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Tag: Festus Keyamo

  • You don’t need WAEC certificate to become President, says Keyamo

    Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has said a presidential or governorship candidate does not need to have the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate to contest an elective position.

    Keyamo was reacting to the certificate scandal of Ademola Adeleke, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.

    Several politicians have been caught in certificate scandal. There was a controversy involving President Muhammadu Buhari’s WAEC certificate before this year’s general elections.

    A High Court sitting in Abuja, the nation’s capital, had nullified the candidature of Adeleke over allegations that he does not have a senior secondary school certificate (SSCE).

    The certificate is required for an elective position, according to Section 177 (d) of the 1999 Constitution.

    The section reads: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if:

    (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;

    (b) he has attained the age of thirty-five years;

    (c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and

    (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.” For the position of President, Section 131 (d) stipulates that he should have been “educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”.

    Keyamo argued on his Twitter handle that a School Certificate in the context demanded by the Constitution is “Primary 6 School Leaving Certificate plus the ability to just speak, write, understand and communicate in English language to the satisfaction of INEC. No WAEC certificate is needed”.

  • Ministerial List: Profile of Festus Keyamo

    Festus Egwarewa Adeniyi Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was born on January 21, 1970.

     

    Keyamo had his primary education at Model Primary School before proceeding to Government College, Ughelli, for his secondary school education where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1986.

    A native of Effurun in Delta State, Keyamo graduated with a Bachelor of Law Degree, in 1992, at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in December, 1993.

     

    His legal career began in earnest in 1993 with the Gani Fawehinmi’s Chambers in Lagos State, and two years after, he left to establish Festus Keyamo Chambers.

     

    He was counsel to the leader of the Niger-Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, in his trial for treasonable felony. He was also the lead counsel in the treason trial of Ralph Uwazuruike, the leader of the Movement For The Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). Keyamo was also a counsel in the murder case of Bola Ige.

    Read Also: One dead as car rams into fuel tanker in Ebonyi

     

    In 2008, he took the Federal Government of Nigeria to court over illegal appointments of service chiefs.

    On July 6, 2017, he was approved as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and was named by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) as one of the outstanding Nigerian lawyers to be awarded the rank of SAN. In same year, he was awarded the Global Human Rights Award by the United States Global Leadership Council in Washington for his efforts over the years in respect of protection and promotion of human rights and the crusade for accountable governments in Nigeria.

    In December 2018, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Keyamo and six others as members of the governing board of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), at the behest of President Muhammadu Buhari’s earlier letter to the Red Chamber in May, 2018.

     

    In the build-up to the 2019 general elections, Keyamo was appointed as the Director of Strategic Communications (Official Spokesperson) for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid, in a letter dated April 16, 2018. He was, however, applauded by many for his sterling performance in that capacity.

     

    The 49-year old Keyamo, who has been in the spotlight of his legal career for over two decades now, is also a social crusader, critic, columnist and a human rights activist of international repute.

     

  • Substandard tyres: Court adjourns trial of Chinese, Nigerian

    A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday, further adjourned until June 20, the trial of two Chinese nationals, Tao Shen and Jing Yau, charged with importation of sub-standard tyres.

    Shen, 36, and Yau, 22, are charged alongside a Nigerian, Chinedu Madubuike and two companies, Sino Nig. Import and Export Ltd. and Nedeca International Ltd.

    The accused are standing trial on four counts bordering on importation of substandard products.

    The case which was earlier fixed for continuation of trial was stalled on Thursday, following the absence of Justice Mojisola Olatoregun who is said to be on official assignment.

    Trial will now resume on June 20.

    At the last adjourned date of Feb. 5, Mr Oluwafemi Olabisi from the law firm of Festus Keyamo, had announced appearance for the prosecution.

    He had informed the court that he was appearing as prosecutor for the first time in the case, since his chambers (Festus Keyamo and co) had just been briefed on the suit.

    The court had consequently adjourned the case for trial.

    The defendants were arraigned on March 20, 2018, and had each pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The court had granted them bail in the sum of N10million each, with two sureties each in like sum, and had ordered the companies to submit a bond in the sum of N10million.

    According to the charge, the defendants committed the offences in February 2017, by conspiring to import tyres which did not meet the relevant Nigerian industrial standard.

    They are alleged to have stuffed various sizes of tyres into one, knowing same to be in a dangerous state, or being injurious to human life.

    The defendants are said to have imported the tyres which did not comply with the mandatory Nigerian standard, on account of their stuffing different sizes into one.

