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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • Anenih is alive, says associates

    Anenih is alive, says associates

    Former Board of Trustees chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih is alive, his political associates has said.

    The associates said they spoke to Chief Anenih after the social media was hit with rumors that Chief Anenih has died of cancer in a London hospital.

    Edo State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, and Barrister Vincent Akhere said they spoke with Chief Anenih.

    They described the rumored death as a total fabrication and handiwork of mischief makers.

    Akhere confirmed that Chief Anenih travelled to London on Tuesday and that he would be back in the country at the weekend.

    Akhere said, “I spoke with him on phone about 15 minutes ago. Chief is well, alive and kicking. We even joke over the matter. It is true that Chief had a surgery not too long ago but is fine now.”

    Chief Orbih simply said that the rumour was unfortunate, adding that the people behind it should ask God for forgiveness.

  • Wike, Mimiko, others bid late mother of Gov Umahi farewell

    Wike, Mimiko, others bid late mother of Gov Umahi farewell

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was among eminent personalities that attended the wake-keep of late Mother-General Margaret Umahi, mother of Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi at Agu-Ugwu, Umunaga Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Other dignitaries at the programme which took place on Thursday 31 March, 2016 include the Governors of Bayelsa, Henry Seriake Dickson, Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa, Ondo, Olusegun Mimiko and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

    Speaking at the programme, The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi noted that his mother lived a good life while, describing her as a mediator between God and man.

    He lauded his fellow governors and political associates for their sacrifices, love and honor shown him, his family and the people of Ebonyi State by attending the burial programme of his mother to commiserate with them.

    He expressed happiness over the love that exists between the present crop of governors which he noted is beyond party affiliation.

    Governor Umahi particularly thanked the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for accommodating good number of Ebonyi indigenes who lived and do business in the state.

    Speaking on behalf of the Governors at the occasion, Governor Henry Sariake Dickson of Bayelsa State said they were in the state to solidarize with their colleague and the people of Ebonyi state on the death of their mother as well as honor her for a life well lived.

    He noted that the worthy legacies of late Margaret Umahi will always be remembered and assured members of the Umahi’s family of their support.

    Governor Sariake Dickson prayed God to grant members of the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and for the soul of the deceased to rest in peace.

  • Edo 2016: Senator Uzamere resigns his membership of PDP

    A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state, Senator Ehigie Uzamere on Monday resigned his membership of the PDP barely two weeks after the state congresses of the party.

    Senator Uzamere who was in the senate between 2007-2015, is the only senator from the Edo South senatorial district who had spent two terms in the senate, since the creation of the state.

    Though the reason for his resignation was not stated in a letter he sent to the National leadership of the party, but The Nation learnt that he was not happy with the way and manner the PDP was being run in the state particularly with the recent congresses of the party in the state, which Nation learnt the senator feared the party has been hijacked by a cabal.

    However, in a statement signed by the senator announcing his resignation, he stated that “after due consultation with my family and political associates, I have withdrawn my membership of the PDP.

    “I wish to thank the leaders of the PDP at the national, state and local government levels for their unflinching support and provision of platform for my first term as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Edo South senatorial district between 2007-2011.

    “I also wish to thank the leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as it were then, for their unflinching support and provision of the platform for my second term 2011-2015. My heartfelt appreciation goes to the general electorate of Edo South senatorial district for giving me their mandate for eight years, the first of its kind in Edo South senatorial district”.

  • Dasukigate: Metuh claims to have met judge before trial

    Dasukigate: Metuh claims to have met judge before trial

    The judge handling the case involving the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has expressed discomfort over attempt to blackmail him into withdrawing from the case.

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja noted Thursday that Metuh has written, through his lawyer, Emeka  Etiaba (SAN), to the court’s Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, raising sundry accusations against him (Justice Abang) and seeking the transfer of the case to another judge.

    The judge said he will not be intimidated and that, by virtue of a circular by the National Judicial Council  (NJC), he will continue to preside over the case until the court’s Chief judge takes a decision on the petition (letter)  written by Metuh.

