Author: The Nation

Mr Hitler Nwala, a witness of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has told the Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC) that results on all the 110 BVAS machines he inspected were deleted.

Nwala, a subpoenaed witness, made the assertion on Thursday in Abuja while giving evidence as an expert witness for the petitioners in their petition challenging the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election.

The witness who was led in evidence by the petitioner’s lead counsel, Mr Chris Uche, SAN, said that the machines inspected were only those from the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).

He also told the court that he was a Digital Forensic Analyst and that he didn’t know at what point the results were deleted on machines.

Under cross-examination by counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, the witness said that he attached a standard device used for such an exercise to the machine to arrive at the conclusion.

When asked if he had the authority of the commission to attach an external device to the BVAS machine, the witness answered in the affirmative.

Read Also: INEC’s, Obi’s lawyers clash at tribunal

Mahmoud further asked the witness if he was aware that inspecting only 110 machines out of 3,163 that were deployed in the FCT amounted to only 3.4 per cent of the total number of BVAS deployed in the FCT and 0.06 per cent of BVAS deployed nationwide.

To this, the witness told the court that he only compiled the report and didn’t take out time to calculate the percentages.

The INEC counsel attempted to give a BVAS machine to the witness to check if it was deleted as he had said in his report.

The witness, however, said that it would be against the ethics of his profession to collect the BVAS machine in open court to check it.

“It is professionally wrong to access a device that will be used as evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction because it will temper with the evidence.

“We cannot access the device directly, what we do is to extract the evidence and take it for analysis.”

Moreover, the witness told the court that since all the devices had the same model and looked the same on the outside, he couldn’t tell if it was one of the ones he inspected by merely looking at it.

For his part, counsel to the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN told the witness that neither he nor any of his team members signed the six-volume forensic report.

The witness, however, insisted that he signed the report as well as the certificate of compliance.

On his part, counsel to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Wole Olanipekun, SAN confronted the witness with a portion of his report where he said that from his inspection of the machines, “nothing was intrinsically wrong with them”.

“Were you in Abuja on the day of the presidential election?

“If you were not in Abuja, how then can you know that there was nothing intrinsically wrong with the machines on the day of the election?”

The witness said that he was not in Abuja and so he couldn’t have known if something went wrong with the machines on the day of the election.

After the witness was discharged, the petitioners went further to tender Forms EC8A series from 20 local government areas of Ogun, 17 local government areas of Ondo, 27 local government areas of Jigawa, and 20 local government areas of Rivers.

The Chairman of the court, Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned the hearing of the petition until Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that going by the pre-hearing report; Atiku and the PDP are expected to close their case on Friday.

NAN reports that they had asked for three weeks to present their case which elapsed on Tuesday but because they had lost three days, one being the June 12 Democracy Day Public Holiday, the court extended their time by three days.

(NAN)

The newly appointed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar, on Thursday, assumed office as the 22nd air chief as Air Marshal Oladayo Amao bowed out of the service.

Until his appointment, the new CAS was the Chief of Standards and Evaluation at Air Force Headquarters.

In his maiden speech, Abubakar appreciated the Almighty God for the unique privilege to lead the Nigerian Air Force at this crucial time in the life of the nation.

He said his appointment came at a time that the expectations of Nigerians towards accelerated actualisation of peace and security was high.

Abubakar said NAF under his command would reinvigorate the fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry and a host of other challenges bedeviling the country.

He promised to sustain the cooperation and joint efforts that existed between the air force and sister services during the tenure of the outgoing service chiefs, adding that it was responsible for the successes achieved in the various theatres of operations.

“In conjunction with my colleagues, we will uphold these attributes in line with Mr President’s directive issued during the maiden National Security Council meeting.

“We shall also begin to make additional efforts and evolve measures and approaches that will continue to diminish our challenges and enhance the disposition of our various theatres of operations,” he said.

Read Also: Osinbajo, Air Chief charge church on national renaissance

The new CAS congratulated his predecessor for his achievements and distinguished career in the military and pledged to continue to build on his legacies, as well as do more to move NAF to higher heights.

He thanked the President and Commander in Chief, President Bola Tinubu, for the honour and privilege he gave him to serve as the air chief.

In his valedictory speech, the outgone Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Amao, expressed appreciation to God for the opportunity to serve the nation and lead the air force, describing it as a special privilege.

Amao said that NAF was able to attain greater heights in line with his vision for the service with recorded successes in key areas.

The areas according to him include doctrinal development, air operations, human capacity development, fleet enhancement, establishment of new units, and directorates.

Others include logistics support, system research and development, personnel management, and safety standards.

He said the capacity of NAF to conduct air operations across the full spectrum of air power employment and interdictions had significantly improved.

According to him, the Nigerian effort is now able to expeditiously conduct simultaneous combat operations, night operations, and precision strikes.

He urged the new CAS to ensure optimal operational capacity of the air force to sustain and surpass the ongoing efforts at eradicating insurgencies, terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminality in the country.

