The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Ayade makes case for unity

    Ayade makes case for unity

    Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade has asked Muslim faithful to place peace and unity of Nigeria above any other thing as they commence Ramadan.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, quoted the Governor as urging the Muslims to “reflect on the teachings of Ramadan  as one of the five pillars of Islam through acts of kindness, generosity, love, unity and support for the weak.”

    According to him, “Ramadan is a period of spiritual upliftment and devotion to Allah which the faithful should take advantage of to reinvigorate spiritually.”

    The Governor called on the Muslim Community in the state, the Council of Imam and Scholars as well as Muslim leaders to preach peaceful coexistence at all times.

    He said: “On behalf of the government and people of Cross River State, I call on the Ummah to take advantage of the Holy month to strengthen their commitment to the service of Allah and humanity. I urged you to continue to preach peace and peaceful coexistence in our dear state, which is known for brotherhood of all irrespective of tribe or religion. Also, I charge you to use this holy month of Ramadan to pray for peace in our country, Nigeria.”

    Ayade commended the Muslim Community in the state for coming out en mass to participate in the just concluded 2023 elections and  called on them “to give the same support you have given me to the incoming administration led by  Senator Bassey Otu,”

  • HostCom youths demand sack of Seplat Energy CEO, board chairman

    HostCom youths demand sack of Seplat Energy CEO, board chairman

    • Omiyi: allegations all fluke

    Some youths of the Host Community of Seplat Energy Plc., from Delta State, yesterday held a protest at the company’s headquarters in Lagos State to demand the removal of its Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown, over alleged racism and intimidation of the host community.

    They gave a one-week ultimatum for Brown’s sack.

    The youths also demanded the sack of the company’s Board Chairman, Basil Omiyi, and other members, for their alleged complicit role in bullying the company’s host community.

    Their leader, Desmond Okpako, who read the group’s demands, said the company’s operations I in their land would be stopped if it fails to comply with their demands.

    The youths displayed placard with inscriptions such as ‘Roger Brown, stop intimidation of Nigerians’; ‘Welldone minister of interior for coming to our rescue’; ‘Respect our community leaders’; ‘Roger Brown must go, no room for racism’; ‘Seplat Board of Roger, stop all the lies, obey court order’; ‘Stop bullying of community Staff’; among others.

    Okpako, in a statement, added: “The Delta Youths for Justice and youths of Seplat Host Community are forced to make this release following the company’s non-compliance with court order. Seplat must sack Mr. Roger Brown, Mr. Basil Omiyi and his board members for promoting racism, discrimination, bullying and intimidation of staff, especially, host community staff.

    “We know the Minister of Interior has canceled Brown’s work permit. But instead of obeying the Federal Government’s decision, Omiyi and his Board of Directors announced a vote of confidence for a racist foreigner who is a mere employee. Staff members who were intimidated and frustrated have decided to go to the social media to vent their anger.

    “Our communities and youths of Delta State have been cooperating with Seplat, but we have been neglected. Our graduates are Okada riders and jobless while we produce most of the oil for Seplat. It has gotten worse under Roger Brown and Omiyi. They do not respect our kings and communities.”

    But the company refuted all the allegations, saying since Brown became CEO in 2020, Nigerians have been appointed to the company’s most important positions, including chairman, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating officer.

    A statement by Omiyi himself reads: “The Board believes these allegations are a spurious and vindictive reaction to its enforcement of corporate governance standards and a determination to continue to uphold its fiduciary duties and loyalty to the company. The Board of Seplat Energy has unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Mr. Brown as the CEO and the company would continue to maintain its operational excellence, and act in line with the best corporate governance standards.”

  • THE DEAN OF LUNAR MONTHS

    THE DEAN OF LUNAR MONTHS

    This is the month of Ramadan, the ‘Dean’ of all lunar months. It comes into the world once a year. Its arrival is always with fanfare despite its invisibility. The majestic splendour of this spiritually grandiose month is shrouded in the divine blessing that often heralds its readiness to storm the world.

    Unlike all other months of the year, Ramadan keeps humanity in a curious suspense even as it sends a harbinger ahead of its coming. That harbinger is the crescent of hope, which millions of Muslims globally await before commencing the annual obligatory fast in the month.

    From its name alone, Ramadan can be called the key with which to open the door to eternal pleasure. Ramadan is the solid ground upon which the formidable edifice of Islam is built. It is the month in which Islam came into the world of mankind through the commencement of the revelations of the Qur’an in 610 CE. Yet, it did not become a pillar of Islam until 14 years later (624 CE) in Madinah. Without the revelation of the Qur’an which started in the sacred month of Ramadan in 610 CE, perhaps the world would have remained oblivious of the five pillars of Islam today.

    Ramadan is the great light that comes annually to illuminate the dark world of man and to wake up the snoring humanity from deep sleep. It is also a major yardstick with which to measure discipline in the life of Muslims individually and collectively.

    To wake up in the night and observe spiritual genuflexions (Nawafil); to take an early breakfast (Sahur) before dawn and abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse as well as other pleasurable activities of life throughout the days of Ramadan is a collection of obligations which only the spiritual phenomenon called Ramadan can impose on man as an act of discipline.

    It is only with Ramadan that the hardest heart can be   softened and the wildest animal instinct in man can be tamed. No other pillar of Islam preaches patience, endurance, tolerance, sympathy and social welfare as effectively as Ramadan does. Ramadan is the month that levels the ground under the feet of the rich and the poor alike.

    Without this month in the life of a Muslim, the world would have been meaningless spiritually. Welcome on board of this cruising spiritual Yacht that is, once again, commencing a spiritual voyage on the pacific ocean of discipline towards the ‘Cape of Good Hope’.

    •RAMADAN KARIM!

