₦airaland Forum

We’ll study judgment – PDP, Abba Aliyu, APC head to Supreme Court The Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division yesterday reaffirmed the declaration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State as the duly elected candidate in the March 23 governorship election in the state. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the election, Abbah Yusuf, had challenged the declaration of Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the election at the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal.

The Kano State Election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Halima Shamaki had while ruling on a petition by upheld the declaration of Ganduje as winner of the election. Ganduje had polled 1,033,695 votes to defeat Yusuf of the PDP who scored 1,024,713 votes in the elections. The Justice Tijjani Abubakar who led a five-man-panel in a unanimous decision yesterday also dismissed the entire petition of the PDP candidate and the party for lacking merit and reaffirmed the election of Ganduje. Kano State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Mukhtar, described the ruling as a landmark judgement and commended the judiciary for upholding justice.

“Today’s judgement shows that the judiciary is working and there is justice in our court,” he said. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano and its candidate in the March 9th gubernatorial election in the state, Engineer Abba K. Yusuf, have said their legal team would study the Appeal Court’s decision affirming the election of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the dully elected governor of the state. Reacting to the ruling in a press statement signed and issued yesterday by Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, the spokesman of Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, the PDP said it received with “colossal hysteria,” the decision of the Appeal Court, dismissing its appeal before it. “Our legal team is currently reviewing the judgment after which we will take a decisive action as appropriate to ensure retrieval of the stolen mandate of the good people of Kano. “We will not relent on our efforts to secure justice and fairness to the electorate who were out massively to cast their votes on Saturday, March 9, 2019 and those that were harassed, intimidated, maimed, killed or disenfranchised during the March 23 supplementary election.

“We want to use this opportunity to appreciate our teaming supporters who have been praying intensively for our success in this legal battle, while reminding them on the need to remain calm as we have no state other than Kano, the peace of our dear state is paramount, ” the statement said. The Court of Appeal in Sokoto yesterday also upheld the re-election of Governor Aminu Tambuwal as Sokoto State governor. Delivering the unanimous judgement, the presiding judge, Justice Hussaini Mukhtar, dismissed the appeal filed by the APC and its candidate as well as the cross appeal filed by the PDP and its candidate for lacking merit. He averred that there were not credible oral or documented evidences by the APC and its candidate to prove their allegations of over voting and violation of the electoral act in the conduct of the elections.

The cross appeal dismissed by the court was challenging the eligibility of the APC candidate, Aliyu, to contest in the election. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, have resolved to challenge the judgement. Speaking on behalf of the APC and its candidate, Barrister Bashir Jodi said they would challenge the judgement at the Supreme Court. Reacting to the judgement, Governor Tambuwal described it as the handiwork of God. According to him, God doesn’t abandon His people and always completes His projects, dedicating the victory to Him and the entire people of Sokoto State Tambuwal thanked the people of the state for their continuous support and prayers, urging his supporters to remain law abiding, peaceful and engage with those who belong to other parties as they have one objective of developing the state.

He callled on APC and its supporters to join hands with him to make the state more progressive and vibrant. Mr Aliyu challenged the tribunal judgment that affirmed the election of Mr Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the 2019 governorship election in the state. The governorship election held on March 9 was declared inconclusive following the cancellation of 75,403 votes which were higher than the 3,413 votes margin between the leading candidates.

The re-run was then conducted on March 23 and led to the victory of Mr Tambuwal who won with 342 votes. It would be recalled that the Governorship Election Tribunal on October 2 in Abuja affirmed the election of Mr Tambuwal. The three-member tribunal led by Justice Abbas Bawale dismissed the petition of the APC and its governorship candidate, Mr Aliyu, for lacking merit. Unsatisfied with the tribunal judgment, Mr Aliyu on October 16, filed a notice of appeal challenging the judgment of the lower court, asking the court to set aside the tribunal judgment and declare him as the winner of the election.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/appeal-court-upholds-ganduje-tambuwals-elections.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arraigned a Briton, James Richard Nolan, on a 32-count amended charge over his alleged complicity in the alleged Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) scam. At the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, EFCC’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, told a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Okon Abang that the anti-graft agency filed the amended charge on November 20 to replace the initial 16-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The anti-graft agency on October 21, arraigned Nolan and Adam Quinn (at large), both British nationals, over their alleged complicity in the 9.6 billion dollars judgment against Nigeria along with two companies, Goidel Resources Limited, a Designated Non-Financial Institution (DNFI) and ICIL Limited, where Nolan and Quinn are said to be directors.

Process and Industrial Development (P&ID), an Irish engineering company, had secured the award against Nigeria following the non-execution of a 20-year gas and supply processing agreement (GSPA) the company had with the federal government. Upon the reading of the 32-count charge, Nolan pleaded not guilty and a plea of not guilty was entered for the two companies. The charge include allegations of tax evasion and failure to submit tax returns. The judge adjourned to December 6 for ruling on the admissibility of the statement.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/alleged-pid-scam-efcc-re-arraigns-briton-on-32-count-amended-charge.html

The Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, said yesterday that the 2020 budget assumptions especially the revenue targets are realistic. He also hailed the National Assembly for insisting on early submission of the budget, saying though it was tough preparing the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2020 appropriation; it was good for the country to return to the January-December budget cycle. Akabueze spoke in Lagos while presenting the 2019 Annual Public Lecture of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) with the theme, “Effective Budget Execution and Management: Recipe for National Development.” The DG however stated that revenue shortfall is one of the challenges militating against effective budget implementation.

