Kwaimo at the parade of the suspects was flanked by his officers and men which included DCP Yahaya Mana DC (CID), DCP Toyin O. Sulyman DC (OPS), ACP Ibrahim Audu AC (OPS), among others.

In a similar vein, the president general of the Nigerian Union of Railwaymen comrade Innocent Luka Ajiji who led members of his executive to the parade of the suspects, was full of praise for the new leadership of the Nigerian Railway police command under CP Kwaimo Vungmoh for their tireless efforts in the fight against rail tracks vandalism, just as he commended the management of NRC led by Dr Kayode Opeifa for the reinvigoration and turn around of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and railway men for their commitment to their duty even in the face of challenges and setbacks caused by train tracks vandalism.

Similarly, the managing director and chief executive officer of the NRC Dr Kayode Opeifa while speaking to newsmen in his office, called on states governments to show concern to take ownership of the railway tracks that passes through their states through the provision of infrastructures like motorable roads to the train stations.

Comrade Opeifa reiterated his warning that railway properties are critical national assets and not scraps, and warned vandals and their sponsors to stay away or face the full weight of the law. According to the NRC helmsman, “Railway properties are national assets, stay away, we are changing strategies to secure train tracks, We are deploying technology and the use of local communities to safe guard our train tracks”.

According to Dr Opeifa, “We are prosecuting many arrested vandals of train tracks and will not stop, unless they stay away from our national assets”.

Dr. Opeifa emphasized that the NRC under his leadership remains focused on President Bola Tinubu administration Renewed Hope Agenda and will not compromise in the provision of efficient service delivery and safety of it’s passengers whose comfort is non negotiable.

He identified funding as a major challenge in the operations of the NRC, but noted that the support of states governments remains critical, to enhancing quality and efficient service delivery to the people.

Comrade Opeifa said that the corporation was in talks with the Rural Electrification Agency to provide electricity to the stations and trains tracks to about 500 meters to the train stations. He also called on the members of the national assembly to consider the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in their constituency projects.

Speaking on the derailed Warri Itakpe train of the 1st of November 2025, Dr Opeifa stated that only two coaches were affected as a result of the removed bolts and clips. He highlighted that over 300 bolts and clips were removed within the axis which caused the derailment, but that the re-railment was concluded within 24 hours, but due to the need to carry out necessary and diligent safety checks, the resumption of train services had to be put on hold temporarily and that train service has resumed on the corridor.

Comrade Opeifa used the occasion of the press briefing to appreciate and commend the commuting public whose loyalty, according to him, “Strengthened our resolve to remain committed and undeterred by the derailment setbacks”.

Post Views: 128

news

BREAKING: Tinubu declares emergency on security training institutions

Published

4 days ago

November 4, 2025

NewsThumb Magz

Disturbed by the state of training institutions for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other internal security agencies, President Bola Tinubu has declared emergency on the facilities.

The emergency declaration was revealed by the chairman, National Economic Council (NEC) ad-hoc Committee on the overhaul of security training institutions in Nigeria and Enugu Governor, Peter Mbah, during an on-the-spot assessment of facilities in Lagos.

Mbah, who was accompanied on the visit by his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Secretary of the Committee and former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Usman Baba, as well as Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Special Protection Unit (SPU), Olatunji Disu, said they have a 30-day deadline to submit a comprehensive report to NEC for action.

He said the President gave the mandate at the last NEC which held on October 23, adding that he categorically told the council that the present state of the security training institutions did not align with his dream of growing the economy to one trillion dollar in the next five years, harping on the need for modernisation.

Post Views: 191

news

NDDC Prepares for Agric Summit, Meets Stakeholders, Says MD

Published

1 week ago

October 31, 2025

NewsThumb Magz

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is hosting a two-day strategic meeting with commissioners, permanent secretaries, and directors of agriculture, fisheries & livestock in the nine Niger Delta states.

The meeting, which kicks off on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, would be addressed by the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who is expected to outline his plans for a retreat and agricultural summit for the Niger Delta region in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s agrarian programme.

An invitation extended to the stakeholders by the NDDC Director of Agric and Fisheries, Dr Winifred Madume, stated that the Commission was determined to make the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government a reality in the Niger Delta region by ensuring food security for the people.

Recall that the NDDC Chief Executive Officer had earlier assured that the Commission would align with the President’s vision for agriculture, to ensure that agriculture served as a platform for peace and security in the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku promised: “Any time from now, the NDDC will convene a mini-agricultural retreat for state governments and commissioners of agriculture. States in the region have their various areas of strength in agriculture. We aim to establish regional agricultural integration, which will later evolve into a regional agricultural summit where a comprehensive master plan for the region’s agriculture will be developed.”

The Managing Director affirmed that the NDDC was engaging all stakeholders to ensure harmony and cooperation in developing the hitherto neglected Niger Delta region.

Reflecting on the Federal Government’s agricultural policies, Ogbuku stressed the need to bring them home to the Niger Delta region, noting that the NDDC would continue to promote policies and programmes that enhance food security and poverty reduction in the states .

Post Views: 231