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Tag: Tribunal

  • Violations: Tribunal upholds FCCPC’s $220m fine against Meta, WhatsApp

    Violations: Tribunal upholds FCCPC’s $220m fine against Meta, WhatsApp

    The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has upheld the authority of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in a ruling delivered on Friday, dismissing the appeal filed by Meta Platforms Incorporated (Facebook) and WhatsApp LLC.

    In its judgment, the Tribunal validated the FCCPC’s actions and findings in nearly all the contested issues, affirming that the Commission acted within the limits of its constitutional and legal mandate.

    According to a statement signed by Ondaja Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, the Tribunal held that the FCCPC complied with existing laws and did not err in its findings against Meta and WhatsApp. 

    It ruled that the companies’ conduct, which the FCCPC had found to be discriminatory and exploitative toward Nigerian consumers, was rightly identified as a violation.

    The Tribunal also upheld the FCCPC’s Final Order of July 19, 2024, which imposed a $220 million administrative penalty on Meta and WhatsApp, and further awarded $35,000 to the Commission as the cost of investigation.

    The three-member panel, led by Hon. Thomas Okosun, delivered the judgment following final submissions made on January 28, 2025. 

    Meta and WhatsApp were represented by Professor Gbolahan Elias (SAN), while Mr. Babatunde Irukera led the FCCPC’s legal team.

    The case stemmed from a 38-month joint investigation launched in 2020 by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into Meta and WhatsApp’s privacy policies, data practices, and consumer protection compliance.

    Read Also: FCCPC to persecute traders rebagging local, expired rice 

    Meta and WhatsApp had appealed the FCCPC’s Final Order, challenging both its legal basis and findings. However, the Tribunal dismissed most of their objections and ruled in favour of the FCCPC on Issues 1 through 7.

    One of the key issues, which alleged a breach of fair hearing, was resolved in favour of the Commission.

    The Tribunal found that the FCCPC had provided the companies ample opportunity to be heard and that due process was followed throughout the investigation and adjudication.

    On Issue 4, which questioned the Commission’s powers in matters of data protection and privacy, the Tribunal held that the FCCPC acted within its statutory mandate, reaffirming its authority under Section 104 of the FCCPA to regulate competition and consumer protection even in regulated industries.

    On Issue 5, which challenged the Commission’s findings regarding Meta’s privacy policies, the tribunal also resolved in the FCCPC’s favour. The Tribunal found no error in the Commission’s conclusions and held that the privacy policy in question did, in fact, offend Nigerian law.

    While Issue 7 was largely resolved in favour of the Commission, the Tribunal set aside Order 7 of the Commission’s Final Order, stating that it lacked sufficient legal basis.

    While expressing delight at the landmark judgement, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, thanked the Commission’s legal team for their exceptional diligence and forensic skills in assembling evidence and marshalling their argument. 

    He restated FCCPC’s unwavering commitment to not only championing the rights of Nigerian consumers but also ensuring fair business practices in the country in accordance with FCCPA (2018) and consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

  • Tribunal begins sitting in Ondo over petition against Aiyedatiwa’s victory 

    Tribunal begins sitting in Ondo over petition against Aiyedatiwa’s victory 

    Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said that there was nothing to worry about the petitions filed against his victory in the November 16, 2024 governorship election.

    Aiyedatiwa won in all the 18 local government areas of the state to defeat his closet rival, Hon Agboola Ajayi, of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Three political parties, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the PDP have filed petitions at the tribunal to challenge the victory of Aiyedatiwa.

    Governor Aiyedatiwa, who spoke after the inaugural sittng of the Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Akure, said he was confident that the people voted overwhelmingly for the right candidate.

    Aiyedatiwa said his victory at the election was historic and a true reflection of the people’s will.

    The governor said: “The election was free, fair, and credible. The people of Ondo State made history by ensuring that, for the first time, a candidate won in all 18 local government areas. That alone speaks volumes about the trust and confidence they have in my leadership.