He noted that revenue deviated from projection by 48 per cent in 2017, 45 per cent in 2018 and 42 per cent in half year 2019. Represented by his Technical Adviser, Prof. Olumide Ayodele, Akabueze said the 2020 revenue target is achievable, insisting that Nigeria has revenue potentials and personnel must work hard to surpass the target. Daily Trust reports that Buhari had on October 8 presented 10.33tr 2020 budget to the National Assembly. Akabueze said, “A Director signed an agreement and you look at it yourself, was this man sleeping? We have things like this in different Ministries. “If we are talking of national development, then we must look at ways that we can generate money. The targets that we have here are realistic.

The National Assembly is considering these revenue targets and I am sure by the time they are through with it, they will increase the targets so that the MDAs concerned can be able to deliver.” According to him, with the cooperation that currently exists between the two arms of government, the budget might be passed by next week.

“And it would be a budget that will have little or no issue,” he added. President and Chairman of Council of CIPM, Mr. Wale Adediran said if the nation implements the formulation of procedures for effective budgetary controls, then greater future would be assured.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2020-revenue-targets-realistic-dg-budget-office.html

Wahala

Corruption!

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Prince Uche Secondus is under intense pressure to vacate office over alleged constitutional breaches, misappropriation of funds and failure to lead the party to victory in the 2015 and 2019 general elections. Secondus has also allegedly failed to call for major meetings of the various organs of the party including the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which is the second highest decision-making organ of the party.

Daily Trust reports that the pressure is coming from PDP leaders and groups within the party. A former Special Adviser on Public Affairs, to President Goodluck Jonathan and member of the defunct Presidential Campaign Council for Atiku Abubakar, Malam Nasir Zahradeen, confirmed to our correspondent last night that majority of PDP stalwarts and power brokers were demanding for Secondus’ resignation.

“Secondus must go and he must be investigated by the EFCC, ICPC and the SSS because of the alleged impropriety, alleged putting of his hands on the funds of the party which is unacceptable. “You cannot say whether the other members of the NWC are doing well or they are not doing well. But if the head is rotten, definitely, you don’t expect any action from the rest.

“Now we have lost the Kogi and Bayelsa elections. On Bayelsa, he (Secondus) connived with the governor. Apparently, the governor had his own idea of getting his kinsman to be the governor while he will get the senatorial seat,” he said. Similarly, a highly placed source from the North West, who sought not to be named, passed a vote of no confidence on Secondus, saying he cannot guarantee victory for the party any more.

“We all had confidence in Secondus when he emerged. But later we discovered there were issues that we did not envisage. The leadership of Prince Secondus has several lapses and breaches of the constitution of the PDP. “For instance, from the very time we lost the 2019 elections, I doubt if there has been any NEC or caucus meeting to discuss the issues and that is weighing us down. “If they can’t deliver us today, how can we be sure they will deliver us tomorrow? Actually, I cannot ask the other members of the NWC to resign but sincerely, Secondus should resign because I doubt if he is willing to get us to the Promised Land.

He should resign,” he said. But the Special Adviser on Media to Secondus, Mr. Ike Abonyi, dismissed the allegations in a telephone chat with our correspondent, saying the party had more serious issues to discuss on the threat to democracy. “The allegations are baseless and unsubstantiated. Let them provide evidence that Secondus is a thief; that he dipped his hands into the party’s funds. “The constitution says one NEC meeting to one quarter. And between February and now, he called NEC meetings three times. So he has not violated the PDP Constitution,” he said.

Spokesperson of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan also dispelled claims that Secondus was under pressure to vacate office. “The National Chairman is not under any pressure except the fact that we believe that democracy is gradually being killed by this government and we believe that as the main opposition party we have a responsibility to salvage democracy,” he said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pressure-mounts-on-secondus-to-resign.html

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the issuance of a Sovereign Guarantee of 500 million Euros (N200bn) from the Credit Suisse AG London Branch and a syndicate of international lenders as collateral for 500m Euro facility to the Bank of Industry (BoI). The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, who spoke with State House Correspondents yesterday after the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the loan was basically to finance major industrialization projects and micro-small and medium enterprises values chains in Nigeria for up to five years tenure at affordable rates.

Agba, who said the rates are single digit rates, said the guarantor of the loan, to be executed through the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, shall be the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He added that the main objective of the loan was to support industry, revitalize agro-industrial processing zones, and facilitate the creation of new jobs. “We do believe that about 1.2 million jobs will be created through this facility; increase the income of farming communities and promote the inclusion of SMEs and small holder producers in the industrial value chain and the deployment of transportation infrastructure that connect farming communities to processors and market. The loan will be swapped to Naira by the CBN to mitigate the foreign exchange risk and the fund will, therefore, be available to Nigerian enterprises at a more affordable rate and in local currency,” he added. Also during yesterday’s meeting, the Minister of Power, Engr.

