Okorocha splashes cash,land on outgoing CP, Taiwo Lakanu, as Pensioners storm court demand for their arrears

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Imo state Governor Rochas Okorocha, Monday rewarded the outgoing Commissioner of Police in the state, Taiwo Lakanu who is now an Assistant Inspector General of Police with cash gift, piece of land and award for his giant strides in while in service in the state.

But that attracted the pensioners in their hundreds yesterday who stormed the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Owerri, Imo State in a suit they filed against Governor Rochas Okorocha for authoring a document slashing their pension arrears and gratuities by 60 percent.
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) had dragged Imo State Governor; Imo Attorney General; Accountant General; Auditor General and Imo Head of Service to court for issuing a letter cum form directing pensioners to collect only 40 percent of their accumulated pension arrears

When the suit NCN/OW/144/2017 came up before Justice Olufunke Anuwe, State counsel who appeared for the defendants Mr Ostita Chukwuemeka appealed for more time to study and reply the summons.
In the originating summons filed by the Pensioners, they urged the court to void the letter issued to them to forfeit 60 percent of their accumulated pension arrears.
But lead counsel for the Owerri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Wisdom Durueke, who appeared for the retirees told the court that contrary to the claim of the defendants counsel, the processes were served on him on March 15th and not 23rd.
Durueke urged the court to proceed to hear the matter considering how urgent the demands of the senior citizens were.
However, the Judge, Justice A. Y Anuwe, ruled that the matter be adjourned to April 28, 2017, to enable all the parties to be properly served.
The Judge's ruling appeared not to have pleased the teeming pensioners who had trooped into the court premises, murmuring as the small number who went into the courtroom made their way out.
The NBA is handing the matter for the pensioners on pro bono basis.
Speaking with newsmen, the NBA, Owerri branch Chairman, Lawrence Nwakaeti, said no amount of delay strategy will deter them from assisting the harassed Pensioners to  ensure that the government obeys the rule of law as it concerned the senior citizens .
Chairman of the Pensioners, Chief Gideon Ezeji who addressed his colleagues in the court premises after the adjournment assured them that justice would be achieved.
Ezeji said "we will continue until this intimidation, illegality and lawlessness by the state is defeated. We will never be forced to forfeit 60 percent of our pensioners and gratuities. We thank the NBA for coming to our aid in a bid to say no to this executive recklessness".

Governor Okorocha and other Senior Government Officials had met to bid farewell to Mr. Lakanu who is on transfer to the Force Headquarters, at the Sam Mbakwe EXCO Chambers, and in attendance were the in-coming Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, the commander 34 FAB Obinze and all the heads of other security agencies in the state.

At the emotion laden event, Governor Okorocha said that the state and her people could not thank Mr. Lakanu enough because according to him, “he came to the state, he saw and he conquered” and the governor then lavished the out-going CP with gifts ranging from land to cash.

Governor Okorocha named a road at the back of the Police Headquarters, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu Road, gave him a choice land at Shell – Camp Owerri worth over N25million, gave him five million (N5m) for the fueling of his car, and asked him to name any part of the state he would like to live even after his retirement from the Police.

The governor also announced that Imo people would decorate Mr. Lakanu with Imo Merit Award, adding that honour should be given to whom honour is due, and that Mr. Lakanu had done well as Commissioner of Police in the state and any honour done to him should be seen as well deserved.

Governor Okorocha said“I want to thank you for the services you rendered to Imo State and her people. What made you outstanding is that your job comes first before money. Your success came because money never counted in your willingness to succeed. You have set a very high standard for the in-coming Commissioner of Police. Now Imo people will Judge Commissioners of Police from your standard. I hope and pray that the new CP will measure up”.


In his speech, Mr. Lakanu who is moving to Abuja to be incharge of operations, said, “Imo is my very best posting ever. The governor established a very good platform for the security operatives in Imo State to perform. He is so accessible and responds quickly to problems. The appreciative nature of the people of Imo State helped me to perform optimally. The presence of Imo Security Network equally helped, in providing man power and relevant information”.



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