₦airaland Forum

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Monday, honoured the Etsako East Edo-born Lagos State University’s best graduating student with a 5.0 CGPA, Miss Aminat Yusuf, in recognition of her outstanding academic performance.

Recall that Aminat graduated from LASU’s Faculty of Law as the institution’s best student of all time, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 on a scale of 5.0, becoming the school’s valedictorian at its 26th convocation held recently.

On Monday, Shaibu who has been in contact with the LASU record-setter since the news gained traction, sponsored Miss Aminat and her parents’ travel and return tickets from Lagos. They arrived Benin City on a 7:15 AM flight at the instance of the Deputy Governor.

Speaking when he received the visibly elated Miss Aminat, her parents and a representative of the LASU Dean of Law Faculty at the Government House, Benin City, Shaibu hailed the student’s brilliant accomplishment for setting a record at LASU that had stood for 40 years.

He said Miss Aminat, with her latest feat, has not only made her parents, Edo and indeed Nigerians proud, but has equally succeeded in igniting other students who feel they are less privileged that indeed, a child of nobody can become somebody with hard work and dedication.

According to the Edo State Deputy Governor, given Aminat’s humble upbringing, she beat all odds to earn a first-class grade in her law, her chosen field, noting, ”and I am happy to recognise her great academic achievement.”

“Through her outstanding performance, Aminat had exemplified the “I can do” attitude of the resourceful Edo man and woman, the attitude that a son or daughter of nobody can become someone,” Shaibu noted.

“The accolades she has received since the new broke out, has been a source of inspiration, not only her family, but also the good people of Etsako East Local Government and, in fact, Edo State. We are proud of her,” added the deputy governor.

He lauded Miss Aminat for distinguishing herself in her educational pursuit, for becoming an ambassador for Edo State and, consequently, setting herself as a role model for young girls and women in the state and Nigeria.

Also speaking, Obadan Arebamen Abibu, a representative of the LASU Dean of Law, Prof. K. A. Olatoye, applauded the Edo State Government for recognising excellence, while also hailing the state’s investment in the Education sector.

He appealed to the Edo State Government to consider integrating Miss Aminat into the state’s Automatic Employment Scheme for First Class Indigenes’ Graduates, just like her counterparts from other Institutions.

Responding, Shaibu appreciated the LASU Law Dean for recognising the Edo state government’s efforts in repositioning the state’s education sector, most especially its investment in the EdoBEST programme.

He assured that, like her other First Class Indigenes’ Graduates’ counterparts, Miss Aminat would be integrated into the state’s existing Automatic Employment Scheme for First Class Indigenous Graduates.

In a historic and unprecedented move, Miss Aminat was announced as Acting ‘Edo State Deputy Governor’ briefly for about 10 minutes by Shaibu. She, thereafter, addressed the press from the deputy governor’s seat as her first official duty.

Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of a commendation letter and an undisclosed sum of personal support to the LASU record-breaker by the Edo Deputy Governor, Hon Philip Shaibu.

Meanwhile, the ceremony moved down to the Deputy Governor’s private residence in Benin where the LASU record-setter, her parents and the LASU’s Law Dean representative were hosted to a private luncheon.

Miss Aminat and her parents who departed the deputy governor’s residence at about 3:00 PM, are expected to make a stopover at the Office of the State’s Head of Service, where the LASU record-setter is expected to be formally offered automatic employment.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has offered recording-setting First Class Law graduate at the Lagos State University (LASU), Miss. Yusuf Aminat, who hails from Edo State, automatic employment into the State’s public service.

Yusuf emerged as the best ever graduate at LASU with a 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in the institution’s Law Degree Programme.

Speaking to journalists in Government House, the governor said, “Beyond merely congratulating her, we have offered automatic employment to her. Indeed, we have reached out to her parents and spoken with them. They have accepted that she will be with us and accepted our offer of employment.

The governor whose offer was conveyed by the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq., stated: “She has not done her youth service. So, what we are proposing is that we will write to the National Youth Service Corps so that she will serve with us here in Edo State so that we don’t run the risk of losing her.”

On efforts to engender a competitive workforce in the state, the governor said: “We are committed to improving the quality of human resource in the public service. We have set this as a priority and will get the best to work in the state. We have done everything within our power as a government to ensure that we create an enabling environment for work and as a result, we also want the best hands.

“We are creating the best work environment here so that the public service in Edo State can become attractive enough for the best talent from within and outside the state. We thank our dear young men and women who have excelled in their studies and we expect that more of them will achieve this feat.

He noted that aside the offer of employment, Miss Yusuf has received other form of support as reward for her sterling feat, stressing that she has indeed given a good account of herself and is a worthy ambassador of the state.