Sale Mamman, said the FEC approved the memo seeking for the ratification of the president to release two million dollars as part of Nigeria’s contribution to the West African Power Pool.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fec-approves-n200bn-loan-for-bank-of-industry.html

A middle age man, Malam Abubakar Mohammed of Top Medical area, in Minna, Niger state, has been arrested for putting his 10 years old son, Mohammed in chains and locking him up in the house. The man, who was said to have been arrested sometimes ago for molesting a student in his Islamic school, put his son in chain on Tuesday over the child’s absenteeism from the UBE Primary School, Tunga in Minna, and refusal to attend Islamic school. When Daily Trust visited the Niger State Child Rights Agency on Wednesday, the little boy was still in chain. A

Our correspondent observed that a motorcycle chains was tied around the boy’s ankles and padlocked. Mohammed said only the father can undo the chain as he has the key. The agency officials have to engage the service of a motorcycle repairer before the obstacle could be removed. Speaking with newsmen on the development, the state official overseeing the Agency, Barrister Maryam Kolo said Abubakar’s neighbours alerted her office of the abuse.

“We got the information from the suspect’s neighbours and we promptly deployed our operatives who rescued the boy from where he was locked up by the father,” she explained. She said Malam Abubakar is not a first-time offender, adding that he was once arrested by the agency and handed over to men of the Department of State Security Service for prosecution. She said the agency would hand him over to the security agencies for prosecution after concluding its investigation.

In an interview with newsmen at the premises of the agency, Malam Abubakar said he took the action as corrective measures after repeated appeals to the son to mend his ways failed. According to him, the son is fond of absconding from school and keeping late nights, adding that all the entreaties for him to change failed. He said he chained and locked the boy up on Wednesday morning after he went for the early morning prayers and did not see him in the mosque.

“We looked for him everywhere but couldn’t find him. In fact, he apparently did not sleep at home; so I went to where they normally hang out with his friends and saw him sleeping. “I took him home and decided to use chain to prevent him from going anywhere until I returned from a naming ceremony but when I got back, I learnt some people from the human rights have taken him,” he explained.

The agency said the state government would take-over the welfare of the boy after the required counselling, adding that the custody would be transferred to the mother who is living in a community in Katcha local government area of the state. The Niger State office of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said it would follow up the matter to its logical conclusion, adding that the action was akin to torture and inhumane treatment which the Anti-Torture Act 2017 seeks to address.

The head of the commission, Malam Nuhu Mohammed, said the action was inhumane and degrading, pointing out that the Anti-Torture Act explicitly makes the right to freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment non-negotiable. He said the commission is collaborating with relevant government agencies and rights groups in fighting various abuses and right issues in the state.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/father-chains-locks-up-10-year-old-son-over-refusal-to-attend-school-in-niger.html

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has concluded plans to demolish no fewer than 140 illegal structures built on service corridors in Kuruduma II and Kpaduma II communities in Guzape District of Abuja. Mr Thompson Hope, Chief Town Planning Officer, FCT Department of Development Control, disclosed this while briefing newsmen shortly after inspecting the illegal structures on Wednesday in Abuja. Hope said that the department had earlier issued seven days ultimatum to the inhabitants of the affected illegal structures in the area, adding that as soon as the ultimatum expire on Monday Nov. 25, demolition would begin immediately.

He said that the development control had marked some of the illegal structures for demolition as far back as two, three years ago. He also said that the department had carried out several sensitise campaign to the indigenous communities for many years but they refused to abide by the FCTA regulations on land allocation. According to him, the indigenous communities and villages has expanded beyond the indigenous settlement and most of this expansion and illegal structures, the areas are been sold by the indigenous communities themselves.

He said that the department held several meetings with the leaders of the indigenous communities on the need for them to stop selling plots of land to the people. “We have severally warn the indigeous communities including the local chiefs that all the lands in FCT is vested within the confine of the FCT Minister and that they should desist from selling land. “But because some people are so desperate and desirous to build thinking that before government takes action they will either make one or two profits out of it.

“This illegal structures are already build on service corridors where plot allottees are desirous to develop their properties but because of this illegal development along the corridor they cannot take possession of their plots. “Recently, the FCTA has sent signals to plot allottees to take possession of their plots else they stand a chance of been revoke and that has put us under enormous pressure as a department. ” By our estimate, we have about 140 illegal structures on this corridors.

We have given them 7 days ultimatum and hopefully by the expiration of the ultimatum, we are coming to demolish all the illegal structures. ” The notice was given to them on Monday Nov. 18 and it will expire by Monday Nov. 2. ”Hopefully on Tuesday, we will come with our machines to demolish them,” he said. On the issue of compensation to the owners of the illegal structures, Hope said compensation was a policy issue that can only be handled by the Minister.(NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fcta-to-demolish-140-illegal-structures-in-abuja-communities.html

Stop making noise! and praise Buhari....

