Ondo guber: Sheriff-led PDP faction heads to Supreme Court

The states executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-west loyal to the Ali Modu Sherrif’s faction have filed an application at the Supreme Court to stop the newly constituted panel of the Court of Appeal from hearing appeals relating to the party’s nomination of candidate for the Ondo State governorship election.

They are also asking the Court of Appeal in Abuja to reverse the decision by its President, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to constitute a fresh panel to hear these appeals.

In a motion filed yesterday by members of state executives of the PDP in the six South-west states loyal to Ali Modu Sheriff and led by Biyi Poroye, the factional Chairman of the Ondo State PDP, they also asked the court to disband the new appeal court’s panel comprising Justices Ibrahim Salauwa, Ignatius Igwe Aguba, and George Mbaba.

They said the new panel was allegedly set up in breach of their right to fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36 of the constitution.

Poroye and others equally prayed the court to order the return of the case files relating to the appeals and the application for leave to appeal as an interested party (against the decision of the Federal High Court of October 14 2016 in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/395/2016) – filed by Eyitayo Jegede (factional PDP candidate of the state PDP “to the Registry of the Court of Appeal to take its normal course and turn in the docket of the court.”

The affected appeals are: CA/A/551/2016 filed by Ahmed Makarfi and Ben Obi against Poroye and 10 others and CA/A/551A/2016 filed by Clement Faboyede and another against 10 others; CA/A551B/2016 filed by the PDP against Poroye and 9 others and CA/A/551C/2016 filed by Jegede against Poroye and 10 others.

They argued that not only did the President of the Court of Appeal act without hearing from them, the case, being a pre-election matter, did not warrant any urgency to require the constitution of a special panel.

They added that those who filed the appeals against the June 29 and October 14, 2016 decisions of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, were not parties in the cases leading to the decisions.

The applicants also argued that no orders were made against any of them (those behind the new appeals) and that they (the applicants), who were plaintiffs in the suits, were not informed when the President of the Court of Appeal acted solely on the request by the appellants to constitute the panel on the grounds of urgency.

They have also filed a motion before the Supreme Court seeking a stay of all proceedings before the Court of Appeal in relation to the appeals pending the determination of the two appeals they filed on October 31, which have entered and given number: SC/914/2016 and SC/915/2016.

The motion filed by two members of the party, Benson Akingboye and Ehiozuwa Agbonayiwa, seeks a stay of all further proceedings and further hearing in CA/ABJ/402A/2016 filed on behalf of the PDP by a lawyer engaged by the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the party’s leadership.

They based the application on the ground that it was wrong to allow the Court of Appeal to proceed with the appeals when they have valid appeals before the Supreme Court, which challenged the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal.

Other grounds raised by them are: “As the first and second respondents in the lower court, they (Akingboye and Agbonayiwa) challenged by way of preliminary objection the validity of the appeal which originated the appeal at the court below.

The appeal at the Supreme Court, filed on October 31, 2016, by Akingboye and Agbonayiwa, is against the October 29, 2016, decision by the former panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Jumai Sankey in which it ordered accelerated hearing in the appeals.

No date is set for hearing of the appeal filed for the appellant by B.E.I. Nwofor (SAN) yet.
Meanwhile, counsel to Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), has withdrawn his representation for the candidate.Izinyon was representing Ibrahim as respondent at the Court of Appeal in numerous appeals challenging the judgment of a Federal High Court which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Jegede with Ibrahim as the PDP’s candidate.

In a letter addressed to Ibrahim, Iziyon said he was withdrawing based on an allegation made against him by Justice Jummai Sankey, that he must have had fore knowledge of the petition written against the justices of the Appeal Court.

Excerpts from the letter read: “You will recall my position was indicated by the presiding justice as having the foreknowledge of the petition written by the first respondent, despite my protest and innocence. It is in this regard that I hereby withdraw from further appearance.

“This is to enable you brief another lawyer who shall take over the file. We will forward the file and the processes to your Personal Assistant forthwith.”

