Category: Lead

•Governor rejects judgment, heads to Appeal Court
•Tinubu, APC, govs, others hail verdict
•INEC greatest beneficiary of judgment – Oyetola

It was all jubilation in the All Progressives Congress (APC) camp yesterday after the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal invalidated the July 17, 2022 declaration of Mr. Ademola Adeleke as winner of last year’s election for irregularities in the conduct of the poll.

A buoyant Gboyega Oyetola, who was declared winner by the tribunal, said the victory would energise his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of next month’s presidential election.

The party’s flag bearer in the election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, branded it the triumph of perseverance.

But Adeleke and the PDP rejected the verdict. He vowed to go on appeal while his supporters took to the streets of Osogbo in protest.

By a majority decision of 2 to 1, the tribunal held that 112,705 votes were unlawfully counted in Adeleke’s favour.

It consequently deducted the illegal votes from the total of 403,371 originally credited to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), leaving him with only 290,666.

It then declared Oyetola winner of the election with 314,931 votes as against the 375,027 first recorded for him.

The tribunal deducted 60,096 votes, which it said were illegal.

Chairman of the tribunal Justice Tertse Kume and Justice Rabi Bashir said, in their majority ruling, that a total 181,540 illegal votes were identified in 744 polling units across the state.

According to them, neither the PDP nor INEC countered APC’s documentary evidence of over voting in the affected units.

They also said that INEC, in issuing APC Certified True Copies of BVAS and Election Results, did not state that the reports were not synchronised or interim.

In addition, they said INEC did not at any point during the hearing apply to withdraw the reports it issued to APC but admitted during cross examination that it issued the reports to the party.

Reviewing the evidence before them, Kume and Bashir said: “We have looked and evaluated the evidence of the parties as shown in the exhibits before this Tribunal. The contents of the exhibits are clear as day. The said evidence is not from the fertile and creative imagination of learned counsel for the Petitioners as erroneously submitted by learned counsel for the Respondents in their respective reply addresses on points of law to the issues under consideration.

“The ‘syncronization’ of the documents made by the 1st Respondent and the physical inspection of same done by the 2nd and 3rd Respondents, as shown in the table hereinbefore reproduced, run riot to the defences raised by each of the Respondents to this  petition in respect of issues 2 and 3 under consideration.

“The said ‘syncronization’, rather than rhyme with each other, are inconsistent and contradictory. The said exhibits tendered by the Respondents have not rebutted the presumption of regularity in favour of exhibit BVR and the other documents tendered by the Petitioners in this petition.

“In other words, the defence of the Respondents are plagued with fundamental mortal flaws highly 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.

“The inference we hereby draw from the facts established by the evidence on record is that the election conducted on the 16th day of July, 2022 was done in substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act (Supra) and the extant regulations made thereunder.

“Moreover, exhibit BVR has not been withdrawn by the 1st Respondent who made and issued it. The Petitioners relied on exhibit BVR in maintaining this petition. The Respondents are estopped from acting inconsistent with the import and tenor of exhibit BVR.

“Similarly, the exhibits tendered by the Respondents after exhibit BVR, as rightly submitted by learned counsel for the Petitioners, were thought of after the declaration of result on the 17th day of July, 2022.

“The said conduct of the Respondents, especially the 1st Respondent, amounts to tampering with official records. The conduct of the 1st Respondent in the said election under consideration has produced multiple accreditation reports, contrary to its avowed declaration to conduct free, fair and credible elections on the basis of one man or woman with one vote.

“From the examination of the evidence of the parties in respect of issues 2 and 3, we find as a fact that over-voting occurred in the election conducted on the 16th day of July, 2022 in the manner stated in the table in paragraph 6.19 of the Petitioners’ final written address, already reproduced in the judgement.

“The duty of this Tribunal is to deduct the said invalid votes from the lawful votes of the 1st Petitioner and the 2nd Respondent, to determine who had a majority of lawful votes at the said election.

“For the sake of emphasis, the total lawful votes for each of the candidates after the said deduction of the invalid votes is 314,931 for 1st Petitioner, and 290,666 for the 2nd Respondent.

“Consequently, the 2nd Respondent did not score a majority of lawful votes cast at the election. The declaration and return is hereby declared null and void. The 2nd Respondent cannot ‘go lo lo lo lo’ and ‘Buga won’ as the duly elected Governor of Osun State in the election conducted on 16th day of July, 2022. See Kizz Daniel song, BUGA. Rather, we hereby hold that the 1st Petitioner scored a majority of lawful votes in the said election and is hereby returned as such.”

The tribunal directed INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Adeleke and issue it to Oyetola.

But it also said Adeleke was qualified to contest the election, contrary to claims by the Petitioner that he was not.

In the dissenting judgement, Justice B.A. Ogbuli said he did not agree with the analysis of the evidence at the Tribunal and the ultimate decision arrived at in the majority decision, citing in particular conflict and inconsistencies in the evidence of Petitioner’s Witness 1.

He said: “The Petitioners predicated their case on an incomplete and inchoate document which is exhibit BVR.

“It is remarkable to note that the Petitioners did not controvert the exhibits R.BVM series and the report of physical inspection of them, exhibit RWC. They stand unchallenged.”

He held that the Petitioners failed to “prove issue of over-voting by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. They also have not proved that the 2nd Respondent was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election.”

He added: “I will need to point out that the inadequacies in our system such as power outage, network failure and paucity of relevant amenities should not be overlooked as we operate in a problem condition. It will be most unfortunate for a contestant who lost election to hurriedly apply and get a report from an incomplete source and then build a case on it to topple a candidate who has been declared the winner. It is exactly the case here.”