    ““And, you know, learning is continuous. Even though I’m the governor, I still also want to hear what is going on in the judiciary arm of government, particularly in this election petition. Having the legal professionals and the very competent justices on this panel, it’s an exercise for me. I just want to witness it and be part of it. There’s nothing to worry about.”

    Meanwhile, over 150 witnesses are expected to testify before the tribunal.

    The PDP said it would call 43 witnesses, the Independent National Electoral Commission said it would call 19 witnesses, Aiyedatiwa would call 32 witnesses while the APC and Adelami would call 20 and 35 witnesses respectively.

    The petitioners are asking the tribunal to invalidate the election on grounds that the election results did not reflect the wishes of the electorates and that the APC candidates were not qualified for the polls.

    However, the respondents asked the tribunal to dismiss the petitions saying the issue of qualifications have been determined at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.

    Read Also: Edo poll: Tribunal admits 148 BVAS machines in evidence

    Speaking at the inaugural sitting, Chairman of the panel, Justice Nelson Ugubu, urged Counsel to parties in the suit to cooperate with the panel.

    He assured all parties of fair hearing and appropriate justice based on prevalence of constitution.

    Justice Ugubu cautioned Counsel against preempting decisions of the tribunal and not to be in a haste to talk to the press.

    He urged them to wait till the final decision of the tribunal.

    According to him, “The use of phones or any device in recording and capturing the tribunal’s  proceedings and faces of justices will not be allowed.”

    Sitting was adjourned to February 10th, 2025, for further proceedings.

  • Edo election: Tribunal admits 148 BVAS machines in evidence

    Edo election: Tribunal admits 148 BVAS machines in evidence

    The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal now sitting in Abuja has admitted in evidence 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices used during the last governorship election held in the state on September 21, 2024.

    The devices were tendered during Thursday’s proceedings in the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and it’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo by a Senior Technical Officer in the ICT Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Anthony Itodo.

    Itodo, who featured as the 15th petitioners’  witness, explained that the 148 BVAS machines were used in a total of 133 polling units in the state. 

    The witness added that INEC was subpoenaed by the petitioners to produce the devices in furtherance of their case, in which the alleged among others, over voting.

    Although there were arguments about the actual number of the devices, the tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi admitted them in evidence despite the objection raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC),its candidate, Governor Monday Okpebholo and INEC.

    Earlier, two Ward Collation Agents of the PDP – Eseigbe Victor and Uyide Imasuem – testified and justified their decision to decline to sign result sheets of the election.

    In his testimony, Victor, who identified himself as a farmer and politician, said he was the Agent for Ward 9 in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state which he said had 36 polling units.

    He added that he received copies of polling unit results contained in Forms EC8A, from polling unit agents of the party, during the governorship election.

    Read Also: Breaking the Silence: Addressing the Stigma Surrounding Hormonal Imbalance in Nigeria

    On cross-examination, the witness, told the court that he did not sign the Form EC8B for Ward 9 owing to discrepancies he noticed in the results that were collated.

    “When the election was going on, I discover incorrect computation and refused to sign. My lord, if you check, you will see that no agent signed the result,” he added. 

    Victor agreed that although there was nothing on the face of the document before the tribunal to confirm that he actually served as a Ward Collation Agent of the PDP during the election, he presented a tag which he said was issued to him, which the panel admitted in evidence.

    The witness confirmed to the tribunal that results of the election he received from the polling unit agents of the party, were all signed. 

    He added “The election at the polling unit level was okay. Our only complain is on wrong computation of the results.”

    He told the tribunal that at the Ward Collation Center, the BVAS machines and hardcopies of the election results were presented for reconciliation. 

    When shown copies of extracts from the INEC’s IReV portal and reports of accreditation from the BVAS which were tendered by the petitioners, the witness, acknowledged that there were discrepancies in the figures.

    Imasuem, who featured as the 14th petitioners’ witness, said he served as PDP’s Ward Collation Agent in Oredo LGA of the state. 

    He confirmed that he was not the maker of some of the INEC documents tendered from his Ward which he said had 73 polling units, the witness also told the tribunal that he refused to sign the election result, in protest. 