  • President-elect urges Muslims to emulate Prophet’s virtues

    President-elect urges Muslims to emulate Prophet’s virtues

    The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the Muslim faithful to strive to emulate Prophet Muhammad’s example of humility, forgiveness, and service to others.

    He also charged them to be “imbued with the spirit of sacrifice, self-discipline, goodwill, justice, tolerance, mercy, compassion and generosity that lie at the heart of Islam.”

    In his Ramadan goodwill message in Abuja yesterday, Tinubu admonished the Muslim faithful that while observing the holy month, they should imbibe the spirit and true meaning behind it.

    The message reads: “As we begin this year’s Ramadan, I bring warm greetings and congratulations to all Muslims who have received the grace of Almighty Allah to witness this holy month.

     “Ramadan is more than a month of fasting. We fast to strengthen our relationship and our appreciation of Allah. We fast to make ourselves better servants of both Allah and our fellow man. However, this month is more than abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk. It must entail imbibing the spirit and true meaning behind the holy month. We must keep hold of the excellent and wonderful things the holy month of Ramadan signifies.

    “As we embark on fasting and spiritual reflection, let us proceed, imbued with the spirit of sacrifice, self-discipline, goodwill, justice, tolerance, mercy, compassion and generosity that lie at the heart of Islam.

     “Let us strive to emulate Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) example of humility, forgiveness, and service to others.

    “Let us move in this way so that we may make ourselves a better people and nation in which all people, Muslim and non-Muslim, may live in trust, peace and justice as Allah would have it be.”

    The President-elect also charged the Ummah to engage in supplications to Allah for the country and her leaders, stressing that the nation’s diversity is for a purpose, he insisted that all must work and pray to strengthen it.

    According to the former Lagos State governor, “We must join hands to bring progress in Nigeria by praying for unity and progress. The lessons of the holy month of Ramadan point to the success of unity, not the failure of division. “May this Ramadan bring us all closer to Allah. May our fasting and prayers be accepted. May this holy month be a time of peace, unity, and harmony in Nigeria and for all humanity.”

  • Sanwo-Olu’s victory not a fluke, says council

    Sanwo-Olu’s victory not a fluke, says council

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Professionals Council has congratulated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on his re-election, saying the governor contested on competence and track record.

    A statement by the Director-General, Seyi Bamigbade, stressed that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s victory was not a fluke, having polled 762,134 votes to beat his closest rival, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, who polled 312, 327 votes.

    Bamigbade described the re-election as a reaffirmation of the people’s confidence in Sanwo-Olu’s administration. He added that the plethora of milestones Sanwo-Olu has recorded has endeared the people to opt for ‘continuity with a larger hope of more meaningful development across all sectors of the economy’.

    He said: “Governor Sanwo-Olu’s re-election is a reaffirmation that he enjoys a deep-rooted confidence of the people whom he has served in the last four years. He is a clear testimony to the fact that APC parades the best governors who have gone ahead to demonstrate capacity, character and competence.

    “It is our hope that Governor Sanwo-Olu will record more beautiful milestones in infrastructural transformation, education, economic, sports, housing and transportation system revitalisation.”

  • Okupe appeals money laundering conviction, N13m fine

    Okupe appeals money laundering conviction, N13m fine

    A former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has appealed his conviction by a Federal High Court in Abuja for money laundering.

    In a notice of appeal filed on March 16, Okupe is praying the appellate court to set aside the December 19, 2022 judgment delivered by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.

    In the court verdict, Justice Ojukwu convicted Okupe on counts 34 to 59, which deal with breach of Money Laundering Act, in which he was found to have received cash payments in excess of N5 million, on each transaction, from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

    Based on counts 34 to 59, the judge held that the prosecution proved its case that Okupe committed an offence, contrary Section 1(a) & (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 16(1)(d) & (16(2)(b) of the same Act.

    She noted that even “the first defendant (Okupe) did not deny the fact that the money, especially the ones above N5m, as shown in counts 34 to 59 of the charge, were received in cash and were not received through a financial institution”.

    The judge also sentenced Okupe, who was then the Director General of Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Labour Party (LP), to two years imprisonment.

    Justice Ojukwu said the sentence of two years per count would run concurrently.

    But, in the alternative, the judge gave Okupe the option of fine of N500,000 per count, which she said shall apply consecutively, following which Okupe paid a total of N13 million in fine before he was freed.

    In his four-ground appeal, Okupe is, among others, contending that the trial judge erred in law in arriving at a guilty verdict against him in relation to counts 34 to 59 of the charge.

    Okupe said he received the said sums in cash, not in his individual capacity, but on behalf of the Office of the Senior Special Adviser (ONSA) to the President on Public Affairs and under the instructions of the ex-President and hence, should not be penalised unjustly.

    On Ground One, Okupe said: “The trial court erred in law when it held that the complainant/prosecution has established the essential ingredients of the counts 34 to 59 of the charge pertaining to money laundering by receiving monies above the statutory threshold under the Act under which the first defendant was charged.”

    He argued that the trial court did not in fact consider his argument to the effect that the he was not an agent or a staff of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    On Ground Two, Okupe stated that the trial court misdirected itself when it held that the complainant/prosecution established the essential ingredients of the offence of money laundering by personal gratification without first establishing a predicate offence of stealing involving the appellant alone or the appellant in collusion with the other persons pertaining to counts 34 to 59 of the charge.

    He added: “The trial court did not consider the very important principles of law that to be guilty of the offence of money laundering by personal gratification, the appellant, tried as first defendant, must first be guilty of the offence of stealing or misappropriation of monies for personal gratification.”

    Okupe also argued that the complainant/prosecution failed to establish how he colluded with second and third respondents (Value Trust Investment and Abraham Telecoms) to disguise the original source of any illicit funds or monies which is the property of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He argued that “trial court erred in law when it held that the offences under counts 34 to 59 of the charge sheet are one of strict liability, requiring Mens Rea (criminal intent or ‘guilty mind’) and that merely collecting a sum of money over the permitted threshold was sufficient to ground liability”.

