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  • Edo: Tribunal fixes May 24 for hearing on Igbinedion’s petition

    The State and National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Bénin City has fixed May 24 as date to commence hearing in the petition filed by Barr. Omosede Igbinedion against the election of Mr. Dennis Idahosa for Ovia Federal Constituency seat.

    Eight Persons have been scheduled to be subpoenaed to testify in the petition.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice O. Ogundana, who spoke at the end of the petitions pre-trial Wednesday said the tribunal may sit on Saturday’s when necessary.

    Justice Ogundana said all objections should be indicated in the course of the trial and to be addressed in the final written addresses in order to save time.

    Read Also: Court nullifies appointment of new Emirs in Kano

    Ogundana allocated 14 days each for the Counsel to conclude the examination of their witnesses.

    The tribunal was informed by the Counsel that total of 144 witnesses would testify during hearing.

    Counsel to Igbinedion, Kingsley Obamogie, said 71 witnesses would be called in the 71 polling units being challenged in Ovia Federal Constituency.

    Idahosa, INEC and the APC are to call 73 witnesses according to their Counsel, Messrs Christian Omatsome, Robert Emukperuo and C.İ.Aiguobarueghian respectively.

  • Tribunal fixes May 22 for hearing of Atiku, PDP’s motion seeking Bulkachuwa’s withdrawal

    The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) has adjourned till May 22, 2019 for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar to file a formal application, praying the tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa to withdraw from the hearing of the petition they filed.

    Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the PDP in the last general elections, is, by the petition he filed with his party, challenging the outcome of the election, won by President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Party (APC).

    The court had scheduled pre-hearing session in the petition for Wednesday, but when the case was mentioned, petitioners’ lawyer, Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) told the five-man tribunal that he has an application, which he would prefer to move in chambers.

    He sought the understanding of other lawyers in the case, following which it was agreed that the tribunal suspends sitting and listen to the issue the lawyer to the PDP and Atiku wishes to raise.

    After few minutes of arguments, it was agreed the lawyers, to the effect that each party be represented, in the chambers meeting, by three lawyers each.

    Justice Bulkachuwa, who is also the President of the Court of Appeal, stood down proceedings to consider the petitioners’ application in chambers.

    When proceedings resumed about one and half hours later, Justice Bulkachuwa disclosed what transpired in chambers.

    She said Uzoukwu demanded that she rescue herself from the case in the face of a petition authored and addressed to her by the National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus (who was equally in court).

    Justice Bulkachuwa said since the issues contained in the petition and the petitioners’ requests were already in public domain, it was better a decision be taken in the open court after a formal application by the petitioners.

    Uzoukwu said he would file a formal application to that effect on Thursday to enable the respondents file their responses on time.

    Lawyers to the respondents; Wole Olanipekun (SAN) for Buhari; Yunus Usman (SAN) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for the APC – later agreed with Uzoukwu to return on May 22 for the hearing of the application by the petitioners.

    The respondents’ lawyers promised to file their responses before the next date.

    Meanwhile, the tribunal has granted leave to another set of petitioners – the Coalition for Change and its presidential candidate, Geff Chizee Ojinika – the permission to serve their petition on Buhari and the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo through substituted means.

    By the permission granted the petitioners on Wednesday, they are to serve the two respondents through any national officer of the APC at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

    At Wednesday’s proceedings, Chairman, PDP, Uche Secondus (represented his party), while former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu (represented President Buhari).

    Former member, Lagos State House of Assembly and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babatunde Ogala (came for the party), while Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola Director, Legal Services, INEC (represented the commission).

    Read Also:  Atiku, PDP’s request to meet tribunal members in chambers stalls proceedings

    There was heavy security presence at the tribunal’s sitting venue on Wednesday, with vehicular movement restricted, by armed policemen, in and around the Court of Appeal premises.

    While many supporters of the feuding politicians were denied access to the venue, security men only allowed senior lawyers and court staff to drive into the court premises.

    Policemen used their vehicles to barricade the main access road to the court, forcing vehicles going from the Federal Secretariat to Force Headquarters, on Shehu Shagari Way, to take alternate routes.

    Placards bearing protesters, who were allowed access to the court premises when the tribunal last sat on May 15, were turned back on Wednesday.