Miss Yusuf and her parents stopped over in Government House to visit the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, who reinforced the governor’s position and offer of employment to the star student.

In the wake of fuel subsidy removal which has led to hike in price, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said it is ready to roll out cheap fuel for Nigerians.

IPMAN's chairman, Chinedu Okoronkwo, said the body would soon start to roll out Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel, at N100 per litre.

He said IPMAN is almost ready with its plan to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on Nigerians with CNG from the end of June.

Okoronkwo stated this during an interview on Channels Television and stressed that CNG would serve as an alternative to petrol.

The IPMAN boss explained that CNG would help reduce Nigeria’s energy consumption cost.

He said: “Very soon, we will roll out. We are 90 per cent close to that, which will also unveil many possibilities.”

Okoronkwo stated that the petrol subsidy removal had reduced the speed with which Nigeria would have gotten another energy alternative.

“IPMAN has brought relief to a lot of families. We have used our natural energy, CNG, to power vehicles, generators, and even cooking,” Okoronkwo said.

The alternative fuel is expected to reduce the country’s exposure to fuel imports as natural gas would be imported instead.

According to him, the adoption of CNG-powered cars has started gaining speed nationwide due to increased awareness about their efficiency and affordability, compared to ordinary petrol and diesel.

The IPMAN chairman said if the government accepts its plans, it will act as an assistant, bring relief and create job opportunities.

He said that IPMAN needs to create a market because the demand is already there.

He added that the association had gotten a lot of buy-in from companies overseas.

He revealed that Nigerians are already using liquefied petroleum gas to power their generators, stating that the LPG is about N700 per kg, but CNG will be under N100 to N110 per litre.

He said: “When you check what the impact will be, it will reduce the cost of food because people coming from the hinterlands bring food to the cities. From Kano, it takes them about N1.2 million to fuel trucks with diesel, but with this CNG, it will cost them about N150,000 to N200,000. About a million naira is saved, which will translate to cheaper food and open up a lot of other businesses.

“It will provide cheaper energy to drive the processing zones like the agro-based industries, where the gas will also create a lot of impacts.

“CNG does not replace PMS, but it is a choice. We are talking of something that will help your purse and not deepen it.”

CNG would be a game changer for Nigerians as it will be the best palliative instead of sharing money.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described fuel subsidy as a “scam” and disincentive to growth, saying it rewarded smugglers and reduced the burden of the “real cost” of the commodity for some countries.

The President stated this during a meeting with members of the Nigerian community in France, according to a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake.

This was as the Nigerian leader explained that his inaugural speech as President of Nigeria on May 29 where he had declared that “fuel subsidy is gone” excluded fuel subsidy but he had to stop it on day one.

Addressing the Nigerian community, Tinubu said his Special Adviser on Monetary Policy, Wale Edun and Alake had excluded fuel subsidy removal from his inaugural speech, “but he felt it was expedient to stop the subsidy on the first day”.

“They thought it was the joke of the century until I called NNPC. We are tired of feeding smugglers, making a few people rich, and subsidising the next-door neighbour.

“I met with the president of the Benin Republic today. Everybody is equal now, we are friends. We are conjoined twins joined by the hips, how we will separate each other is with this fuel subsidy.

“Let us see whether we will survive or not but we are going to survive you.”

The May 29 comment on fuel subsidy by Tinubu led to the return of queues at petrol stations and hike in price and hoarding. The President would later explain that the 2023 budget made no provisions for fuel subsidy from July 1 but ends in June.

However, speaking in France on Friday, President Tinubu explained that his administration was working to make provisions that would cushion the effect of the removal of the subsidy on petrol.

“You want money to increase palliative, transportation. What are you protesting about? Are you sharing part of the subsidy? If you protest, I will join you and protest against it. And they stopped. No protest,” he said.

“Palliative we will get but we have to save the money in order to embark on a palliative [measures],” the President was quoted as saying.

On Friday, while grieving over his friend and partner, Hamish Harding, a passenger in the ill-fated Titan submersible, Nigerian politician Ned Nwoko revealed that he was invited to join the tour of the famous Titanic Ship wreckage.

Mr Harding, a British businessman, explorer, and multiple-Guinness World Record holder, including one for the longest time spent traversing the deepest part of the ocean on a single dive, was one of the five people who died aboard the imploded submersible.

The politician took to his verified Instagram handle and explained why he couldn’t make the Titanic tour despite the invitation. He also eulogised Mr Harding while recounting adventures they had explored together.

Late Harding, and his teenage son, Giles, joined Mr Nwoko during his January 2020 expedition to Antarctica alongside a team of scientists from Russia, India, China, the U.S., and the UK.

Mr Nwoko said he aimed to use the global attention the expedition attracted to create Awareness of Malaria Eradication in Africa.