    According to prosecution, this made the tyres to be unfit for their purpose, as they failed to meet the relevant Nigerian industrial standard and likely to endanger human lives.

    The defendants were also alleged to have failed to furnish returns on the conditions of the imported tyres as required by law.

    The offences contravene the provisions of sections 320 and 510 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    It also contravenes the provisions of sections 26 and 32 of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria Act, No 14, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

  • Charlyboy remains our leader, says ‘Ourmumudondo’ group

    Executives and members of ‘OurMumuDonDo’ Movement, a civil society group that advocates good political leadership, on Tuesday said that  Charles Oputa,a.k.a Charlyboy, remained their leader.

    Mrs Folake Agunbiade, who is the Knowledge Management and Learning Manager of the group, stated at a press conference in Abuja.

    Agunbiade described as baseless, trending reports in social media, that Charlyboy had been relieved of his position as the group’s leader because of an alleged financial misdeed.

    “In this wise, the management of Ourmumudondo restates that there is no change in the corporate governance of the movement, and Mr Charles Oputa (aka CharlyBoy) remains the chairman of the organisation.

    “We acknowledge several social media reports on the alleged transaction between Charlyboy and Mr Festus Keyamo, Spokesperson of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation.”

    “The organisation wishes to state clearly that the alleged transaction did not arise from or on behalf of its activities or projects, and therefore it has no implication for our credibility as a movement.

    “We want all Nigerians of goodwill to know that the allegations and counter allegations have no bearing on the movement and its activities,” She said.

    Agunbiade, however, acknowledged that there were misunderstandings between some members of the group, but added that its leadership was working towards reconciling all aggrieved members.

    “The movement is conducting an internal review and establishing protocols for public engagements that will forestall any likelihood of conflict arising from its operators.”

    NAN recalls that Mr Deji Adeyanju, an activist and estranged member of Ourmumudondo, recently released an audio recording, alleging that Charlyboy agreed to receiving money from Mr Festus  Keyamo, Spokesperson of   President Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation.

    Read also: Justice Bage emerges new Emir of Lafia

    According to Adeyanju, the said payment was a ‘settlement’ for a musical video produced by Charlyboy to smear the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

    Adeyanju and some members then called for the removal of Charlyboy as the group’leader, saying he compromised with the “enemy”.

    However, Charlyboy, explained that he released such videos, one each against both the APC and PDP presidential candidates on the eve of the 2019 General Elections, but was not paid by anyone.

    He added that he remained non-partisan, and was neither in support of any political party, as his yearnings was for the not-too-young-to–run mantra to strive.

    “For someone to believe that I collected money in nine digits from a politician for a video clip is laughable, because even if I am Davido or Wizkid, who will pay me such amount.

    “Some persons are bent on denting the brand that I have built over the years, but I am not deterred because the struggle for a better Nigeria must continue, and my mouth cannot be shut,” he said.(NAN)

  • You are jittery, PDP tells APC, Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop their “unnecessary fabrications, smear campaign” and prepare to face the opposition’s legal team at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

    Responding to a petition by the spokesman for the President’s campaign, Mr. Festus Keyamo, the PDP said Buhari is overweighed by the burden of “illegitimacy”, following overwhelming evidence before the tribunal that he “stole” the presidential mandate.

    In an email exchange with our correspondent Monday night, the spokesman for the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, described the allegation as “a lame one”.

    Ologbondiyan described it as an attempt at blackmailing the tribunal by engaging in clear acts of subjudice.

    The party spokesman said the facts and issues touching on the INEC server were already within the public domain.

    Read also: Buhari moves to prevent National Assembly hijack

    Ologbondiyan continued: “By resorting to shadow-boxing outside the tribunal, President Buhari and the APC have shown that they have no defence to present to the court against PDP’s submission that they stole our mandate.

    “It is even more appalling that Festus Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a member of Buhari’s legal team, who should know better, would engage in this act of subjudice designed to distort facts already known to Nigerians, that our presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, clearly won the February 23 presidential election.

    “Since it has become clear that President Buhari has no defence to present to the court, we counsel him to save the nation further stress by surrendering our mandate, which was freely given by majority of Nigerians to Atiku Abubakar.”

  • APC urges Police, DSS to invesitgate Atiku’s claim to access to INEC server

    DID Atiku Abubakar have access to the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission?

    This is the puzzle the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has asked the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to resolve, following claims by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of obtaining information from the server.