    They could only protest from across the street, singing in solidarity with Atiku and the PDP.

  • Breaking: Court nullifies appointment of new Emirs in Kano

    A Kano State High Court sitting in Ungogo local govt area has declared the appointment and the installation of four new emirs by the Kano State government as null and void.

    Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State had created four new Emirate Councils with first Class Emirs in Karaye, Gaya, Rano and Bichi a development that brought about heated controversy.

    However, Four Kingmakers that have the traditional legal powers to appoint new Emirs, did not receive the action of the Governor wholeheartedly, prompting them to take legal action and calling for the nullification of the appointment.

    Justice Nasiru Saminu, the Presiding Judge ordered a return to status quo pending the hearing of the suit against the appointment of the Emirs.

    Read Also: Kano Emirate: Ganduje presents staff of office to new emirs

    The State High Court had on May 10th issued an exparte order restraining the Balkanisation of Kano Emirate and installation of new Emirs.

    Contrary that the Kano State governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje issued the appointment letters, and presented Staff of Office to the new Emirs against the subsisting Court Order.

    Similarly, a House of Assembly member, representing Gwarzo constituency Hon Rabiu Mmuhammad Gwarzo had filed a suit challenging the creation of the new Emirates.

    The Plaintiff was represented by his Counsel, AB Mahmud SAN, while the defendants were represented by Kano state Attorney General, Barrister. Ibrahim Muktar.

    The defendants in the suit include the Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Clerk of the Assembly, the Commissioner for Justice and Government Printer.

    It would be recalled that on Tuesday the Kano kingmakers filled another suit against state government challenging the splitting of the Election into smaller Units.

    The four kingmakers are Madakin Kano, District head of Dawakin Tofa, Yusuf Nabahani; Makaman Kano, District Head of Wudil, Abdullahi Sarki-Ibrahim; Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta, District Head of Gabasawa, Bello Abubakar and Sarkin Ban Kano, District Head of Dambatta, and Alhaji Mukhtar Adnan Dambatta instituted the action on Tuesday.

     

     

  • Breaking: Tribunal strikes out Ogbuoji’s petition against Umahi

    The Ebonyi state governorship election petition tribunal on Wednesday struck out the petition filed by the All Progressive Congress ( APC) and its candidate, Sonni Ogbuoji against the election of Governor David Umahi.

    This followed the motion for withdrawal of the petition by Mr Ogbuoji counsel to Michael Odo at the resumption of hearing on Wednesday.

    The counsel to Governor Umahi, Okechukwu Otukwu did not oppose the motion.

    Also the People’s Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, did not object to the motion.

    Read Also: Four killed in Ebonyi/Benue boundary clash

    The Tribunal Chaired by Justice A. Abdulkarim was left with no other choice but to strike out the petition.

    It also warded cost of N100,000 to the 1st Respondent.

    It will be recalled that Ogbuoji lost the March 9th governorship election to the incumbent governor David Umahi of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

    The governor garnered a total of 393,343 votes cast across the 13 local governments in the state.

    Ogbuoji of the All Progressive Congress (APC) got a total of 81703 votes cast to place a distant second.

    But curiously, Ogbuoji headed to the Tribunal to challenge the outcome of the election.

  • We’ve paid all corps members in Anambra – INEC insists

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Anambra State, on Wednesday, said all corps members involved in electoral duties during the last general elections have received their allowances.

    Head, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Awka, Mr. Leo Nkedife, confirmed this in a chat with the Nation in Awka.

    Some corps members who worked as ad-hoc staff during the poll, recently staged a protest at the state INEC headquarters, alleging non-payment or incomplete payment of allowances.

    Nkedife said the last batch of the affected corps members was paid last Tuesday.

    He, however, explained that corpse members that protested were those whose names did not tally with the account details they forwarded to the commission.

    He said, “We’ve paid virtually all our ad-hoc staff that participated in the elections. The insignificant few remaining are those who had issues while filling their particulars.

    Read Also: NYSC, INEC disagree over corps members’ election duty allowances

    “We assure them that by this time tomorrow, issue of payment of allowance will be a thing of the past.”

    Meanwhile, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the state has directed corps members insisting they were yet to receive their allowances to forward their names to its secretariat.

    The NYSC state Coordinator, Mr. Kehinde Aremu, gave the directive while addressing the affected corps member in Awka.