    Metuh, in the letter dated March 11, claimed to have been the judge’s classmate at the Nigerian Law School and that, they had met few weeks before his trail commenced before the judge.

    Metuh, who is standing trial with his company, Destra Investment Limited on a seven-count charge of money laundering, accused the judge of being bias and withholding records of proceedings in the case, with the intention of denying him (Metuh) the right to appeal.

    The judge spoke on the letter Thursday while ruling on an application by one of Metuh’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) for an adjournment in the case, on the ground that the lead defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) was not available.

    Justice Abang said: On the 16th of March 2016, at about 4pm, the honourable Chief Judge of this court forwarded a copy of the letter written by Emeka Etiaba (SAN), for the defence, praying the honourable Chief Judge to transfer this case to another judge, eight witnesses having been called, the no-case application of the defendant having been dismissed for lacking in merit.

    “I want to say that I have a circular issued by my employer, the National Judicial Council (NJC) to the effect that where there is a petition in a matter, seeking the transfer of the case to another judge, the judge handling the case shall continue to preside over the matter until a decision is taken by the authority to which the petition was addressed.

    “On the account of this circular, I shall continue to preside over this matter until the honourable Chief Judge takes a decision on Mr.Etiaba’s petition,” Justice Abang said.

    The judge expressed surprise that Etiaba failed to avail the prosecution with a copy of his letter dated March 11, as required under Rule 30(5) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners. He said having refused to serve the prosecution with a copy of his letter, he (Etiaba) violated the Rules of Professional conduct for lawyers.

    Justice Abang noted that by not serving the prosecution with the letter, Etiaba has denied the prosecution lawyer the opportunity to react to issues he raised in the letter.

    “Mr. Etiaba complained, in the letter that the record of proceedings was not made available to him. The record of proceedings of about 212 pages, have been served on the defence team since two days ago. This is not the only case the court is handling.  This court is a busy court.

    “And again, he (Etiaba) said the accused person is my classmate. I don’t know the accused person as being my classmate. It is for him to prove that he was my classmate. Assuming the accused person was my classmate, which will not change the facts of the case and the law.

    “I do not take arbitrary decisions. Whatever decision I take here is in line with the law and my conscience. I fear no evil. I am guided by my conscience, without fear or favour,” the judge said.

    Going through the history of the case, the judge noted that most adjournments have been at the instance of the defence.

    Metuh’s legal team comprising of three Senior Advocates, including Ikpeazu, Adedipe and Etiaba, suddenly developed cold feet when,  after the judge ruled on March 9, dismissing the defendants’ no-case submission for lacking in merit, became reluctant to open its defence.

    Metuh made a no-case submission after the prosecution completed its case after calling eight witnesses, who the defence team exhaustively cross-examined. Rather than lead evidence in his defence, Metuh elected to make a no-case submission, which the court dismissed on the ground that the prosecution has raised several issues to which Metuh must respond to by conducting his defence.

    After the judge refused his no-case submission on March 9, Metuh was asked to open his defence. He sought for time to enable him prepare his witnesses, prompting the judge to adjourn to yesterday for the commencement of defence.

    Rather than open his defence yesterday, Adedipe, who led the defence team told the court that the lead lawyer, Ikpeazu, who prepared the defence witnesses, was not available. He sought an adjournment, undertaking to conduct defence, in the event that Ikpeazu was away at the next date.

    Prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir reluctantly agreed to an adjournment in view of the promise by Adedipe to conduct defence on the next date even where Ikpeazu was absent.

    Justice Abang upheld Adedipe’s application and adjourned to March 23 for Metuh and his company to open their defence.

    Part of the letter reads: “it is the brief of the defendants that the 1st defendant (Chief Olisa Metuh) was called to the Nigerian Bar along the honourable Justice O. E. Abang, the presiding judge in the above charge, in 1988 and after their call, they both practiced Law in Lagos for many years before he (Chief Metuh) relocated to Abuja where he has since lived and hounourable Justice Abang, on his part, took to the bench.