    The council’s Director of Strategic Communication, Festus Keyamo (SAN) has petitioned the police and the DSS, saying Atiku’s claim confirmed fears that the opposition party had perfected ways of hacking the INEC server before the election.

    Keyamo said the calim revealed why the PDP was insisting that President Muhammadu Buhari should sign the 2018 Electoral Act, which recommends electronic transmission of results.

    The petition reads: “It would be recalled that an Electoral (Amendment) Bill containing the provision for electronic transmission of results to INEC’s central computer system (otherwise called “server”) was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari by the National Assembly for assent late in the year 2018.

    “Despite the shortness of time before the Presidential/National Assembly Elections, and the lack of time to first simulate the process to ensure its effectiveness in a country like ours with problems of effective networks in many rural areas and constant failure of technological devices, together with its violation of the time frame of such laws as provided for in regional and continental Protocols in terms of the length of time required for the passage of such laws before any major election, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was hell-bent that the President should sign the Bill into law. That was the first indication that the main opposition was up to something sinister regarding the electronic transmission of the results.

    “Upon the last-minute postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential/National Assembly Elections, the nation was shocked to see already prepared presidential elections results floating around in the cyberspace just less than 24 hours after the postponed election was originally billed to hold. The fake results had details of the scores of the candidates of the major parties. Of course, the fake results gave victory to the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, even when elections did not hold.

    “The only conclusion one can draw from the above is that the PDP had prepared those results which were to be smuggled into the INEC Server. However, the sudden postponement of the election scuttled that evil plan, but it was too late to restrain the release of the fake results.

    Read also: Federal Govt closes ‘illegal arms importation’ case

    “The proper elections were held on February 23, 2019 and President Muhammadu Buhari declared the winner. Despite the approval of the elections as credible by nearly all local and international observers (except some few known PDP acolytes masquerading as local observers), the PDP cried foul and made a shocking claim: it claimed that from purported results it obtained from INEC’s server, it has so-called proof that its candidate won the election by about 1.6million votes!

    “Shockingly and coincidentally, this margin was about the same margin by which it also purportedly ‘won’ by the fake results released just hours after the postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential/National Assembly Elections.

    “As if this expensive joke was not enough, the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have gone ahead to file an election petition against the clear victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and have repeated the same outlandish claim of having access to INEC’s server, which shows that they have some purported results at their disposal giving “victory” to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    “We wish you to note that INEC’s server is the back end of electronic records of INEC. This is not INEC’s website but its server! Although, the purported results have been conclusively shown by public engagements to be false and even ridiculous, especially as the total number of accredited voters is exactly equivalent to the purported votes of the APC and PDP candidates, this criminal claim of the PDP has revealed that It is now clear that some criminally-minded PDP operatives have access to the INEC server to be able to smuggle in fake results into that server.

    “The only means by which they could have access to the INEC server is by the criminal hacking of the server or through the criminal conspiracy of some INEC officials.

    “The APC Presidential Campaign Council hereby prays that the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services use your good offices to investigate the hacking of and/or illegal tampering with the INEC server by the PDP. The leadership of the PDP must be invited, interrogated and investigated and those identified as perpetrators must be arrested and prosecuted.

    “Opposition is healthy in a democracy but it is not a licence for criminality and illegality. A country governed by laws cannot be blackmailed or cowed into indolence by the perceived underdog status of the opposition so as to condone such a blatant criminal claim by the PDP of having illegal access to INEC’s server.”

  • We are eager to meet Atiku in Court, says Keyamo

    Director of Strategic Communication of the APC Prresidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo (SAN) has said that the APC was prepared  and eager to meet the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar in court to prove that the 2019 elections was conducted in a free and fair atmosphere deviod of rigging as being clamed by the opposition.

    Keyamo said in  statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that resorting to court was the only democratic way of ventilating his percieved grviiances about the election, stressing that thte council was not in any way previaling on the former Vice President not to challenge the outcome of the exercise in court.

    Keyamo denied reports that the council has written to some international organisations and development partners to prevail on Atiku not to challenge the outcome in Court, adding that body that wrote the letter was not known to the council and does not speak for it and the President.

    He said “our attention has been drawn to some news item and posts on social media reporting that we wrote a letter to some international bodies to prevail on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar not to proceed to court to challenge the result of the 2019 Presidential Election.

    “Our investigation reveals that a letter to that effect was purportedly written by a certain ‘Buhari Campaign Organisation’. This is the second time we will be informing the public that the said ‘Buhari Campaign Organisation’ does not act at the behest of the APC Presidential Campaign Council nor does it represent the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation in any way.