    He said he was determined to ensuring that no corps member engaged in the electoral duties was denied his/her allowances.

    He, however, warned those deployed but did not report to the polling units or substituted with other persons not to include their names.

    Aremu also directed those not affected but had included their names in the list to withdraw their names.

    He said, “I’ve asked all local government Inspectors to collate the list of everyone deployed and who worked during the election so I can write them again with strong evidence.

    “Let me warn those who were deployed but did not report and those who were deployed but were substituted with some other people not to include their names on that list,” he stated.

  • Modern day slavery cases rise by 36 percent in Britain – Reports

    Reports of suspected modern slavery in Britain rose by more than a third in 2018, according to government data released on Tuesday, but campaigners said even that was likely only “the tip of the iceberg”.

    Police, charities and other first responders referred 6,993 potential modern slavery cases to the government’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM) last year, 36% more than in 2017, Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said in its annual report.

    The NRM is a national scheme whereby victims are identified and can receive support ranging from healthcare and housing to legal aid.

    Anti-slavery campaigners said it was unclear whether the figures represented an increase in modern slavery or resulted from a rise in awareness, but that the true scale of the problem was likely much larger.

    “The true scale of modern slavery in the UK is simply unknown,” Justine Currell, executive director of the anti-slavery charity Unseen, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

    “But it is fair to say that the numbers we see through the government’s National Referral Mechanism and Unseen’s Modern Slavery Helpline are potentially the tip of the iceberg.

    “Modern slavery is everyone’s responsibility and we need to ensure that the public, frontline professionals, law enforcement agencies and businesses can spot the signs and know what to do if they think someone is in a situation of modern slavery.”

    Read Also; R. Kelly pays two months advance of child support

    Britain is home to at least 136,000 modern slaves, according to the Global Slavery Index by rights group Walk Free Foundation, with labour exploitation – from men working in car washes to children forced to carry drugs – the most common form.

    British authorities have already launched several initiatives to enlist help from the public, including an app to report possible signs of modern slavery at car washes and guidance for hotel staff on what to look out for.

    Jakub Sobik, spokesman for Anti-Slavery International, said authorities also needed to make it easier for victims to come forward.

    “It’s important that the British public is aware of modern slavery – what it is, what it entails, how to spot the signs and how to report it. But that’s only a fraction of the response to slavery,” he said.

    “No one will want to come forward if they’re threatened with detention and deportation.”

    Britain is considered an international leader in the fight against slavery having passed the 2015 Modern Slavery Act to jail traffickers for life, better protect vulnerable people, and compel large businesses to address the threat of forced labour.

    But some campaigners say too many survivors are being deported to nations where they risk becoming prey once more to traffickers.

    The government has said it is committed to supporting victims of human trafficking and that those seeking asylum would not be returned to their country of origin if found to be at risk of persecution or serious harm.

    (http://news.trust.org)

  • Zlatan, three others freed, Naira Marley still in EFCC custody

    Nigerian musician, Omoniyi Raphael aka Zlatan, has been freed while Afeez Fashola aka Naira Marley is still being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ‘Zanku’ crooner and three others were released on Tuesday night.

    Zlatan was released alongside his crew members, Tiamiu Abdulrahman Kayode, Adewunmi Adeyanju Moses and Abubakar Musa.

    The 24-year-old Zlatan launched his career in 2017. He is best known for his hit song, “My Body” and the “Shaku Shaku” dance step.

    Read Also: Why we arrested Naira Marley, by EFCC

    He became famous in January 2019, after he featured on Davido’s song titled ‘bum bum’. He is also known for the ‘Zanku’ dance.

    NAN reports that no official statement had been released by EFCC on reasons why Naira Marley was not released on bail at the time of this report.

    The controversial singer, who was detained on May 10, repeatedly praised internet fraudsters, popularly called Yahoo boys, in his songs and on social media.

  • Iran halts nuclear deal commitments

    Iran has officially stopped some commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, following an order from its national security council, the ISNA news reported on Wednesday.

    Recently, Iran notified China, France, Germany, Russia and the UK of its decision to halt some commitments under the nuclear deal, a year after the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the accord and re-imposed sanctions.

    Under the nuclear deal, Tehran was allowed to produce low-enriched uranium with a 300-kg limit and produce heavy water with a stock capped around 130 tonnes.

