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  • JUST IN: Tribunal sacks Benue Assembly deputy speaker

    The National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State has nullified the election of Chris Adaji of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the 2019 Ohimini State Constituency election.

    Chairman of the Tribunal Justice R. O. Odudu, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the margin with which Adaji led Musa Alechenu Ohimini of All Progressives Congress (APC) is less than the number of votes cancelled.

    According to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaration, Adaji led with 397 votes and the Tribunal finds the margin is less than the 1, 056 votes cancelled in the two polling units of Igbanomaje and Odega.

    According to the decision of the court, INEC ought not to have made final declaration without ordering for a rerun in the affected polling units other than declare an inconclusive poll.

    Justice Odudu held that the declaration and return of Adaji without a rerun in Otega and Ogadagba ward is invalid by reason of non-substantial compliance with Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    Read Also: I will stay in PDP to seek justice, says Alaibe

    The court therefore, issued an order for withdrawer of certificate of return issued to Adaji and an order directing INEC to conduct rerun election in the two polling units where elections were cancelled within 90 days.

    Vincent Tortsugh, who appeared for the petitioners, described the decision of the Tribunal as “reasonable,” adding that “we didn’t expect anything other than this.”

    The APC candidate, Musa Ohimini Alechenu described the decision as a testimony of the wishes of the people.

    He said by the decision, the judiciary has reaffirmed that it remains the hope of the people.

    “I want to appreciate the Tribunal for the good job done. Let me appreciate the people of Ohimini for standing behind me during the period of the legal struggle,” Alechenu said while insisting that he will win the rerun ballot.

    Adaji’s counsel, Ken Ikonne said he will consult his client before taking any further decision.

  • Ronaldo, Messi, Van Dijk battle for FIFA Best player award today

    FIFA is set to host ’ Best Football Awards for 2019.

    The award will take Monday evening at Teatro alla Scala, Milan.

    The event will feature prominently the FIFA Men’s award which has Portugal forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Liverpool center defender, Virgil van Dijk

    The 2019 UEFA Women’s Player of the Year, Lucy Bronze, US players Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe battle for Women’s best player of the year.

    Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp and Tottenham Hotspur gaffer, Mauricio Pochettino engage in a tough fight against each other for the 2019 best coach award.

    England National team coach, Phil Neville will have a rough fight against US national coach Jill Ellis and Sarina Wiegman of Dutch national team

    Liverpool goal stopper, Alisson Becker will face his national teammate Ederson of Manchester city and Barcelona keeper, Marc-Adre ter Stegen.

    READ ALSO: FIFA Best Player award: Ronaldo, Messi lead 23-man shortlist

    Five-time Ballon d’Or awardee, Lionel Messi will hope to win this year Pukas award over Colombia attacking midfielder, Juan Fernando Quintero and Dániel Zsóri of Fehérvár FC.

    A Brazilian mother, Silvia Grecco who describes Palmeiras matches to her blind son has high hope in winning fan player of the year award as she battles with Justo Sánchez, Uruguayan father who does not miss a single game of his team’s rival in loving memory of his deceased son and Netherlands fans which support the Dutch National team at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

    Chile goal stopper Christiane Endler has been nominated for Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper, the nomination also includes Hedvig Lindahl of Sweden and Sari van Veenendaal of Netherlands.

  • Kogi NPC Chairman resigns

    Alhaji Muhammed Aliyu, the Kogi Chairman of the Nigeria People’s Congress (NPC) has resigned from the party and withdraws from the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

    Aliyu announced this in a statement he made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, saying that his action was “with immediate effect”.

    Aliyu, who is also the governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, said that he had sent his letter of resignation to the National Chairman of the party.

    READ ALSO: Nigeria to get database of deaths, births soon — NPC

    “Among several reasons for my decision, is my desire to continue to maintain the integrity with which I left the public service after 35 years of meritorious service as executive director.

    “I discovered that the political arena is not a place where I can continue to maintain that integrity with unblemished records of service.”

    He thanked NPC for affording him the opportunity to serve.

    (NAN)

  • Netanyahu wins majority of votes to head new Israeli gov’t

    Fifty-five members of the Knesset parliament on Monday called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the head of Likud party, to form the next government, compared to fifty-four votes for the opposition Blue and White political alliance, according to media reports.

