THE LEGISLATURE

DELTA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

P.M.B. 5028 

ASABA, DELTA STATE.

PRESS RELEASE

A bill for a law to establish the Delta Multi - Door Courthouse yesterday 03/12/08 scaled the second reading at the sitting of Delta State House of Assembly.

The bill when passed into law will enhance access to justice by providing alternative and non adversarial mechanisms to supplement litigation in the resolution of disputes.

It will also amongst others minimize citizen frustration and delays in Justice Delivery. The bill which is sponsored by Hon (Mrs) Irene Imilar, member representing Warri North State Constituency earlier passed first reading at the House on 8th July, 2008.

Presently committed to the House Committee on Peace and Security, Legal and Judicial matter, it has the following provisions.

Officials at the highest echelon in SPDC West Warri,narrowly escaped the hammer of Delta State House of assembly when the lawmakers, Wednesd.ay 29/10/08, rescinded their deeision to issue them an arrest warrant.

The House mellowed down on what would have been their eventual decision when the Speaker, Rt. Hon (Barr) Martin Okonta advised that the matter at hand, which was dragging to a raging point, be stepped down.

The scenario that drew the ire of the Assembly men arose when the chairman of the House Committee on Environmelt, Oil and Gas, Hon (Mrs.) Omawumi Udoh presented a report on the Oil spilage at River Ethiope around Ugbomaya in Jesse, Oghara and Oghareke in Ethhpe West Local Governmnent Area.

In the five page report:, Hon Udoh pointed out that during their investigation on the spill, the committe discovered that the extent was devastating and destructive to both the people of the area and the aquatic life of the river.

She said, as a result, the committee discovered that the only source of drinking water for the people has been polluted and contaminated thus affecting their livehood.

Hon. Udoh noted in the report that they discovered during their investigation that SPDC, owners of the pipelines that caused the spill, has so far not sent relief materials to the affected communities to ameliorate their suffering.

She contended that all efforts by the committee to bring SPDC officials to the round table to dialogue with the other stakeholders on the matter proved fruitless as they (SPDC) refused to honour written invitations for meetings.

The Committee, therefore in the report, recommended that the House invoke section 129(1) (d) of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria and compel SPDC to appear before it so that the investigations can be concluded.

It was this part of the report that ignited the fury of the lawmakers. Those who spoke had condemned the continued nonchalllance displayed by SPDC whenever the House has reason to invite them over their oil exploration and exploitation activities in the state.

However, section 129 (1) (d) referred to by the committee stipulates that the House of Assembly has powers to issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who refuses or neglects to appear before it.

In another development, the House on the same day, dismissed the petition of four persons former:y staff of SUBEB in Okpe Local Govemment Area who were complaining of wrongful retirement, for lack of merit.

The affected persons, namely Messrs J. A Ogbe, J. O. Orhosere, E.O. Eboh and Mrs. C. O. Egueke were instead advised to pursue their paper for compulsory retirement with immediate effect.

The decision of the House came in form of the adoption of the report of its committee on pubic petitions which looked into the petition that came to the House on June 11, 2008 through the Majority Leader and member representing Ethiope East, Hon. (Barr) Akpodiogaga S. Emeyese.

The chairman of the Public Petitions Committee, Hon (Engr) Franc Enekorogha had in the 15 page report observed that the petitioners who were retired on the basis of age were unable to convince the committee to believe the claims of their new age status.

He said apart from being unable to produce any more proof to buttress their claims, the inconsistencies in their affidavits made matters worse for them.

Hon. Enekorogha in the report cited the examples of one of the petitioners ­Mr. Ogbe, who had a signature in one of his affidavits which he claimed was his father's where2.s in another affidavit submitted by the Education Secretary, there isanother signature which he is also claiming to be Mr Ogbe's .

Meanwhile, before the motion for the adoption of the report was passed unanimously, Hon. Emeyese had put in a spirited effort in his argument against the recommendations of the report.

He said he disagreed with the recommenda1 ions contained in the report because they contravened the law regarding Conc1m ion to be reached in cases of Evidence.

Hon. Emeyese said the report was inconsisten: with the position of the law because "where affidavits are contradictory, Oral evidence is more reliable. He said though the committee had done a good job, he disagreed with the procedure used, which he said was not "right"

Hon, Emeyese who is sometimes referred to as "amiable raajority leader by his colleagues and people's SAN by his admirers said he was speaking again the report because in democracy, the majority could have thej.r way but the minoritywould have they say.