    Okupe added that the proof of the offences under counts 34 to 59 did not require the proof of the mental element of the offence.

    He is equally contending that the judgment of the trial court is unreasonable and cannot be supported, having regards to the evidence.

    Okupe prayed the court to issue an order allowing the appeal and setting aside the Judgment of the trial court and to discharge and acquit him of all counts in the charge sheet.

  • Oluremi Tinubu: Poll an improvement on last exercise

    Oluremi Tinubu: Poll an improvement on last exercise

    The weather was benevolent yesterday in Lagos as  voters cast their ballot across the pre-existing 20 local governments.

    President-elect Bola Tinubu voted around 9.40 pm at his Unit 085, Ward 3, Ikeja, accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and his son, Seyi.

    Mrs. Tinubu voted at her poling unit 034, near Police Barracks,  Falomo, Ikoyi,  where he described the governorship and House of Assembly elections as an improvement on the recent presidential poll.

    After casting his ballot, the President-elect drove off without speaking with reporters.

    At the close of the governorship poll at the Unit 085, Ward 3, Ikeja, the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 43 votes, the Labour Party (LP) got five votes while the NRM got one vote.

    The results of the House of Assembly poll is as follows: APC 43; LP 5 and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) one vote.

     Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed delight with the improved turn out, describing it as a boost to democracy.

     She said noted that Nigerians came out to perform their civic duty despite the wrong perception by some people during the presidential election.

     Senator Tinubu said the nations democracy had grown beyond tribe, religion and other sentiments.

    To her, the current democratic experience is now transcending to Nigerians voting for Nigerians.

    Senator Tinubu said the people have learnt instructive lessons from the outcome of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly polls.

    She said the way forward is for Nigerians to resolve to live together as one, irrespective of ethnic backgrounds.

    On the BIVAS used during the February poll, Senator Tinubu said the country is yet to adjust to the use of technology.

    She assured that the country will witness enormous progress in the electoral process when electricity supply is stable. Senator Tinubu reiterated the President-elect’s determination to leave an examplary legacy for the nation.

  • Osun: Understanding the issues before Appeal Court

    Osun: Understanding the issues before Appeal Court

    By Ismail Omipidan

    Last Monday, the litigants in the Osun governorship tussle appeared before the three-man Appeal panel, in Abuja, led by Justice M.L. Shuaibu. But for the magnanimity of the panel, the counsel for all the parties would have lost the opportunity to give the “Chemistry and Biology” of their briefs.

    Once the justices took their seats, Justice M. L. Shuaibu expressed concern that counsel for all the parties had not complied with the practice direction of the Appeal Court in filing their briefs.

    He said that if they were to wield the big stick, they would have declared all the briefs invalid. If that had happened, that would have been the end of the matter. Case closed!

    But the Justices in this instance tempered justice with mercy and delved into the “Chemistry and Biology” of the briefs.

    However, rather than acknowledging the benevolence of the Justices, some of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, including one of their lawyers, went to town twisting what transpired. Anyway, that is not the crux of this discourse. The discourse is mainly to examine the issues before the Appeal Court with a view to making Nigerians have a better understanding of what is at stake.

    The Osun Election Petition Tribunal on January 27 nullified the election of Senator Ademola Adeleke as Governor of Osun State on the basis of over-voting, saying, among other things, “In other words, the defenses of the respondents are tainted with fundamental flaws, irreconcilable and unreliable, incapable of defeating the credible evidence tendered by the petitioners in respect of the 744 polling units where over voting has been established.”

    In arriving at the decision, the Tribunal examined certain materials, including two BVAS reports and a report that emanated from the candidate of the PDP, following what their counsel called a forensic examination of the BVAS machines used in the conduct of the election.

    Let me state from the outset that contrary to the position being canvassed by the INEC’s counsel, Prof. Paul Ananaba, to justify his synchronisation position, there is a difference between what happened on July 16 Governorship election in Osun and that of the February 25 presidential election. In Osun, results were transmitted immediately on the day of election alongside the number of accredited voters through IReV (INEC Result Viewing) Portal. But that was not the case on February 25. So, there was no basis of comparison. That is one.

    Two, the first BVAS report, which the APC and its candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola, obtained from INEC, which formed the basis of their petition, was released to them 10 days after a  declaration and a return had been made. The report was generated by INEC from its back-end server. But some people said due to network challenge, the figures had not been synchronised before it was given to Oyetola and the APC by INEC. The question is, is it possible for there not to be network for the whole of 10 days to enable the transmitted figure drop on the INEC’s server as being canvassed by both counsel for INEC and Senator Adeleke?

    Three, for me, the position of INEC in its  affidavit to the Court of Appeal recently as it relates to the fact that the accreditation data contained in the BVAS could not be tampered with or lost, as they would be stored and easily retrieved from its accredited back-end server, is a vindication of the Tribunal’s position which relied on the BVAS report obtained from the back -end server by Oyetola and the APC.

    Four, the second BVAS report, which was obtained by the PDP during the pendency of the petition, which they said was the synchronised BVAS report, unfortunately had issues. Counsel for APC and Oyetola were able to point out over-voting in over 100 polling units in that same report.

    Five, the report that emanated from Senator Ademola Adeleke, which his counsel prayed the Tribunal to consider while disowning the INEC’s synchronised BVAS report, also admitted that there was over-voting. The only difference being that, according to them, the over-voting occured in only six polling units. However, it was not Senator Ademola Adeleke that conducted the election; therefore, he could not have submitted a report of an exercise he never conducted.

