The address given by the law firm
that approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for
registration of a new party, Legal World Chambers, belongs to another law firm
that was oblivious of the development.
that approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for
registration of a new party, Legal World Chambers, belongs to another law firm
that was oblivious of the development.
LEADERSHIP had yesterday exclusively published a bromide of a
letter purportedly addressed to INEC by Legal World Chambers and signed by a
lawyer, Barrister Nwokorie Samuel Chinedu, asking for the group to be
registered as African Peoples Congress (APC).
letter purportedly addressed to INEC by Legal World Chambers and signed by a
lawyer, Barrister Nwokorie Samuel Chinedu, asking for the group to be
registered as African Peoples Congress (APC).
In the said letter dated February 28, 2013, Chinedu
claimed that the APC or its promoters are its clients on “whose
instruction and authority” the said application letter was written.
claimed that the APC or its promoters are its clients on “whose
instruction and authority” the said application letter was written.
But LEADERSHIP investigation has revealed that the firm does not
operate from the address purportedly indicated on the headed letter paper.
operate from the address purportedly indicated on the headed letter paper.
A visit by LEADERSHIP correspondents to the address — Suite
1007, Block B, Anbeez Plaza in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja – turned dramatic as the
correspondents came face to face with a different law firm boldly written on
the entrance of the office — IJEOMA DESTINY CHAMBERS.
1007, Block B, Anbeez Plaza in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja – turned dramatic as the
correspondents came face to face with a different law firm boldly written on
the entrance of the office — IJEOMA DESTINY CHAMBERS.
Initially, the chambers’ secretary, a middle-aged woman, was
evasive before someone who identified himself as Barrister Anyabe Imabeni
eventually decided to talk. But when LEADERSHIP spoke to Imabeni, he claimed
that he was the only lawyer available at the time of the visit.
evasive before someone who identified himself as Barrister Anyabe Imabeni
eventually decided to talk. But when LEADERSHIP spoke to Imabeni, he claimed
that he was the only lawyer available at the time of the visit.
According to him, there are two law firms or chambers
co-habitating the same office, namely, Maji-Emmanuel & Co and Ijeoma
Destiny Chambers.
co-habitating the same office, namely, Maji-Emmanuel & Co and Ijeoma
Destiny Chambers.
But Imabeni said he could only speak for Maji-Emmanuel & Co
despite the fact that both firms share the same secretary.
despite the fact that both firms share the same secretary.
Disowning the existence of Legal World Chambers, Imabeni said,
“We don’t know about it, we are not a party to it, we are not privy to it and I
am not aware that the counsel you have mentioned is in any of our offices here
and perhaps if any such arrangement existed, I know for sure that I would know
but you cannot rule out any possibility, as I am speaking for only
Maji-Emmanuel & Co”.
“We don’t know about it, we are not a party to it, we are not privy to it and I
am not aware that the counsel you have mentioned is in any of our offices here
and perhaps if any such arrangement existed, I know for sure that I would know
but you cannot rule out any possibility, as I am speaking for only
Maji-Emmanuel & Co”.
When LEADERSHIP sought to know why Imabeni’s views couldn’t
apply to the sister firm – Ijeoma Destiny Chambers – he emphatically maintained
that he could only speak for Maji-Emmanuel & Co. Attempts to contact the
principal partner or any other lawyer in Ijeoma Destiny Chambers proved
abortive as they were said to have gone out and no one was in a position to
speak for them or give out their phone numbers.
apply to the sister firm – Ijeoma Destiny Chambers – he emphatically maintained
that he could only speak for Maji-Emmanuel & Co. Attempts to contact the
principal partner or any other lawyer in Ijeoma Destiny Chambers proved
abortive as they were said to have gone out and no one was in a position to
speak for them or give out their phone numbers.
LEADERSHIP’s conversation with Chinedu on the phone numbers
indicated on the headed letter paper turned more dramatic. The following
conversation ensued on MTN line number 08164257977 indicated on the letter
paper of Legal World Chambers :
indicated on the headed letter paper turned more dramatic. The following
conversation ensued on MTN line number 08164257977 indicated on the letter
paper of Legal World Chambers :
LEADERSHIP: Good afternoon, sir, am I speaking with
Barrister Nwokorie Samuel Chinedu of Legal World Chambers?
