There were arguments at the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday, as the panel compelled the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to produce the nomination form and academic certificates of Senator Ademola Adeleke used for his nomination in the 2018 governorship election.

The order of the tribunal, chaired by Justice Tertsea Kume, was contained in a subpoena issued on the REC by the panel, following the request of counsel for Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adeleke and the PDP failed in their attempt to have the petition dismissed abruptly at the hearing.

At the sitting of the tribunal yesterday, counsel for Oyetola and the APC, Dr. Abiodun Layoonu (SAN), told the court that the petitioners have filed a subpoena dated November 3, 2022, compelling REC to appear at the court to present Adeleke’s Form CF 001, which is the nomination form and all its attachments, including the certificates used in the 2018 election.

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He said since the bailiff was yet to serve REC with the subpoena, even after being signed, he would be compelled to ask for adjournment till November 21.

Counsel for INEC, Paul Ananaba, SAN, objected to the application for adjournment, saying it was a clear evidence that the petitioners were not prepared for diligent prosecution of the petition, citing paragraph 18(11) of the Electoral Act.

While also arguing that REC being subpoenaed to bring the said documents was never mentioned in the petition, Ananaba said by planning to call REC as a witness without informing the tribunal earlier, the petitioners had violated paragraph 3 of the tribunal’s pre-hearing report.

In his ruling, read by the chairman, the tribunal agreed with the petitioners’ counsel and ignored the applications to dismiss the petition.It said the subpoena was issued by the tribunal around evening on Tuesday and would subsequently be served on REC.

Justice Kume then adjourned the matter till November 21 for continuation of hearing.

Osun State Police Command yesterday dispelled the rumoured attempted invasion by gunmen to disrupt sitting of the Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo.

It was speculated that some gunmen were arrested at the Osun State High Court, Oke-Fia, Osogbo after they attempted to invade the premises during proceedings.

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Spokesperson Yemi Opalola said: “It is not true that gunmen attempted to invade the tribunal during the sitting.

“Those sighted around the court are local security personnel (hunters). They didn’t attack anyone. They are working together with the police on national security, to ensure peace reigns in Osun. No cause for alarm.”

Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki has said his administration is transforming the state into Nigeria’s first smart state, with the provision of fibre optic connectivity in all communities in the 18 local governments.

Obaseki, speaking yesterday in Benin, said the optical fibre connectivity would enhance access to the Internet and expand Edo’s digital economy.

He noted that his administration was paying attention to sectors of the economy, including health care, arts, culture, technology, education, civil and public service, and agriculture, among others, to improve the livelihood of the residents and achieve economic prosperity for the state.

The governor said: “We are providing fibre optic connectivity for Edo communities, with the aim of becoming the first smart hub in the country. By the end of next year, our local governments will be connected with fibres.”

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For the health sector, Obaseki said his administration was building a medical city, and had rebuilt Edo School of Nursing Science and transformed it into a world-class nursing school, while work was ongoing at the Edo School of Health Technology.

He said: “We have 30 hectares at Stella Obasanjo Hospital to build a medical city, where medical practitioners will come and get a space. We have also made progress in sports.

“We are doing so much in terms of job creation and capacity development for our people. We have created about seven job centres, where citizens can submit their job applications for job placement.”

The governor said his administration had given out N7 billion to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with the assistance of the World Bank.

Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and other monarchs in the state are set to attend the 35th anniversary celebration of Bond FM 92.9.

It is scheduled for Saturday.

Addressing a news conference on the activities lined up for the event, the General Manager, Mrs. Adenike Adegoke, described the station as a vessel of national integration.

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She said: “The station stands out because of the local languages. It is a unifying station. We are happy to celebrate our 35th anniversary. We cannot talk about language without culture. Language drives culture. We use that in programmes and news and our listeners give us positive feedback.”

Adenike said many activities were lined up for the celebration, including a novelty match between Bond FM and its sister stations in Ikoyi.