    At the commencement proceedings in the morning, lawyers to the petitioners and respondents traded accusations about allegation of threat to petitioners’ witness.

    Petitioners’ lawyer, Ken Mozia, SAN, alleged that some of witnesses were threatened.

    Mozia noted that although names of the proposed witnesses were coded through the use of acronyms, their witnesses were known through the various role they played during the governorship poll.

    “My lord, we gave them (Respondents) the list of witnesses. But what they did to some of those witnesses was beyond imagination, to the extent that some of them are afraid to come and testify,” the petitioners’ counsel added.

    The petitioners’ lawyer said he earlier drew the attention of APC’s lawyer, Ukala, SAN, to what the witnesses were being subjected to.

    Lawyers to the respondents faulted Mozia’s claim, with Okpebholo’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) describing it as baseless.

    Ikpeazu said: “My lord, it is unfortunate that my learned friend is involving us in this phantom allegation.”

    He added that the  petitioners failed to furnish him with list of particular witnesses they planned to call for the day.

    On his part,  Ukala dismissed the allegation, insisting that the petitioners knew what to do if their witnesses were threatened. 

    Ukala said: “My lords, if there are criminal activities going on, they know what to do and who to meet. It is not for them to come here to make blanket statements.”

  • A’Ibom council polls: Tribunals dismiss 13 APC petitions

    A’Ibom council polls: Tribunals dismiss 13 APC petitions

    …affirm PDP victory

    The Akwa Ibom state Local Government Election Petition Tribunals sitting in the three senatorial districts of the state the petitions filed by candidates of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP).

    The tribunals dismissed 13 petitions emanating from the APC against candidates of the PDP on the conduct of local government elections held in the state October last year.

    The tribunal therefore affirmed victory of 13 chairmanship candidates of PDP that were dragged to the tribunal.

    The state legal adviser of the PDP, Ekemini Uba disclosed this on Friday during a press conference in Uyo to mark the end of the tribunal session.

    Uba said the tribunal had to strike out those petitions as they were not filed within the time frame stipulated by law.

    “Pre hearing notice was not filed within the time frame as required by law.

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    “Again, the petitioners approached the tribunal based on the electoral law contrary to Akwa Ibom state election petition laws.”

    “The petitioners were against our candidates for the Championship of Abak and Ibiono Ibom local government areas and for the councillorship in 11 of the 14 wards in Ibiono Ibom local government area and others.”

    Uba who was accompanied by the PDP Publicity Secretary Edwin Ebiese said after due consideration of all the cases, the tribunal in Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) and Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) respectively dismissed the APC petitions and reaffirmed victories of PDP candidates in the  13 local government areas of the state.

    “In upholding our submissions, the tribunal held that the petitions were incompetent having been filed out of time.”

  • Tribunal dismisses 13 APC petitions, affirm PDP victories in A’Ibom council polls

    Tribunal dismisses 13 APC petitions, affirm PDP victories in A’Ibom council polls

    The Akwa Ibom Local Government Election Petition Tribunal sitting in the three senatorial districts has dismissed 13 petitions emanating from the All Progressives Congress (APC) against candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the conduct of local government elections held in October 2024  

    The tribunal affirmed the victory of 13 chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that were dragged to the tribunal. 

    The state legal adviser of the PDP, Ekemini Uba disclosed this during a press conference in Uyo to mark the end of the tribunal session.

     Uba said the tribunal had to strike out those petitions as they were not filed within the time frame stipulated by law. 

    ” Pre hearing notice was not filed within the time frame as required by law . 

    ” Again, the petitioners approached the tribunal based on the electoral law  contrary to Akwa Ibom state election petition laws.

    ” The petitioners were against our candidates for the Championship of  Abak and Ibiono Ibom local government areas and for the Councillorship in 11 of the 14 wards in Ibiono Ibom local government area and others ” 

    Uba explained that as respondents the PDP filed briefs in all the cases challenging competences of the petitioners before the Tribunals and  prayed that their cases should be dismissed. 