    Besides, in my years of reporting election petition proceedings, this is the first time INEC and the beneficiary of the return made by it will not be on the same page. For Senator Ademola Adeleke’s counsel to have disowned the INEC’s synchronised BVAS report, it means something was fundamentally wrong.

    Regardless, at the Appeal Court, while Oyetola and APC urged the appellate court to dismiss the Adeleke, the PDP and INEC appeals, they prayed the court to hold that Governor Ademola Adeleke was unfit to run for the office of the governor, having established a forgery case against him by the Tribunal.

    The appeal panel, led by Justice M. L. Shuaibu reserved the judgement for a later date after taking arguments from counsel for Oyetola and the APC, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN,

    counsel to Adeleke, PDP and INEC, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, Alex Izinyon, SAN and Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, respectively.

    In all, the court heard four different appeals, including the cross appeal filed by Oyetola and the APC.

    Arguing the cross appeal, counsel for Oyetola, Chief Akin Olujinmi, (SAN), noted that the tribunal erred in law when it held that Adeleke was qualified to contest for the election, even after being found to have submitted a forged certificate. To this end, it prayed the Appeal Court to hold that Governor Adeleke was not qualified to stand for the election in the first instance.

    On his part, Ikpeazu had argued that the failure of the tribunal member 2, Chief Magistrate Basiru Rabi, to make pronouncement as regards the lead judgement other than signing it renders the decision a nullity.

    Justice Shuaibu at this point challenged Adeleke’s counsel to explain the interpretation of the Chief Magistrate Rabi’s signature on the judgement and the use of “we” in the majority judgement. But Ikpeazu insisted that signing of the judgement was not enough.

    On the issue of BVAS report upon which Oyetola used to challenge the result of the election, they argued that assuming the tribunal had found that there was over-voting as shown on the report, it should have applied the principle of the Margin of Lead and order a rerun election in the affected polling units.

    The INEC’s counsel also in his arguments admitted that the INEC witness indeed admitted over-voting on the polling units upon which she was cross-examined, but it was not enough to nullify the election.

    But counsel for Oyetola, Fagbemi, SAN, said there was confusion among the appellants’ submissions, as they had produced three different BVAS reports, which justified the position of the tribunal that there was indeed over-voting in that election.

    “INEC claimed there was over-voting in over 1, 000 polling units. The implication is that the 744 polling units we challenged fall within the said over 1,000 polling units. We are only concerned about 744 polling units and we built our case around those areas. They can keep the rest, we concentrated on what we need,” Fagbemi added.

    He argued further that the issuance of another BVAS report and production of BVAS machines in court after a petition had been filed based on the earlier BVAS report issued to Oyetola and APC was nothing but an afterthought.

    According to him, though INEC produced the BVAS machines and the boxes containing the machines were opened, the machines were never operated to authenticate the claims made by the so called expert, who was hired by the first appellant (Adeleke).

    Fagbemi, SAN, further submitted that since the said report from the inspection of the BVAS machines did not emanate from INEC, which conducted the election, the first appellant who was the beneficiary of the return made by INEC, cannot come up with a report other than that of INEC.

    He said the respondents (Oyetola and APC) who were the petitioners at the tribunal had proven over-voting and the tribunal was right to have so held.

    On the issue of application of Margin of Lead being canvassed by the appellants, Fagbemi averred that they did not make any pleading to that effect, and no evidence was led on specific polling units.

    He also described the INEC counsel submission as a non-issue because the Commission did not call any electoral officer or ad-hoc staff to prove that BVAS failed to transmit record on election day.

    In the cross-appeal filed by Oyetola and the APC on the forged certificate by Adeleke, Olujinmi argued that since the tribunal had found that he forged the certificate, he ought to have been disqualified from contesting the election.

    He said that the documents tendered which the tribunal relied on to find him qualified for the election were documentary hearsay that could not be relied upon.

    Olujinmi further argued that the judgement of the Court of Appeal relied on by the cross-respondent could not exonerate Adeleke as the arguments canvased and evidence tendered in the previous case were not the same with the ones before the tribunal. He, therefore, prayed the court to allow the cross- appeal.

    After listening to all the arguments of counsel, the panel reserved judgement in all the four appeals, which it said would be communicated to parties at a later date.

    Recall that once the election was over on July 16, INEC announced the results on July 17.  Before the trial, some PDP lawyers told us that there were polling units where more than one BVAS machine was used in the July 16 election, and therefore there was merging of results.

    But throughout the trial, INEC never stated where and when two BVAS machines were used.  Again, assuming they were used and it forgot to lead the evidence in that regard, the merging of results would still have to take  place  before announcing the final results.

    For instance, INEC witness, a Deputy Director in the ICT Department, Mrs. Abimbola Oladunjoye, who admitted that there was over-voting in the July 16 governorship election never said anything about merging of results.

    She was cross-examined by the Petitioners’ counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN. She admitted under cross-examination that in Ward 4 unit 7, Ede South Local Government, there is an over-voting of 75, as the figure of accreditation on the BVAS report presented by INEC is 313, while the result on form EC8A is 383.

    Oladunjoye’s attention was also drawn to paragraph 21.36 of her witness statement where she stated that the accreditation figure was 830, but in the BVAS report presented by INEC, the figure of accreditation was 793, admitting that there was an over-voting of 37.

    The witness also admitted that in paragraph 26.7 of her witness statement, there is an accreditation figure of 402, while the accreditation figure on the INEC BVAS report was 263, admitting that there is an over voting of 139.

    Also in paragraph 23.24 of her witness statement, Oladunjoye agreed that the accreditation figure she mentioned was 448, while the accreditation figure on BVAS was 224, admitting that there is an over voting of 224.