    “As a result, whatever it has released does not represent the position of the APC Presidential Campaign Council or President Muham,madu Buhari.

    “Our official position is that we believe that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has a constitutional right to seek redress in court and we do not seek in any way to curtail that right. In fact, it is the resort to court that is the only democratic way to ventilate his perceived grievance and any attempt to restrict or discourage the exercise of such right would be an invitation to anarchy.

    “In addition, we are very anxious to meet Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in court in order to show the world in a conclusive manner the free and fair nature of the comprehensive defeat of Atiku at the polls. An election is not termed ‘rigged’ only by the mere claim of it by the loser.

    “That is what Atiku and the PDP want to ram down our throats. Unfortunately for them, international, continental and sub-regional observers (who can be seen as neutral by all standards) ALL declared the election to be free, fair and credible. No ego-massaging narrative can change that.

    “We therefore totally disassociate ourselves from the letter purportedly written by one of, perhaps, many support groups of President Muhammadu Buhari. They may have a right to their opinion, but it does not represent our official position.”

     

     

     

  • We’re eager to meet Atiku in Court, says Keyamo

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) was prepared and eager to meet the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar in court to prove the 2019 election was devoid of rigging, its Director Strategic Communication of the APC Presidential Campaign Council Festus Keyamo (SAN) has said.

    Keyamo, in a statement in Abuja, explained that resorting to court was the only democratic way of ventilating his perceived grievances about the election.

    He stressed the council was not in any way prevailing on the former Vice President not to challenge the outcome of the exercise in court.

    Keyamo denied reports the council has written to some international organisations and development partners to prevail on Atiku not to challenge the outcome in Court.

    He said the body that wrote the letter was not known to the council and does not speak for it and the President.

    According to him: “Our attention has been drawn to some news item and posts on social media reporting that we wrote a letter to some international bodies to prevail on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar not to proceed to court to challenge the result of the 2019 Presidential Election.

    “Our investigation reveals that a letter to that effect was purportedly written by a certain ‘Buhari Campaign Organisation’.

    “This is the second time we will be informing the public that the said ‘Buhari Campaign Organisation’ does not act at the behest of the APC Presidential Campaign Council nor does it represent the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation in any way.

    “As a result, whatever it has released does not represent the position of the APC Presidential Campaign Council or President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Our official position is that we believe that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has a constitutional right to seek redress in court and we do not seek in any way to curtail that right.

    “In fact, it is the resort to court that is the only democratic way to ventilate his perceived grievance and any attempt to restrict or discourage the exercise of such right would be an invitation to anarchy.

    Read Also: Atiku, PDP seek tribunal’s nod to inspect election materials

    “In addition, we are very anxious to meet Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in court in order to show the world in a conclusive manner the free and fair nature of the comprehensive defeat of Atiku at the polls. An election is not termed ‘rigged’ only by the mere claim of it by the loser.

    “That is what Atiku and the PDP want to ram down our throats. Unfortunately for them, international, continental and sub-regional observers (who can be seen as neutral by all standards) ALL declared the election to be free, fair and credible. No ego-massaging narrative can change that.

    “We therefore totally disassociate ourselves from the letter purportedly written by one of, perhaps, many support groups of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “They may have a right to their opinion, but it does not represent our official position.“

  • Don’t let PDP take you for a ride, Presidency tells international media, observers

    The Presidency on Monday urged the international media and observers not to let the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) take them for a ride.

    The warning was contained in a statement issued by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (Official Spokesperson) and Director, Strategic Communications, Festus Keyamo.

    According to him, the PDP is bent on discrediting and destabilizing the process that would lead to conclusion of last Saturday’s Presidential election.

    He said “It has become imperative to issue this statement against the backdrop of the dangerous extent to which the main Opposition Party (PDP) is taking the machinations to discredit and destabilize the process that would lead to a logical completion of February 23, 2019, Presidential Elections by way of announcement of results in line with the established procedure in the Electoral Law.

    “Overall and from reports received in the Situation Room of the Election Planning and Monitoring Directorate of the All Progressives Congress from across our country, at this point it is safe to conclude that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done a good job despite the challenges and the delays experienced in some cases.

    “With over 84 million Permanent Voters Cards (71 m collected), mobilising the citizenry to exercise their democratic right to vote has been a massive undertaking but, thankfully, it was conducted largely peacefully and on schedule. We wish to acknowledge and thank all the regional, continental and global observer groups that have acknowledged the peaceful, transparent process in their various preliminary reports issued earlier today.

