The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal holding in Minna, Niger state has upheld the election of Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State.
The Tribunal dismissed the petitions of the PDP and its candidate Umar Nasko declaring that it lacks merit.
Details shortly…
The petitioners and respondents in the legal tussle over the 2019 governorship elections in Kano state on Wednesday adopted their final defence before the gubernatorial Election Tribunal presided by Justice Halima Shamaki sitting at Miller road Court complex.
Abba Kabiru Yusuf(1st petitioner) alongside Peoples Democratic party(PDP)(2nd petitioner) had dragged Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC (1st respondent)Abdullahi Umar Ganduje(2nd respondent) All Progress Congress(APC)(3rd respondent) challenging the declaration of Ganduje as the winner of Kano governorship election.
The respondents in their final written addresses urge the court to dismiss the pleadings made by the petitioners, stating that the petitioner has failed to discharge the burden on prove.
The respondents further urged the court that the exhibits that were tendered from the bar by the petitioners were not Certified True Copies (CTC) therefore pray the tribunal to dismiss the petition in its entirety.
Counsel to the 1st respondent(INEC) Ahmed Raji(SAN) told the court that the issues raised by the petitioners was bankrupt in merit, he argued that the petition lacked the fertility of life.
Raji(SAN) submitted that Abba Kabiru failed to produce direct evidence to substantiate his claims that INEC wrongfully declared his opponent, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the winner of the poll, arguing that the electoral act is strict on the petitioners appealing to the tribunal to on this grounds dismiss the petition.
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje(2nd respondent) responding to the petition filed against his gubernatorial victory before the tribunal said the petitioner failed to produce a result that was contrary to that which was declared by INEC.
Ganduje through his counsel, Offiong Offiong(SAN) submitted that Abba Kabiru invoked presumptions in attempt to prove to the court that he was duly elected as Kano state governor, praying the court to dismiss the claims made by the petitioners.
The 3rd respondent, All progressive Congress, APC also in its defence told the tribunal that the petitioners in their claims made an unlawful translation of the provisions of the law.
The respondents through its counsel Alex Iziyon(SAN) further said the petitioners failed to tender voters register that indicate the number of voters, who voted and number of votes scored to substantiate their claim as winners of the elections.
According to him, INEC possess the inherent jurisdiction to cancel elections and proceed to order for a rerun, arguing that on March 9th 2019 INEC acted rightly by declaring the Kano state governorship election as inconclusive.
Iziyon(SAN) further argued that the petitioners in their claims to election victory acted in contrast to the provisions of the law by presenting Pink Copies result sheets, explaining that jurisprudence has transited from submission of Pink Copies to another stage, on this ground he pray the court to dismiss the petition and uphold the emergence of All Progressive Congress, APC and its candidate Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as winner of the election.
Responding to the submissions made by the respondent, counsel to the petitioners, Kanu Agabi(SAN) urge the court to ignore the response from the respondents on the issues raised.
Agabi(SAN) said on the 9th of March 2019 elections were held and results were announced, adding that Abba Kabiru Yusuf of the PDP scored the highest number of votes unfortunately INEC refused to declare PDP as the winner of that election.
He argued that the rerun election held on the 23rd of March is null and void, stressing that therefore the results from the rerun, which declared Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as duly elected Kano state governor was null and void, that the court should declare the results of the 9th of march 2019 as the valid results and return PDP and its candidate Abba Kabiru Yusuf as the winner of the election, urging the tribunal to so hold.
However, our reporter observed that anxiety, apprehension and palpable fears have enveloped the ancient city of Kano as residents are gripped under the fear of the likely outcome of the legal battle between both political giants.
It would be recalled that at the height of the court proceedings, the chairman of the tribunal Justice Halima Shamaki reacting to the tense atmosphere that had trailed the proceeding threatened to relocate the tribunal from Kano to Abuja.
Throughout the security of the proceedings heavily armed security operatives were stationed at strategic positions as they disallowed hundreds of party faithful who were usually eager to gain entrance into the court complex to witness the epic legal battle.