She said there would be environmental sanitation as part of the station’s corporate social responsibility.

Security operatives have taken over Ekiti State House of Assembly.

This followed the emergence of former Minority Leader Gboyega Aribisogan as the new Speaker.

Tension rose yesterday when armed policemen took over the assembly complex over alleged plot by suspected hoodlums to attack the place.

The security personnel, drawn from the anti-riot squad, regular policemen and counter-terrorism unit, were strategically stationed on the four routes leading to the assembly complex.

Read Also: Ekiti Assembly gets new Speaker

Movement into the complex, which is located near Government Reserve Area, 3rd Extension, Ado-Ekiti, was restricted, as the two entrance gates were shut.

The security operatives conducted stop-and-search, with checkpoint, as patrol vans moved around the vicinity.

The development created fears in the assembly complex, as workers hurriedly left their offices for their homes, to avoid being trapped.

Aribisogan, in a phone chat with reporters, said the security deployment was to forestall breakdown of law and order.

Police spokesman DSP Sunday Abutu said they took the action to prevent breakdown of law and order.

He urged the public not to entertain fears, saying the deployment was to safeguard lives and government’s property.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged citizens to oppose attempt by unscrupulous people to use religion to spread hate and disunity.

He spoke yesterday in Alausa, Lagos during the celebration of the 2022 International Day for Tolerance tagged: ‘The Role of Religion in Democratic Governance in Nigeria’.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, said it was important that citizens should continue along the path of mutual respect, to sustain the prevailing atmosphere of peace, which was the foundation for growth and development.

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He said: “The major religions teach positive virtues such as love, honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability, decency, respect, etc.  These virtues, if properly imbibed, will no doubt impact positively on governance, which will translate to improved welfare of the people.”

The governor’s wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Mojisola Fashola, urged political leaders to be tolerant of views that were considered to be at variance with their beliefs and socio-political leanings.

Home Affairs Commissioner Prince Anofiu Elegushi called on religious institutions to educate the populace on their civic responsibilities.

By Kolade Adeyemi, Jos, Oyebola Owolabi and Samuel Oamen

The late Abdul-Sobur Olawale, who represented Mushin Constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, was buried yesterday at the Ebony Vaults and Garden in Ikoyi, Lagos amid tears.

The body was received by members and workers of the assembly, led by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja in the afternoon, and was conveyed to his home in a motorcade.

The body was thereafter interred, according to Islamic rites, at the Ebony Vaults, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat joined the crowd of mourners.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has mourned Olawale.

He prayed that God Almighty should comfort those he left behind and grant him eternal rest.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, described Olawale’s death as shocking and a great loss to the state.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Tears as Lagos lawmaker is buried

He urged people to see the lawmaker’s death as the will of Allah.

Plateau State Governor and Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council Simon Bako Lalong commiserated with the people and government of Lagos State over the demise of Olawale.

Lalong, who escorted the body to the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang for onward movement to Lagos for burial, said he was shocked over the death of the lawmaker.

He expressed heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the immediate family, friends and associates of the deceased.

Lalong, in a statement by his spokesman, Dr.  Makut Macham, prayed God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss and prayed that Almighty God should grant his soul eternal rest.

The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State chapter, Mr. Seye Oladejo, said the death of Olawale was a rude shock.

Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West) expressed sadness over the death of Olawale.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Senator Adeola said the death of Olawale was a sad event and a great loss for all progressives.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday presented N320.35 billion budget of resilience and transformation to the House of Assembly for the 2023 fiscal year.

The Appropriation Bill represented 69.37 per cent increase from the N222 billion budgeted for 2022.

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Obaseki, who presented the budget to 10 of the 24 lawmakers at the Anthony Enahoro Assembly Complex in Benin, said it comprised N192 billion for capital expenditure and N127.5 billion for recurrent expenditure.

Speaker Marcus Onobun, receiving the budget proposal, praised the governor for ensuring economic prosperity.