Adeleke rejects verdict, heads to Appeal Court

 Mr. Adeleke immediately rejected the tribunal’s verdict and appealed to his supporters for calm, saying he would go on appeal.

Spokesman for the sacked governor, Olawale Rasheed, quoted him as describing the majority judgement as “a miscarriage of justice”.

He said:”I call on our people to remain calm. We will appeal the judgement and we are sure justice will be done. Let our people be reassured that we will do everything possible to retain this widely acclaimed mandate.”

In a follow-up message to the people of the state last night, Adeleke said: “My good people of Osun State, we have all heard the split judgement of the governorship election tribunal.

“Two members of the tribunal delivered two opposing judgements, the chairman and the member one. The member two did not deliver any judgment, she abstained.

“The chairman’s judgment affirmed the claim of over-voting, while the member one’s judgement agreed with our position as captured by the BVAS machines, which is the primary source of accreditation data of true accreditation on the day of the election.

“The reality of my election as the Governor of Osun State is captured in the member one’s judgement. The claim of over-voting in the chairman’s judgement was unfounded. This was clearly a miscarriage of justice. Based on the above, there was no majority judgement.

“My good people of Osun State, I am still your Governor. I have the right of appeal the chairman’s judgement and I have instructed my lawyers accordingly.

“You gave me your mandate, our election remains valid and by the grace of God we will triumph at last.

“I call on you all to remain calm and go about your normal activities, peacefully. Please, remain law-abiding. We have strong faith in God and in our judiciary.”

Counsel to PDP, Mr Nathaniel Oke, told newsmen that the respondents were dissatisfied with the tribunal’s verdict.

Oke said necessary legal step to challenge the judgment would be embarked upon by the respondents in order to reclaim Adeleke’s mandate.

He said that the majority judgment might not be the position of the court, adding, however, that the respondents stood with the minority judgment which, he said, showed the true picture of what transpired at the election.

Some placard-carrying PDP supporters were seen on the streets of Osogbo protesting the judgement.

The protesters blocked roads around the popular Olaiya Junction and Old Garage, leading to traffic gridlock.

Counsel to APC, Dr Abiodun Layonu, thanked the tribunal for restoring the victory of Oyetola as the winner of the governorship election.

Layonu thanked Mr Akin Olujimi (SAN) and Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for leading Oyetola to victory at the tribunal.

He said that the judges at the tribunal considered the option of declaring Oyetola as winner in a majority judgment.

 “You will recall that it was only two people who gave judgment in respect of the July 16, 2022 election,” he said.

PDP: It’s unacceptable

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the judgment was contrary to the will of the people of Osun State.

Read Also: Adeleke rejects Osun tribunal verdict, heads to Appeal Court

“The July 16, 2022 governorship election in Osun State was adjudged by local and international observers to be free, fair, transparent and clearly won by the PDP and our candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke, in confirmation of the wishes and aspiration of the people,” he said in a statement.

 “The will of the people of Osun State as expressed by electing Governor Adeleke must be respected. As a law-abiding party, the PDP will explore all available legal means to restore the victory of our Party.

“The PDP charges the people of Osun State to be calm, remain at alert and continue to support Governor Adeleke as we restate our confidence in the Institution of the Judiciary to dispense justice in this matter at the Appellate Court.”

INEC is biggest beneficiary of judgement —Oyetola

Oyetola, in his reaction to the development, said INEC, more than anyone else, was the biggest beneficiary of the judgement as it will enable the commission deal with its shortcomings during the coming elections.

Speaking in his hometown, Iragbiji, headquarters of Boripe Local Government Area, he said: “It is a collective victory for our state and our nation’s democracy. I am happy that the judgement has resolved the controversy of July 16th 2022 governorship election.

“INEC is the greatest beneficiary of the judgement. It will afford them the opportunity to look at all the anomalies and make necessary adjustments to prevent such mistakes again now that general elections are coming.

“I thank the people of the state and supporters for standing by us for the courage and loyalty. I want to assure them that we are ready to continue to serve them.”

He appealed to the members of the PDP not to resort to self-help, but instead allow the judicial process to run its full course.

”Like I have always emphasised, our decision to approach the Tribunal was not to impugn on the integrity of INEC, but to help deepen our electoral system and our democracy.

“I salute millions of our party faithful and Osun citizens who stood firm to weather the storm for their courage and loyalty.

“With this victory, we have become more energised to redouble our efforts towards ensuring victory for our presidential candidate and all our National Assembly candidates, including all the State House of Assembly candidates in the February and March elections respectively.”

 It’s triumph of perseverance, says Tinubu

The APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, described the tribunal verdict as a “triumph of courage and perseverance, and light over the forces of darkness that sought to arrest the progressive good governance the APC administration delivered to the people of Osun State under the leadership of Oyetola.”

His media aide, Tunde Rahman, quoted him as saying in a congratulatory message to Oyetola thus:

“I heartily rejoice with Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola on his much-deserved victory at the Election Tribunal today. It is the victory of light over darkness; a triumph of perseverance, courage and justice over electoral fraud and democratic perversion.

 “The forces of darkness plotted to extinguish the able leadership and progressive good governance that improved the quality of life of our people under your leadership. But today, the Tribunal delivered justice and restored the mandate freely given to you and our great party.

“I am confident that the good work you championed that was momentarily paused will soon resume and Osun people will be happy again. And together we can renew their hope of shared prosperity.”

APC savours ‘victory for democracy, rule of law’

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, in a statement in Abuja hailed the judgement as victory for democracy and rule of law.

“It is a categorical affirmation of the will of the Osun electorate as expressed at the polls,” Morka said, adding:”The peaceful conduct of the Osun governorship election and effective recourse procedures are eloquent testament to our Party’s commitment to bequeathing a legacy of credible elections, and independent and fair dispensation of electoral justice. 