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of 91, 225 private candidates that sat for the 2019 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Nigeria. The head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, Mr. Olu I. Adenipekun who made the disclosure to newsmen on Friday said that a total of 97,080 candidates registered for the examination in Nigeria, out of which 94,884 candidates sat the examination.

He said out of the 94,884 candidates that sat the examination, 91,225 candidates, representing 96.14 percent have their results fully processed and released while 3,659 candidates representing 3.86 percent have a few of their subjects still being processed. Such results he said will be speedily processed and released within the next one week.

Also, of the total number of candidates that sat the examination in Nigeria, 47,237 were male while 47,647 were female, representing 49.78 percent and 50.22 percent respectively. He said 9,457 candidates representing 9.74 percent were reported to have been involved in examination malpractices and their cases would be presented to the appropriate Committee of Council for appropriate action. He said the Council’s decision will be communicated to the affected candidates within the shortest possible time. Adenipekun also disclosed that the Council in Nigeria had perfected its Electronic Certificate Management System, an online portal being deployed to enable private candidates request for their certificates online.

He stated that beginning with the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2019-Second Series, the collection of certificates would be based on requests by candidates online via the Electronic Certificate Management System platform. Candidates who sat the examination have been asked to check the details of their performance on the Council’s results website: www.waecdirect.org. The Result Checker PIN and Serial Number needed by candidates to check their results online are contained on the candidate’s Smart Identity Card used during the conduct of the examination.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-waec-releases-results-of-91225-private-candidates.html

H

4+4 =0

Prof. Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says that improving the integrity of elections is key to democratic development of any nation. Jega said this in Ibadan on Thursday while delivering a lecture to mark the 71st Foundation Day and Convocation of the University of Ibadan.

The former INEC boss spoke on the topic: “Towards Credible Electoral Process and Sustainable Political Systems in Nigeria: What Role for Universities?”, said Nigeria could achieve greater integrity in its electoral process through the collaboration of stakeholders.

“It is generally recognised that fortifying democracy is vital to sustainable development, but what is not as widely acknowledged is that improving the integrity of elections is key to democratic development. “Sustainable electoral process with requite integrity is the panacea for democratic development in Nigeria and in all African countries struggling with the challenges of democratisation.

“The Nigerian electoral process has historically been flawed and repleted with profound challenges in all three key phases of electoral administration pre-election, election and post-election phases. “All stakeholders, therefore, must play a positive role in bridging these gaps,” he said. The former INEC boss commended the role of the academia in raising the bar of electoral administration in Nigeria since 2011.

He, however, called for more collaboration by way of research, advocacy, training and mentoring of all actors involved, particularly in inventing in-house election-related equipment and technologies. Jega also urged improvements for electoral integrity and sustainable democratic development through determined efforts, creative and innovative deployment of national resources and endowment. He said improvements were needed in the areas of legal and regulatory framework for elections, utilisation of technology, inclusiveness, transparency, accountability and competitiveness. Other areas, according to him, are citizens’ trust and confidence in the electoral process to motivate them for greater participation and nurturing of positive agents of democratic development through attitudinal reorientation.

“It is quite possible to bring about a thriving democracy in Nigeria in spite of evident challenges. “It would only require a more serious and purposeful engagement with and in the electoral process by all the key stakeholders. “To ensure that it brings the desired quality representation and elected public office holders who are responsible and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the citizens. “And that would catalyse and nurture good democratic governance.” Jega said inadequate and inconsistent legal framework for conducting elections had been used by some politicians to their advantage as well as insufficient and delayed funding for elections among other challenges.

Earlier, the Chancellor of the institution, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, said: “all of us should be interested in credible elections that are transparent, free and fair as a bedrock of participatory democracy.” He commended the former INEC Chairman for his initiative of deploying lecturers in electoral administration in Nigeria. He said this had proven to be good for our electoral process. Also speaking, the Pro Chancellor of the university, Nde Joshua said Jega holds an excellent record when it comes to the history of good performance in electoral process in Nigeria.

“Truthfully, our universities have fundamental roles to play in bridging challenges in the electoral process. “One role is to provide human capital for elections as credible elections are indispensable to the sustainability of our democracy. “A viable electoral process is germane to the survival of our democracy. “Kogi and Bayelsa elections are examples that we need a policy that will not only dowse political tension, but will proffer solutions to the political imbroglio we are experiencing in the country presently,” he said. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/jega-says-improving-integrity-of-elections-critical-to-democratic-growth.html

The Federal Government says criticisms will not stop it from going ahead with its planned efforts to sanitise the social media space. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated this on Thursday when he met with the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers in Abuja.

“We are not alone in doing this. Countries around the world are as concerned as we are, and they are doing something about the social media. The list is long: Germany, UK, Singapore, China, South Korea, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, etc,” the minister said. He said the campaign against fake news and hate speech had assumed a heightened dimension.