He noted that further arrangements had been made by his team of lawyers to reach the terms of agreement as contained in the contract involving Ibrahim and himself.

Justice Sankey and other members of the panel hearing the appeals were forced to disqualify themselves following a petition written by a factional chairman of the party in Ondo State, Biyi Poroye, who is said to be loyal to Ibrahim.

Poroye had alleged that the justices collected bribes from the governor of Ondo State, Segun Mimiko. The justices denied

Iziyon had also denied knowing about the petition when he was confronted by the court.

Jegede and other members of the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party were dissatisfied with the decision of INEC to replace Jegede with Ibrahim.

They are hoping that the Court of Appeal will rule in their favour.

However, the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party has said it has said demonstrated high respect and reverence for the judiciary both while in office and now that it is out office.

The party in a statement signed by its spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said that it was completely dissociating itself from the petition written by the factional chairman of the Ondo State chapter of the PDP, Mr. Biyi Poroye, against the Justice Jummai Sankey-led Appeal Panel set up to determine appeals against the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court.

“We find the petition to be distasteful, offensive, indecent and completely out of keeping with the principles, ideology and ethos of our party to make such unsubstantiated allegations against members of an institution as important as the judiciary.

“Over the course of our 16 years in power and in our almost two years out of power, our party, the PDP has demonstrated respect and reverence for the judiciary. In this time, we have ensured that we never besmirched the integrity and reputation of the judiciary through the mud, even when we were not comfortable with the judgments and pronouncements that were given.

“It is important to stress that neither the Writer of the petition nor his sponsors are members of our party. They are a group of people with powerful backers within and outside government who are determined to bend all institutions of democracy to suit their whims; and while failing, they are willing to resort to destructive tactics against such institutions. Even our party is a victim of their destructive tendencies. All their attempt is to pervert justice and stop the will of justice from rolling on.

“As a responsible political party, we reaffirm our faith in the Judiciary as the last hope of the common man. We have faith that there are men and women of integrity in the judiciary who ensure that justice is not only done, but that it is seen to be done.

“We use this opportunity to encourage the judiciary to weather this storm of blackmail, harassment and intimidation currently being heralded by evil men in the country,” he said

How Metuh disbursed N400m for media project – witness

The seventh prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has explained how the N400 million transferred to the latter was allegedly expended.

Mr. Richard Ihediwa told the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, that out of the amount said to have been given to Metuh, N21 million was spent to acquire media intervention centre, where journalistic and advocacy works were carried out.

According to him, the money was paid through the account of Chief Tony Anenih, and that though the property located in Asokoro area of Abuja did not belong to the latter, he, however, assisted the team in securing it.

“The amount covered the cost of hiring the structure, pool vehicles as well as security gadgets at the centre.”
The witness said members of staff of the centre were converted to work for the team.

The witness, led in evidence by the counsel to the first defendant, Chief Emeka Etiaba (SAN), also told Justice Okon Abang’s court that there were groups co-ordinated by government functionaries, including the late Oronto Douglas and Malam Abbah Dabo, for the same advocacy.

While he was not very certain about how much money was released to the late Douglas, he said the sum of N25 million was however given to Dabo in line with alleged dNarrating the circumstances leading to the alleged transfer of the said N400 million to Metuh, Ihediwa said, among others: “When it came to the turn of our team to make presentation before the former President and other top government functionaries in a meeting conveyed by him, the lead consultant, Yomi Badejo, was called upon and he reviewed the issues raised by the former President regarding the worries of the government over tension in the polity across the country.

“At that time, there was tension in the six geo-political zones of the country. In the South-South, there was problem of agitations for resource control and militancy issues.

“In the South-East, there were issues of kidnapping, and a section of the citizenry was also agitating for self-determination.

“In the South-West, there was an issue of demand for the implementation of the National conference reports. Some leaders from the region were already agitating for self-determination for the region.

“In the North, there was problem of insurgency in the North-East and that of religious crises in other parts of the region. On the whole, the stability of the nation was at stake. There were also perceptions in some sections of the country that the problem was because of certain things the government did or did not do at that time.

“So, the lead consultant reviewed these issues and went ahead to state the strategies the team was presenting as solution. It was an elaborate presentation.

“It showed that intervention in terms of advocacy and assuring the citizens on the fact that government was doing a lot to protect lives and property was urgently needed.”

According to him, at the end of the presentation, those at the meeting reached a consensus that Metuh’s team was in the best position to handle the intervention.

The trial was adjourned till November 15 and 16 irectives of former President Goodluck Jonathan as mobilisation for advocacy groups they co-ordinated.                  

INEC affirms readiness for Rivers elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had always been ready to conclude the suspended re-run parliamentary elections in Rivers, but subject to conducive environment for the exercise.

Mr Nick Dazang, Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity in the commission, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Dazang spoke in reaction to the Dec. 10 deadline given to the commission that the National Assembly on Wednesday to conduct the outstanding polls in Rivers.

The Senate had threatened to suspend plenary if INEC failed to meet the deadline.

Dazang said that it was unfortunate that in spite of the commission’s readiness for the elections, some stakeholders in the state were uncooperative, not helping to create peaceful environment needed for conduct of the exercise.

He said that as a sign of good faith, INEC had engaged stakeholders in several meetings in Abuja and in the state on the issue.

“In fact, at a point we articulated a road map of activities that would climax with the National and State Assembly elections in the state.

“Sadly, on the eve of the proposed schedule for the conduct of the elections in that state, our office in one of the local government areas of the state was razed down.

“In spite of this, we have remained resolute in our determination and have continued to engage with stakeholders.                                                                                                                                    “Our determination is further underscored by the fact that recently, the commission directed all relevant departments to submit their inputs for the Rivers National and the Rivers National and State Assembly elections,” he said.

The deputy director said that the commission’s initial plan was to conclude all suspended elections before the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo state in September and November, respectively.

“This was however truncated by the spate of violence particularly in Rivers and the inflammatory rhetoric of some stakeholders,” he said.

He, however, assured that with the ultimatum by the lawmakers, INEC would meet with the stakeholders to review the situation and agree on a date.

NAN recalls that the re-run elections in the state ordered by the judiciary and scheduled for March 19, 2016 was cancelled in parts of the state due to high level of violence that characterised the exercise.

The commission fixed July 31 to conclude the elections, but was again forced to postpone the exercise following reports of violence ahead of the polls.

It, therefore, resolved that it would return to the state to conclude the elections only when the state government and all stakeholders in the state gave undertaking of adequate security during the period the exercise would be conducted.

Dazing told NAN that neither the Rivers Government nor the stakeholders had given the undertaking. 

No going back on February LG election in Oyo – OYSIEC

Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has declared that it would conduct elections in all the existing 33 local government councils and the newly created 35 local council development authority (LCDAs) in the state on February 11, 2017.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Jide Ajeigbe, during a familiarization visit to the Headquarters, 2 Division of the Nigeria Army, Odogbo, Ibadan and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command.

According to the release signed by the Media OffHe however, canvassed for the support of the security agencies in maintaining law and order as well as peace which has been existing in the state, stressing that although, election is a civic responsibility but it is also entails security issue.

In their separate remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) headquarters, 2 Division of the Nigeria Army, Major General Kasumu Abudulkarim, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Commandant John Adewole, pointed out that the commission had no other obligation than to conduct election.

They noted that it was essential to provide a conducive environment by abiding by the provisional guidelines of conducting local government polls.

While stressing the sensitivity attached to elections in the country, Major-General Abdulkarim enjoined the commission to take cognizance of the respondent (the Police) to maintain law and order.

The duo appreciated Governor Abiola Ajimobi for creating a peaceful environment in the state in the last 5years, adding “anybody that says peace is expensive, let him try crisis.”icer of the commission, the Chairman said the body would embark on the familiarization visits to all the security agencies in the state to ensure adequate security before, during and after the conduct of the election.