“The Tribunal’s findings and verdict on the pivotal question of over-voting yet again underscores the massive significance of the programme of electoral reform, and new and efficient technologies implemented by the APC-administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Again, congratulations to the triumphant people of Osun State.”

The State Chapter of APC, in a separate statement, called the election tribunal judgment a triumph of justice and truth over falsehood.

The Acting State Chairman of Osun APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement said the judgement was a confirmation that the APC is the dominant political party in the state.

Lawal stated that he never, for once, doubted the victory of Oyetola at the tribunal as the verdict was a confirmation that the APC governorship candidate did not lose the July 16, 2022 election but the vote-count.

The acting chairman observed that the difference in the garnered votes, by which Oyetola was declared the winner of the election by the tribunal, was enough to prove that the APC candidate won the election conveniently and convincingly.

He said the majority judgement that gave Oyetola victory further underscored the fact that the court of law is the last hope of the common man as justice was not only served, it was seen to have been glaringly done.

He appreciated the professional expertise of all the lawyers who featured at the tribunal and also lauded the support and loyalty of all the APC members throughout the duration of the suit at the tribunal.

Oyetola’s wife, Kafayat, was seen in a video leading APC supporters in a victory dance.

Fair deal for the people, says Gbajabiamila

House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said it was a fair deal for the people of the state.

The Speaker said the Osun governorship election tribunal was convinced that indeed there were anomalies during the election, which is why it restored the people’s mandate.

He urged Oyetola to be magnanimous in victory at the end of the whole process.

This victory shall be permanent, Akeredolu tells Oyetola

Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu  expressed optimism that the Supreme Court would uphold the verdict of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal.

He said: “This is indeed a victory for democracy. No doubt, the judgment will further consolidate and deepen our country’s democratic values and Election Petitions jurisprudence. It will also sustain the faith of the people in our democratic process. The will of the people has prevailed.

“I congratulate my dearest brother, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (Ileri-Oluwa). I also rejoice with the good people of Osun State and the entire APC family. This is a victory for all.

“While we relish the victory of the moment, I like to assure my dearest brother, Gboyega that we will be with him all the way to the Supreme Court.

“We shall hold hands together and march on this path of shared conviction. At the end, this victory shall be permanent.”

Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun too

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, also sent congratulatory messages to Oyetola.

 Sanwo-Olu, who was the Chairman of the APC Governorship Campaign Council for the last Osun State Governorship Election, commended the judiciary “for doing the right thing.”

He said: “We need to commend and believe in the judicial success and judicial process of our country. I think the tribunal has taken its time and you can see the outcome. It was a majority decision and I want to thank and commend them for doing the right thing.

“I imagine they must have been under tremendous pressure but I am sure at the end of the day, they took the right outcome.

“My congratulations goes to the APC family in Osun. This is a victory that has been delayed for such a long time. The judiciary has shown that it was delayed but not denied, so I want to congratulate my brother, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

“I want him to go and dust all of the economic blueprint that he has started with the people of Osun, dust all of his files and ensure that by the grace of God, he returns to the Ileri Oluwa journey for dividends of all of his effort in the last four years. He will go back to work and complete the good work that he has started with his people.”

 Governor Abiodun lauded Oyetola for his resilience and strong belief in the judiciary, which eventually vindicated his claims of irregularities during the election.

The judgement, according to him, has once again reinforced the belief that the judiciary is the last hope of the people.

Abiodun congratulated the people of Osun for the return of a governor who is a true progressive, compassionate and humane leader.

•CBN: Last day for depositing old notes is Tuesday
•Confusion as traders, churches, transporters reject old notes
•Banks to open doors Saturday, Sunday for return of old notes
•PoS operators make brisk business, surcharge for new naira notes
•Ganduje, Kano Islamic sects press for extension of deadline
•Lawyer asks court to restrain CBN from phasing out old notes

It was one story of agony or another across the country yesterday as millions of Nigerians queued endlessly at automated teller machine (ATM) points to collect the new naira notes.

Some others moved from one bank to the other in search of the scarce notes.

Their situation was not helped by traders and petrol attendants who have started to reject the old notes, leaving buyers and motorists seething with anger.

And they now have only 72 hours to change their old notes to the new ones or lose the opportunity forever.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said repeatedly that there is no going back on the January 31 deadline.

Although the commercial banks have notified their customers that they will operate today and tomorrow Sunday to receive the old notes from those who may wish to deposit, an investigation yesterday showed that most of the banks were still short of the new notes.

Only a few of them loaded their ATMs with the new notes.

Customers thronged the various banks across the country in the hope of getting the new notes.

At Access Bank Plc located at the Central Business District, Abuja, few customers were seen at the banking hall depositing old naira notes while the ATM spot had a long queue of customers withdrawing the new notes.

Mr Benjamin Imashi, a customer, said although there were long queues in banks, citizens should endure to enable the government achieve their good aim.

On the extension of the deadline for the old notes, he said “we do not want any extension”.

“The timeline for the old notes is only three days from now. We do not have to bother about that, because we are suffering fuel crisis, inflation and they do not have timeline. But this one has a timeline.

“We know that after January 31, we will have all the currencies we need.

“We have to support the CBN and Mr. President because without this, the people who have hoarded money for election and other purposes will still bring the monies into circulation, and that is what the CBN is fighting against.

“We have to make sacrifice so that we can get what we want. We do not want CBN to extend the deadline.

“If you extend it, you are giving room for the money hoarders to bring the monies back into circulation and the intention of the government would be defeated.”

Mr Abdul Ishaka, a customer at Access Bank, said the bank’s ATM dispensed N20,000 of the new notes to him.