“We have been monitoring the debate. Some analysts and commentators have supported our plan; while others have opposed it. An interesting part of the debate has been that even those who oppose the regulation have acknowledged the dangers inherent in the irresponsible use of the social media, especially by anarchists and non-patriots. We thank everyone who has spoken out, and we hope the debate will continue”, he said. He said the government had not announced how it planned to go about the regulation because it would not be a unilateral process.

“It will involve all stakeholders coming together to chart the path forward. Let me announce here that we have just kick-started the process. We have dispatched letters inviting representatives of the media, civil society, technology and security experts, online publishers, bloggers, relevant agencies of government, etc, for this purpose,” he said. He said the government was exploring many options open to it in regulating the social media, stressing that apart from enacting new laws, we can also leverage on technology, working with the big techies like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Istagram to check the spread of fake news and hate speech.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-going-back-on-social-media-regulation-fg.html

Chai!

A Federal High Court in Yenagoa, yesterday, nullified the September 4, 2019 Bayelsa State governorship primary that produced David Lyon as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in tomorrow’s election. Our reporters in Yenagoa report that the decision had thrown stalwarts of the APC into confusion, reminiscent of what befell the party in some states during the last general elections when it was disqualified from participating.

But in a twist, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, yesterday, ordered a stay of execution of the judgement of the Abuja Federal High Court which disqualified the APC deputy governorship candidate in Bayelsa, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, over false information. The panel, chaired by Justice Stephen Adah, issued an interim order of stay of execution of the judgement of the Federal High Court of November 12, 2019, pending the determination of “the motion on notice for order of interlocutory injunction filed on 13 November, 2019.”

The appellate court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “to maintain status quo ante bellum which existed on or before the 19th day of September 2019 when suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1101/2019, now on appeal to this court, was filed at the lower court pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed on 13th November, 2019.” The judge consequently adjourned hearing of the motion to Wednesday November 20.

The appeal was brought by Degi-Eremienyo’s lawyer, Damian Dodo (SAN). The Bayelsa judgement While delivering her judgement which sacked Lyon in a suit filed by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri who is also governorship aspirant of the APC, Justice Jane Inyang noted that the primary was conducted outside the rules of the party. Lokpobiri, a minister of state for Agriculture during the first tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, had sued the party protesting the conduct of the governorship primary. He approached the court seeking a declaration that he was the “authentic candidate of the APC” and not Lyon.

Lyon, who was seen as new in Bayelsa politics but had the backing of the Minister of State for Petroleum and former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, had during the contentious primary scored 42,138 votes to defeat five other aspirants including Lokpobiri who scored 571 votes. Justice Inyang ruled that since the primary was conducted in violation of the party’s constitution and guidelines, none of the aspirants should stand as APC candidate in tomorrow’s election. She therefore restrained INEC from fielding Lyon as the party’s candidate.

Responding to the judgement, Lokpobiri’s lawyer, Fitzgerald Olorogun expressed shock on the grounds that the court’s declaration was not part of their prayers. “It’s strange,” he said. Lokpobiri had while pursuing his case in the court, nonetheless, urged the people of Bayelsa to vote for the APC despite his court case against Lyon and the party. But beyond Lokpobiri’s clamour to be declared winner of the primary election, the judge said the APC guideline provided that results should be declared by the chairman of the election committee of the party, saying in the case of Bayelsa, it should have been Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and not Senator Emmanuel Ochega who served as the committee’s secretary. She noted that the APC also violated its own rules in the composition of the election panel when it constituted an 11 member committee rather than seven.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/48hrs-to-bayelsa-govship-high-court-sacks-apc-candidate-as-appeal-court-reinstates-deputy.html

Mr Festus Jatau, a traditional medicine man, on Thursday prayed an Upper Area Court Zuba, FCT, to recover his laptop from a former girlfriend, Ms Blessing Elisha. Jatau made the appeal while giving evidence as a nominal complainant in the case against Elisha over the allegation of house-breaking and theft. ”We used to be close friends. We were live in lovers but we had a misunderstanding and she moved out of the house with my Apple laptop valued at N100,000.

”When I discovered that my laptop was missing, I reported the matter to the vigilante group in Kwali Area Council. ”She admitted before the vigilante group that she took my laptop and other things because I owed her sister N70, 000,” he said. Under-cross examination by the Defence Counsel, S.P. Eze, Jatau alleged that the defendant stole his house spare key when they were lovers. He said that he bought the laptop in Lafia, Nasarawa state on May 14. After listening to the testimony, the Presiding Upper Area Court Judge, Gambo Garba, adjourned the matter until Dec. 12 for continuation of hearing.(NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/herbalist-begs-court-to-recover-apple-laptop-from-ex-girlfriend.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned in its entirety what it described as savage, repressive, cruel and murderous intents of the hate speech ‘prohibition’ bill, which seeks stringent punishment, including death by hanging as penalty. The PDP, in a statement on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said as much as it does not condone hate speech under any guise, it rejects the bill as unconstitutional, undemocratic and a barbarous design targeted at official extermination of voice of dissent and perceived opponents of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.