    “The 1st defendant further informed us that the last time he met with honourable Justice Abang was sometime late last year at Meridian Hotel in Akwa Ibom, where they had time to talk on many issues. Chief Metuh informed us that he was baffled at honourable Abang’s views and when eventually the charge against him was assigned to his court this January (a few weeks later), he got very worried because he feared that he may not get justice in his court.

    “The defendants believe that having been a part of the trial in this case and having noticed the disposition of his lordship in this case, they ask themselves this pertinent question: Do we believe that honourable Justice O. E. Abang will do justice in this case? They went ahead to resolve the question in the negative, hence a need for this very urgent and intervening letter.

    “The defendants state that they had resisted causing this letter to be written, but have come to the inevitable conclusion that a judge, who denied them the inalienable right of appeal by withholding the record of proceedings amongst others, will care less about whether they obtain justice in the same case.

    “May we therefore appeal to my lordship, in the interest of justice, to cause the transfer of this case to be made to any other judge in the interest of Justice.”

     

  • Dokpesi: Court fixes April 28 for commencement of trial  

    Dokpesi: Court fixes April 28 for commencement of trial  

    A Federal High Court in Abuja Wednesday fixed April 28 for the commencement of trial in the case against businessman, Raymond Dokpesi and his company, Daar Investment and Holdings Limited.

    They were arraigned before the court on February 17 on a six count charge bordering on alleged procurement fraud and breach of public trust to the tune of N2.1 billion.

    They were said to have received N2.1billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) between October 2014 and March 2015, which was diverted to fund the presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an act said to be a breach of provisions of the Public Procurement Act, Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

    Justice James Tsoho fixed the date Wednesday after lawyers to parties agreed to return on April 28 following their inability to agree on the need to allow the commencement of trial.

    When the case was called, lawyer to Dokpesi and his company, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) sought clarification from the judge on the position of the case in view of media reports, which quoted the judge as saying the case was assigned to him in error and that it had been sent back to the earlier trial judge.

    Justice Tsoho explained that although he learnt the case and other similar ones were sent to his court in error, he has now been allowed to continue to hear the Dokpesi case because “steps have been taken.”

    He said unlike the one involving former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Steven Oronsaye, who had not been re-arraigned before him, steps have been taken in the Dokpesi case, where the defendants have been re-arraigned.

    Shortly after the judge’s explanation, prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) told the court he was ready for trial and that his first witness was in court. As he made move to invite the witness, Olanipekun sprang up, and queried the legitimacy of the additional proof of evidence just filed by the prosecution.

    He said the bundle of documents was not served on him on time and that it was not properly filed before the court because the prosecution did not first obtain the court’s permission to file additional proof.

    Olanipekun also complained about the quality of the documents, which were mainly written statements of additional witnesses to be called by the prosecution. He noted that copies of the states in the proof served on him were not legible.

    Responding, Jacobs insisted that the additional proof of evidence was properly filed as the prosecution, under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 is not required to first obtain the court’s permission before filing proof.

    “The ACJA, in section 379 and 380 have made provisions as to the filing of proof of evidence. In Section 379(2) the prosecution is given the discretion to file additional proof at any time before judgment, without constraints or inhibition. No leave is required

    “This provision is in line with the decision of the Supreme Court in Nguru and the State: 2007 3 NWLR part 771 page 304. The provision requires the prosecution to merely inform the court about the filing of the proof of evidence, but not to first seek the court’s leave,” Jacobs said.

    He however agreed to provide Olanipekun with more legible copies of the documents as requested.

    The judge, at that point asked parties to agree on a convenient date for the commencement of trial. They later agreed to return on April 28.

  • Tension in Edo PDP over non disbursement of election fund

    Tension in Edo PDP over non disbursement of election fund

    The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state heightened Tuesday following the revelation by members of the party that the leadership of the party in the state led by Chief Dan Orbih allegedly received the sum of N500million for the presidential election of former President Goodluck Jonathan without the knowledge of leaders of the party.