The House after a full day's deliberation adjourned sitting to Tuesday November 4, 2008 but not before taking the first reading of a new Bill the Traffic management Authority Law 2008.

The bill was presented by the chief whip of the house, Hon Tima Kome Owhefere (KSM).

Two Ijaw communities, Obetebe and Gbeket or recently ravaged by flood may soon receive respite due to the intervention of Delta State House of Assembly through the adoption of a recent motion.

At its sitting of Tuesday 28th October 2008, the lawmakers adopted a motion calling on His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Governor of the State, to direct the commissioner for special duties and the St lte Emergency Relief Agency to send relief materials to Obotebe and Gbekebor Communities in Burutu Local Government Area, whose property were massively de stroyed due to high Hooding.

The Lawmaker repre5enting Burutu I Hon (Engr) Franc Enekorogha who originated the motion, told his colleagues that the two communities have suffered from massive fooding, the type that is unprecedented in the history of that area.

He said that during his recent visit to the area he was shocked at what the flood had done to the entire community.

He there fore called on his colleagues to urge t he Governor of Delta state to direct relevant government agencies to send reli;~f materials to, the affected communities.

The motion, adopted unanimously was seconded by the Deputy Speaker Hon (Barr) Basil Ganagana, member representing Patani State Constituency in the House.

Lawmakers in the Delta State House of Assembly have said they would not Join issues with Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Delta State University who was credited in a recent newspaper publication. (Vanguard 20/10/08) to have accused the legislators intimidating lecturers of the State University.

Moving a motion under matters of urgent Publication importance that culminated in the resolution, Hon Sam Obi, member representing Ika North East called on his colleagues to invite Prof. Mouoboghare to appear before the House to answer questions on his allegation. This was at the plenary session. of Tuesday 21st October, 2008.

According to the motion, the Vice Chancellor and Dean of Law Faculty are also to appear before the House concerning the newspaper publication. In his argument in support of the motion, Hon. Sam Obi said he was taken aback and hurt by the publication which insinuated that lawmakers presently studying at the Oleh Campus of the University were intimidating lecturers. He said as a law student in the oleh Campus, he felt hurt as he was oblivious of the accusations.

Continuing, he said a further allegation by Prof. Muoboghare publication to the effect that the legislators were calling for the abrogation of the University's Post UME Examinations because their "concubine" were unable to pass the examination was totally baseless and false as what transpired on the floor of the House on the said day on Post UME examinations was national in outlook and not targeted at DELSU

Former deputy Speaker of the House and member representing Burutu II State Constituency, Hon. .Funkekeme Solomon in his opinion in support of the motion said Prof. Muoboghare should be called to authenticate the newspaper publication but the tide of opinion changed when the member representing Aniocha North, Hon. Victor Ochei said there was no need to honor Muoboghare with the invitation of the House.

Hon. Ochei said the ASUU Chairman has always been known for his unwarranted vituperations against the State legislature but appealed to his colleagues to ignore him as an inconsequential Deltan who does not understand the workings of the House.

Also speaking in the same vein former Speaker, Hon. (Engr.) France Enekorogha told his colleagues that about 80% of the total population of Deltans know just 20% of what the House does and so should take for granted the angry attacks of the author of the newspaper publication.

When the deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon (Barr) Basil Ganagana who presided at the day's session put the question to vote, it was clear that the lawmakers have changed their minds on dragging the ASUU Chairman before the house as the 'nays' won the day.

Also at the day's session, the House unanimously adopted a motion calling on the Governor of Delta State Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan to reactivate and reconstitute the Judicial Commission of inquiry set up in 2007 to look into the crises between Isselegu Community in Ndokwa West LGA and Ibabu in Ndokwa East and recommend solutions to end the crises in the area.

The motion also states that for ease of administration, the same commission should be directed to resolve the crisis in Obetim - Afor in Ndokwa East LGA. The motion which also came under matter of urgent public importance was moved by Hon. (Dr) Olisa Imegwu, member representing Ndokwa East and was seconded by Hon. Emeke Ukpe who represents Ndokwa West State Constituency.

The House later adjourned to Tuesday 28th October, 2008.

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