Ishaka, who said he moved from one bank ATM to the other in search of the new notes, urged other banks to join in making the collection easier for customers.

Another customer at Access Bank, Mrs Helen Takun, said the queues were frustrating and discouraging.

“The CBN and banks should make the new notes available for the people.

“Why must people go through stress at every policy they want to implement? People are willing to utilise the new money but it should be made available with ease,” she said.

Mrs Angela Akatu, a customer at First Bank Plc, Central Business District, said she had stood on the queue for about an hour without collecting the notes.

She appealed to the CBN to disburse enough notes to the banks to reduce the stress faced by the masses.

A bank official, who preferred anonymity, said they were short of the new notes, adding that the bank was dispensing according to what they received from the CBN.

In Lagos, some motorists were left cursing after petrol station attendants refused to accept the old naira notes.

Some of the motorists wondered why the attendants did not forewarn them until they had spent hours on the queue to buy fuel.

Some traders also refused to do business with buyers holding the old notes.

One Janet Aondo, who was spotted at Karu, Abuja with the old N1,000 note, said she was frustrated.

Aondo said she came out to get snacks for her children to take to school but was told that she could only make payment with the new naira note.

She said it was worrisome that people had begun to reject the old notes.

Another customer, who pleaded anonymity, said she was turned down by a PoS agent when she went to deposit the old naira notes.

“The agent imputed the amount and recipient’s number, but the moment I brought out old notes, he said ‘Madam we have stopped collecting old notes’.

“I tried explaining to him that the deadline is January 31, but he was adamant.

“I had to use other PoS and what I did was to wait till the transaction was successful before I brought out the money and luckily the agent collected it.

“As I speak with you, I am going to ransack my house for any of those old notes and make sure I spend all of them today.”

PoS operators make brisk business, surcharge for new naira notes

Some Point of Sale (PoS) operators in satellite towns of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are making brisk business with the new naira notes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the PoS outlets at Nyanya, Mararaba and Karu were either not dispensing the new notes or charging extra cash for them.

Miss Dera Akoh, an operator in Nyanya, charged N200 for each N2000 new notes dispensed.

She said the banks were not also dispensing enough new naira notes to them.

She said: “For every N2,000 you withdraw, the customer will pay me N200.

”It is very difficult for us to get the new notes even in banks.

”I went to the bank yesterday and they gave me new notes for only N5,000. It is not our fault,” she said.

Another operator, Mrs Peace Akande, also in Nyanya, said she charged N150 for every N1,500 withdrawn.

Mr Isah Abdullahi, a PoS operator at Mararaba, said he did not have new notes to pay customers.

He appealed to the customers to withdraw only what they could spend before the deadline for the use of the old naira notes elapsed.

Mr Anthony Ali, a resident of a community in Lugbe area, said that operators were charging N500 for every N5,000 withdrawn.

”In Lugbe, if you want to collect N5000, the operators will pay you N4,500 and collect their N500 charge as against N100 which they usually charge.

”This is very frustrating. CBN needs to step up their actions.

”They should make these new naira notes available for people to use,” he said.

The story is not different in Jos, the Plateau State capital where PoS operators have hiked charges for their transactions from N100 to N200 per N10,000.

POS operators in some areas in the city charge N200 for withdrawing N10,000 redesigned notes, and accepting deposit for the new rates.

An operator at Zarmaganda area who pleaded anonymity said the increase was due to the difficulties they encounter in accessing the new naira notes from the banks and the limit on withdrawal.

Aba residents lament ordeal

Residents of the commercial city of Aba, Abia State, are also disappointed at the inability of the banks to meet their demands for the new notes.

Many of them who went to their banks in the hope of getting the new notes returned home in frustration.

Some traders also rejected the old notes, claiming they were unsure of changing them before the Tuesday deadline.

Some petrol station owners stopped collecting the old notes from 10am to enable them go to the bank to deposit the ones that they have.

Ganduje sympathises with populace, calls for extension of time

 Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje yesterday sympathised with the people of the state over the hardship they have been encountering in changing their old notes.

Ganduje, in a statement he issued through Information Commissioner Muhammad Garba, said government was deeply moved by the attendant consequences of the policy which has affected the people, especially poor Nigerians, due to its timing and short transition period.

“The state government is making frantic efforts to collaborate with other stakeholders to see to the extension of the transition period set for the total withdrawal of the old banknotes and issuance of enough new naira notes to the people,” he said.

“While the government, like most Nigerians, believes that the people are facing hardship following the naira redesign, it is passionately appealing to the CBN to extend the deadline set for the policy,” the Commissioner for Information quoted Ganduje as saying.

On the current fuel shortage, the statement also urged the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ensure adequate supply and distribution of the commodity to Nigerians.

The governor urged people in the state to remain calm as appropriate measures would be taken to ameliorate the difficult situations being faced.

The Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya and Izala Islamic sects in the state also asked the federal government to extend the deadline “due to unavailability of the new naira notes for the people.”

The call for extension was a resolution at a meeting which had in attendance Governor Ganduje, his deputy and APC gubernatorial candidate Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, deputy governorship candidate Murtala Sule Garo, APC State Chairman Abdullahi Abbas and the Islamic clerics from all the sects.

The meeting was held in Government House, during which the attendees noted that “economic activities have been paralysed in Kano -the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria due to hardship caused by the shortage of the new naira notes.”

The meeting urged President Muhammadu Buhari to out of magnanimity consider the suffering caused to the people of the state by the shortage of the new naira notes and extend the deadline set by the CBN.

Many Kano residents were seen on long queues at automated teller machines (ATM) points waiting to collect the new notes.