    Uba, who was accompanied by the PDP Publicity Secretary Edwin Ebiese, said after due consideration of all the cases, the tribunal in Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) and Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) respectively dismissed the APC petitions and reaffirmed victories of PDP candidates in the  13 local government areas of the state. 

    ” In upholding our submissions, the tribunal  held that the petitions were incompetent  having been filed out of time” 

    Read Also: Again, thugs attempt to disrupt Edo tribunal’s sitting

    Uba congratulated the leader of PDP in the state pastor Umo Eno for playing vital role in the political stability of the state . 

    He appealed to politicians in the state to emulate governor Umo Eno for showing that election and politics should not be a do or die affair. 

    ” Though PDP was defeated in some areas, he never allowed us to contest those defeats at the tribunal. 

    ” He believes that God gives power to whom he wishes and that there are always new opportunities to explore beyond after election.

    ” Pastor Umo Eno has reconciled many back to PDP in different ways. APC supporters benefit from Umo Eno’s compassionate home and all members of the family and entire community are now members of PDP,” he said. 

  • Council poll: Tribunal dismisses petitions

    Council poll: Tribunal dismisses petitions

    Oyo State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed petitions by Abdul Ajao, his party, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Omotosho Olayode, as well as All Progressives Congress (APC) on the April 27 council poll.

    The tribunal, headed by Justice A. Akintola ruled the petitions were incompetent and statute barred.

    Respondents are Rafiu Omotosho, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission ((OYSIEC) and Segun Onifade.

    Read Also: Reps deputy speaker drums support for Tinubu

    Also, Ayobami Akinleye, PDP and OYSIEC are respondents to the suit: LGET/0Y/02/2024.

    Part of the argument was that the election did not hold in Akinware Akindele Constituency, Ward 3, and no result declared. The tribunal said the contention was misleading and unfounded.

    It noted OYSIEC (third respondent) conducted election throughout the local governments on April 27 and declared results on Apri 28 and the first respondent declared winner.

  • Tribunal to hear N173m shares sale case Dec. 15′

    Tribunal to hear N173m shares sale case Dec. 15′

    By Adebisi Onanuga and Elizabeth Eze

    The Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST) has fixed December 15 for hearing of the application filed by the Estate of Late Ambassador Abubakar Garba Gobir for committal proceedings against the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), for disobeying court order.

    Tribunal Chairman, Justice Amos  Azi, fixed the date after taking submissions from parties.

    Other members of the tribunal are Justice Jude Udunni, Justice Emeka  Maduabuike and Justice Kasimu Kurfi.

    The tribunal had in its judgment dated January 6, 2023, directed SEC to enforce its decision against FINMAL Finance and Services Limited to pay the accrued dividends totaling N170,036,405.79 to the estate of the late Gobir.

    Despite a letter of reminder dated June 16, 2021, FINMAL has refused to comply with SEC directives.

    The development made the Estate late of Gobir to approach the Investment and Securities Tribunal to seek redress.

    The estate, however, met another brick wall because SEC refused to comply with the judgment of the tribunal.

    This made the estate of late Gobir has to resort to contempt proceedings against the D.G SEC to compel him to comply with the terms of the judgment by enforcing its decision dated  February 9, 2021.

    The Gobir Estate instituted the suit marked no  IST/LA/OA/01/2022 and got judgment that was not complied with, consequently filed Form 48 and 49.

    Read Also: Reps pledge N425m projects for Tudun Biri

    Sequel to the judgment, the Gobir Estate  initiated Committal Proceedings under Order IX Rules 13 of Sheriffs and Civil Process Act 2010 against DG SEC.

    The applicant is praying the tribunal to compel the respondents: Greenwich Registrar & Data Solutions Limited, FINMAL Finance & Service  Limited, the Professional Stockbrokers Limited, and Securities & Exchange Commission to obey the order made by the Tribunal on January 6, 2023

    However, at the resumed proceeding, the applicant’s counsel, Mr. Ahmed Tafa, told a panel of the tribunal that he had served the respondents the form 48 and 49 on committals proceeding application for failure to obey the tribunal order.