    Nation gathered that the money which is part of the N2.1 billion which was shared by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was said to have been paid into the account of the Edo state PDP through Hartman Company, belonging to the former chairman BOT of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih.

    Nation was reliably informed that the matter which is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) led the commission to contact the Orbih led Executive if such amount was received in the state.

    It was learnt that in their reply to the Commission, the party Executive agreed that the said amount was received and was disbursed to party Executives and leaders across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state for the Jonathan Campaign.

    The revelation angered both some members of the state Exco of PDP and party leaders who expressed shock that they never knew that such money came. And that was part of the reasons why most of the leaders called for the removal of the Orbih led Exco.

    A leader of the party in the state, who spoke to Nation, “said we are petitioning the EFCC to also investigate how the money was disbursed in Edo state because we never knew about the money until we learnt from Orbih’s response to the EFCC that the money was received. So they should tell us who they gave the money to. We will formally address the media on this issue.”

  • PDP govs move to impose Modu Sherrif as Chairman

    Some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governors are reportedly moving to impose former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sherrif on the party as National Chairman of the party.

    Among those behind the move are Governors Ayo Fayose, Segun Mimiko and Seriake Dickson.

    The Board of Trustees members have opposed the move and canvassed support for Wilberfore Juta.

    A meeting of the party’s BOT on Tuesday in Abuja was inconclusive. The issue has thus been referred to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party which is about to meet Tuesday evening in Abuja.

    If no consensus is reached both Juta and Sheriff will have to face an election on Thursday.

  • I refunded Metuh’s N25m to EFCC – Ex-VP Sambo’s aide

    An ex-aide to former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Abba Dabo has confessed refunding N25m to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He said the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh gave him the money for the party’s media publicity activities.

    Dabo, who was Sambo’s Political Adviser, disclosed this Thursday while testifying before a Federal High Court, Abuja at the resumption of Metuh’s trial. Metuh is being tried with his company, Destra Investments Limited, on a-seven count charge in which they were accused of   fraudulently receiving N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on November 22, 2014 and laundering $2m.

    The witness said he returned the money in January 2016 on realisimg that the money formed part of the funds earmarked for the procurement of arms in the office of the National Security Adviser.

    Dabo, led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, said the N25m was paid to him through an account belonging Metuh’s firm – Destra Investment Limited – on December 16, 2014, five days after former President Goodluck Jonathan and Sambo were selected as the party’s candidates for the office of president and vice-president in the last presidential election.

    The witness, who said he was a newspaper editor and one time Chief Press Secretary to former President Shehu Shagari, said he decided to return the money to the EFCC because he could not reach Metuh, who had then been arrested by the commission.

    Dabo, a chieftain of the PDP said, “Unfortunately, there were reports in the media, on this transaction with Chief Metuh linking it to controversial circumstances. I mean it was identified that Chief Metuh paid the N25m to my account through his company and that the source of the money was from the arms deal that was being discussed generally in the country.

    “As a result of that publication, we thought we needed to explain, and because it was paid to my personal account , in my name, I decided to make a refund, and  I paid it to EFCC, because I couldn’t reach Mr. Metuh that particular time.

    “The newspapers were awash with the story that linked the money given to me to the arms money that was said to have been diverted to other uses by the Office of the National Security Adviser. On my own volition, I decided that the the best way out of the rigmarole was to pay back the amount. I paid it back to EFCC.”

    Dabo said he was paid the N25m by Metuh before  the 2015 presidential election, to help the party “mitigate and counter negative media reports against the then Jonathan-led government and the PDP.”

    He added that the money to run the Media Support System which he had set up to boost the PDP’s media profile‎  in response to “vicious attacks” from Hausa radio stations and criticisms from the Nigerian media as well as the social media.

    The witness further said he also set up a team of facilitators and young Information Technology enthusiasts, who were active on the  Internet to run a website, ‘What’s Up Naija’.

