Staff, Litigants Groan As Flood Ravages Appeal Court In Abuja

For some staff and individuals, with cases pending at the CA,
Abuja division, it will take a while to overcome the effect of the
negative impact of the rainfall experienced in the city in the past
few days.

Unlike the case last year, where minor flooding was witnessed
around the court premises, the impact of the flood experienced
between Monday and Tuesday this week was massive.

Not only were vehicles submerged, offices were flooded with
files and documents impacted.

Most affected was the Abuja division, sitting on the lower end
of the sprawling structure, which also houses the Court of Appeal
headquarters.

“Some of our files were affected. We intend to work with lawyers
in cases affected, for replacement. We have never had it so bad,” a
senior official, who prayed not to be named, said.

Another, who sought to be identified with her first name,
Juliet, said her car was among the vehicles that were affected.

“We had to escape without our vehicles. We were only able to
recover our vehicle the next day, when the flood receded.

“My car is currently with the mechanics. They are battling to
fix it. The car was totally submerged in the flood.

“Beside the engine that is said to have been affected, all the
documents I had in the car were also affected,” she said.

A lawyer, Isaac Okechukwu said he was in court to ascertain the
condition of things upon being informed about the development.

“I heard that the court was flooded and some offices and case
files affected. I came to see if my cases were among those
affected,” Okechukwu said.

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President Buhari Appoints Yemi-Esan Acting Head of
Service

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr.
Mrs. Folashade Yemi-Esan as the Acting Head of the Civil Service of
the Federation with immediate effect.

Dr. Mrs. Yemi-Esan, who is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Petroleum Resources takes over from Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita,
who has been directed to proceed on an indefinite leave to allow
conclusion of the investigation being carried out by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission.

The President has also approved the extension of the tenure of
seven (7) retiring Permanent Secretaries for a period of one
calendar year with effect from 1st October, 2019 to ensure
stability in the Federal Civil Service and effective delivery on
the nine priority areas of the administration as well as the
mandates given to the new Ministers.

The affected Permanent Secretaries are:

i. Mrs. Georgina Ehuriah – Ministry of Interior
ii. Mrs. Ifeoma I. Anagbogu – Federal Ministry of Women Affairs
iii. Mrs. Grace Gekpe – Federal Ministry of Information &
Culture
iv. Dr. Umar M. Bello – Federal Ministry of Agriculture &
Rural
Development
v. Suleiman Mustapha Lawal – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
vi. Mrs. Comfort C. Ekaro – Federal Ministry of Water Resources
vii. Mr. Olusegun A. Adekunle – General Services Office (Office of
the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation)

Similarly, Mr. President has directed the Office of the Head of
the Civil Service of the Federation to commence the process for the
selection of new Permanent Secretaries to replace all retiring
Permanent Secretaries.

The decision of Government to extend the tenure of these
Permanent Secretaries is premised on the need to ensure that the
new Ministers are properly guided, briefed about their sectors and
to ensure that a solid foundation is laid for the delivery on the
Presidential Mandate which they jointly signed.

The Permanent Secretaries will also help the Ministers to manage
the process for the preparation of the 2020 Budget in line with the
commitment of Government to return to the January-December budget
circle and help develop various policies and programmes aimed at
lifting 100million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10
years.

The action of Mr. President is in exercise of the powers
conferred under Section 171 (2) d of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Willie Bassey
Director Information
Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation