Author: The Nation

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) on Monday, closed its case against the All Progressives Congress (APC) without calling any witness at the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petitioner, APC, is challenging INEC for declaring Abba Yusuf of the NNPP winner of the governorship election conducted on March 18.

Respondents in the petition are INEC, Yusuf and the NNPP.

At the resumed sitting, Counsel to NNPP, Mr Tijjani Yahaya, informed the tribunal that they will not present any winess, following careful review of evidence that has so far been laid by the witnesses through the petitioner.

“Also in view of evidence by the sole witness of the second respondent, there is no need for us to present any witness.

“My Lord, we humbly apply for the case to be closed,” Yahaya said.

Counsel to INEC, Emmanuel Osayomi, and Counsel to Yusuf, Eyitayo Fatigun SAN, did not object.

Counsel to the petitioner, Prof. Sam Erugo, also did not object.

NAN recalls that the petitioner closed its case with 32 witnesses before the tribunal, while INEC closed their case without presenting any witness.

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Yusuf also presented a lone witness during the hearing.

The three-man panel led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, commended all parties for their good conduct and cooperation during the trial.

She ordered all parties to file their written addresses on Aug. 15, adding that there will be no exention of time.

Akintan-Osadebay adjourned the matter until Aug. 21, for adoption of final written address.

The petitioner is also asking the tribunal to declare that NNPP has no candidate as Yusuf was not in their register of voters submitted to INEC at the time of the election.

(NAN) 

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has criticised Gov. Chukwuma Soludo- led administration in Anambra for allegedly shutting down the state-owned National Light newspaper.

The Chairman, NUJ Anambra Council, Dr Emeka Odogwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Enugu that the latest move by the government remained “an open ill-treatment“ of journalists by the Soludo administration.

He said the latest move also portrayed the state government as one without a human face.

“We frown at the reckless manner in which the National Light newspaper issue is being handled and we urge that the staff be absorbed in the Ministry of Information as anything to the contrary would boomerang.

“The NUJ cannot understand why Soludo’s government was busy employing other workers but cannot allow fewer than 100 workers at National Light newspaper be, even if he does not want to hire more workers or turn around the organisation.

“We are calling on journalists across Nigeria and the world to stand up against the injustice being meted to workers at National Light newspaper who have committed no offence,” he said.

Odogwu said that he reliably gathered that the purported letter closing down the newspaper had been handed to a top management official of the organization on July 20.

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Responding, Chief Paul Nwosu, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, said there was no directive shutting down the newspaper house.

“I am not aware of what he is saying. What you are saying is new to me.

“If government wants to shut down such an establishment, there will be an official public statement to that effect.

“As at the last Executive Council meeting of the state, we did not discuss any issue concerning the National Light newspaper,” Nwosu said.

(NAN)

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, says the 10th Assembly is ready to respond and urgently too, to the yearnings of Nigerians who brought them to the National Assembly.

Abbas said this at a stakeholders meeting on the 10th House of Reps Legislative Agenda in Abuja on Monday.

According to him, there is no better way to show that the 10th House of Reps is ready to respond and urgently too, to the yearnings of those who brought us to the People’s House to do the people’s business.

He said the lawmakers had resolved to regularly consult citizens in the discharge of the mandate, adding that the current assembly was “the people’s House for the people’s Mandate”.

Abbas said the House would not hesitate to consult with critical stakeholders in developing the agenda to elicit their own input and areas of expectations.

“We can never over-emphasise the fact that citizens’ engagement is the fulcrum of a representative democracy.

“It is only through such engagements that legislators will become truly, the representatives of the people. To do otherwise, will amount to a democracy without the people,” he said.

The speaker said the House paid priority attention to participatory budgeting process and delivery, law reform, electoral reform, women’s participation and inclusion in governance.

Others, according to him, include; improved socio-economic conditions, entrepreneurship, employment, health and education, infrastructure, citizens-focused diplomacy.

He added that the House would also target institutional capacity and citizens engagement constitutional amendment and restructuring, among others.

Also speaking, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, the leader of the House and Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda, said as the representatives of the people , they were bound to shape the trajectory of the country.

“We are entrusted with the enormous responsibility of shaping the trajectory of our country’s development through our representation of the 360 constituencies in the country.

“The Legislative Agenda is a culmination of tireless efforts, broad consultations, and dedicated research aimed at addressing the critical challenges facing our nation while seizing the abundant opportunities that lie ahead. “

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He said the 10th Assembly vision was to bequeath a prosperous and vibrant nation where every citizen could achieve his full potential.

According to him, we envision a Nigeria where the economy is robust and diversified, infrastructure is world-class, education is transformative, healthcare is accessible to all, and governance is transparent and accountable.

He said the vision transcended partisan lines, and it was the collective aspiration of every Nigerian, adding that the House vision was to work together, collaborate with other arms of government.

He said  that the current House would also engage with stakeholders to create an environment where all Nigerians could reach the highest points of their creative and productive abilities.

(NAN)

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo has announced the appointment of Mrs Olanike Adeyemo, a Professor at the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) designate.

The announcement is contained in a statement on Monday in Ibadan by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

Prof. Adeyemo, who served as the Head of the Oyo State COVID-19 Decontamination and Containment team of the Oyo State COVID-19 Task force, was born on July 17, 1970.

She bagged the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Master’s degree in Veterinary Public Health (MVPH) and Ph.D. Veterinary Public Health, in 1994, 1998 and 2005 respectively from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

She is a COMSTECH distinguished scholar and the pioneer deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships) at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan between 2017 and 2021.

She joined the services of the university in March 1999 as lecturer Grade II in the department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

She became lecturer 1 in 2002, senior lecturer/assistant professor in 2005 and reader/associate professor in 2008. In Oct. 2011, she became a full professor.

“From Aug. 2013 to July 2015, she was a Schlumberger Foundation-sponsored Visiting Scholar at the Center for Human and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Physiological sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.

“Between March 13, 2017 and March 12, 2021, Prof. Adeyemo served as the pioneer deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

^She is a 2013 Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeon, Nigeria and a Registered Veterinary Surgeon, a Fellow of many academies, such as the International Science Council (ISC).

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“The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation, the Nigerian Academy of Science, the African Academy of Sciences and the African Scientific Institute (ASI), USA.

“She is also a member of many learned societies, including Society of Toxicology (SOT), the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA)and the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON).

“She is a member, the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA) and the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSDW).

“Prof Adeyemo’s scholarship and leadership are around “One Health” trans-disciplinary research that cuts across traditional boundaries and paradigms to create novel conceptual, methodological, and translational innovation at the environment-livestock-wildlife-human interface with significant policy implication for Nigeria, the African Continent, and the rest of the world,” the statement read.

Adeyemo is an erudite scholar, she has many publications to her credit.

(NAN)