In her ruling, Justice Shamaki said the tribunal would communicate to the parties, concerned the date that the final judgment would be delivered
Son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday told an Ikeja High Court that he has been unable to serve his estranged wife, Mrs Temitope, divorce papers
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Temitope nee Adebutu, is the daughter of popular Premier Lotto magnate, Sir Kessington Adebutu alias “Baba Ijebu”.
The couple were, however absent in court, while there was also no legal representation for Temitope.
Counsel to Olujonwo, Mr Olayinka Kujembola, informed the court that several fruitless efforts had been made to serve Temitope.
“We have made several attempts to serve her in Abeokuta, Ogun State, but failed.
“Even at her residence located within an Estate in Ikoyi, the court Sheriff complained that he was unable to effect service because of the tight security,”Kujembola said.
Justice Bisi Akinlade noted that proceedings in the divorce suit were always reported in the media and that efforts should be made to serve Temitope in Ogun where she works and resides.
“The issue between this couple is always reported in the papers.
“The respondent stays in Ogun State, why do you want me to grant an Order for substituted service for Lagos where she does not stay?.
“I will adjourn this case to ensure that the bailiff serves her personally so that we can be sure that we have exhausted all options.
“This is a very simple matter, it is a very simple divorce. This case is adjourned till Oct. 2 for hearing of pending applications,”Akinlade said.
NAN reports that during proceedings of May 23, Olujonwo’s counsel, Ms Omo Omofoma also told the court that Olujonwo had made several attempts to serve Temitope to no avail.
Justice Akinlade had noted during the proceedings that other means of service like an alternative address and courier service should be explored by the petitioner (Olujonwo).
NAN reports that Olujonwo and Temitope got married on May 11 and 13, 2017 in a grand wedding which attracted the ‘creme de la creme’ of the society. The marriage, however, came to a halt a few months later.
Weeks leading to the May 2017 wedding, Olujonwo’s mother, Mrs Taiwo Obasanjo had filed a suit at an Ikeja High Court seeking the postponement of the wedding of her son to Temitope.
According to her, she had received various warnings and prophecies from men of God that her son should not be involved in any elaborate celebration before his 34th birthday which was June 1, 2017.
Justice Lateefa Okunnu in a ruling on April 10, 2017 had dismissed the suit on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it because Olujonwo, then 33, was an adult.
(NAN)
A 300-level student of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Bukola Odeyemi, has allegedly stabbed her lover, John Iju to death at Treasure Base Hostel, Iworoko-Ekiti.
The suspect, a 20-year-old student in the Department of Biology Education, allegedly stabbed her boyfriend to death after an argument transpired between the duo over her lover failure to give her 2,500money to plait hair.
It was gathered that the tragic incident which occurred at about 10pm on Monday, caused panic.
The deceased outcry for help was said to have attracted residents who rushed to the scene and called the police.
An eyewitness, who craves anonymity, wondered why a girl would kill her boyfriend over money to plait hair.
He said: “Odeyemi had demanded N2,500 from her lover, also a student of EKSU, to get her hair done at the salon, but an argument ensued after the deceased refused to give her the money.
“During the altercation, Odeyemi stabbed Iju in the chest and his cry for help attracted us but he did not survive the injury”.
Ekiti Police spokesman, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu confirmed the incident, saying the suspect has been arrested and will be charged to court after investigation is concluded.
The House of Representatives has decided to honour the Chairman Air Peace Airlines, Allen Onyema for patriotism.
The Chairman was invited to appear before to the House on Wednesday in recognition of his magnanimous decision to put his planes for use to evacuate Nigerians who were being attacked In the wake of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said that the House is honouring Onyema for the level of his patriotism .
According to the Speaker, as at the present moment Onyema has lifted over 498 Nigerians from South Africa, and his planes have returned to South h Africa to airlift more retunees.
He said it was a rare show of patriotism and that the House will recommend him to the federal Government for further honour.
Speaking on his motivation for the gesture, Onyema said his decision was spontaneous, and was to mitigate the hardship being faced by Nigerians in South Africa.
Details shortly…
Security operatives have besieged the Lagos office of online news platform, SaharaReporters
The security operatives reportedly armed prevented entry into the office located at GRA Ikeja.
It was gathered that security operatives came in three vehicles and stationed themselves in front of the office
According to SaharaReporters, the security operatives were shouting, “Open the gate! Come outside.”