    On Sunday, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin began two-day consultations with elected parties to pick a politician with the best chance of forming a coalition government.

    According to the Israeli Channel 13, the round of consultations at the president’s headquarters ended with Benjamin Netanyahu’s mandate to form the government.

    Netanyahu’s party Likud and allies have secured 55 seats, while Gantz’s Blue and White-led alliance won 54, the channel reported.

    The broadcaster added that Netanyahu got the mandate after the National Democratic Alliance (Balad party), an ally of the Arab Joint List, said it did not support the List’s position to vote for Benny Gantz.

    READ ALSO: Netanyahu, Gantz compete over Israel’s leadership

    “The only government which can be formed is a broad unity government.

    “The only way to reach such a government is to sit down and talk with an open mind,” Netanyahu said on Twitter.

    On its turn, the Yisrael Beitenu political party led by former defense chief Avigdor Lieberman refused to support any of the elected candidates.

    The final results of the election will be presented to Rivlin on Sept. 25.

    The president will meet with the leaders of the parties elected to parliament to discuss the nominee for the office of prime minister.

    After the nominee is chosen, he will have 42 days to form a viable coalition.

    (NAN)

  • Defections loom as Bayelsa PDP plots to retain running mate

    Mass defection looms in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State, following a plot by the party to retain Senator Lawrence Erwujakpor as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Senator Douye Diri.

    The nomination of Eweujakpor, who hails from Dickson’s Sagbama Local Government Area, has kept the PDP on edge ahead of the November 16 governorship election with many party members kicking against it.

    Governor Seriake Dickson lived up to his promise to convene stakeholders meeting to review the controversies surrounding the running mate and explore possibility of substituting Ewrujakpor’s name before the September 23 deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for candidate substitution.

    Party members were, however, in dilemma that despite holding the meeting, the stakeholders made no public statement on the running mate crisis.

    Besides, it was observed that many key PDP stakeholders failed to attend the meeting, which appointed Dr. Nimibofa Ayawei as Director-General of the Senator Douye Diri Governorship Campaign Organization.

    Dr. Ayawei, who is Chairman of the Bayelsa State Internal Revenue Board, was a frontline aspirant of the PDP in the last gubernatorial primaries which produced Senator DIri as the party’s candidate for the November 16 election in the state.

    A statement by the State Secretary of the PDP, Chief Godspower Keku, said that Dr. Ayawei’s appointment was part of the key resolutions of a meeting of the Gubernatorial Campaign Advisory Council of the State Chapter of the PDP.

    Though the stakeholders maintained sealed lips on Diri’s running mate, it was gathered that the governorship candidate briefed the stakeholders on the issue.

    Read Also:  Shekarau, others in fresh trouble over N950m PDP fund

    A party stakeholder said Diri was under intense pressure of some powerful forces to insist on Ewrujakpor adding that while addressing the stakeholders, the candidate said there was no need to substitute his running mate.

    The source, who spoke in confidence said: “Most of the party members are waiting for the decision to be made public. If the party leadership fails to make it public and the name remains till the expiration of September 23 deadline, there will be mass exodus in the PDP.

    “The only way to save the party is to move the running mate to Bayelsa East. We need their votes in the election. People are not happy at the development and they have communicated their grievances. We are asking the governor and other party leaders to save the PDP”.

    Following the emergence of Diri as the candidate, some party leaders abandoned the PDP with their supporters and aligned with the APC.

    A member of the House of Assembly representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 2, Target Sekiibo recently moved to the APC with his supporters.

    Also, Gabriel Jonah, the younger brother to the state’s Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), led thousands of his supporters in Nembe Local Government under a political movement, the Otita Force, to the APC.

    Similarly, a grassroots mobiliser and Dickson’s Special Adviser on Urban Crime Management, Abednego Don-Evarada dumped the party in Ogbia with his supporters to the APC.

    Following the running mate crisis, Dickson sacked his aide, Hellen Bob, who had reportedly pitched tent with the APC.

    The source added: “Many people are warming up to leave the party but they are waiting for last decision of the party leadership on this running mate palaver. Some PDP lawmakers have traveled to Abuja to meet with the leadership of the APC and negotiate their ways out of the PDP. We are still begging the party leadership to listen to the voices of its members and resolve this issue”.