    The INEC witness who admitted that she signed and certified a BVAS report for the Petitioners further said that the copy of the report was different from the one issued to the respondents, adding that she never indicated that the report issued to the Petitioners was an interim document which would be subjected to synchronisation.

    She testified that the synchronisation was done after election results had been declared on July 17, 2022 and BVAS report had been issued to the Petitioners on July 27, 2022.

    Since INEC admitted at the trial that synchronisation occurred after July 27, the Petitioners, through their lead Counsel, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, submitted that synchronisation was “a strange coinage surreptitiously designed to cure the over-voting presented to the Tribunal.”

    From my own reading of the judgement and Electoral Act, it appears the Tribunal relied on Sections 47 (2) and 51 (2), to draw its conclusion.

    For instance, Section 47 (2) of the Electoral Act 2022 stipulates that “To vote, the presiding officer shall use a smart card reader or any other technological device that may be prescribed by the Commission, for the accreditation of voters, to verify, confirm or authenticate the particulars of the intending voter in the manner prescribed by the Commission.” In the case of Osun Governorship Election, BVAS was deployed.

    Now, Section 51 (2) of the Act further stipulates that “Where the number of votes cast at an election in any polling unit exceeds the number of accredited voters in that polling unit, the presiding officer shall cancel the result of the election in that polling unit.”

    But those canvassing for a rerun, are relying on Section 52 (3) of the Electoral Act, which states that “Where the result of an election is cancelled in accordance with subsection (2), there shall be no return for the election until another poll has taken place in the affected polling unit”.

    However, this latest provision only envisages a situation where those charged with the responsibility of conducting the election apply the provision of Section 64 of the Electoral Act, in which case, they would have cured the over-voting and ordered a rerun. But since a return had been made, I doubt if Section 52 (3) can avail Senator Adeleke in this very instance. I, therefore, agree with the position of the Tribunal.

    On the issue of over-voting, if the Appeal Court agrees with Oyetola and APC, then, it is likely to uphold the decision of the Tribunal nullifying the election and return of Senator Ademola Adeleke as Osun Governor.

    And on the issue of certificate forgery, if the Appeal Court also agrees with Oyetola and APC, it is likely to set aside the decision of the Tribunal which specifically said Senator Ademola Adeleke was qualified to run for the July 16 Governorship election even after establishing a forgery case against him.

    All said and done, Nigerians wait on the Court of Appeal as it decides the Appeals and Cross Appeal before it this week.

    One thing is however clear, the Osun case is a major litmus test for the 2022 Electoral Act and one that has generated a lot of interests across the country and beyond.

    Ismail Omipidan, a journalist and a political analyst, writes from Ile Olorisa Compound, Eyindi, Ila Orangun, Osun.

  • Lagos elections credible, says rights group

    Lagos elections credible, says rights group

    By Robert Egbe; Linus Oota, Lafia; AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna; Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu; Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi; Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

    The governorship election in Lagos State was free and credible, a coalition of human rights and civil society groups said yesterday, when the presented their preliminary report.

    According to the groups, no election in the world is perfect. It stressed that the outcome of the election in Lagos substantially meets public expectations.

    The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NIHRCO), a coalition of 130 civil society and Community Based Organisations (CBOs), said the election was not devoid of hitches but, overall, the result represented the free, fair and informed consent of the people. The presentation was attended by 80 leaders of civil rights and community based groups.

    “What is left now is to heal wounds and fix broken hearts fuelled by ethnic baiting and hate speeches promoted by non-state actors,” the groups said.

    The coalition also praised the political leadership of the state government, saying its commitment to a free and fair election eliminated acts of violence compared with previous elections.

    The group deployed 680 observers across the 20 local governments and Local Council Development Areas, (LCDAs). 

    The presentation was supported by members of the Nigerians in Diaspora and South West Professional Forum (SOWPROF) who spoke through zoom, and describing the election as one of the best in the country and ‘a model for future elections in Nigeria’.

    Nosa Osaikhuiwu, a Project Management Expert from the Colorado State University, said he followed the elections in Lagos and ‘it was one of the best in the country’.

    He said: “I’m glad to speak to the audience. We Nigerians abroad are glad with the peaceful conduct of the election in Lagos. This offers tremendous opportunity for Lagos to continue her leadership role as the most significant city state in Africa,”.

    “No election all over the world that is 100 per cent perfect. Yet, there is no election that is 100 per cent bad. We shall avoid sweeping statements condemning the election. Total condemnation of the election process and outcome is absolutely wrong and unprofessional,” the group added. It also condemned conscious attempts to demonise the outcome of the election, saying of all the 36 states, Lagos recorded one of the most credible election in terms of the process and the outcome.

    KOGI

    Nine lawmakers

    suspended for ‘terrorism, violence’

    The Kogi State House of Assembly yesterday suspended nine lawmakers over alleged terrorism and electoral violence during Saturday’s House of Assembly election.

    The suspended lawmakers are Muktar Bajeh (Majority leader -Okehi), Daniya Ranyi (Bassa), Suleiman Attajachi (Idah), Bello Hassan (Ajaokuta) and Edoko Moses-Ododo (Ibaji).

    Others are Abubakar Tanko (Kogi/Koto), Atabor Cosmas-Llemona (Igalamela/Odolu) Kilani Olusola-Olumo (Ijumu) and Mohammed Lawi-Ahmed (Okene 1),

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lawmakers’ suspension follows a March 23 letter received from Governor Yahaya Bello.

    The House also received another letter, dated March 22, from the state leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), signed by the chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, and demanding the suspension of seven local government chairmen – Bassa, Ogorimagogo, Yagba West, Ibaji, Kabba/Bunu, Ajaokuta and Adavi councils -for alleged electoral violence. They are to be investigated by the House’ ad hoc committee headed by Deputy Speaker, Alfa Rabiu-Momoh.