Barrister Nwokorie Samuel Chinedu of Legal World Chambers?
Chinedu: Who are you?
LEADERSHIP: I am calling from LEADERSHIP
Newspapers.
Newspapers.
Chinedu: Okay, call me back later.
About 30 minutes later, another call was placed to Chinedu on
the same
the same
number and the following conversation ensued:
LEADERSHIP:
I called you earlier from LEADERSHIP Newspapers.
I called you earlier from LEADERSHIP Newspapers.
Chinedu: Yeah, who did you say you want to
speak with?
speak with?
LEADERSHIP: Barrister Nwokorie Samuel Chinedu,
lawyer to African Peoples Congress.
lawyer to African Peoples Congress.
Chinedu: My friend, this is a wrong number,
you are talking to the wrong person (cuts off the conversation).
you are talking to the wrong person (cuts off the conversation).
Further calls to his second line (08053957522) were not
answered.
answered.
NBA to
investigate identity of lawyer
investigate identity of lawyer
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has said it is
embarrassed by media reports that one Barrister Nwokorie Samuel Chinedu has a
different address apart from the one in a letter purportedly written to the
INEC chairman seeking registration of African Peoples Congress (APC).
embarrassed by media reports that one Barrister Nwokorie Samuel Chinedu has a
different address apart from the one in a letter purportedly written to the
INEC chairman seeking registration of African Peoples Congress (APC).
The lawyers’ association became worried that the said address on
Chinedu’s ed letter paper in which he addressed the letter to INEC was nowhere
to be found in Abuja.
Chinedu’s ed letter paper in which he addressed the letter to INEC was nowhere
to be found in Abuja.
When LEADERSHIP contacted the national secretary of the NBA, Mr.
Emeka Obegolu, he stated that the association would probe the matter. He also
demanded a formal letter so that the matter could be taken up at secretariat
level for investigation.
Emeka Obegolu, he stated that the association would probe the matter. He also
demanded a formal letter so that the matter could be taken up at secretariat
level for investigation.
Similarly, the NBA chairman of the Abuja branch told LEADERSHIP
in an interview to do a formal letter so that it could be circulated to two
other branches of the lawyers’ body in Gwagwalada and Bwari in order to
investigate the matter.
in an interview to do a formal letter so that it could be circulated to two
other branches of the lawyers’ body in Gwagwalada and Bwari in order to
investigate the matter.
INEC Lied
On African Peoples Congress’ Application – ACN
On African Peoples Congress’ Application – ACN
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused INEC of
engaging in bare-faced lies and manipulation of facts by claiming that the
phantom African Peoples Congress (APC) has applied to the commission for
registration.
engaging in bare-faced lies and manipulation of facts by claiming that the
phantom African Peoples Congress (APC) has applied to the commission for
registration.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its national
publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the INEC’s claim as
articulated by the spokesman for INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, is not
supported by the relevant sections of the Electoral Act regulating the
registration of a political party.
publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the INEC’s claim as
articulated by the spokesman for INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, is not
supported by the relevant sections of the Electoral Act regulating the
registration of a political party.
It said the truth of the matter is that no party today with the
acronym APC has applied to INEC to be registered, adding that even the phantom
African Peoples Congress – which is being sponsored by the PDP to lay claim to
the acronym – has only written a letter of intent which has not even been
discussed by INEC, talk more of the commission taking any decision on it.
acronym APC has applied to INEC to be registered, adding that even the phantom
African Peoples Congress – which is being sponsored by the PDP to lay claim to
the acronym – has only written a letter of intent which has not even been
discussed by INEC, talk more of the commission taking any decision on it.
