NDDC Job: Don’t screen Lauretta Onochie, court orders lawmakers

The National Assembly has been stopped from screening Laurretta Onochie and Samuel Ogbuku for the chairman and managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission respectively. The order was granted by an Abuja Federal High Court with Justice J. K. Omotosho presiding. Itsekiri leaders of thought represented by Edward Ekpokpo , Victor Wood and Edward Omagbemi representing the Omadino Unity Forum are challenging the nominations of Ms. Onochie and Mr. Ogbuku on the grounds that it is the turn of the Itsekiri to occupy the positions, in writ of summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2294/2022. They are asking the court among other things to stop the National Assembly from screening and confirming the duo. The judge ordered that all actions on the matter be suspended pending the determination of the suit. The first to sixth defendants in the suit are President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; Mrs Lauretta Onochie and Chief Samuel Ogbuku. In November, President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Ms. Onochie as the Chairman of the Board of the NDDC. Woman injured at Asake’s London concert dies Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, one of the injured concert goers at Asake’s gig at Brixton 02 Academy has died. Two other women aged 21 and 23 remain in a critical condition, said the Metropolitan police.
According to BBC reports Ikumelo died Saturday after being caught in the crush on Thursday night. The gig was the last of three sell-out concerts by the rising Nigerian singer Asake. Everything was going on well till midway into the show when a large number of music fans tried to force their way in. The Show was cut short. Asake said he was “overwhelmed with grief” and “devastated” by her death. The artist said he had spoken with Ms Ikumelo’s family and asked people to “keep them in our prayers”. Academy Music Group, which owns and runs the venue, said in a statement: “All at O2 Academy Brixton and Academy Music Group are deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Rebecca Ikumelo. “We send our heartfelt condolences to Rebecca’s family and friends, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this devastating news at this extremely difficult time.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also wrote in a tweet he was “heartbroken” by the death. He said it was “vital that the investigation into what happened concludes as soon as possible” and added that City Hall was working with authorities “to ensure nothing like this happens again.”