  • Man with two wives arrested for allegedly sleeping with daughter

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno Command, says it has arrested a 46 year-old man, Mohammed Pantami, for alleged defilement of his 15 year-old daughter.

    The Commandant of the Corps, Abdullahi Ibrahim, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Maiduguri.

    Ibrahim said that the suspect was arrested on Aug. 29 at Bulabulin-Allajeri area in the outskirt of Maiduguri.

    He said that an elderly woman assisted the victim and reported the matter to the command after the suspect severally had canal knowledge of her.

    READ ALSO: Man docked for sleeping with stepdaughters, impregnating one

    Ibrahim added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had been sleeping with the girl for the past one year.

    “The suspect,who is married with two wives,often sneaks into the victim’s room while she is asleep and force himself on her.

    “The victim said that the suspect had first forced himself on her when she was 14-years, and continued to do so until his arrest.

    “The suspect threatened to harm the victim, if she told anyone about his sexual escapade,” Ibrahim said.

    He said that in spite of the victim`s horrible experience, she remained silent for the past one year.

    Ibrahim added that investigations into case was in progress while the suspect would soon be arraign in court. (NAN)

  • Buhari mourns Amb. Chiedu Osakwe

    President Muhammadu Buhari on behalf of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and all Nigerians has condoled with the family of Nigeria’s Chief Trade Negotiator and Director General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations, Amb. Chiedu Osakwe.

    The President noted, with deep pain, that the passing of Amb. Osakwe has created a gulf in the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations, which he served as pioneer Director General, bringing invaluable experience, knowledge and skill in setting up and motivating the operations of the agency that was established in 2017.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, commiserated with all friends, relations and professional associates of the deceased, who served the country for many years as Foreign Service Officer, before joining the Word Trade Organisation, and later accepting to return to the country as a Trade Adviser to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and Director General of NOTN.

    READ ALSO: Buhari mourns Okonjo-Iweala’s father

    The President affirmed that the intellectual depth, fervour and sense of patriotism that Amb. Osakwe handled responsibilities will be sorely missed, especially the frontline and historical role of chairing the Negotiating Forum of the African Union (AU) from June 2017 to March 2018, during which time the negotiations were concluded on the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    President prayed that the Almighty God will receive the soul of the cerebral diplomat, scholar and administrator, and comfort his family.

  • UPDATED: Shekarau, others in fresh trouble over N950m PDP fund

    The Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Monday, struck out the no-case submission filed by the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, challenging his alleged N950 million money laundering trial.

    The EFCC, arraigned Shekarau on May 24, 2018, alongside former Foreign Affairs Minister, , Aminu Wali and one Mansur Ahmad on six counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950 million.

    Delivering his ruling, Justice Lewis Allagoa, held that the EFCC has made out a prima facie case against the defendants, warranting that they must defend themselves.

    “I have considered evidence by the prosecution against the defendants, it is sufficient that they have case to answer and defend themselves,” he said.

    Allagoa adjourned the case until Nov.18 and Nov. 19, for defence to open its case.

    Earlier, Counsel to Shekarau and two others, Mr Dauda Abdulrahman, and Mr Abdul Adamu, on July 9 filed a no-case submission.

    Adamu said EFCC failed to present a prima facie case to warrant the defendants entering defence and urged the court to discharge his clients.

    Read Also: Shekarau brings rare virtues to the Senate

    Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Johnson Ojogbane, had earlier told the court that the defendants, between March 26 and March 27, 2015, conspired among themselves and received the said amount without going through financial institutions.

    He said that the money was issued to the defendants by the Peoples Democratic Party and former petroleum minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act and Section 15(1) of money laundering Act.

    The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    NAN reports that the defendants were earlier granted bail in the sum of N100 million each with two reliable sureties in like sum and during the course of trial, the prosecution called four witnesses and closed its case on May 8.

  • 10 youths to win N10m grant as FG kick-starts 59th Independence activities

    The Federal Government Monday started activities to mark Nigeria’s 59th Independence Day Celebration.

    Nigeria got her independence from Britain on 1st October, 1960.

    Speaking during the 59th Independence Day Celebration press briefing at the Radio House, Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, thanked God for preserving the nation to witness its 59th anniversary.