Amao commended the support of the Federal Government in the development of capacity of personnel, which enhanced their efficiency and effectiveness.

He also appreciated the government for the acquisition of new platforms and several other major support equipment.

“These platforms include the 829 Super Tucano, Diamond 62 Surveillance aircraft, Winglet 2CH3 Unmanned Combat Aerial vehicles, and the CH4 Unmanned Combat Aerial vehicle.

“Additional platforms such as Beefcraft A360 aircraft and Diamond 62 aircraft, as well as T1229 attack aircraft and the Booster 109 Trica Montoro aircraft as well as M346 attack aircraft, are expected to further enhance Nigerian Air Force air power employment and projection capabilities.

“In the areas of human capacity development, NAF has in the last two years trained and retrained personnel for professional and operational effectiveness.

“For instance, the Nigerian Air Force conducted training for a total of 7,424 personnel out of which 5,945 were trained locally and 1,140 were trained overseas.

“This number is also inclusive of the 429 pilots and 203 UAV operators. These efforts in particular reduced the acute shortage of combat pilots that we used to have in the past,” he said.

Amao expressed confidence that the new chief would lead NAF effectively given his humility, excellent career, leadership qualities, wealth of experience, and outstanding accomplishments in previous appointments.

He said the new CAS was part of the successes recorded when he served as the Air Officer Commanding Logistic Command and Chief of Standards and Evaluation, where he contributed to the improved safety records that NAF currently has.

“Today, I want to commend your loyalty and dedication to duty. I, therefore, urge you to put in your very best to consolidate on the various achievements to further propel the NAF to greater heights.

“Let me also use this opportunity to appreciate all officers and airmen and airwomen, as well as the civilian staff, for their dutifulness, discipline, and cooperation accorded me during my tenure as the Chief of the Air Staff,” he added.

(NAN) 

The Ogun House of Assembly on Thursday re-elected Mr Sheriff Yusuf (APC- Ado Odo Ota 1) as the Majority Leader of the 10th assembly.

Mr Olakunle Oluomo (APC-Ifo 1), the Speaker, announced the names of the assembly principal officers during plenary in Abeokuta.

Oluomo noted that both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the House had agreed on consensus principal officers.

The speaker also announced Adeniran Ademola (APC – Sagamu 11) as the Deputy Majority Leader; Mrs Omolola Bakare (APC -Ijebu Ode) as the Chief Whip, while Babatunde Tella (APC-Abeokuta North) would be the Deputy Chief Whip.

Read Also: Inauguration of 10th Ogun Assembly postponed

Oluomo announced Olalekan Adeleye (PDP -Odogbolu) as the House Minority Leader; Lukmon Atobatele (PDP – Abeokuta South 1) as the Deputy Minority Leader .

He also announced Rasheed Kashamu as the Minority Whip and Kolawole Awolaja as the Deputy Minority Whip.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the House had on Tuesday during inauguration of the 10th assembly re-elected Oluomo as Speaker, while Mrs Bolanle Ajayi (Yewa South) was elected the Deputy Speaker.

(NAN)

Concerned over incidents of attacks resulting in loss of lives in parts of Plateau, Sen. Diket Plang (APC/Plateau Central) has urged all parties to eschew violence and embrace dialogue.

Plang, who stated this while interacting with newsmen on Thursday in Jos, also urged people in the state to forgive one another and give peace a chance.

The lawmaker decried the attacks describing them as  barbaric and unprovoked aggression against innocent people, adding “there is need to dialogue and end the bloodletting.”

He said that in spite of all entreaties and efforts by stakeholders to stop the attacks in parts of Bokkos and Mangu local governments, the senseless killings have continued.

“It is inhuman and barbaric, considering the efforts of the government, security forces, traditional institutions, and other critical stakeholders.

Read Also: 20 killed in night attacks on Plateau communities

“The constant and unrelenting attacks on the people have become unbearable and have subjected the victims to untold hardship, thus making them refugees in their state.

“The main source of livelihood for our people, which is farming, is disrupted.

“These renewed killings may scare our people, especially farmers, away from their farms and could turn out to be a recipe for hunger.

“We have injured ourselves, as a people but we must forgive and live together once again as a people,” he added.

Plang expressed hope that with the appointment of the new service chiefs, the security challenges would be addressed.

The lawmaker expressed confidence in the President Bola Tinubu led Federal Government to address the security and other challenges bedevilling the country.

(NAN)

An FCT High Court on Thursday ordered Okwo Mark to clean the premises of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for three days for internet fraud.

Mark was docked by the EFCC for pretending to be Stella Coleman, an American citizen, working as an FBI agent.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.

Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa, sentenced also Mark to three months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N50,000.

The judge ordered Mark to clean the EFCC office from 8 a.m. to noon, under the supervision of an official of the Legal Department.