New naira notes for sale in Enugu

The new notes were openly sold to interested people at the Ogbete Main Market in Enugu yesterday with a N5,000 transaction attracting a N500 charge.

POS operators charged extra N300 for new notes below N5000.

The scarcity of the new notes has made business transactions in cash difficult in the state with traders rejecting the old notes.

Chaos in Ogun as deadline draws closer

Frustrated bank customers in Abeokuta pushed and shoved one another in and out of banking halls in the Ogun State capital yesterday in their last minute rush to either deposit the old naira notes or make withdrawal in exchange for the new notes.

The congestion and attendant chaos followed the shortage of the news notes and in some cases, unavailability of the new notes for dispensing through the banks’ ATM points.

At the Sapon branch of a new generation bank visited, customers revolted, vowing not to vacate the bank premises unless the bank’s ATMs were loaded with the new notes.

However, the crowd of customers started easing off around 3:30pm when CBN officials got wind of the tension in some of the bank branches and went round.

Reacting to the situation, Mr. Jayeola  Olugbenga, Deputy Director, Banking Supervision Department, CBN Abuja, and Dr. Adeniyi Olatunde Adenuga, Deputy Director, Research Department, CBN, who are members of the team, said they elected to storm the banks and ensure that the new notes moved round and customers have access to them.

Read Also: Court asked to restrain CBN’s phasing out of old naira notes

Olugbenga said the exercise sought to ensure that the new notes moved round for easy accessibility.

Frustration as residents storm Ondo banks for new notes

Residents of Akure and environs expressed anger and frustration over their inability to get the new redesigned naira notes from various banks.

Many who visited the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) were disappointed that they could not get half of the cash they deposited into their account.

Several ATM points visited in Akure were not dispensing cash while some ATMs dispensed both old and new notes.

At a new generation bank, a soldier who pleaded anonymity said he rejected the old notes paid to him across the counter.

Some bank customers said their banks were still giving out old notes.

Banking halls visited in Akure were packed full.

In Akungba Akoko, the four commercial banks in the community were filled with customers.

A community leader, Chief Seriki Awesu, who appealed for extension of the January 31st deadline, said it hectic to deposit money.

Miss Khadijat Abulu said the bank officials opted to transfer money to individuals’ account as many people rejected old notes.

However, commercial drivers and traders were still accepting the old notes in Akure.

Naira redesign not targeted at anybody, says CBN

The Central Bank yesterday denied suggestions that the naira redesign was part of the plot to scuttle the 2023 general election. It said the move was in the interest of the nation.

The CBN Director of Finance, Benjamin Fakunle, made the clarification in Ilawe-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ekiti Southwest Area of Ekiti State while monitoring the cash swap policy being implemented by the apex bank.

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had claimed that the lingering fuel crisis and naira redesign by CBN were aimed by fifth columnists to scuttle the coming elections and his expected victory.

But Fakunle said yesterday that “we are not targeting anybody.”

He added: “The last time that Nigeria redesigned notes was more than nine years, and this is something that we normally do in a period of between five and seven years.

“So, nobody is being targeted.

“You will see that by the time these new notes are in circulation and we go cashless, incidents of kidnapping and other crimes will come to an end, because there will be no monies to pay for ransom. “Beyond that, we would be sure that the amount of money that is in circulation is within the vault of the CBN.

“The policy is not targeted at anybody. We are just doing our work the way it is, within the mandate of the law and within the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Bank operators counter CBN over alleged hoarding of new notes

Representatives of the commercial banks told the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the scarcity of the new notes and the January 31 deadline on Thursday that there is not enough of the new notes to go round.

Mrs Hadiza Ambursa, an official of Access Bank, who represented the Managing Director of the bank, said it only got 10 per cent of the money it deposited with the CBN.

 “We are not getting the money as quickly as we want them. We only get 10 per cent of the money deposited. We are paying and collecting money. We are also loading our ATMs,” she said.

Mr Jimoh Garuba, the representative of Sterling Bank, said: “As we speak, our Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are dispensing what we receive, which fluctuate most time.”

He said his bank received a minimum of N150 million from the CBN weekly to be shared among its branches in Abuja.

Ms Arerepade Akagwe, the representatives of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), said the bank had taken 70 per cent of the old money it deposited with the CBN.

The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, said the bank operators’ appearance before the committee was not a witch hunt exercise but a fact finding on issues affecting the people.

“We need to know the actual facts regarding claims by commercial bank that CBN has not released new notes and the counter claim by the CBN that it has released same.

He berated the apex bank for giving deadline on the old notes, saying it was worrisome that it is a time the country wanted to hold election that it would consider changing the country’s legal tender.

Lawyer prays court to restrain CBN’s phasing out of old naira notes

A Kano-based lawyer, Sunusi Umar Sadiq, has approached the Federal High Court in Kano to restrain the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and its governor, Godwin Emefiele, from making the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes cease to be legal tender by January 31, 2023.

 The lawyer made the prayer in his ex-parte application in suit FHC/KN/CS/19/2023 filed on January 25, 2023.

Sadiq is the sole applicant while the CBN and Emefiele are the 1st and 2nd respondents in the suit.

He asked the court to stop the respondents pending the hearing and determination of his January 25, Originating Motion.

The prayer is as follows: “An order of interim injunction restraining the Respondents, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion dated 25th January 2023, from making the existing N200, N500 and N1, 000 currency notes cease to be the legal tender in Nigeria by 31st January 2023, which currency notes are the ones largely in circulation now, are the ones issued by the various commercial banks in the country, and are the ones dispensed by the various Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

The applicant listed seven grounds for his application.

They include that “Up to 20th January 2023 the redesigned currency notes are not within any remarkable and substantial circulation as the commercial banks all over the country continue to issue the existing currencies.