    Tehran could ship the excess amounts out of the country for storage or sale.

    The official said Iran has no limit from now for production of enriched uranium and heavy water.

    Report says Iran’s initial moves do not appear to violate the nuclear deal yet.

    However, Iran has warned that unless the world powers protect Iran’s economy from U.S. sanctions within 60 days, Iran would start enriching uranium at higher level.

    The European Union and the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Britain said they were still committed to the deal but would not accept ultimatums from Tehran.

    The deal also caps the level of purity to which Iran can enrich uranium at 3.67 per cent, far below the 90 per cent of weapons grade.

    Read Also: There won’t war with US – Iran Supreme Leader

    It is also well below the 20 per cent level to which Iran enriched uranium before the deal.

    Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday said that Tehran does not seek war with the U.S., in spite of mounting tensions between the two arch-enemies over Iranian nuclear capabilities and its missile programme.

    Khamenei also said Tehran would not negotiate with the U.S. on another nuclear deal.

    (NAN)

  • R. Kelly pays two months advance of child support

    Popular American multiple Grammy Award Winner, Robert Sylvester Kelly a.k.a. R. Kelly is getting ahead of his child support obligation by paying up to two months in advance to avoid another scare.

    Kelly’s manager Darrell Johnson told TMZ that Kelly’s family attorney, Lisa Damico appeared in Chicago Court Tuesday afternoon and paid $41,666 to cover June and July child support to his ex-wife Andrea Lee.

    As for the $32,000 Kelly still owes in interest on back child support, no decision was made in court.

    However, Johnson says they don’t plan on paying anyway.

    “At no point in the foreseen future do we see paying interest of child support. As of May 14 2019, Mr. Kelly is up to date on support payments.’’

    It was previously reported that the father of three avoided another trip to the slammer earlier this month after appearing in court and paying all of the back child support ($62,000) he owed Lee.

    The 52 year-old born Chicago rapper turn singer, song writer, and record producer has been on the hook for child support for $20,833 since January 2009.

    On March 6, 2019, Kelly was taken back to the Cook County Jail after failing to pay $161,633 in child support.

    On March 9, 2019, he was released after someone, who didn’t want to be identified, paid off the child support.

    His lawyer said he couldn’t discuss the payment due to a Gag Order.

    In 1996, Kelly married Lee, his former backup dancer and mother of his three children (Jay, Joann and Robert Kelly Jr.)

    In 1997, he built a house in Olympia Fields, a village in Cook County, Illinois and moved in.

    Lee filed a restraining order against Kelly in September 2005 after a physical altercation and ultimately filed for divorce in 2006.

    Read Also: R Kelly and RCA record label end ties

    In January 2009, it was reported that Kelly’s divorce was finalised.

    His Olympia Fields house became the subject of a foreclosure lawsuit in 2011, and has since been bought by Rudolph Isley.

    However, with his up to date child support status, the 6 foot 1 inch singer and professional basketball player can focus on the 10 count charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving underage girls.

    In addition, he could focus on making more money through music, acting and if possible endorsements to further prepare him financially to meet up to his child support obligation the two months has elapsed.

  • BREAKING: Atiku, PDP’s request to meet tribunal members in chambers stalls proceedings

    Proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) has been halted owing to request by Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), lawyer to the petitioners – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar.

    The court had scheduled pre-hearing session in the petition for Wednesday, but when the case was mentioned a little after 10am, Uzoukwu told the five-man panel tribunal, that he has an application, which he would prefer to move in chambers.

    He sought the understanding of other lawyer in the case, following which it was agreed that the tribunal suspends sitting and listen to the issues the lawyer to the PDP and Atiku wishes to raise.

    Following agreement by the lawyers that each party be represented, in the chamber meeting, by three lawyers each, tribunal’s Chairman and President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa stood down proceedings, to resume later.

    Read Also; Breaking: Reappointment: Emefiele arrives Senate for screening

    The audience, made up of politicians, lawyers and journalists, are currently awaiting the resumption of proceedings.

    Notable politicians in court are Chairman, PDP, Uche Secondus (represented his party); former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu (representing President Muhammadu Buhari), and former member, Lagos State House of Assembly and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babatunde Ogala (for the party).

    Details shortly.