Assemblies of God: Paul Emeka’s move to “arrest” Supreme Court judgement suffers setback

A bid by former General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Nigeria, Rev. Paul Emeka to stop the execution of the Supreme Court judgement against him suffered a major set-back on Friday in an Enugu High Court as the presiding judge disqualified himself from entertaining the matter.

It could be re-called that in a unanimous judgement, the Apex Court had on February 24, 2017 affirmed Emeka’s sack as the General Superintendent of the Church.

The suit has Rev. Prof. Paul Emeka, Rev. Ofodile Ekenedilichukwu and Rev. Emeka Eze as plaintiffs. Joined as defendants are the Nigerian Police and the commissioner of police Enugu State.However, in a move to stop the execution of the judgement, he returned to a High Court, seeking among other things an injunction restraining the Nigeria Police from executing the Supreme Court judgement.

In the fresh case filed before Justice R.N. Onuorah, with suit No E/101/2017, Emeka is seeking among other things “as order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, either by themselves or their servants, agents, privies, assigns, subordinates or any person or persons, howsoever called from interfering in any way or manner howsoever with the claimants’ use of No R8 Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu, Enugu State, being the claimants’ official offices, business premises and in particular restraining the defendants from sealing up the aforesaid premises and from disturbing, preventing and or denying the claimants and their staff and students access to the said No R8 Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu, Enugu State to carry out their lawful duties and obligations as officers of the Assemblies of God, Nigeria pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

However, our correspondent, who was in court reports that shortly after the counsels for both parties announced their appearances, the Judge declined to hear the mater.

This is also as the legal team of the Assemblies of God Nigeria, led by Barr. Chika Ibekwe was in court with a motion to seek for joinder in the suit.

However, the motion was not heard, as the visibly furious Justice Onuorah expressed his anger over what he called undue pressure from the “high and the mighty” in the society over the suit.

He condemned a plot by some persons to exert undue influence on him in dispensing the matter, vowing that he would rather remain materially poor and spiritually wealthy than succumb to such gimmick.

Speaking to journalists after the court session, Ibekwe said the Church was not afraid of whatever tactics Emeka would employ in his failed bid to reclaim his former position.

“I understand that the judge has transferred the case file back to the Chief Judge. I don’t know the kind of pressure but he said he is under pressure.

“We are not yet party to that case but we applied to join.

“Paul Emeka has taken the Church to Supreme Court; now he has chosen to commence a fresh suit; we are not afraid of anything he wants to do as far as they are within the law.

“We don’t expect him to act outside the law but if he chooses to, we have total confidence on the police and security agencies to deal with him and put him in proper place”, he declared.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court judgement has already been executed few days ago.

Read More »

What Ndume will do for Senate to lift his suspension – Dino Melaye

Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, on Friday assured his counterpart from Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki will reduce his punishment should he tender an apology to the Upper Legislative Chambers.

The Senate had earlier in the week suspended Ndume for six months over his call for the probe of Saraki and Melaye, who were later cleared of any wrongdoing.

The Borno Senator had raised a point of order during a recent plenary session, stressing that the reputation of the senate was at stake based on allegations levelled against Saraki and Melaye

However, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges recommended Ndume’s suspension for failing to authenticate the allegations before calling for the probe of his colleagues.

The committee also cleared both Saraki and Melaye of any wrong doing.

But, Melaye while featuring on Channels Television programme, Politics Today, said the decision to suspend Ndume was that of the Senate and not his and Saraki.

According to Melaye, “Senator Ndume is an experienced legislator, having been in the house of representatives for two terms, and this being his second term in the senate.

“I didn’t prophecy that he would be suspended, or did Bukola Saraki, who was wrongly accused. We are not the ones who make up the senate. Ndume should understand the workings of the national assembly. The senate is made up of 109 members.

“So, the decision to suspend Ndume was not that of Saraki or myself, but the decision of the Nigerian senate after investigation by the relevant committees… We have a very responsible senate president, a very compassionate Nigerian who does not believe in witch-hunting.

“Already, there is a lot of pressure, and people are appealing to the person of Bukola Saraki, and I can say on good authority that if Saraki had presided over Ndume’s case, he may not have been suspended because the senate president is a compassionate character. So, if Ndume shows remorse, apologise to the senate, the Bukola Saraki that I know will persuade members to either reduce his punishment or forgive him.”

He also disagreed with those who said Ndume was not given fair hearing.

“The senate has the capacity to suspend any erring senator, but what we are saying here is very clear, due process was followed.

“Ali Ndume was given fair hearing. He appeared before the committee, he defended himself before the committee gave that recommendation, which was ratified by the entire senate”, he said.

PDP accuses Fayose

Read More »

Woman,60, slumps, dies in Sokoto

A 60-year-old woman on Friday slumped and died while walking along a street in Sokoto.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred at about 11:00 a.m. along Garba Duba road in Sokoto metropolis.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, El-Mustapha Sani, confirmed the incident.

” She was walking along the street when she suddenly slumped and people gathered at the sight.

”A police patrol team arrived at the scene and took the unidentified woman to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, where she was confirmed dead.

”Her remains have been deposited at the Mortuary of the same hospital for autopsy.