Ajeigbe noted that for the commission to achieve free and fair election, it is imperative to beef up security for the lives and properties of all and sundry and consequently restated the commitment and preparedness of the Commission in conducting a transparent election              

Shiites besiege N‘Assembly, seek lawmakers’ intervention over Zakzaky

Shiites in the country, under the aegis of Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (AFIMN) yesterday staged a protest at the National Assembly demanding the intervention of the legislature for the release of the Shiite leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, and his followers currently in detention.

AFMIN members, comprising largely students and academics, carried placards with inscriptions condemning the detention of Zakzaky andothers who were arrested in December 2015 following a military crackdown on his house in Zaria, Kaduna state.

Leader of the group, Shuaibu Ahmad, said AFIMIN had earlier in the week submitted “a catalogue of documents on the Zaria massacre” to the leadership of the National Assembly, saying the protest was a follow-up to get feedback from the legislature.

However, security guards at the National Assembly gate ordered the group’s members to disperse, making the protesters to retreat to Shehu Shagari Way by the Federal Secretariat.

A detachment of mobile policemen, however, arrived at the scene as the group was addressing the press, firingIn a statement issued to press men, signed by the AFIMIN president, the group lamented what is called persecution of the Shiites despite their peaceful disposition. It added that IMN had existed in Nigeria “for nearly 40 years with no single record of crime.”

“Despite the gruesome human right violation, the brutal crackdown on innocent citizens, the arrest of Sheikh Zakzaky Ibraheem Zakzaky and hundreds of other brothers and sisters, destruction of properties, perpetrated by the Nigerian Army in Zaria under the watchful eyes of

the government, and the propaganda instituted by the Army and the government seeking to cover up their crime against humanity, the Islamic Movement still remain peaceful, shun away from violence and chooses to follow legal processes.”

It recalled that during the December 2015 event “many were burnt to death including a biological sister of Sheikh Zakzaky and his nephew. Three additional children of Sheikh were killed in cold blood. Worse still is that Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife were shot several times and incarcerated while the legal proceedings to gain his freedom are being frustrated by government.” several tear-gas canisters which brought the protest to an abrupt end.                                                                                                                                                            

JAMB unveils new payment plan for 2017 UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board says it will adopt “pin vending” for the 2017 UTME test, advising intending candidates to get familiar with the new approach.

Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board’s Head of Media and Information, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos that JAMB would no longer use scratch cards.

Benjamin said: “Candidates, wishing to sit for the 2017 examination, should start getting themselves familiar with the newly adopted process of pin vending by the board.

“We must make ourselves open to change like it is obtained in other climes.

“We are no longer going back to the use of scratch card; that method is outdated.

“Candidates wishing to register for the examination will just make online payment and get a pin with which they can upload their data.

“This new pin vending will be accessible through the options of web payment, ATM issued cards like Visa, Verve, and Master card, online Quick Teller, mobile application and Bank Branch case/card.”

Benjamin assured that the board was working hard to redress all challenges experienced by candidates during its 2016 UTME as it was preparing for the 2017 diet.

He said that all hands were on deck to ensure a hitch free conduct of the examination across the country.          He said: “Preparations are on to ensure that all the technical hitches that manifested in the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination do not arise again.

“That is not to say that the examination will be completely hitch-free.

“But we are deploying resources to correct the ones identified already.

“In the course of the examination, should there be any other new challenges, we will act promptly.”

The spokesman also said that the board would begin validation of UTME centres across the country soon.

He stated: “We shall be going round to the proposed centres to check the state of their facilities and also to ensure that such facilities could accommodate a minimum of 250 candidates.”

NAN reports that some candidates, who sat for the 2016 examination, complained of various technical hitches.

Such challenges ranged from incomplete upload of questions from servers to poor backup facilities in some centres among others.

NAN also recalls that the board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, recently announced the scrapping of the use of scratch card, describing it as outdated.