    “From the money we received from Chief Metuh, we paid salaries and allowances of facilitators, bought equipment and computers for the young people working on what’s up Naija.

    “We even paid that year’s rent for our office at 12B Deb Street, Off Danube Street in Maitama, Abuja. We also used that office to monitor the election.”

    Describing Metuh as “a loyal party man, dedicated, strong and outspoken person”, Debo said he however, chose to refund the money to the EFCC following media reports linking the money to the botched purchase of arms.

    “I decided to refund the money not only because it was from the NSA Office, but also because it was linked to the botched arms purchase deal,” Dabo said‎.

    Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Dabo confirmed that he considered the refund of the money “absolutely important”, and that he made the refund to EFCC through three bank drafts.

    “I wrote a letter to the EFCC attaching three bank drafts with a cover letter acknowledging that the Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, gave N25m to me on December 16, 2014 for the purposes of publicity campaign which was paid by WhatsApp naija and Media Support System,” he said.

    He said he did not mention the refund in his statement made to the EFCC on January 6, 2016 “because I needed to go to the bank the next day and make necessary arrangement”.

    Dabo said was at Metuh’s home in Gudu area of Abuja on the day he was arrested, while trying to find out the source of the campaign money from him.

    “Up till now I have not have the chance of meeting with him,” the witness said.

    He claimed that former President Jonathan, the Federal Government and the PDP benefited “immensely” from the media works Metuh engaged him for.”

     

  • On Amosun: The Unwise Act of Pius Adesanmi

    On Amosun: The Unwise Act of Pius Adesanmi

    In Justin Kruger’s and David Dunning’s work titled, “Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One’s Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments,” the dangers of ignorance and how it stifles learning was elucidated. It is commonly called the Dunning-Kruger effect.

    Essentially, the Dunning-Kruger effect talks about ignorance, which the Wikipedia, also defines as a state of being uninformed. The same Wikipedia defines the word “ignorant” as an adjective describing a person in the state of being unaware. The same word is also used to describe “individuals who deliberately ignore or disregard important information or facts.”

    In fact, in the UK and the US such persons who are willfully ignorant are commonly referred to as “ignoramus.” The Wikipedia further says that ignorance is distinguished from stupidity, although both can lead to “unwise” acts.

    With that statement, the Wikipedia may just have hit the bull’s eye. Or how else would one describe a situation where an otherwise respectable Professor blindly jumps into the fray over an issue on which he is either totally uninformed or has chosen to be deliberately ignorant?

    Indeed, the article titled, “Pius Adesanmi On Ibikunle Amosun’s Treatment Of Teachers,” and published on Naij.com, an online publication, on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, can only be best described as an “unwise” act.

    In the said article, Adesanmi, described as a professor of English and African Studies at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, sadly failed to conduct the simplest of research which, for instance includes a Google search, before hurrying to type expletives with which he laboured to paint Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the Ogun State governor, as a dictator over a matter in which the governor was not in any way directly connected.

    So why would a supposed intellectual commit such a faux pas? Could it be because he was too lazy to research and find out that as far back as August 27, 2015, the Ogun State Civil Service Commission, which is an autonomous body created by Section 197 of the 1999 Constitution with powers to appoint persons to offices in the State civil service; and dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding such offices, had issued a statement explaining what happened in the case of Mr. Jola Adegbenro and five other officials of the state Ministry of education who were sanctioned for conducts that breached public service rules?

    Or was it that he couldn’t comprehend the Commission’s explanation that it acted on petitions from concerned parents who were alarmed that statements earlier used in campaign flyers and newspaper advertorial sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun State, in the run up to the 2015 gubernatorial election, curiously found their way into comprehension passages served for their children as examination script?

    Indeed, what was masqueraded as an examination question given to SS1 students in Ogun State during the June/July 2015 third term unified examination was a material containing politically-motivated falsehood that had earlier been severally published in campaign flyers and newspaper advertisements by the PDP in Ogun State, months before the 2015 general elections. The same material was published online by the PDP and its known allies.