“We don’t know her identity, but we estimate her age to be about 60 years,” Sani said.

The police spokesman also said that the deceased had tribal marks which suggested that she might have hailed from Katsina State.

Read More »

My butt is God given i cant hide it –Nollywood Acress NKECHI BLESSING

Fast-rising Igbo actress Nkechi Blessing, with a striking physical quality, is presently the reigning queen in the Yoruba movie industry, with her recent movie, ‘Omoge Lekki’, where she gave top actor, Yinka Quadri, a lap dance. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, Nkechi discloses why she settled for the Yoruba movie industry and other interesting issues.

AS an Igbo babe, don’t you think you will do better in the English sector?

I settle for this particular industry, because they were the one that accepted and welcomed me into the movie world, as an Igbo girl. I am not being biased here, but before you can make it in the English sector, it will be a very hard task.

Are you saying the Yoruba sector accepts just any person?

No, what I am saying is that in the English sector, you will move from one location to another, and might not given get selected for any role. But in the Yoruba sector; they are ready to help you grow and push you out for people to see you talent. It goes beyond the physical look, but what you can deliver.

Did you try to push yourself in the English sector?

Yes, my first movie was an English movie, directed by Emem Isong in 2007. The movie had load of stars. But at that point, I was still struggling to become a star, and it was hard for me.

Are you saying you have reached the top of your career now?

No, but you cannot compare then to now that things are easy for me, and I am taking everything cool. When I did the English movie, I didn’t get the much recognition that I wanted then, so I switched.

But you said the movie was directed by Emem Isong, she could have been an avenue for you to rise?

Yes, that is true. But something happened back then; I lost the contact of the Production Manager who called me for the job, Emeka Duru. But I am trying to come back in track; which (saw) me star in some English movies recently. It is not like I am restricted to Yoruba movies; I do both, but more of Yoruba movies.

Which movie brought you to the limelight?

That is Omoge Lekki; it is one of the baddest movies reigning presently. It is written by my greatest mentor Mercy Aigbe-Gentry. She single-handedly brought the idea of that story that has made me a name to reckon with today.

The wayward lady you played in Omoge Lekki, is it somehow related to your person?

That is what I am trying to tell people, and that is the reason behind my new movie titled Churchgirl. When the trailer of Omoge Lekki was released and everyone saw the movie, it was believed that I must be a wayward girl, to have been able to play that role well.

But the story of the movie was to pass a message to every young person to always remember their background and always look back when they have finally made it in life. That is because you need to take care of the home, before impressing the street.

The ladies we have now spend money on material things to impress the society, copying the life style of the likes of kardarshians. Having their parents wasted away at home. The movie not about promoting girls who do runs, but a reminder for them to always look back and remember where they came from.

Does that mean that is the roles you have been getting?

Somehow, because when they saw the twerk part with Yinka Quadri that we used as promo, people have been seeing me in that aspect, and believe that is the part I can act well.

Are you saying your butt is a selling point for you?

People have been saying I have a big bumbum, but I don’t care. It is God given and I cannot hide it. People believe it is one of the things I am promoting, but I have been in the industry professionally since 2007; that is about 10years now.

So when the movie Omoge Lekki became a big shot, they were like ‘the new girl that just started.’ I have been in this game for long, trying to make a name for myself and I am happy it is happening. I can walk on the road now and people recgonise me for that movie, which is a good thing.

Has the role given you any negative feedback so far?

I am a positive person and do not see negativity as a barrier. My second mentor, Toyin Abraham, has made me to understand that whatever I do, I must be positive about it. So negativity is not factor to my career. Also being a humble person, it has also helped my career.

You mentioned giving back to Agege people, is that where you grew up?

I am planning something big for the people of Agege, because that is where the whole dream started from.

My mother has a very popular bar called Gberi City, in Agege, which was then one of the open places that has helped some top names today; I don’t want to mention names. But my mum’s bar gave the platform to those actors to showcase their talents.

I have always been popular back then, because I have been in the papers because of my mummy’s bar. It is just like going back to my hood and giving back to them. I am from Agege and I am not ashamed to say it.

Being the daughter of a bar owner, one would assume you to be very exposed

My mom has a bar, but she is too strict; she does not drink, but she is much disciplined. We do not have access to the bar and there was no room to misbehave. People know my name, because they call my mom, Iya Nkechi, but they cannot place my face with the name.

So how did you become an actor?

I don’t know if people go to learn acting, like some always say. But for me, it is in the blood. My mom knew from the start that I have always been one who loves to showcase myself. So I can only say I went to acquire more skills on being an actor and become one of the best on my delivery.

Acting is not about the fame, money; it is the passion. I am a showgirl anytime.

Your new movie, Churchgirl, are you taking it to the cinema?

No, it is going online. That is because having your movie online makes it have a wider coverage. Having a movie online has made me very popular in different countries that I have not even visited. So it is like preparing a platform for me, and you also get to be paid by YouTube, as the views keep increasing.

Which would you say is the most challenging role you have taken as an actor?

That will be the role of a cripple. I played the part from the start of the movie to the end. That was very challenging for me, because I did not stand up all through. But I am planning a very big project that will wow my fans. I don’t want to give out the details yet, until it is released; then I leave it for people to judge.

Read More »