    Tafa noted that since January 6, 2023, the respondents ought to have set the machinery in motion for enforcement of its decision but have failed to do so, hence the committal proceeding.

    Counsel to the first respondent (Greenwich Registrar & Data Solutions Limited), Mr Abubakar Ibrahim, the third respondent (Professional Stockbrokers Limited), Mr. Abdulrahman Disu, and the fourth respondent (SEC), Mr. Momoh Ali announced their appearance.

    But the second respondent ( FINMAL Finance & Service  Limited) had no legal representation.

    Responding to Tafa’s submission, counsel to 3rd respondent, Disu, told the tribunal that his client had directed FINMAL to sell the shares in its possession to offset the judgment debt and promised to liaise with the applicant’s counsel to see how they could pay off the money. 

    “We are making an effort to see that we settle it. The process has started.”

    On the other hand SEC counsel, Ali,b confirmed the service of committal proceeding applications to the DG.SEC.

    Ali informed the tribunal that he had served his response to the application on the applicant, adding that he has also filed and served a reply on point of law in opposition to the committal proceedings.

    The late Ambassador Abubakar Garba Gobir had shares in various companies before his demise on November 27, 1996.

    Upon his demise, a letter of Administration was granted over his Estate by the Probate Registry Division of the High Court of Kwara State on August 6, 1997.

    Subsequently, one of the heirs was appointed by the court to manage the Estate in the interest of other beneficiaries.

    The estate discovered that there had been some underhand dealings with the shares belonging to the Estate, prompting a petition to the SEC.

    The petition was investigated, and FINMAL Finance & Services Limited and Professional Stockbrokers Limited (her sub-broker) were found to have sold the shares belonging to the Estate on the instruction of some untraceable persons. The value of the shares sold and accrued dividends totaled N170,036,405.79.

    Despite the directive of the SEC, the Managing Director of FINMAL, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga who is now NGX group chairman, failed to buy back the shares and failed to pay the dividends to the estate. Alhaji Umaru Muttalab, is Chairman of FINMAL Finance & Services Limited.

    However, after  listening to their submissions, Tribunal no as l Chairman  Justice Azi said that the tribunal want justice to be served in the matter.

    The Tribunal Chairman directed the DG SEC to ensure something is done in the matter, failure of which he  promised to commence contempt proceedings against DG SEC.

    He thereafter  adjourned to December 15, 2023.

  • Tribunal orders INEC to provide materials in Kogi’s governorship election within 48 hours

    Tribunal orders INEC to provide materials in Kogi’s governorship election within 48 hours

    The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Kogi has given INEC 48 hours to issue certified copies of electoral materials on the Nov. 11 off-cycle election in the state to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    It also ordered INEC to allow SDP’s forensic experts to examine some electoral materials.

    The materials include Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and result sheets for Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi and Bassa Local Government Areas.

    The tribunal ruled on Saturday in Lokoja that the SDP requested the materials to prove its case in the petition it filed against the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the election.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu gave the order following two ex-parte motions filed on Nov. 19 by the SDP and by its governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka.

    Justice Birnin-Kudu said the orders became imperative in view of the time constraints the tribunal had to discharge its mandate.

    “The order is in compliance with Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended) and with the Electoral Act (2022).

    “INEC is hereby ordered to produce all the documents being sought by the plaintiffs within 48 hours to enable proceedings to go smoothly and without hitches,’’ he declared.

    SDP and Yakubu-Ajaka earlier filed seven ex-parte motions to support their demand but withdrew five and pursued two.

    Lead counsel to the petitioners, Mr John Adele (SAN), had earlier told the court that efforts made to obtain certified copies of materials used in the six local government areas from INEC had been fruitless.

    “Time is of essence in this matter, and that is why we filed the motions to your lordship to help to salvage the situation.

    “Each time we approached INEC since Nov. 13, its officials failed to avail us with even one of the electoral materials for which we requested.