Details shortly
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama has said that the Nigerian Government would use the Forum of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to seek global support fighting terrorism and increasing Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).
Onyeama made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a Pre-UNGA briefing with newsmen stating the expectations of the Nigerian government during the high level summit from Sept. 17 to Sept. 30.
According to Onyeama, Nigeria would take advantage of its position as President of the 74th UN General Assembly to project the country and articulate priorities of the country, what t seeks to achieve and areas for global support.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari will be lead the Nigerian delegation which would include Members of his cabinet and some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure Nigeria have the best technical resources.
Onyeama listed other priority issues of the country to be discussed at the summit to include: issues of Peace and Security, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG ) which covers socio-economic, education, humanitarian issues regarding child’s right.
Other issues are: poverty eradication, illicit financial flows, recovery of stolen assets,
“More strategically as a country, it is an opportunity to project our country as an important member of the international community.
“And having the Presidency of the General Assembly is something that also gives us that higher visibility and great influence.
“We would also want to use that to push agenda of importance to us as a country, our fight against corruption, repatriation of foreign loots, engaging with other countries.
“In our quest to successfully deliver on SDG objectives that cover our social economic challenges, terrorism, and countering violent extremism.
“Is also something we would want to maintain at the highest levels of global priorities because it is our major challenges.
“Mr President has just come back from a summit of ECOWAS Heads of States on Peace and Security in the West Africa Sub-region so this is still a challenge that we are facing.
“And it is important to use that opportunity to keep the global community engaged and supportive of what we are doing, our fight.
“And also taking the opportunity to a greater United Nations for support in that fight against terrorism but also in the global conflicts taking place in Africa,” Onyeama said.
Onyeama said tha Nigeria has been very present in Peace Keeping interventions across the continent under the framework of the African Union.
He added that with such large troops from Nigeria it was important to have financial and other support from the UN peace keeping division.
The Minister said that President Buhari would also be having bilateral meetings with some Heads of States and engaging with different personalities like Bill Gates to discuss attracting FDI.
Onyeama explained that the Foreign revenue streams of the Country expected hence, the need to diversify to attract more Foreign Direct Investment into our country.
He said that Nigeria would also be soliciting support of the UN to recharge the Lake Chad which has shrunk by 90 per cent and has affected the source of livelihood of people living across the region.
Onyeama added that Nigeria will use the opportunity to canvass support for a number of Nigerians and the country itself vying for certain international position, engage with countries to try to get their support so that the nation can deliver on the positions.
“For instance, Nigeria is keen to be elected into a category of the International Maritime Organisation.
“We didn’t make it the last time round, so we are persisting this time and with the challenges that we have, maritime challenges, we feel that it is important that we be on the governing bodies for regulating maritime issues.
“We are also vying for a position on the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, we are vying for a seat under part two on the International Civil Aviation Organisation Council.
“We have a candidate that we are pushing to be on the Committee Against Torture, we also have a candidate that we are pushing for election to the United Nations Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
“So, we will be taking advantage of our presence there during the General Assembly to also lobby for these positions,” Onyeama said. (NAN)
All eyes will be on Nigerian forward, David Okereke as he aims to kicks off his Champions League campaign on a bright note when Club Brugge host Turkish champions Galatasaray at the Jan Breydel Stadium tonight.
David Okereke, who stars for Nigeria’s Under 23 side, joined Club Brugge as the most expensive signing in the last eight years after completing a €8m four-year deal from Italian Serie B outfit Spezia Calcio.
Okereke, 22, has scored four goals in six games for Brugge who are second in Belgian first division.
Also playing for Brugge is Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis who has played 5 times and scored two goals this season.
Dennis recently made his debut for Nigeria when he came in for Samuel Chukwueze in the Super Eagles 2-2 draw with Ukraine.
Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has solicited the support of France in the development of vocational education to tackle unemployment in the state.
Oyetola made the request when France Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jerome Pasquier, and his team, paid a courtesy visit to the governor on Tuesday in Osogbo.
The governor said that the support of France in vocational education would assist the state in producing more people with business skills who would be self-employed.
“The conventional education as good as it is does not give skills.
