The dispute between Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, and Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, is far from over as the governor has ordered the revocation of the certificate of occupancy of Novotel Hotel, Port Harcourt, one of the places where Amaechi lodges whenever he visits the state. A certificate of occupancy is a document issued by a government agency to certifying a building’s compliance with applicable codes and other laws. It also indicates if a building is in a suitable condition. Located at 3 Stadium road, Rumola, Port Harcourt, the facility is a 4-star hotel with 117 rooms. Wike described the hotel as a “den of electoral fraudsters”, saying his administration would not encourage insecurity and instability. Austin Tam-George, former commissioner of information in the state, had taken an exception to the act, saying it could be interpreted as a political move. “The revocation of the certificate of occupancy of Novotel Hotel in Port Harcourt over the weekend by Governor Nyesom Wike disappoints and saddens me,” he wrote. “If a business premises is suspected or established to be a crime scene, the police, acting on a court order, could move in to take control. “It is extraordinary for a state government to revoke the certificate of occupancy of a business, simply because opposition politicians lodged there. “Politicians in the state might think this is part of politics.” But Simeon Nwakaudu, spokesman of the governor, accused Tam-George of spreading falsehood. In a statement on Wednesday, the governor’s spokesman, said “Novotel is not above the law. Therefore, it must face the consequences of its illegal actions”. Nwakaudu said the facility was used to manipulate the non-elective local government congress of the All progressives Congress (APC), which held on Saturday. “Dr Tam-George is aware that Governor Wike never plays to gallery. He is always committed to the defence of Rivers people.  Tam-George is aware that Rotimi Amaechi and hundreds of security personnel used Novotel during the rerun elections,” Nwakaudu said in a statement. “On Saturday, 30th July, 2017, Novotel lived up to its notorious reputation as a den of electoral fraudsters.  Amaechi and his associates used the hotel to rig the APC local government congress. This ungodly action led to mass protests across Port Harcourt, which culminated in protests within the premises of Novotel. “It took the timely intervention of Governor Wike for the situation to be contained as the security personnel detailed to assist the minister of transportation rig his party’s non-elective congress almost opened fire on the protesters. “While Governor Wike continues to build the framework for investments in the state, he will continue to insist that all businesses operate in line with the tenets of the law.” TheCable called one of the telephone lines on the website of the hotel and a male voice from the other end said normal activities were ongoing. “We are still in business, normal activities are ongoing,” he said. Asked if he was sure, he said: “100 percent!” As of the time this report was filed, David Iyofor, spokesman of Amaechi, had not responded to inquiries by TheCable not TheNigerialawyer. Poor network hindered a telephone conversation but a text message was sent and he is yet to reply. TheCable]]>

______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

_______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation _______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion. Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. _______________________________________________________________________