He ordered that the phone used by the convict to perpetuate the crime be completely  destroyed, adding that it should be burn and evidence of the destruction should be brought before the court.

Read Also: Asset forfeiture: Court to hear Diezani’s suit against EFCC October 23

“I have carefully listened to the plea of allocutus made by the said convict and the defence Counsel.

“The rate of internet fraud especially among youths in the society is so alarming and the court will not allow the convict to go unpunished as this will serve as a deterrent to others that wants to toll same path,” he ruled.

Shafa ordered that the proceed from the crime which was 500 U.S. Dollar be returned to the nominal complainant and the receipt brought back to the court as evidence as this will help to portray the country well.

Earlier, the convict had pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy, adding that he would not indulge in such act again.I promise I will not engage in such act again,” he pleaded.

The Defence Counsel, Ms B.E. Danjuma, in support of the allocutus by the convict, told the court that Mark, who had no previous conviction record in Nigeria was remorseful and repentant.

“Mark, is a young man who was cut up with bad company. He is just 21 years with a promising future. He regrets the consequences of his act.

“The convict has shown remorse and genuinely repented over the crime he has committed against the nation, by way of expressing genuine repentance he has restituted the proceed of crime which is the sum of 500 U.S dollar.

“The convict is a first time offender. We urge my Lord to tamper justice with mercy,” she pleaded.

The EFCC Counsel, M.M.Gwani, told the court that Mark sometimes in 2022 within the jurisdiction of the Court cheated.

Gwani said that the convict deceived while pretending to be Stella Coleman an American citizen working with an FBI agent.

He said that the convict cheated by inducing Arnold under the pretence to deliver to him 500 U.S Dollars which the convict used for his own personal use.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 320 of the Penal Code Act Law of the Federation (Abuja), 1990 and punishable under Section 322 of the same Act.

He pleaded with the court that the instrument used for the crime be forfeited and the proceed retuned by to the complainant.

(NAN)

The Federal Government is set to commence the enforcement of the sanitary law with the constitution of mobile courts to try offenders.

The Registrar of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Dr Yakubu Baba, disclosed this on Wednesday when he visited the News Agency of Nigeria. (NAN)

He said the enforcement exercise would commence in July, adding that mobile courts would ensure speedy resolution of cases.

Baba said most cases involving environmental health could not be adequately handled in the conventional courts due to the perculiaty of the sector.

“Since I assumed duty in August 2020, we have been adopting the carrot method; now we want to deploy the stick method which is go to the field and start enforcing the law.

“In our efforts to enforce the law, we have stages because we have the legislative record, guidelines and we also have the mobile courts.

“Most of our cases are not cases that can be taken to the conventional courts because such cases need not  drag on for too long because this could be injurious to the health of Nigerians.

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“ So, we are ready with all that is required for us to hit the ground running,’’ he said.

The registrar said the enforcement activities were part of the council’s efforts to launch the rebranding of environmental health service in the country.

Baba said the amendment of the council’s law in 2022 gave it ” power to bite because we had teeth before but we could not bite.”

Describing NAN as a critical partner, he said the courtesy visit to the agency was to express its appreciation as well as rally support for its enforcement activities.

“We also deem it fit to visit you to let you know about the achievements we have recorded and give information on the roadmap we intend to embark on in bringing back the lost glory of environment health service in Nigeria.

” You are aware of the strategic roles sanitary inspectors played during the days of the colonial masters.

” There was a clarion call by distinguished Nigerians calling for the reintroduction of sanitary inspectors.

” But the dynamic nature of the job and the non recognition of their role at the local government level created a vacuum to make Nigerians feel that sanitary inspectors are not in place,” he said.

He said the council was embarking on sensitisation of Nigerians about its planned enforcement exercise, adding that NAN would provide the media support for the initiative.

The registrar also said the new branding methodology of the practice had been encapsulated in the specialisation initiative for the sector.

Baba, who decried the old practice where environmental officers were ” Jack of all trade and master of none, ” added that its personnel would now specialise in one field.

“With the 50,000 practitioners we have, we have created a platform where each and every single one will decide to specialise in an area of environmental health through the universities we have,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, urged the council to ensure that the enforcement of the environmental law was not too punitive.

” Attitude is very difficult to change but when we preach to people, we tell them the dos, don’ts and what they stand to benefit by keeping hygienic surroundings.

“We also preach to them what they stand to benefit by doing certain things that will promote their health as well as the wellbeing of their family members and the environment.

” With the law and the people interpreting the law, I am sure we will be on the same page.

“In the News Agency of Nigeria, we are always willing and ever ready to support you anywhere any day,” he said.

He pledged that NAN would be in the forefront of advocacy ahead of the commencement of the exercise.

“We are here to do whatever it takes to enlarge the coast, to be at the forefront of advocacy and tell our people the right thing to do as well as focus more on water and environmental sanitation.

” We should also focus more on issues that will benefit the common good which the present administration is pursuing.(NAN)