“Likewise, the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) continue dispensing the same currency notes which the Respondents claim to intend to withdraw from circulation.

“The Respondents are very much aware of the scarcity of the newly redesigned currency notes and their unavailability to the general public so much so that the Respondents have to threaten the commercial banks with sanctions if they continue withholding the redesigned notes.

“The Respondents, similarly, upon realising the infeasibility of making the newly redesigned currency notes available to the public within time, came up with a cash swap arrangement, effective from 23rd January 2023, to reach out to the rural and underserved areas.

“The Respondents, despite being aware of all these, still insist on 31st January 2023, to be the last day the now in circulation N200, N500 and N1, 000 will cease to be the legal tender.”

He argued further that the Ex Parte application is necessary because of the limited days remaining to the deadline imposed by the Respondents.

He added that there is not enough time within which the Respondents can be served, and the substantive application is heard.

“Moreover, unless this application is granted, the substantive suit will become a mere academic exercise.”

Sadiq stated in his supporting affidavit that the global standard best practice for changing or redesigning currency is to give a reasonable time within which the currency notes intended to be replaced will have been withdrawn from circulation by the normal bank and monetary operations.

He argued that even in Nigeria, that has been the practice from the 1970s to 2010s “with the exception of 1984, which exercise threw many into poverty to the present day.”

He contended further that there is no proof that the 31st January 2023 deadline will stop ‘individuals who have made currency fraud their main source of income’ or stop the payment or receipt of ransom by bandits and kidnappers” as hoped by the CBN.

In his view, “the only thing that is certain to come out of the intended action of the Respondents is that millions of innocent Nigerians will lose forever their hard-earned money.

“The 31st January 2023 was arbitrarily picked by the Respondents to be the day the existing legal tender will cease to be so. There is nothing magical or special about that date and replacing it with another reasonable date will not in any way disrupt the redesigning exercise.”

No date has been fixed for hearing of the application.

The court is also yet to fix a date to hear the substantive suit where Sadiq is seeking six reliefs.

They include “A declaration that it is unlawful and unconstitutional for the Respondents to declare the existing N200, N500 and N1, 000 currency notes, which are currently largely in circulation, as no longer the legal tender of Nigeria by 31st January, 2023.

“A declaration that the abrupt and arbitrary policy adopted by the Respondents to make the existing N200, N500 and N1,000 currency notes that are widely in circulation now is a threat to national security and inimical to the national interest as same will cripple the economy and throw many more innocent Nigerians into poverty.

“An order restraining the Respondents from making the existing N200, N500 and N1, 000 currency notes cease to be the legal tender in Nigeria by 31st January 2023.

“An order compelling the Respondents to follow and comply with the Global Best Standard Practices for changing currency whereby the old ones are gradually withdrawn from circulation by not releasing them to the public once they get deposited in banks within a reasonable time that shall not be less than six months.”

Last day for depositing old notes is Tuesday says CBN  

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to receive the old notes till close of work on Tuesday, January 31.

In a chat with The Nation, Dr. Abdullahi Abubakar Kure, Director at the CBN and the team-lead for the Abuja Monitoring team on the naira redesign, confirmed that as at yesterday, the last day for Nigerians to deposit their old notes is January 31.

Kure pleaded with Nigerians to “take their money to the banks before end of business on Tuesday”.

He urged holders of the old notes of N200, N500 and N1,000 notes to “use e-channels for payments”.

For residents of Abuja, he said “they should not have any problem except for the remote areas, who he said can use the POS to also remit money into their accounts.

Yesterday, many banks in Abuja witnessed large volume of customers trying to use the ATMs. At the Shoprite complex along Airport Road, Zenith and Stanbic IBTC banks had long queues of customers waiting to use the ATMs.

Many were forced to use the ATMs on Thursday when Shoprite store had a network failure and demanded to be paid in cash.

On Friday, many residents along Airport Road scrambled to withdrawal new notes for the weekend.

The city was tense on Friday following rumours that some banks had sent out messages to their customers that they cannot withdraw more than N20,000 a week.

This turned out to a false alarm as nobody spoken to about the message could produce such message.

Spokesman for the CBN, Mr. Osita Nwanisiobi, who admitted that he had heard the same rumours dismissed the claim and asked anybody with such message to come forward with it. 

Operators of Point of Sale (PoS) terminals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also contributed to the tension in the city. They now charge between N350 and N400 for N15,000 new note cash withdrawal.

•Buhari, Tinubu, Adamu, NGF, others commiserate with Nasarawa governor

NASARAWA State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has described the passing away of his first son, Hassan Abdullahi Sule, as a test from God.

Governor Sule stated this yesterday while receiving condolences at the palace of his father, the Sarkin Gude, in Akwanga Local Government Area.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Ibrahim Addra, had confirmed Hassan’s death, saying that the deceased died on Thursday night after he was discovered unconscious in front of his apartment and taken to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

Condolence messages have since poured in for the Nasarawa State chief executive from President Muhammadu Buhari, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, among other eminent Nigerians.

Citing copiously from the holy Qu’ran, the governor pointed out how God promised to test the faith of every believer.

“I see this as a test from God. I was the person consoling somebody that lost his nine children and 70 cows yesterday. And today God decided to test me, to see whether I was sincere in consoling that bereaved father,” Governor Sule said.

He described his late son as a calm, disciplined and obedient young man who treated his siblings equally and with mutual respect.

“He grew up carrying all his siblings along. It is only God that has the power to take him away.

“He was the one taking decisions on our businesses. He is always on hand to advise me on what next to do, saying my schedule will not allow me to run any business. 

“God took him away to test my resilience and faith. God didn’t seek my advice when He gave Hassan to me and he will not seek my advice when he takes him away,” he stated.