He said the board decided to do away with the method because of its consistent subjection to fraudulent practices.                                                                                                                                      

Clinton regains pre-FBI probe lead over Trump

Hillary Clinton is six percentage points ahead of her rival Donald Trump in the latest US election poll – regaining the lead she held before last week’s announcement of an FBI probe into the email scandal.

Many polls have shown Mrs Clinton’s lead over Republican rival Donald Trump getting smaller since the email controversy reappeared in headlines on Friday.

But the Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll released late on Wednesday showed her six percentage points ahead – the same advantage she held before FBI director James Comey’s controversial announcement.

Her advantage is even stronger given that a victory on 8 November depends on the Electoral College system.

To win, a candidate needs a majority of 270 votes and, with large states such as New York and California usually going to the Democrats, Mrs Clinton looks likely to get at least 226 votes.

She will also need to do well in swing states such as North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Arizona and Iowa.

Mr Trump, on the other hand, has a tougher ride to the White House.

He looks likely to win just 180 votes, leaving him relying even more heavily on those swing states.

Florida – or, more specifically, its 29 electoral votes – has been a major focus in the campaign and a RealClearPolitics average of polls there puts Mr Trump just 0.7% ahead .                           And it was Florida where Mr Trump was campaigning on Wednesday, projecting a confident exterior, telling supporters in Pensacola: “It’s feeling like it already, isn’t it?”

He added: “We’ve got to be nice and cool, nice and cool. Alright, stay on point, Donald, stay on point.

“No sidetracks, Donald, nice and easy.”

The financial world was not taking the possibility of a Trump win quite as calmly, however.

Mrs Clinton is favoured by financial markets, seen as a candidate who would maintain the status quo, inspiring stability.

But Mr Trump’s views on foreign policy, trade and immigration appear to prompt the uncertainty that puts investors on edge.

Stocks around the world fell on Wednesday, along with the US dollar and oil, while safe havens such as gold and currencies including the euro, yen and the Swiss franc gained strength.

The Dow, S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 0.93% were all down in Wednesday trading.

Chris Weston, chief market strategist at broker IG Research, said: “Despite all the thoughts about central bank policy changes, improving inflation trends and ever-changing economics, politics dominates markets above all else.”

Mr Trump was not deterred, however, and told his supporters in Florida that Mrs Clinton was “totally unhinged”.

Mrs Clinton, speaking at a rally in Las Vegas, said Mr Trump was “out of his depth”.

She added: “He doesn’t have a clue.” 

Abia CJ renovated official residence with N80m – Commissioner

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Abia State, Chief Umeh Kalu, has described as “erroneous” the claim by the state Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe, that she had no official residence in Umuahia.

Uzokwe had in her speech at the opening of a new legal year said that she had no official residence in Umuahia and that she was operating from her private residence in Aba.

She said that her official residence in Umuahia “is dilapidated and in a state of disrepair”.

Reacting to the comment at in Umuahia on Tuesday, Kalu expressed shock over the comment, saying that the chief judge’s official residence in Umuahia was undergoing renovation.

Kalu said: “She is the one doing the renovation and she is doing it at her pace.

“She appointed the contractor, brought the quantity surveyor who quantified the renovation work which came to N80 million and she was given the initial sum of N30 million to commence work.

“So, it is erroneous for her to claim that she has no official residence.”

Kalu said that the state government acceded to her request to renovate the building because previous acting chief justices before her did not live in the building, hence the dilapidation.          He said that before her present appointment, she headed the Aba Judicial Division and lived in her private residence, while the government still paid her monthly housing allowance.

Kalu further said: “It is a well known fact that all government officials, including judiciary staff of that category who live in their private residences, are always paid their housing allowance, irrespective of where they live so long as they are living outside government residence.

“Government has never defaulted in the payment of her housing allowance, while she is living or operating from her private residence, since she was appointed into office.”

He, therefore, expressed dissatisfaction with her comment, “when she is the one supervising the renovation”.