    Read Also: Appeal Court voids tribunal verdict sacking Sule, affirms Otu, Yahaya

    “We believe that if your lordship grants our application, INEC will do the needful to enable us to prosecute this case within the time limit,’’ he prayed the tribunal.

    Justice Birnin-Kudu adjourned the case to Wednesday, Nov. 29 for submission of report of compliance by INEC and continuation of hearing.

    The SDP and Yakubu-Ajaka are challenging the victory of APC and its candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo at the election petition tribunal.

    INEC declared Ododo as winner of the election with 446,237 votes, while his closest rival, Yakubu-Ajaka got 259,052 votes. (NAN)

  • SAN: I didn’t accuse Dodo, tribunal justices of corruption

    SAN: I didn’t accuse Dodo, tribunal justices of corruption

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Echezona Etiaba, yesterday said he did not accuse another SAN, Mr. Damian Dodo, and a panel of justices of corruption.

    He regretted the misinformation that arose from proceedings at the Imo State Assembly and National Assembly tribunal sitting in Lagos during which he was said to have accused Dodo and the justices of dishonesty.

    In a statement, Etiaba explained that at no time during the sitting did he insinuate that Dodo bribed the justices, adding that the situation never arose since the senior lawyer was not even a counsel in the case.

    It had been reported that Etiaba, the All Progressives Congress (APC) counsel, presented two petitions written by his clients in which the three-member panel were accused of compromise and were urged to recuse themselves.

    Dodo had threatened legal action for being accused of being the conduit allegedly used to reach the panel, headed by Justice Danjuma Mohammed, the presiding justice of Makurdi Division of the Court of Appeal.

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    But Etiaba, who described Dodo as a man of unblemished legal record, stressed that he did not mention the content of the letter, let alone accuse anybody of bribery.

    He stated: “The only thing correct about the trending news is that I drew the court’s attention to a letter written by our client (a political party) but the insinuation that the respected Damian Dodo SAN (a legal luminary whose pedigree is unblemished) compromised the Justices of the Court of Appeal on the appeals is an allegation that I don’t believe.

    “As much as the letters were handed to me while I was announcing the appearance of my team and I had no time to read same, upon being seized of the facts, I knew that the allegations do not hold water.

    “I state categorically that Damian Dodo (SAN) is not representing any of the parties in the appeals before the Honourable Court as regards Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu and the justices had just been assigned the cases that morning, thereby making any theory of compromise impossible.

    “The embarrassment caused My Lords and my big brother Damian Dodo (SAN) by this ugly incident is regretted.”

  • Nasarawa Tribunal verdict: Don’t use religion to incite tension, Jibrin warns

    Nasarawa Tribunal verdict: Don’t use religion to incite tension, Jibrin warns

    The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Board of Trustees, Walid Jibrin, has warned politicians not to use religion as a tool to incite the people of Nasarawa state.

    The PDP chieftain noted that the election that brought Governor Abdullahi Sule for a second term was “marred by irregularities.”

    He said this has been confirmed by the tribunal judgement which declared David Ombugadu as the winner of the March governorship election in Nasarawa state.

    He said the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s verdict against Governor Sule, marked a resounding victory for truth and democracy in the state. 

    Jibrin, who is the Sarkin Fulani of Nasarawa, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, and also expressed hope that in the event of an appeal against the Tribunal verdict, the outcome would still be in favour of the people of Nasarawa. 

    He said: “I am a devout Muslim and an elder of over 70 years. I am shocked by Sule’s attempt to blame his defeat on religion rather than the overwhelming facts before God and all Nigerians which show clearly that he didn’t win the last governorship election in Nasarawa.”

    Read Also: Nasarawa APC rejects tribunal verdict sacking Governor Sule

    Jibrin expressed disappointment that Governor Sule, in the wake of the tribunal verdict, declined to accept the decision and chose to invoke religion as an excuse for not stepping down from office.