Since the news of the passing of the late Hassan, Gudi, the country home of the governor, has turned into a Mecca of some sort, with prominent personalities trooping in to commiserate with the Nasarawa first family.

Among the early arrivals were the first executive governor of the state and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura.

In a vote of thanks, the Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad (rtd), on behalf of the Sarkin Gude, HRH Alhaji Sule Bawa, appreciated all those who attended the funeral rites of the late Hassan Abdullahi Sule.

The late Hassan Abdullahi Sule died at the age of 36, leaving behind a daughter and a pregnant wife. He was buried in Gudi according to Islamic rites.

Buhari, Tinubu, others console governor

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday consoled Governor Abdullahi Sule over the passing of his son, Hassan, at the age of 36 years.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President also expressed his condolences to the government and people of Nasarawa State over the recent tragedy involving some herdsmen in the state.

No fewer than 27 Fulani herdsmen were reported killed in an explosion in Rukubi community, Doma council area of the state on Tuesday.

The statement by the President’s spokesman said: “President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday offered his condolences to Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on the passing of his son, Alhaji Hassan A.A. Sule, at age 36.

Read Also: Nothing can reduce Tinubu’s chances of victory, says Sule

“He has been buried in Gudi, Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.”

The statement further quoted Buhari as saying “my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Governor and his family on the tragic death of his worthy son, Hassan.”

With regards to the incident that claimed the lives of the herdsmen, the President said, “May the souls of all the deceased rest in peace.”

In his own condolence message, the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also expressed sympathy and deep sorrow over both the recent bomb explosion that claimed the lives of 30 persons in Nasarawa State and the death of Governor Sule’s son.

Tinubu described as sad the bombing of residents of Kwateri, a community between the state and Benue, by an unidentified drone on Tuesday.

A statement by Tinubu Media Office signed by Mr Abdulaziz Abdulaziz yesterday quoted the APC candidate as expressing condolences to the affected families and people and government of Nasarawa State.

“While still mourning the unfortunate deaths from the pathetic explosion, we woke up to yet another tragedy. I join Governor Sule in mourning over these two tragic deaths. This is a difficult time and my thoughts are with Governor Sule and the government and people of the state.

“The loss of a son, a grown-up one for that matter, is a deeply sorrowful experience. I also send my sympathy and condolences to Governor Abdullahi’s family for this irreparable loss,” he said.

Tinubu also expressed condolences to the leadership of Miyetti Allah and family members of those who lost their lives in the Kwateri bomb explosion.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed persons and prayed to God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Northern governors console Sule

The Northern Governors Forum yesterday sent condolences to Governor Sule over the death of his son, Hassan, who died at the age of 36.

In a message of commiseration, the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, described the demise of the Governor’s son as very painful and sad.

He said the departure of the young man at his youthful age was most unfortunate because he had a lot to offer to the society.

While urging the Governor and his family to accept the development as the will of God, Lalong said the Northern Governors are with him at this moment of grief and sorrow.

He prayed God to console them and grant the deceased eternal rest, according to a statement by his spokesman, Dr Makut Simon Macham.

Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, also commiserated with Governor Sule over the sudden death of his son, Hassan.

In a statement issued by Governor Uzodimma’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, yesterday, the Imo State Governor said that Hassan’s passing was shocking, devastating and a huge loss to the family, state and the country.

He regretted that Hassan died in his prime when he had a lot to contribute to the betterment of our society.

Governor Uzodimma prayed God to grant Governor Sule, the widow of the deceased and all that he left behind to mourn his death the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The governor also encouraged them to look up to God, the author and giver of life, for the grace to weather the unexpected storm just as he prayed for a peaceful repose of the soul of the deceased.

In continuation of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by the Federal Ministry of Works, the Lagos State Government has announced that traffic will be diverted at the Old Tollgate to Berger section of the road from Monday 30th January till Friday 15th April, 2023.

Lagos State Transportation Commissioner Dr Frederic Oladeinde, who disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday, said the reconstruction will be carried out in short segments to minimise inconveniences for motorists. 

Traffic on the Ibadan bound carriageway will be narrowed to two lanes to allow for the reconstruction of half of the Ibadan bound carriageway.

Oladeinde further stated that the U-turn in front of the Lagos State Emergency Centre will be temporary closed to traffic, adding that motorists on the expressway will be diverted to the next U-turn at the Old Toll Gate by the traffic control point.

Read Also: #EndSARSMemorial: Police teargas protesters at Lekki tollgate

In the same vein, Traffic from CMD Road intending to connect 7UP and Motorways on the Lagos bound carriageway will make use of the Old Tollgate/Traffic Point U–turn as well.

He equally stressed that trucks and heavy duty vehicles will be diverted to Ojota Interchange. The Commissioner also explained that traffic on CMD Road inbound the expressway will be diverted to the entry point beside the FMW weigh bridge to access the Expressway on a contra flow as the exit route to the Expressway by Caleb International School will equally be temporarily closed, adding that CMD Road will be used as alternative for the displaced Ibadan bound traffic.

Oladeinde appealed to the citizenry to shun indiscriminate stopping, waiting and parking along CMD Road as it will complement the efforts of the Traffic Management Team that will be deployed to manage vehicular movement.

He also affirmed that signage with directions will be mounted along the road to guide motorists.

The Osun Governorship Election Tribunal has sacked Senator Ademola Adeleke as Governor. 

In a majority judgment, the tribunal chaired by Justice Tertse Kume cancelled election in 744 polling units due to over-voting. 

Former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola challenged the July 16th 2022 governorship by joining All Progressives Congress(APC) to file a petition against the victory of Adeleke. 