Kalu said that the state government had started the implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure with N40,000 minimum wage.

He said: “All the judges in the state have two official cars and we are at the verge of changing the cars for them to be at a par with their colleagues in other parts of the country.”

On the issue of financial autonomy for the judiciary, Kalu said: “As a lawyer, I want financial autonomy for the judicial arm of the government but it has to be when the state is financially stable.”

Desperate forces trying to bring me down – EFCC boss

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has raised the alarm over a plot by desperate forces to tarnish his image.

He further denied allegations that he was blackmailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointees or traditional rulers.

The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that unscrupulous elements operating on social media were painting an uncanny picture of desperation by Magu over his purported non-confirmation by the Senate as the substantive chair of the EFCC.

The commission said the mission to bring down Magu is being sponsored by forces that are not comfortable with his campaign to rescue the nation from the grip of corruption.

The statement added, “In the last week or so, the social media has been awash with fictitious reports, all painting an uncanny picture of desperation by Magu over his purported non-confirmation as substantive chair of the EFCC, and of stricture within the rank and file of the EFCC workforce leading to resignations.                                                                                             “One of such reports is the one making the rounds in several gossip blogs with the title, ‘How EFCC’s Magu and Sahara Reporters Peddle Lies to the Media’. The report which is a parody of disingenuous invention of falsehood is the handiwork of mischievous people hell-bent on causing disaffection between the Magu-led EFCC and the executive on the one hand, and the members of staff of the EFCC on the other.”

The anti-graft agency maintained that the EFCC boss does not bully anyone, and has not embarked on any mission aimed at blackmailing some highly placed personalities in the country such as emirs, President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointees or any other individual, lowly or highly placed in the society.

The statement added, “The allusion to bullying and victimization of EFCC staff is clearly designed to instigate the staff of the commission against its leadership as there is no truth in it. For the records, no ‘senior EFCC core official’ has resigned from the commission and insinuation of mass resignation at the commission is mere scaremongering.

“The same applies to the claim that a sensitive unit has been set up in the commission to ‘bug the phone line’ of some persons. This is mischief taken too far!.”

APC panel recommends Timi Frank’s expulsion

The Committee set up by the All Progressives Congress to consider a petition filed by Mr. Aniekan Akpabio against the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, has recommended for his expulsion from the party.

This recommendation was part of the five-member panel’s report submitted to the APC National Vice Chairman (South South), Hilliard Eta, at the party’s National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Thursday.

The Solomon Edoja-led committee which was set up by the party’s South South zonal National Vice Chairman in October, received testimony from the petitioner but could not hear from the respondent who refused to honour the panel’s invitations.

The panel’s recommendation partly read, “… Since the committee is not a Father Christmas, it has no choice than to rely on the prima facie evidence tendered by the petitioner.

“Consequent upon which, the committee now recommends as follows; that Timi Frank be suspended from the party forthwith in line with Article 21 D (f); the zonal executive committee should recommend to the NEC for the expulsion of Timi Frank from the party in line with Article 21 (D) (h) (ii) and (iii).”                                                                                                                              Eta, had while receiving the report, said he was disappointed that the respondent did not take advantage of several opportunities offered him to state his case.

He also said he was personally pained that he was receiving a report about an anti-party activity of a party member from his zone.

He said, “Our people (from the South South) are seen as very responsible and matured citizens of this country. It is not a thing of joy for me to do what I am doing today.

“Haven said so, without me having to go through the report, as our constitution demands, I will also present this report to the zonal executive committee of the party as provided for in our constitution.

“They will confirm, affirm or repudiate the work of this committee and transmit same to the highest decision making body of our party.”

According to him, in the politics of Nigeria, everybody knows the people of the South South are loyal to political parties which they chose to belong to.

He explained that as part of his duty to the party and in line with the party’s constitution, he will be presenting the committee’s report to the zonal executive committee which will hold an emergency meeting on Friday.