    “Against this backdrop, the plethora of unconstitutional acts by the main opposition (PDP) and its sympathizers like urging a premature declaration of its candidate as winner and filling the social media space with fake results transcend all boundaries of descent conduct.

    “However, we urge our international friends, observers and patriotic Nigerians not to be deceived. Very early in the build-up to the Elections, the Peoples Democratic Party and its Presidential candidate embarked on a cynical plan to discredit INEC as a backup plan in the likely event of them losing the election.

    “You would recall, in this respect, unsubstantiated and wild claims made by Candidate Atiku and his cohorts that were all designed to put a question mark around INEC and damage the faith of the electorate in the democratic process.”

    This, he said, is an assault on Nigeria’s democracy and an affront to millions of Nigerians who trooped out to exercise their civic duty by voting in the elections.

    “The PDP  is, in essence and most, unfortunately,  saying that if they don’t win fairly then they are willing to tear down the walls to get their way by hook or by crook.

    “In spite of this unjustifiable and provocative stance, we are confident that the results by INEC are free and fair. Our elections have progressed over the years and we ask that the PDP does not derail us to the dark past with its childish antics.

    “The announcements by INEC which has gotten underway will be concluded in due course. Let us all be patient and let this credible process take its course.” he stated .

  • PDP plotting to declare Atiku winner of election

    The APC Presidential Campaign Council has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the relevant security agencies to immediately activate the provisions of the law on non-official declaration of results, saying the PDP and its agents have completed plans declare Atiku Abubakar as the winner of Saturday Presidential election without waiting for INEC.

    The council, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Festus Keyamo that the plan of the opposition is to create confusion leading to pockets of protests by hired thugs across the country in other to attract the sympathy of the international community.

    Keyamo said as part of the plot, a video recording has already been made by one of the PDP campaign spokespersons, Buba Galadima announcing Atiku as the winner of the election.

    While calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Buba Galadima, adding that the world is watching and waiting on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to say something on the video by Alhaji Buba Galadima.

    The statement reads: “Devastated by authentic results filtering out of polling units nationwide, our usual sources within the camp of the PDP have informed us that an emergency meeting of the main opposition party has been summoned for today somewhere in Abuja.

    “Top on the agenda of the PDP is to activate the last strand of their Dubai strategies that have since collapsed like a pack of cards: they plan to release fake results of the Presidential Election later today or early Monday morning that they claim to have compiled themselves.

    Read Also: Ambode loses ward to PDP

    “Our information is that they aim to create crises and confusion that will lead to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar claiming victory in a day or two from today ahead of the official announcement of the results by INEC. Then, what would follow will be some carefully choreographed protests by pockets of hoodlums in some parts of the country. The ultimate aim is to curry the sympathy of our foreign friends and push us to the Venezuela situation.

    “Our call is therefore to INEC, NIGERIA BROADCASTING COMMISSION and all law-enforcement agencies to continually warn the PDP and all their surrogates like the amorphous CUPP and their likes that anyone who flouts the law on announcement of official results will be made to face the law. Opposition does not confer immunity on anyone to flout the law.

    “In preparation for this reckless move, some PDP social media agents are already flying some kites on-line as to the number of States allegedly ‘won’ by PDP. In fact, Alhaji Buba Galadima, an official spokesperson for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has made a short video announcing PDP as the ‘winner’ of the Presidential Election.

    “As an official spokesperson, he is clearly acting on behalf of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and on his instruction. We, therefore call for the immediate arrest, interrogation and prosecution of Alhaji Buba Galadima in this regard. The world is watching and waiting on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to say something on the video by Alhaji Buba Galadima.

    “Consequently, we urge all well-meaning Nigerians, the International Community and even reasonable members of the Opposition not to be bought by these cheap antics of the PDP. Let’s restrain our wards from being used by these unscrupulous elements. Nigeria will continue to exist after this election.

    “Over the years, the PDP had been declared ‘winner’ of Presidential elections under controversial circumstances. On those occasions, President Muhammadu Buhari never took laws into his hands and declared himself President. He also never declared parallel results. He availed himself of constitutional means to address his grievance by approaching the law courts.

    “Their latest devilish plot against the country is a clear indication that their apology to the Nigerian people was just a hoax. They have learnt nothing and they have forgotten nothing as they just cannot win any election fair and square.”