    Mustapha, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Political and Economic Affairs in the Office of the SGF, Gabriel Aduda, said efforts have been made to keep the nation one over the years despite its diverse challenges.

    He recognized the fact that the country ought to be far ahead where it is today.

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, he said, is doing its best to leave long lasting legacies in the country.

    He said that 10 youths will have the opportunity to win N1 million each during the youth Concert scheduled for Monday 30th of September, 2019.

    He said “First, we give thanks to God Almighty for preserving our lives to witness this Celebration. We pay tribute to our founding fathers who exhibited patriotism and spirit of nationalism during the struggle for Nigeria’s Independence.

    “The struggle for Nigeria’s independence was not an easy one. It was a a result of intellectual prowess, patriotic zeal, as well as love of country that enabled our forebears to succeed in their struggle.

    “Nigeria’s leaders since then have made varied contributions to building our nation state. Above all, efforts have been made to ensure that the country remains united despite diverse challenges which are not unexpected in a multicultural society such as ours.

    “Independence Day for us is a joyous occasion, but also a sobering one because we are beset with a lot of developmental challenges looking at how far we have come. Ideally we should be far ahead of where we are right now as a people, but never the less President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is not sitting on its oars, but working to ensure better livelihoods for the Nigerian People.

    “It is the avowed determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to bequeath to the Nation a long-lasting legacy of improved infrastructural facilities and a better economy across the length and breadth of the country.” he stated

    He said that there will be Juma’at Prayer & Special Lecture on Friday 27/09/19 at the National Mosque, Abuja.

    Interdenominational Christian Service, he said, comes up on Sunday 29/09/19 at the National Christian Center, Abuja.

    On Monday 30/09/19, he said there will be National Youth Entrepreneurship Empowerment Summit (NYEES2) Independence Edition at the International Conference Center, Abuja.

    On the same day, he said there will be Youth Concert Independence Edition CD at the Millennium Park.

    On Tuesday 01/10/19, he said there will be Independence Media Broadcast by the President by 7am.

    He disclosed that there will also be Presidential Change of Guards and Public Lecture/Gala Night at the State House in the evening of the same day.

  • APC announces candidates for Adamawa council poll

    Following the conduct of primary election to pick chairmanship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the local council elections scheduled for November in Adamawa State, the party has announced results for 18 of the 21 local government areas.

    The primary election had commenced throughout the state by 12 noon on Sunday, and results for the 18th LGA arrived the state Secretariat of the party in Yola just before 3pm on Monday as the party was rounding off a press briefing to announce the results that had arrived the secretariat.

    The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mohammed Abdullahi, who announced the results to newsmen, indicated that the only one woman emerged chairmanship candidate out of the 18 so far determined.

    The publicity secretary gave the names of the elected candidates and their respective LGAs as Muhammed Ribadu Lawal (Mubi North), Musa Usman Teran (Hong), Ahmed Bobo (Maiha), Umar Hamman Joda (Jada), Phillip Ahmed (Shelleng), Mahmud Gurumpawo (Ganye), Hamza Zubairu (Mubi South) and Dumas Maina (Gombi).

    The others are Iya Aliyu Muhammadu (Girei), Ibrahim Abubakar Abba (Yola North), Mark Maina Dauda (Demsa), Joshua Ediba (Lamurde), Salihu Bayos (Mayo-Belwa), Saidu Yahaya Nuhu (Fufore), Diascos Wadube (Michika), Lazarus Kefas (Song), Nafama Timu (Guyuk) and Sophia Elisha (Numan).

    READ ALSO: Over 1,000 PDP, ADC members defect to APC

    Results were still being expected from Yola South, Madagali and Toungo LGAs when this report was filed late afternoon Monday.

    The APC state publicity secretary, who affirmed that Sophia Elisha for Numan LGA was the only woman out of the 18 candidates, recalled that only 13 were women among the 226 councillorship candidates who emerged from the councillorship primary of the party last week.

    He said the poor outcome disappoints the party which had offered free nomination forms to women to encourage their participation.

    “Women are still not coming out” he lamented, telling the newsmen who attended the briefing, “Please educate women to come out. They were offered free nomination forms but they still did not venture out. Please encourage them in your own ways.”