    The third letter received by the House was a petition from nine of the 10 councilors of Lokoja local government area, asking for the investigation of the Chairman, Alhaji Dansabe Muhammed, over the alleged misappropriation of about N150 million revenue allocation received by the council.

    The House also suspended Chairman and Leader of the Legislative Arm to allow smooth investigation of the matter raised by the councilors.

    Speaker of the House Matthew Kolawale, speaking on their suspended colleagues, described their involvement in ‘terrorism and electoral violence as ‘very unfortunate and uncalled for’.

    The House also gave two weeks to a seven-man ad hoc committee to conduct and complete its findings and report back. It then adjourned sitting till March 28.

    NASARAWA

    SDP wins Lafia Central Constituency election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Solomon Akwashiki, winner of the Lafia Central Constituency seat for the House of Assembly.

    Returning Officer Prof. Samaila Usman, who announced the results yesterday, said Akwashiki polled 17,861 votes to defeat Babanlungu Ahmed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 17,113 votes.

    Akwashiki unseats Abdullahi Angibi of the APC who loses his second term re-election bid, after coming third with 16, 413 votes.

    OGUN

    Observers back INEC, election results

    Forum of Election Observer Groups has passed a vote of confidence in INEC, saying the election results in Ogun State reflected the people’s wishes.

    The group’s coordinator, Ayodeji Ologun, said: “The results, as announced by INEC, were consistent with our parallel vote tabulation results estimates.”

    Ologun, said his group noticed a significant improvement in INEC’s performance, saying ‘this no doubt impacted positively on the eventual outcome of the election’.

    “Furthermore, our findings revealed certain lapses and reports of malfeasance that impacted on the quality of the process in some polling units, in the state, that nonetheless was insignificant, compared to the progress made, during the election,” he added.

    •Adebutu to INEC: review election result

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu has asked INEC to review the election results.

    Incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun was declared winner having polled 276,298 votes, while Adebutu and Biyi Otegbeye of ADC got 262,383 and 94,753 respectively.

    But Adebutu argued that the number of votes cancelled was more than the margin between the APC and the PDP. This, he said, contravened the margin of lead principle as entrenched in the Electoral Act, adding that the electoral umpire ought to have declared the contest inconclusive.

    Adebutu made the claim in a letter to INEC signed by his lead counsel, Chris Uche (SAN).

    The letter reads: “…at the collation of results at the said election, it became clear that the margin of lead between Mr. Adedapo Abiodun, candidate of the APC and our client was not in excess of the total number of voters who collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in polling units where elections did not hold or were voided.

    “We enclose the extract of the votes showing that whereas the total number of PVCs in places elections were not held was 33,750, the lead as announced by the Returning Officer between the two candidates was only 13,915.

    “In accordance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022, the Returning Officer shall and must decline to make a return in the circumstances.

    “We, therefore, apply that your Commission exercises its powers under Section 65(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 to review this wrongful declaration and return within seven days. We state that this is a clear case of a declaration made contrary to the provisions of the law, the regulations and the guidelines, and need not wait for an election petition before review.”

    KADUNA

    PDP candidate: I will retrieve my mandate

    •‘I didn’t call for poll cancellation’

    The Kaduna State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Isah Ashiru, has vowed to challenge the results in court.

    Ashiru urged his supporters and party loyalists to remain calm, saying though the people’s mandate given to him was stolen, he is confident in the judiciary to help him reclaim i.

    “…I assure you that I am law abiding, our supporters are law abiding, and we will continue to do that. I assure you all that our party is studying the situation and, very soon, we will make a statement. The mandate belongs to the people of Kaduna State, and I have a responsibility to ensure that we recover it.”

    The National Rescue Movement (NRM) governorship candidate, Salihu Abubakar, however distanced himself from the statement by a group calling for the cancellation of the polls.

    Abubakar, in a statement, stressed that he does not know of any group called ‘Kaduna State Rescue and Rebuild Governorship Candidates Forum’.

    He said: “I am surprised that my party featured in a statement by a pseudo group. As a bonafide member of the Kaduna State Governorship Candidates Forum, I am not aware that such group exists within our fold. Whatever is the intention of the chairman, I have no hand in it and would be forced to seek legal redress from him for including my party in the release.”

    Abubakar also said he accepts the election and its outcome, which recognises Senator Uba Sani as the governor-elect.

    •Governor-elect vows to challenge PDP’s result

    Kaduna State Governor-elect, Senator Uba Sani, yesterday said he will challenge some election results where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won with unimaginable margins.

    Sani, who spoke with the Hausa Service of BBC, expressed surprise that PDP won some local government areas with bogus figures.

    The governor-elect said he will go to the tribunal to contest PDP’s victory in those areas, adding that after the verdict, the margin of victory between him and Ashiru, the PDP candidate, will widen.

    ENUGU

    I’ll repay you with projects, Mbah promises

    • ‘We’ll clean up INEC’s mess in court’

    Enugu State Governor-elect Peter Mbah has promised to repay the people with projects and policies to comfort them.

    Mbah, in his acceptance speech after he was declared winner yesterday, said the people made a huge investment for their future and that of their children’s children by voting for him.

    He also promised to serve them and dedicate every of the 1,460 days that make up his initial tenure of office to serving them.

    “I accept this announcement with a glad, solemn and grateful heart, and with only one obligation – to devote every tissue of my flesh, the totality of my mind and spirit to the task of the greatness of Enugu State.

    “I will remember the coarse road you travailed to get us here. In reply, we will speak resoundingly with policies of government that will give you comfort and rest of mind. As I told you during the campaign, the administration we will run will bring joy to your hearts. We will make you remember March 18, 2023 with a toothy smile…”

    Meanwhile, governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP), Chijioke Edeoga has vowed to upturn Mbah’s victory in court. Edeoga, who described the election as a mess, said his party contested against INEC because ‘my clear victory was upturned in favour of the PDP’.