“We are turning out so many graduates who are not skilled and that is why we are looking at training more people to acquire skills, and in turn set up their own businesses,” the governor said.
Oyetola, who noted that white collar jobs were no longer available, said it was not possible for government alone to absorb all unemployed youths.
“How many people can the government employ with the dwindling revenue? The era of white collar jobs is going.
“And that is why we need your support in vocational education through which people can acquire skills without necessarily looking for white collar jobs.
“When people acquire vocational skills, they will create jobs, employ people and also sustain their lives,” he said.
The governor said that the state government was trying its best in helping people to acquire vocational skills in all its nine vocational colleges across the state.
He also sought for more support in the area of mining, agriculture and tourism.
The governor commended France for its support in the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP1and2) in the state.
Oyetola disclosed that the $15 million granted to the state by France with additional $45 million by the World Bank had helped the state to cover the entire state under the initiative
.The governor said a letter from the World Bank confirming the state as the best in terms of project implementation was enough evidence for the state to be considered for the third phase of the programme.
Earlier in his remarks, Pasquier had commended the state government for its good track record in the implementation of RAMP 1 and 2 programme.
The Ambassador said France would always be ready to support Osun government in the area of culture, economy and education among others.
“My job as France Ambassador is to develop good relationship between France and Nigeria, and not only in Abuja and Lagos but in all the states, including Osun,” Pasquier said.
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Exam Ethics Marshall International (EEMI), has voted the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, as winner of this year’s Exam Ethics Africa Leadership Impact Award.
The organisation’s Founding Chairman Ike Onyechere announced this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.
Onyechere said that the independent award committee of EEMI unanimously voted Oloyede as the winner of the award, following assessments of nominations from various African countries.
According to him, exam malpractices have become a serious challenge which calls for collective responsibility and action, in the best tradition of inter-agency and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
He said: “The award of recognition of his (Oloyede’s) outstanding performance was due to his implementing best practices in the conduct of JAMB examinations.
“His performance, which has motivated and inspired reforms in admission, teaching, examination, certification, registration and regulation processes across Africa, is also a basis for assessment.”
Onyechere added that Oloyede, with his initiatives, had effectively demonstrated that the epidemic of examination malpractices ravaging the education sector could be caged, if stakeholders in the sector could demonstrate courage and political will to confront the monster.
“The committee took special cognisance of Oloyede’s steadfastness, strong nerves, strength of character and supreme self-confidence in introducing and sustaining reform initiatives.
“This is in spite of the diversionary campaigns of misinformation being mounted by perpetrators to prevent the plugging of loopholes that had served as the facilitator of examination malpractices.
“His insistence that only candidates with biometric verifications should be allowed to sit for JAMB examinations, for example, blocked one major loophole through which impersonators, exam mercenaries and organised exam fraud syndicates infiltrated exam halls,” he said.
The founding chairman said that the performance of the registrar had enhanced the integrity and credibility of administration, supervision and monitoring of JAMB exams, especially by engaging vice-chancellors and other top professionals as chief external examiners.
He said Oloyede had also helped in eliminating extortion of candidates by cyber cafes and touts by making it possible for them to check their results through their mobile telephone, using the same telephone numbers that were used for registration.
“Another thing he does that earns him the award is the efforts through which the names, locations and identities of blacklisted computer-based (CBT) centres were released promptly.
“He provided timely warning to candidates to stay away from such centres. By so doing, he has shattered the usual conspiracy of secrecy that enabled the protection and recycling of rogue institutions, supervisors and invigilators indicted for aiding and abetting mass cheating.
“By working with security agencies to swiftly secure the conviction of exam fraudsters, the JAMB registrar has demonstrated that the judiciary has the capacity to deploy quick legal sanctions against exam fraud as in other parts of the world,” he maintained.
Onyechere said that the committee assessed Oloyede’s leadership impact against the background of the fact that exam malpractices were the source of pervasive and systemic corruption in all sectors of the society.
According to him, through exam malpractices, seeds of criminality are being sowed in the fertile minds of children and youths, preparing them as ready and willing recruits for corruption and equipping them with undeserved certificates and licences.
He said that the award would be presented to the JAMB registrar at the 23rd EEMI conference scheduled for between Sept. 24 and Sept. 27 in Abuja.