The party said the nation already had enough constitutional provisions and extant laws to safeguard a sane and healthy public expression space and cannot allow such cruel law allegedly devised to victimize and persecute the citizens, ostensibly as a regime protection measure. The party pointed out that the provisions of the bill are deliberately hazy and nebulous with the malicious intention to victimize innocent Nigerians.

“Such laws can only find space in Hitler’s Germany, Mussolini’s Italy, Idi Amin’s Uganda and not in this era or in a democratic state such as Nigeria. “The resurfacing of the cruel bill in the Senate, after Nigerians vehemently rejected it last year, only points to the incurable desperation of the APC Federal Government to suppress and crush the will of the citizens at all cost. “Such obnoxious laws are characteristics of known anti-democratic regimes, as prelude to their suspension or abolition of constitutional provisions to set the stage for totalitarianism.

“Our party holds that, if allowed to pass, the hate speech ‘prohibition’ bill, with its savage provisions, would destroy our democratic order, strip our constitutional provisions, the rights of citizens and usher in a full-blown despotism in Nigeria. “The PDP challenges the proponents of the bill to start by condemning and setting penalties for those behind the ‘body bag’ comments as well as the ‘baboon and the dog blood’ narrative, which led to bloody unrest and the death of many innocent Nigerians. “Our party therefore cautions the APC and its federal government to retrace their steps and withdraw the noxious bill.

“The PDP also charges the National Assembly to protect our nation by throwing away the bill and, if anything, use its legislative instruments to strengthen our institutions and authorities vested with regulation of public expression in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended),” the party said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/death-penalty-for-hate-speech-obnoxious-pdp.html

Governor Udom Emmanuel has dedicated his victory at the Appeal Court against the petition of Mr Nsima Ekere, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party to God, and the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Speaking in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ekerete Udoh, on Wednesday in Uyo, Governor Emmanuel thanked the people of the State for their support, prayers and faith in his capacity and passion to make Akwa Ibom an industralized hub, as well as create wealth and job opportunities. He promised to continue to re-write the story of the state, and prove that where the passion was right, great things could happen.

He extended hands of fellowship to the opposition party, calling on them to join hands with him to build a state that was economically viable. “Today, the Appeal Court sitting in Calabar overwhelmingly reaffirmed the victory you gave me at the March 9, 2019 Gubernatorial elections. “I am hugely indebted to you my dear people for your support and prayers and of course, our only God who made this all possible. “Together, we will continue to re-write the Akwa Ibom story and show the world that where the passion is right, great things can happen.

“Again, I extend my hands of fellowship to my brothers and sisters on the other side of the political divide to join hands with me to build an economically viable State where our people’s standard of living will be improved significantly,” he stated. Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commended the ruling of the court, saying it aligned with reality as it confirmed the sanctity of the ballot. In a press release signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Ini Ememobong, the party said the judgement was directed by law and devoid of any partisan or legal colouration. He urged the APC and their candidate, Ekere, to partner with the party to move the state forward by acting in the interest and benefit of people of the state.

“In the well considered judgement, the noble Lords of the penultimate court, held the Appeal was lacking in merit, agreeing with the tribunal that the APC did not lead credible evidence to prove their case and that they had dumped documents in the panel without linking them, as required by law. “By this judgement, the judiciary has again shown that justice is directed by law and not federal might, partisan colouration or other extra legal dispositions.

To this we are deeply grateful to the court and wholeheartedly welcome the judgement. “To the opposition APC, we renew our call for partnership in the execution of the Akwa Ibom Project through the vehicle of the completion agenda of Governor Udom Emmanuel,” he said. The Appeal Court in Calabar, Cross River State, had in its ruling read by Justice Tunde Oyebanji, unanimously upheld the judgement of the Governorship Elections Petitions tribunal in Uyo.

The tribunal had affirmed that Governor Udom Emmanuel validly won the March 9, 2019 elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and awarded a cost of N500,000 for the 1st Respondent, at the expense of the appellants. The petitioners had presented twenty four grounds for the joint appeal, holding that the Tribunal erred in law and that the judgement of the Tribunal is against the weight of evidence, and prayed the court to set aside the Tribunal judgement delivered on September 19, 2019, The appeal requested an order to nullify the Governorship Election for non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, and an order for the 3rd Respondent, INEC to conduct fresh elections into the office of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The Appeal Court agreed with the respondents that the Appellants could not substantiate their allegations that Governor Emmanuel’s re-election was marred by non-compliance with the provisions of the electoral act, guidelines and manual for conduct of the 2019 General Elections.

The Court said in its ruling that the lower court was right in rejecting Exhibits PT1 -PT2331 (Voter’s Register), Exhibits PTA1 – PTA2275 (Forms EC8As), Exhibit PTB1-PTB275(Forms EC8Bs), Exhibits PTC1-PTC28(Forms EC8Cs), Exhibits PTD1(Form EC8D), Exhibit PTE1(Form EC8E), Exhibits PTF1-PTF3(INEC Manual and Guidelines for Conduct of 2019 Elections and Directory of Polling Units in Akwa Ibom State), Exhibit PTF4 (Summary of PVC collected and uncollected), Exhibit PTG1 – PTG19(EC40G). The Court said the documents were merely dumped at the tribunal as they were not tendered in line with the law and the lower tribunal had no business investigating the content of such documents.