    He said: “LP in Enugu State and Nigeria has decided that the outcome of this election is not acceptable and we are taking steps to correct it. The results as announced by INEC are not in consonance with the votes cast by the people of Enugu State. We have several evidences of clear illegalities associated with the election in many parts; we have several cases of over- voting, ballot snatching, non-usage of BVAS, as well as places where votes were returned far higher than what BVAS accredited. So, we have now identified those places and we’ll do the needful…”

    BENUE

    I will return IDPs, clear salaries, says Governor-Elect

    Benue State Governor-elect, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has assured the people he will not abuse the confidence reposed in him.

    Addressing reporters after he was declared winner, Fr. Alia said: “I recognise the enormous privilege and honour it is to be trusted with the government of the state, especially at this time, and I am deeply conscious of it. I would like to say that God does not call the qualified! He qualifies the called.

    “I may not be the most qualified to lead the state at this time, but the Good Lord who has called me will qualify me. Never in my life have I seen a people express their desires and wishes so passionately as I saw from you in this election.

    “My dear people, this victory belongs to you. It belongs to all of you who thirst for the dividends of democracy. And by this victory, the liberation we have all yearned for is at hand. Change is coming to Benue State.

    “We will clear the backlog of arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities, resettle our IDPs in their ancestral homes, address persistent insecurity challenges and set the stage for a prosperous Benue…”

    DELTA

    Three arraigned for

    electoral violence

    Three youths have been arraigned at an Asaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Delta State, for alleged electoral violence.

    The accused – Udeh Chukwuedo (32), Dike Samuel (27) and Rabbi Nana (29) are being arraigned on a four-count charge for breaching relevant sections of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    They however pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate C.I. Moeteke granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each and one surety each in like sum, following oral application by the defense counsel, V.O. Agu, who argued that the offence was bailable.

    The court adjourned till May 9.

  • Giant strides of a center of medical excellence

    Giant strides of a center of medical excellence

    The University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, attained worldwide fame as one of the best four hospitals in the Commonwealth before it plummeted into disrepute – no thanks to years of poor funding that led to decay in infrastructure, among other things. Now, the nation’s foremost teaching hospital seems to have found its mojo with world-class infrastructure that can help it reclaim its lost glory, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF

    It was an accident that almost claimed his life, but Ade Olufunwa, 45, survived by whiskers. That was three years ago when he was involved in a ghastly motor accident while returning from Lagos to join his family in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. His car rammed into a trailer ahead due to brake failure and the incident left him unconscious, sustaining serious injuries that landed him in the University College Hospital (UCH).

    At the UCH, a friend that tended to his badly fractured body said Olufunwa received a prompt and caring treatment that saved his life, having sustained serious neck and back injuries. Perhaps, having been inundated with sad tales of poor handling of patients in dire need of emergency care in many public hospitals, his family did not know that Nigerians need not to worry anymore when seeking healthcare, given the intervention and provision of some infrastructure by the federal government in UCH.

    In September 2021, UCH was applauded as an outstanding public health facility at an event organised by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and witnessed by President Muhammadu Buhari. Perhaps, that was why the Minister of Heath, Dr Osagie Ehanire, openly commended Prof. Jesse Otegbayo while delivering the letter re-appointing him for a second term as the chief medical director (CMD) of the hospital. Strategically located in the Oyo State capital, UCH is a health facility that parades world-class infrastructure and well-trained personnel capable of shrinking the escalating medical tourism among the country’s moneyed elites.

    Aside the health infrastructure, the facility has a skilled workforce, integrated electronic information systems, public health organisations, resources and research, as well as state-of-the- art medical infrastructure. Just like a healthy individual contributes to the overall development and growth of a country, quality heath infrastructure also guarantees a healthy manpower that strengthens the production of goods and services. Many believe this is why the UCH has consistently played a leading role in churning out world-class training, research and medical services, thereby raising the standard of the medical profession, both nationally and globally.

    The physical development of the hospital commenced in 1953 in its present site and was formally commissioned after it was completed on 20th November, 1957.  However, given the influx of Nigerians and foreigners into the 65-year-old hospital modelled after the University College Hospital, London, there was the need for expansion. The need for innovation and expansion signalled a rebirth for the hospital, under the leadership of Prof. Otegbayo to upgrade the hospital to a world-class facility in line with international best practices.

    From an 872 bed-space facility, the teaching hospital has witnessed a substantial boost and is now a 1, 229 bed-space institution.  Before the elevation of Prof. Otegbayo, he had served the hospital in various capacities. Under his watch, UCH has recorded great feats by reshaping the healthcare services in Nigeria, resulting in the UCH being christened the citadel of medical training in the country. Committed to innovation, Prof. Otegbayo unveiled a 24-point development agenda, meant to bolster quality health care services in the hospital, including reclaiming its former status as one of the four hospitals in the Commonwealth where kings and princes from Saudi Arabia came for medical treatment.

    Before he assumed duty as the CMD in 2019, the hospital had 17 uncompleted projects. Apart from completing these projects, Prof. Otegbayo initiated and completed 46 new capital projects from 2019 till date. They include the environmental health tutor’s course hostel, medical oxygen production plant, mortuary building reconstruction, NYSC medical service centre, Iseyin, sickle cell centre, the cardiac centre, radio-iodine therapy ward, commissioning of the paediatrics intensive care unit, and the accreditation of the emergency medicine residency training under the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, among others.

    Worthy of mention is that the UCH has been acknowledged as the most patient-friendly, hygienic and worker-conscious hospital by the various accreditation teams that had visited the hospital since the inception of Otegbayo-led administration. The motivation of the workforce for increased productivity and improved aesthetics of the hospital was another feat that earned Otegbayo global recognition.  This is in addition to the peaceful co-existence with host communities and other stakeholders, improved quality and scope of health care delivery to patients through adequate provision of medical equipment and consumables, and regular feedback from patients through the hospital’s total quality management department.