‘’The statement credited to Mr. Idowu is therefore reckless and
provocative and clearly betrays INEC as truly having merged with thePDP to
frustrate the merger of the progressives under the banner of the All
Progressive Congress (APC). One wonders who the spokesman is speaking for and
what interest he represents. He should therefore be called to order before he
sets the country ablaze,’’ ACN said.
provocative and clearly betrays INEC as truly having merged with thePDP to
frustrate the merger of the progressives under the banner of the All
Progressive Congress (APC). One wonders who the spokesman is speaking for and
what interest he represents. He should therefore be called to order before he
sets the country ablaze,’’ ACN said.
The party said in order to debunk INEC’s claim that the phantom
African Peoples Congress has applied for registration, it is calling the
attention of all the good people of Nigeria to the sections of the Electoral
Act that are relevant to party registration:
African Peoples Congress has applied for registration, it is calling the
attention of all the good people of Nigeria to the sections of the Electoral
Act that are relevant to party registration:
– Part V: Political Parties of the Electoral Act, Section 78 (1)
says:”A political association that complies with the provision of the
Constitution and this Act for the purposes of registration shall be registered
as a political party, provided that such application shall be duly submitted to
the Commission not later than 6 months before a general election.”
says:”A political association that complies with the provision of the
Constitution and this Act for the purposes of registration shall be registered
as a political party, provided that such application shall be duly submitted to
the Commission not later than 6 months before a general election.”
– Section 78 (2) says: “The Commission shall on receipt of the
documents in fulfilment of the conditions stipulated by the Constitution
immediately issue the applicant with a letter of acknowledgement stating that
all necessary documents have been submitted to the Commission”’
documents in fulfilment of the conditions stipulated by the Constitution
immediately issue the applicant with a letter of acknowledgement stating that
all necessary documents have been submitted to the Commission”’
ACN said: ‘’In this case the applicants on behalf of the phantom
African Peoples Congress, the clients of Legal World Chambers, have not
submitted any of the documents stipulated by the Constitution to the
Commission. They have only written a letter of intent and therefore INEC could
not have issued them any letter of acknowledgment, not to talk of starting the
process of verifying the documents.
African Peoples Congress, the clients of Legal World Chambers, have not
submitted any of the documents stipulated by the Constitution to the
Commission. They have only written a letter of intent and therefore INEC could
not have issued them any letter of acknowledgment, not to talk of starting the
process of verifying the documents.
‘’At this point they cannot even be regarded as applicants. Why
then did INEC through its spokesperson gleefully go to the media to proclaim
that another political association has applied to be registered as African
Peoples Congress using the same acronym APC?
then did INEC through its spokesperson gleefully go to the media to proclaim
that another political association has applied to be registered as African
Peoples Congress using the same acronym APC?
“Clearly INEC is on a mission of mischief and its paymaster is
PDP who has been having sleepless nights since the merger arrangement was
announced.’’
PDP who has been having sleepless nights since the merger arrangement was
announced.’’
The party further called attention to Section 78 (6) of the
Electoral Act, which says: “An application for registration as a political
party shall not be processed unless there is evidence of payment of
administrative fee as may be fixed from time to time by the Commission”
Electoral Act, which says: “An application for registration as a political
party shall not be processed unless there is evidence of payment of
administrative fee as may be fixed from time to time by the Commission”
ACN said it is aware that the applicants in question have not
even paid any administrative fees and therefore INEC could not have commenced
processing their application, because there is no application before INEC as
they have only written a letter of intent.
even paid any administrative fees and therefore INEC could not have commenced
processing their application, because there is no application before INEC as
they have only written a letter of intent.
It said what has emerged over the registration issue is that
INEC is in cahoots with the PDP to stampede the merging parties to commit
errors and also intimidate them to drop the acronym APC, adding however: ‘’This
has failed because as of today in accordance with the provisions of S. 78 (2)
and S. 78 (6) of the Electoral Act as explained above, there is no applicant on
record for the acronym APC,contrary to the deceit being spread by the INEC
spokesman.
INEC is in cahoots with the PDP to stampede the merging parties to commit
errors and also intimidate them to drop the acronym APC, adding however: ‘’This
has failed because as of today in accordance with the provisions of S. 78 (2)
and S. 78 (6) of the Electoral Act as explained above, there is no applicant on
record for the acronym APC,contrary to the deceit being spread by the INEC
spokesman.
Source: Leadership