The Court among other reasons ruled that the burden to prove all allegations of criminality, corrupt practices and non-compliance rested on the appellants.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/appeal-court-governor-emmanuel-dedicates-victory-to-god-a-ibom-people.html

A former governor of Niger state, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, on Tuesday said his successor, Abubakar Sani Bello, is in the best position to explain the where-about of the N1.4billion kept for the Minna international 5 star-hotel project. Speaking with newsmen in Minna, Aliyu said he left the money in the “Escrow account” of the state.

Governor Bello had during the presentation of flags to the chairmanship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the forthcoming local government election in the state, challenged his predecessor to account for the hotel fund.

However, Aliyu said the Ñ1.4 billion was left in the Escrow account for the payment of the contractor when the job had reached a certain stage. “To my surprise, the contractor was invited by this government and given the whole amount; after two months, he (contractor) disappeared from site and has not returned to finish the job.

“Am I to be held responsible? The government that invited and paid the contractor should be asked to account for the money,” he said. The former governor also insisted that he negotiated and secured the approval for the $181billion Industrial Development Bank IDB loan “The facility is not only for the dualization of the Minna – Bida road; the other component of the loan was the construction of a Bilingual Language Centre in Minna.

We presented five items before the IDB team, but only two were picked. “I went to Jeddah to negotiate for the loan with some of my officials then; some of them are still part and parcel of this APC government,” he explained, while asking the incumbent governor to cross-check from some of his aides who were part of the former administration.

“The issue on the ground is not about EFCC or ICPC; let the government come out clean that it has not collected the money,” he said. He also faulted the plan by government to dualize only a certain section of the road and make the rest single lane, saying such move was not acceptable. “You cannot toll a single lane road it is morally wrong; our plan was to dualize the road from Kpakungu to Bida and toll it at both ends, the developer was to collect its money in 25 years.

“They should set about doing the major project instead of playing politics with the issue,” he noted. He also distanced himself from the controversy surrounding the N6 billion for pension fund, describing his alleged involvement as frivolous. He said contrary to the allegation, he had to borrow over N1 billion to settle pension arrears when he assumed office.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/sani-bello-should-account-for-n1-4bn-minna-5-star-hotel-fund-says-ex-gov-aliyu.html

chai!

A 19-year-old man, Stanley Paul, who allegedly consumed 31 bottles of ”Andre Wine” with friends in a Lagos Hotel and refused to pay, on Friday appeared in a Magistrate Court in Ojo, Lagos. The police charged Paul with three counts of conspiracy, breach of the peace and theft, punishable under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Simon Uche, told the court that the defendant in company of his friends, now at large committed the offence on Oct. 13.

He alleged that the defendant and his friends drank 31 bottles of wine at the Regional Hotel Bar, located in the Ojo Magisterial district and refused to pay N93,000. Uche said that the complainant , Odjeba Washington, who is also the bartender, alleged that the the defendant who was in the company of his friends, had initially called for 40 bottles of the wine.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 168, 285 and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read to him in pidgin English. Magistrate A.A. Adesanya, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. Adesanya adjourned the case until Dec. 17, for mention. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/teenager-in-court-for-refusing-to-pay-bill-for-31-bottles-of-wine.html

Following the frequent failure of petroleum tankers in Anambra State, the state government has placed restriction time of movement of vehicles laden with petroleum in the state. The Government also restricted the speed limit of tankers applying the state to 90 kilometres per hour.

According to a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba, Friday, the state government restricted the movement of tankers to between 8pm to 5 am to checkmate incidences of tankers accidents..

“With effect from Saturday, November 2, 2019, such vehicles can be allowed to move within Anambra State from only 8 pm to 5 am. The restriction is to enable agencies like the Anambra State Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Civil Defence the Anambra Traffic Management Agency and indeed all other security, law enforcement and safety agencies to respond effectively and in good time to emergencies created by such accidents which sometimes result in conflagrations, as was the case in Onitsha on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, when a tanker laded with a petroleum product fell on the Enugu-Onitsha Highway and caused a fire that spread up to Ochanja Market through the open drainage” Adinuba said.

According to him, the Anambra government has directed the Police and all other security agencies in the state to religiously enforce the restriction order on the movement of trucks carrying petroleum products . He said the directive was to ensure that such vehicles do not exceed the speed limit of 90 kilometres per hour. “Any violation of either the time restriction order or the speed limit will be punished accordingly.

The protection of the life and asset of every person in Anambra State cannot be compromised” he stated. The Commissioner also added that the stakeholders in oil chain business have been urged to bear with the state government on the directive. He appealed to the stakeholders to strictly adhere to this regulation which is in the overriding public interest.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/onitsha-series-of-accidents-govt-restricts-movement-of-petroleum-tankers-speed-limit.html

Today marks the sixth year since the federal government under the former President Goodluck Jonathan formally handed over 18 power utility firms to the investors in the private sector. However, the tell-tale signs of poor power supply, unstable operations have remained.

