Author: The Nation

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed a suit by a group linked with a former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, seeking the nullification of the nomination of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A three-man panel of the court, in a judgment on February 17, held that the appeal by the Incorporated trustees of Rights for All International (RAI) was incompetent.

The group had jointly filed the suit with Nwajiuba before the Federal High Court in Abuja, which the court, in a judgment on December 15, 2022 dismissed anf outlawed the group.

But on appeal, the group excluded Nwajiuba from the case, a decision the Court of Appeal found to be unlawful.

The Court of Appeal, in its February 17 judgment, upheld the objection by the APC and other respondents, that the suit by the appellant, filed at the trial court – the Federal High Court, Abuja – was not a pre-election matter because the plaintiffs could not be said to be a person covered by Section 285(14) a, b. c of the 1999 Constitution being an NGO.

The appellate court held that the removal of the Nwajiuba who was a party in the case at the lower court meant the judgment of the lower court was not appealed.

The court noted that the appeal was an attempt by the appellant – the Incorporated trustees of Rights for All International – to revive itself having earlier been dissolved by the judgment of the trial court.

At the trial court, RAI and Nwajiuba had, in their suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/942/2022, sought among others, to void the primaries that produced Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar as candidates of the APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the next presidential election.

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They claimed that both parties’ primaries were marked by corrupt practices and prayed the court to replace Tinubu with the ex-Minister, who said he participated in APC’s primary and scored one vote.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court had, in the December 15, 2022 judgment, case on the merit, after upholding the defendants’ objections, held that there were no credible and reliable evidence provided by the plaintiffs in their support affidavit, to support their case.

He then dismissed the substantive case for being incompetent.

Justice Ekwo condemned the involvement of RAI, which claimed to be a non-government organisation, in politically motivated cases.

The judge held that, by its involvement in politically motivated cases and by extension, partisan politics, RAI went outside the objectives for which it was registered under Part F of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)) and taken steps inimical to public policy.

He added: “It is only in this country that an association registered for charitable purpose will venture into partisan politics with such audacious sense of impunity.

“At this time in the political journey of this country, politics and political activities must be left to those who are authorized by law to do so.

“This action by the first plaintiff (RAI) is an outrageous act and an aberration to all known principles of the law of associations. In short, it is the height of lawlessness and ought to be stopped forthwith.

“Associations registered under Part F of the CAMA 2020 must understand the limit of their operations under the law. Where they fail to do so, the legal sanctions will apply,” the judge said.

Justice Ekwo proceeded to dissolve RAI and ordered the CAC to take over the dissolved group and deal with it in accordance with the provisions of the law on dissolution of bodies registered pursuant to Part F of the CAMA 2022.

There is tension in Imo State over the alleged relocation of Imo Zoological Garden to Jos zoo in Plateau State. 

The Nation learnt on Saturday that the few remaining animals in the zoo located at Nekede in Owerri West Local Government Area were being evacuated to Jos zoo. 

The staff of the zoo staged a protest blocking the animal trapping trucks, not minding the heavy police visibility in the area.

The workers, numbering over 15, were seen at the gate refusing to allow the trucks out of the garden.

They demanded 10 months’ salary arrears but administrators from Jos zoo refused the demand for inventories and picture evidence.

One of the workers,who pleaded anonymity for fear of being victimised, said:  “Some trucks used to trap animals have arrived at the Imo State Zoological Garden to evacuate the animals to Jos zoo in Plateau State. We are saying that our 10 months salary arrears they are owing us be paid to us before they can relocate the zoo.”

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Sources said the government had planned to relocate the only zoo in the entire southeast 

“We are resisting the move and demanding that before the animals would be evacuated, the state government must pay us our 10 months salary arrears,” the protesting workers said. 

Imo Commissioner for Tourism, Jerry Egemba was yet to respond to the matter as of the time of filing this report. 

The public relations officer of the ministry of Tourism, Ben Uwakwe told newsmen that he could not comment on the development since he was not briefed on the matter.

A Diaspora-based Yoruba sociocultural organisation, Yoruba Global Council, has endorsed the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for next Saturday’s presidential election.

Its spokesman, Prof. Lere Amusan and General Secretary, Segun Akanni, said Yoruba sons and daughters needed to rally around Tinubu for victory at the poll.

Their statement reads: “Tinubu only, among the top three candidates for the February 25 presidential election, possesses the required standard in education, exposure and experience to move Nigerians out her present challenges and provide Nigerians a new lease of life in line with his campaign slogan, ‘Renewed Hope.”

They added that YGC is throwing its support for Tinubu in line with its core mandate of protecting the interest and advancing the course and aspiration of Yoruba sons and daughters in any field, anywhere in the world.