    Perhaps the challenge is that our erudite professor couldn’t grasp the explanation of the state Civil Service Commission that Mr. Adegbenro and his co-travellers were given fair hearing and an opportunity to defend themselves, both in writing and orally, before a committee set up to investigate the issue. And that they all admitted the nexus between the controversial examination passage and previously published campaign flyers of a political party. Not only that, Mr. Adegbenro also admitted having authored the previously published political material which he subsequently turned into an examination script given to school children.

    Even more important is the fact that Professor Adesanmi may not know that the action of Mr. Adegbenro and his co-travellers, according to the state civil service commission, was in breach of section 04420 (1) (a) (b) and (d) of Public Service Rules.

    Another thing our dear Professor may have been ignorant of but which the civil service commission had taken the pains to explain is that the said Rule 04420 of the extant Ogun State Public Service Rules, which I understand applies to public servants not just in Ogun State but all over the country, provides, among other things, that: “no Officer shall without the express permission of his Permanent Secretary/ Head of Extra-Ministerial Department, whether on duty or on leave of absence; contribute to, whether anonymously or otherwise or publish in any newspaper, magazine or periodical or otherwise publish, cause to be published in any manner anything which may reasonably be regarded as of a political or administrative nature.”

    It is on the basis of this rule that the Ogun State civil service commission, without prejudice to the powers of the governor, has decided to sanction the erring officers.

    Could Professor Adesanmi have been ignorant of these facts which have since been in the public domain or could he have been a victim of the desperation to want to play to the gallery?

    Honestly I am still at a loss as to what may have made an otherwise respected scholar fail to also engage in a simple introspection, which should have spurred him into seeking to know why the trade unions of the affected teacher, whose rights he claimed were trampled upon by an imaginary dictator, would resort to pleading on his behalf rather than challenge the civil service commission’s decision in court. Could it be because they know that their colleague had indeed acted in breach of the civil service rules?

    If only he had paused to give that aspect a second thought, Professor Adesanmi may have been saved the embarrassment of appearing like a scholar incapable of conducting simple research on a subject matter of interest.

    So is Professor Adesanmi that ignorant? Methinks the answer is an emphatic no. Far from it, Professor Adesanmi, whose profile described as a widely-cited commentator on Nigerian and African affairs, is too intelligent not to know. Even if he didn’t know, he is also too intelligent not to know that he could jolly well have asked or conducted some little research.

    What went wrong? I think he just chose to pretend like he didn’t know. In this particular instance, it seems knowing the facts and or choosing to present them to the reading public will not serve his purpose and that of the persons who may have sent him on this ignoble trip of travesty.

    This is why I am of the opinion that Professor Adesanmi, in this particular instance, chose to appear ignorant whereas he is far more capable than he has unfortunately portrayed himself to be.

    Looking beyond our dear professor and his co-travellers, the important point that needs to be made is that the teacher in question has decided, against public service rules, to play politics. That is why he was shown the way out of the system, by the civil service commission, so that he can be free to actively engage in politics rather than hide behind the chalkboard in doing so.

    Adejuwon Soyinka, a multiple award-winning journalist, is the Senior Special Assistant, Media, to Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

  • Kashamu: Ogun tribunal delivers judgment today

    Kashamu: Ogun tribunal delivers judgment today

    Senator Buruji Kashamu will on Friday know fate as the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital delivers judgments on 12 pending petitions before it.

    The election result of Senator Kashamu, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun East Senatorial District at the red chamber, is being challenged by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dapo Abiodun in the last election.

    Similarly, the APC is challenging the result of the House of Representatives election of Ijebu-East/Ijebu-North/Ogun Waterside, which returned Adesegun Adekoya of the PDP as against Biyi Ismail of the APC.

    The three man Tribunal headed by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, is also looking at the results of ten seats in the Ogun State House of Assembly, for which the tribunal had reserved judgments since August 3, when all Counsels adopted their written addresses.