He alleged over-voting in 749 polling units and certificate forgery by candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).  

Oyetola and APC who dragged Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) as the first respondent, Adeleke, second respondent and PDP as the third, called two witnesses. 

Counsel to the petitioners, Lateef Fagbemi urged the tribunal to admit the contents of the petition and declare Oyetola as the winner of the election. 

INEC called one witness while Adeleke called two witnesses to defend the petition during the hearing. 

The counsel to INEC, Professor Paul Ananaba and Adeleke’s counsel, Alex Izion, Onyechi Ikpeazu for PDP all urged the court to discountenance the petition and affirm him as the winner of the election. 

Reading the majority judgement by Rabi Bashir and Tertse Kume, Justice Kume, said: “In other words, the defenses of the respondents are taint 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. 

Read Also: Adeleke rejects Osun tribunal verdict, heads to Appeal Court

“The inference we hereby drawn from the factestablished by the evidence and record is that the election conducted on the 16th day of July, 2022 was done in substantial non complaince with the provisions of the Electoral Acts and extant regulations.

“Moreover, exhibit BVR has not been withdrawn by the first respondent who made and issued it. The petitioners relied on exhibit BVR in maintaining this petition.

“Similarly, the exhibit tendered by the respondents after exhibit BVR submitted by learned counsel to the petitioners, were thought of after the declaration of result on the 17th day of July, 2022. 

“The said conduct of the respondents, especially, the first respondent amounts to tampering with official records. The conduct of the first respondent in the said election under consideration has produced multiple accusation report, contrary to votes declaration, to conduct of free, fair and credible elections on the basis of one man or woman with one vote. 

“Consequently, to forestall a manipulation of BIVAS machines in the conduct of elections in Nigeria by the first respondent, the presiding officers at the polling units and other key officers of the first respondent should act on the vest won by them.

“During the conduct of elections, an electronic device embedded in a safe vest which would have helped you to collect data and information transmitable to a server domiciled either to the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force, NIGCOMSAT, the National Secretary Adviser, independent of the first respondent. 

“The data store at the server in any of the said offices will be a resource material for investigation and possible prosecution of any infraction that may occur in the use of the BIVAS in the polling units during the conduct of elections. 

“We find as a fact that the voting occurred in the election conducted on the 16th day of July, 2022  in the manner stated in the table in paragraph 6.19 of the petitioner’s final written address already reproduced in this judgement, the duty of this tribunal is to deduct the said invalid votes from the lawful votes of the first petitioner and the first respondent to determine who have the majority of lawful votes at the said election.

“The table produced on page 30 paragraph 7.01 of the petitioner final written address in response to the first respondent final written address on page 17 paragraph 6.21 on the petitioner’s final address shows a graphic demonstration of the lawful votes after the deduction of the said invalid votes cast.

“For the sake of emphasis, the total lawful vote cast for each of the candidates after the said deduction of invalid votes is 314,931 for the first petitioner and 290,266 votes for the second respondent.

“The second respondent did not score a majority of lawful votes cast for the election. The declaration and return is hereby declared as null and void, the second respondent can not “go low low and buga won” as duly elected governor of Osun state in the election conducted on July 16th 2022, see Kiss Daniel song, Buga. 

”Rather, we hereby hold that, the first petitioner scored the majority of lawful votes in the said election and is hereby returned as such. 

“The first respondent is hereby directed to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to the second respondent and give the first petitioner Certificate of Return as the duly elected Governor.”

The Election Petition Tribunal chaired by Justice Tertse Kume has sacked Osun Governor  Senator Ademola Adeleke. 

The majority judgement of two judges against one ordered that Certificate of Return should be withdrawn from Adeleke and issued to Adegboyega Oyetola. 

Read Also: BREAKING: Tight security as Osun Gov tribunal sits

The tribunal sacked Adeleke for overvoting in some polling units across the State. 

Details Shortly…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it was ready to conduct a mock accredition of voters ahead of the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

National Chairman of the Commission Prof Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners from the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT

He said the mock accreditation exercise, which will take place in about 436 polling units across the country, is aimed at testing the readiness of the Biomodial Voter Accreditations System(BIVAS). 

Read Also: No PVC, no voting, INEC Chairman Yakubu insists

He said distribution of sensitive materials for the elections to the various States is at an advanced stage while distribution of non-sensitive materials has been concluded.

He expressed satisfaction with the desire of Nigerians to collect their voters card, adding that out of the 940,200 PVCs sent to Lagos state, about 839,720 have so far been collected as of Thursday.

He said the commission was determined to ensure that all Nigerians collect their PVCs ahead of the general elections, stressing that if necessary the commission may consider other options for the collection of PVCs.

Details shortly…

Security has been beefed up in strategic locations in Osogbo capital of Osun State ahead of the judgement by Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal billed for today. 

Former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is challenging the victory of Ademola Adeleke during the 2022 Osun gubernatorial election on July 16th 2022, alleging infractions in 749 polling units and certificate forgery. 

The Nation correspondent observed heavy security presence in Osogbo capital of Osun as operatives of the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps(NSCDC), Amotekun and other security operative were deployed to popular junctions and political offices. 

Read Also: Osun governorship poll: Tribunal fixes Friday for ruling on Oyetola’s petition against Adeleke’s victory

Security operatives were sighted at Ola-Iya junction, Oke-Fia, Old-Garage, Lameko and many others. Also armed policemen were deployed to Oyetola and Adeleke’s campaign offices, including the secretariats of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and All Progressives Congress(APC). 

There were heavy security presence in front of the court as patrol van numbering about six stationed at the entrance of the court as operatives check and screen people entering the court premises. 

The sitting of the Tribunal has commenced at exactly 9:10 am for judgement. 

Details shortly…