    Recall that Gov Sule while speaking at a peace summit in Abuja said: “A lot of you must have read the tribunal ruling in our state when two of the judges, who are Christians, decided that a Christian won the election and one Muslim judge decided that it is the Muslim who won the election.”

    Jibrin said Nigerians should be wary of the politics of religion as it is capable of destroying the country.

    “If we are not careful with the politics of religion, the whole country will be destroyed,” he said.

    Jibrin said the sad attempt to divide the judiciary on religious lines will destroy the only institution that remains the last hope of the common man.

    He stressed that Ombugadu, the PDP’s governorship candidate in the state, who has been officially declared as the winner of the election by the tribunal, would foster development in the state and bridge religious differences.

    He said: “In the governorship election Governor, Sule suffered crippling defeat as voters overwhelmingly rejected him and voted massively for the PDP governorship candidate Ombugadu.

    “Similarly, in Sule’s senatorial zone, he suffered crushing defeat after four years in office. The situation in the Southern Zone was even worse for the governor who was defeated flatly in Lafia the state capital and in Doma Local Govt where His Deputy Dr Akabe hails from!

    “Obi Local Government also rejected him and voted massively for Ombugadu of the PDP. These are the most populous LGAs in the Southern zone.

    “In the West Senatorial zone, only Keffi gave Sule any real winking votes. He was defeated in Kokona where the state Chairman of APC hails from and in Karu which has the highest number of registered voters in our state, Governor Sule was overwhelmingly defeated as voters rejected him in favour of Dr David Ombugadu of the PDP.

    “Now every Nigerian that followed the election online knows that by Sunday morning Dr Ombugadu from all the uploads on the INEC IREV platform had already won the governorship election by a comfortable margin.

    “This is because by Sunday 19th March 99.67 percent of all polling unit results had been uploaded, including the results of all polling units in Gayam, and Ciroma Wards in Lafia town where INEC later shamelessly manipulated by adding magic votes at the Local Government collation centre just to declare the loser As winner to the shock of all Nigerians!

    “When Sule was declared protests by women and youths erupted all over the state. The PDP showed maturity by rejecting the fraudulent declaration and following the due process of Law to reclaim Dr Ombugadu’s mandate.

    “It is therefore very shocking that instead of accepting the widely anticipated verdict of the Tribunal Governor Sule had decided to plead religion as the reason why he won’t leave office for Dr. David Ombugadu of the PDP who is the true winner of the 18 Match 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa state!

    “Since the creation of Nasarawa State the Governor has always been a Muslim and there was no any Religious fight in the whole of Nasarawa State.

    “May I point out clearly that Dr. David Ombugadu is a candidate of both Muslims and Christians in the state? Dr. Ombugadu has never shown any sign of any campaign against Muslims even though he is Christian.

    “After all, His Deputy is a true Muslim from the North Central Zone of the state. As the Governor of Nasarawa state, Dr. Ombugadu will be very fair to all citizens no matter Christian or Muslim. During his campaign, Dr Ombugadu had similarly donated vehicles to JNI and NASFAT. Also, he donated several to the building of many Mosques in Nasarawa state. Water boreholes to Mosques, markets, and churches for all.

    “In the whole of Nigeria, Christian has emerged as president of the country e.g. General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Enerst Shonikan, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Chief Jonathan. May I point out that those so-called groups of Muslims who are against the election of Dr David Ombugadu to become the Governor of Nasarawa are never well people and do not understand Islamic Religion very well and never receive the total support of Nasarawa state citizens?

    “Above all; my Good People of Nasarawa State God has already chosen that Dr. Ombugadu will be the Governor of Nasarawa State at this. Both Muslims and Christians should therefore support the will of God in giving total support to David Ombugadu as the Governor of Nasarawa state.

    “The sad attempt to divide the Judiciary into religious lines will destroy the only institution that remains the last hope of the common man

    “The judgment of the two jurists was based on fact and Gov Sule should speak to the facts rather them pleading with Islam to divide public opinion in order to hand on to power after he had been clearly rejected by the majority of voters in Nasarawa state. If we’re not careful with the politics of religion the whole country will be destroyed.”