The group said Nigeria’s foundation appears to be shaky as songs of disintegration and dismemberment were being echoed by different ethnic nationalities.

According to the group, this was on account of age-long discontent and disillusionment occasioned by the inequitable distribution of the country’s commonwealth and the apparent neglect of the Federal Character Code thereby denying some sections of Nigeria a sense of belonging.

“Tinubu and the party he represents, APC, are conscious of the depressing nature of our country and, if elected, he is more than determined to right the wrongs and bring genuine relief to the victimized and marginalised Nigerians as well as create an enabling environment for all Nigerians to thrive and succeed irrespective of tribe, religion or party affiliation,” YGC said.

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The statement noted Tinubu’s track record as Lagos State governor noting that he appointed Igbos as commissioners and other qualified non-Yoruba persons into key governmental positions, saying it speaks volumes of his belief in the oneness of the Nigerian nation.

“There are pretenders who pay lip service to the issue of unity and diversity of the country. However, Tinubu’s noble ideals have continued to be replicated by successive governors in Lagos State, from Fashola to Ambode and now, Sanwo-Olu,” it added.

It expressed hope that Tinubu as for security, “this critical and all-important national issue will be holistically addressed in line with his manifesto when voted into power.”

YGC observed further that; “Our national economy is in a state of comatose as Nigerians groan helplessly under the adverse effects of galloping inflation, fuel scarcity, naira shortage, unemployment and low or zero productivity.

“It is paradoxical that many Nigerians are extremely poor and living below the poverty line in a land endowed with huge human and natural resources.

“More importantly, the concept of power rotation between the North and South in every election cycle is recognized and respected by most of the political parties’ constitutions.”

It said the 2023 general poll presents another unique opportunity for the Yoruba race and nation to “get it right and avoid a repeat of what transpired in 1963 and 1993 when our two illustrious Yoruba sons, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, respectively, were denied the presidency on account of tribal enmity and lack of unity.

“The electoral Waterloo that befell the Yoruba nation then must not be allowed to befall us again.”

Gombe Chief of Staff Alhaji Abubakar Inuwa Kari has said the refusal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sign the Peace Accord for the 2023 general election is a clear sign of irresponsibility.

The PDP gubernatorial candidate Alhaji Jibrin Barde declined signing the Peace Accord, blaming the police and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for not responding to the allegations of series of attacks on his office and campaign billboards.

Gombe PDP Chairman, Major General Amnon Kwaskebe rtd said the decision of Barde not to attend the meeting has the backing of the party leaders.

But Kari in an exclusive chat with The Nation said there is no reason for any politician or party to refuse signing of the Peace Accord for the election.

“To me some of the complaints by the opposition parties are just a sign of losers crying out early, particularly the PDP. Their refusal to sign the Peace Accord is a clear sign of irresponsibility. If a Peace Accord is designed by INEC and security agencies, I do not see the reason why a political party will refuse to sign because of one or two complaints.

“I don’t have the details of their complaints but I know that in the election period you don’t always have it that smooth. We also suffered one or two attacks like that but by and large, I will give the security agencies a pass mark because they have been up and doing.

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“So far, the campaigns are going on with minimum violence. If the party signs the Peace Accord, it shows that they are for peace but not signing it shows clearly that they are the ones instigating troubles and they want to continue to instigate troubles. I hope the security agencies will do the needful when such things happen.”

Kari expressed confidence that Governor Yahaya’s record will speak for him in the election saying “we have delivered 85 to 90 percent of our promises in 2019.

“We have been able to deliver even those things that we did not put in our manifesto, One of such examples is the Industrial Park.”

But Gombe Commissioner of Police Oquam Etim described the complaints of the PDP as wild, saying they cannot point to at least one person as the perpetrator.

“It is unfortunate that PDP out of eighteen parties decided not to be part of the signing of the peace accord. When we talk about destruction of the billboards was it only PDP billboards that were destroyed?

“So if you have problems with billboards, do billboards have PVC? Can billboards vote?
You see, when you make such wild allegations, then you should prove it. Have they come out to say that Mr. A bought PVC from Mr. B? If you have genuine complaints, then you come with your petition, we are here to investigate,” he said.

INEC Commissioner, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim said he was not surprised that the PDP gubernatorial candidate Alhaji Jibrin Barde was not at the signing of the peace accord because the commission is not forcing anybody to sign it even though it is in our collective interest.

The electoral umpire said it is fair enough that eighty percent of those involved have already signed the accord.

He said the act of buying PVCs by political parties is not normal because the new technology deployed for the election this time around will not recognize any PVC that does not belong to the owners.

“So it is pointless buying PVCs. Anybody that comes on election day with PVC that is not his own will definitely not be accredited,” he said.