    Other innovations recorded by UCH are increasing the hospital’s revenue, upgrading and re-equipping of laboratories, the intensive care unit, theatres, and general improvement of the clinical services with the state-of-the-art equipment such as echocardiography, dialysis machines, digital X-ray, ECG, ventilator, infusion pump machines, operating tables, ICU beds, cash and carry pharmacies, and cash and carry medical consumables outlets to reduce the purchasing of drugs and medical consumables from outside the hospital.

    He also provided 48 3-seater iron chairs for patients’ relatives at the emergency department, wards and clinics to avoid patients’ relatives from sitting on bare floors as was done in the past, creation of special duties unit, disease surveillance unit, COVID-19 task force, clinical virology department, infectious disease and health insurance departments for staff and the establishment of electronic medical records for easy storage and retrieval of patients’ information.

    Mention must also be made of the installation of seven new elevators to facilitate the movement of patients to all floors of the hospital, equipping and reviving the in vitro fertilization clinic, that led to the delivery of the first set of triplets, resuscitation of the moribund medical oxygen plant and establishment of a new plant, provision of 51 seven cubic centimetres medical oxygen cylinders, 56 hand held pulse oximeters, cylinder accessories and over a thousand nasal prongs and cannulas, installation of a modern incinerator and CCTV as well as the installation of 400 solar powered lights.

    Furthermore, UCH has also witnessed the installation of the UCH-RAD-AID pictorial archiving communication system, reporting room in the radiology department, procurement of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, including six brand new vehicles for top management staff, procurement of anaesthetic machines and chairs at the ophthalmology department, procurement of two S70 GE echocardiographic machines for the electrocardiography unit, the overhaul of the hospital’s sewage, and water supply reticulation system,  procurement of 64 slice CT scanners, 500KVA, three 150KVA and 1,000KVA generators, two digital mammography machines for the radiology department., the purchase of six new ambulances, beautification of the hospital and the construction of major roads within the hospital and staff quarters, the construction and equipping of X-ray centre at the Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre, construction and equipping of the NYSC Medical Centre at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Iseyin, resuscitation, renovation and re-equipping the NHIS Clinic at the Federal Secretariat, Ikolaba, Ibadan, and renovating and equipping the blood bank centre of the hospital to meet world standard.

    In the last four years, the UCH Health Foundation was established as a means of attracting funds and donations for the development of the hospital. And through collaboration with various international organisations, the hospital performed 16 open heart surgeries for children at a subsidised rate and resuscitated the decade-long abandoned 40-bed guest house at the South campus. Currently, the UCH, Ibadan, has witnessed a patients’ turnover of 17, 202 from 13, 893 within his first four years in office, while on the average, 311, 573 patients annually received medical care at the hospital from the 247, 254 patients recorded yearly before now. Also, maternal morbidity rate at the hospital had reduced from 886 to 426 annually, while infant morbidity rate decreased from 1, 273 to 839 per annum.

    In the words of the health minister, Dr. Ehanire, the UCH is marching surefooted to becoming a leading destination for cutting-edge healthcare in Africa. Speaking while announcing Prof. Otegbayo’s reappointment, the minister affirmed that the extension of his tenure as the chief medical director is a declaration that the Buhari Administration is satisfied with his performance in his first term in office. “The letter of reappointment not only tells you that we are satisfied with what you have done so far, but tells you that we want more. It is not only a declaration of confidence, but also a declaration of expectations that you need to take this hospital forward, so that it will be much better than where you met it.  We are not saying that where you met it was bad, but the very idea of progress is that you are not stagnant. If you are stagnant, then you are behind. So therefore, it is to tell you that we expect more from you,” the minister challenged the reappointed chief medical director and his management team.

    Also speaking recently at the inauguration of seven projects in Ibadan, Dr Ehanire reiterated the commitment of the Buhari administration to providing infrastructure and facilities in the health sector as well as improved welfare for staff. He noted that the goal of the administration was to ensure that each ward has a functioning Primary Health Care facility and a standard Secondary Healthcare facility in each local government area, which will enable the Tertiary Health care such as UCH to focus on research, training and treatments.

    Otegbayo lauded President Buhari under whose leadership there has been provision of infrastructure to improve facilities and create a conducive atmosphere for research at the hospital. He said with the recent procurement of the 64 slice CT machine, “our Radiology Department will be able to render advanced radio diagnostic services to our teeming patients. The two Digital Mammography machines have the latest GT Technology and it is capable of carrying out an array of services. The Practical Demonstration Room in Nurse Tutors’ School will be for seminars, tutorials, clinical demonstrations and simulation. The establishment of the Molecular Laboratory, envisioned by the Federal Ministry of Health, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, will help to detect, with a high level of reliability, accuracy and rapid turnaround time, microorganisms, genetic mutations associated with certain infectious diseases (COVID-19, Lassa Fever, HIV etc.) and cancers and paternity tests, among others,” Otegbayo said.

    The CMD noted that another important project was the Pressure Swing Absorption Oxygen Generating Plant. According to him, High quality, medical-grade oxygen will be produced and administered to patients in-house, leading to less dependence on oxygen from external sources. “This will greatly enhance our existing daily oxygen production capacity in the hospital to meet the needs of critically ill patients who are oxygen-dependent. These projects were envisioned in my strategic plan to improve clinical services to elevate the hospital from a tertiary hospital to a quaternary level. “These projects deliver on so many of our commitments to the sustainability of the Hospital and the management is proud and honored to have the Federal Government’s intervention in these key areas of our services,” Otegbayo said.