Since November 1, 2013 when Nigerians including the assets buyers thought things would transform quickly, the power sector has yet to see some stability. Government handed over 60 per cent control of 10 Distribution Companies (DisCos) and concessioned six Generation Companies (GenCos) initially after receiving $3 billion from the private investors. Transaction for Kaduna DisCo was completed in 2014.

It left the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) under a under a four year management contract by Manitoba Hydro International Nigeria Limited (MHINL). However, it came under local administration since 2016. The transaction supervised by the Bureau for public Enterprises (BPE) designed Conditions Precedent (CP) especially on the need for DisCos to reduce the Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses and for the GenCos to rehabilitate turbines and raise the actual generation capacity which was around 4,500 megawatts (MW) then.

The industry regulator, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) pegged the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), Operational Expenditure (OPEX) along with the ATC&C for the DisCos in the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) to ensure significant investments are made on metering, reducing estimated billing among others. NERC started the Interim Market rule that moved to the Transition Electricity Market (TEM) since 2015 when all contracts are expected to be paid by 100 percent.

That has not happened owing to several factors. From July this year, the Market Operator (MO) rolled out sanctions that compelled the DisCos to start paying 100% for ancillary services. NERC followed suit in October by giving eight DisCos 60 days to defend their default in the minimum payment required for energy traded. But operators and industry watchers have blamed NERC for such actions since it did not implement about six MYTO tariff review since June 2016.

The private firms at various occasions said their demand for cost reflective tariff has not been met and there is not practical terms to cushion the over N1.3 trillion shortfall in the electricity market. Although government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has injected about N1.7trn into the sector, operators insist that it was a loan which is deducted at source monthly at 11% interest rate despite the liquidity challenges.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/power-supply-still-poor-operations-unstable-6-years-after-privatisation.html

A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Binta Nyako has told the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, that prisons (correctional) custody is the safest place for him. This came after Kanu’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told the court yesterday that the IPOB leader was ready to face trial if only the court could guarantee his safety.

Ejiofor told the court that an application seeking for the restoration of Kanu’s bail had been filed since April 1, and that the said application was ripe for hearing. He therefore urged the court to restore Kanu’s bail on the ground that the court would guarantee his safety when he returns to the country to continue his trial.

However, counsel for the federal government, Labaran Shuaibu, who told the court that he was just seeing the application, opposed the application. He urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable them file the necessary processes in response to the application. Delivering ruling, Justice Nyako, said the only way she could guarantee Kanu’s safety was to keep him in the prison.

“Even judges are being abducted in the country. So prison is the safest place for him (Kanu),” the judge said, before adjourning the matter to January 16. The court had on March 28 revoked Kanu’s bail and ordered for his arrest after the IPOB’s leader failed to appear in court after he was granted bail in April 2017.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/prison-safest-place-for-you-court-tells-nnamdi-kanu.html

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A 24-year-old man has begged a court in Akure, the Ondo state capital, to sentence him to prison. The 24-year-old scraper, Jummy Wasiu told the magistrate court, sitting at Oke – Eda, that he would be pleased if the court could sentence him to prison. The court, presided over by Magistrate O.R. Yakubu, consequently, sentenced him to two years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Wasiu was arraigned by the Police on two counts of burglary and stealing. According to the prosecution, the convict committed the offence on October 21, 2019 at about 2am at the Federal Housing Estate, Shagari Village, Zone V, Akure. He was said to have stolen Solar Panels, batteries and cables, valued at N250,000.

The offence contravened section 516, 509 and 390 of criminal code cap 37 volume 1, laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. The convict, who pleaded guilty to the allegation, had no lawyer to defend him. Police prosecutor, Mr. Augsutine Orihenimen, told the court that the convict had earlier told the investigating police officer (IPO), that he would not mind being jailed. Orihenimen said, since Wasiu had admitted committing the offence, the court should sentence him accordingly.

When the court asked him if he would go to prison, he answered “Yes.” Since the accused pleaded guilty to the allegation leveled against him, the court held that the convict actually committed the offence and sentenced him accordingly.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/please-send-me-to-prison-man-begs-court.html

State LG poll APC sweeps Kebbi State LG poll By . | Published Date Oct 31, 2019 9:37 AM TwitterFacebookWhatsAppTelegram The Kebbi State Independent National Electoral Commission (KESIEC), has declared All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of Oct. 26, Local Government Election in the state. KESIEC Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Mera, made this known while addressing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT READ: Protest trails Kebbi LG election

“KESIEC wishes to release the official results of the State Local Government Election held on Saturday, as already declared by the various wards and local government Returning Officers in 223 wards of the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. “The APC candidates won the election in all the 21 LGAs. “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fresh Party (FP) and other contenders did not make much in the election,” he said. Mera, however, said election in two polling units located in Argungu and Dandi LGAs were declared inconclusive. “The election in the two units will be concluded on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019,” Mera said. He said the election was conducted peacefully, adding that the results were announced in the presence of party agents and security personnel.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-sweeps-kebbi-state-lg-poll.html