His tribute read, “I have lost a dear friend and business partner. Captain Hamish Harding. We both went on a dangerous expedition to Southpole, Antarctica, a few years back. He was a gulf stream pilot who flew across the world in a record-breaking expedition by the Guinness world record to circumnavigate the Earth some years ago. He descended into the Mariana.

“He also invited me on his space shuttle last year and this very Titan ill-fated adventure, but I was tied down with national duties. Above all, he was a partner in the various pieces of research into eradicating malaria in Africa project.”

Mr Nwoko recalled Mr Harding’s last message as regards the tour before they went on the journey on Sunday. He extended his family’s condolences to Harding’s family as well.

“He was very enthusiastic about it and always gave his support at every given opportunity. His last message to me was this Sunday when he told me they were ready to dive into the Titanic if the weather permits.”

“He loved adventure and challenges. My heart bleeds for his dear wife and kids, who have become family friends. We will surely miss his wealth of experience,’’ he said.

The Titanic submersible went missing after it dived on Sunday. It was reportedly said to have suffered a ‘catastrophic implosion’, which led to all five passengers on board missing.

A catastrophic implosion is an instance of something collapsing violently inward. The implosion made what was supposed to be a 10-hour tour of the Titanic shipwreck, the famous ship, to end in tragedy.

CNN said The submersible, known as “Titan,” started its two-and-a-half-hour trip early Sunday and lost contact with its mother ship, the Polar Prince, an hour and 45 minutes into the journey.

Also, the United States Coast Guard announced recently that the tail cone and other debris from the missing submersible were found by a remotely operated vehicle about 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic, which rests about 13,000 feet deep in the North Atlantic Ocean.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday declared that Nigeria’s financial system in the hands of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “was rotten”, marking his first public comment on Emefiele’s removal.

Tinubu made the declaration at an interactive session with Nigerians in Paris, France, while noting that measures are being taken to address the alleged irregularities done by Emefiele.

“The financial system was rotten,” Tinubu said. “Few people make bags of our money and then you yourself, you stopped sending money home to our poor parents. Several windows… but that is gone now, is gone.

“The man (Emefiele) is in the hands of authorities, something is being done about that, they will sort themselves out.”

Earlier in the month, Tinubu suspended Emefiele from office as CBN governor and ordered a probe of his office. Since then, Emefiele has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Thursday attended the burial ceremony of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, held in Agenebode, Etsako-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Governor described late Dokpesi as an elder statesman, leader and worthy son of Edo, who, until his death, dedicated his life to the service of the people and nation.

Shaibu said, “Chief Dokpesi was a trailblazer who made significant contributions to the development of our country in various areas, including media, politics, and business.

“He was a true patriot who worked tirelessly to promote the unity and progress of Nigeria through the Peoples Democratic Party as a founding member.

“As we bid farewell to Chief Dokpesi today, let us also celebrate his life and legacy. Let us honour his memory by continuing the work he started and striving to build a better Nigeria for all.”

He extended his deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Dokpesi, noting, “May you find comfort and strength in knowing that he lived a life of purpose and left a lasting impact on our nation.”

Shaibu called on the people to use the moment to reflect on our their own lives and the legacies they want to leave behind, adding, “Let us strive to live our lives with purpose and impact, just as Chief Dokpesi did.”

Recall that Dokpesi, founder of Daar Communications, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM, died on Monday, May 29 at the age of 71 at a hospital in Abuja.

The burial ceremony also attracted the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the immediate past Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and other dignitaries across the country.

pargelenis:
Any video highlights of this game?

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, has congratulated Bendel Insurance FC of Edo for qualifying for next season’s CAF Confederation Cup after defeating Rangers International FC of Enugu one nil to lift their 4th FA Cup after 43 years.

Shaibu who was at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, venue for the competition, to cheer Insurance to victory, hailed the 2023 FA Cup champions for their great outing during the Wednesday night’s match.

He said, “Our boys gave a good account of themselves as they played the highly rated Enugu Rangers, who showed class as the FA Cup final lived up to the predictions of the pundits.”

According to him, Wednesday night’s victory means that Bendel Insurance will represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup after defeating their rival, Enugu Rangers 1-0.

He noted that a first-half goal from the penalty spot by Imade Osarenkhoe was all that was needed by the boys to book a place in the CAF Confederation Cup, after many years of absence at the continental scene.

The visibly elated Deputy Governor while recalling that just a year ago, Bendel Insurance only gained promotion to the Nigerian Premier League (NPL), declared that, “today, we have achieved a treble.”

He thanked his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki whom he described as a sports-loving governor, for his support, morally and financially for the team, which he affirmed led to the success of today.

Shaibu also thanked the team and the coaching crew for their dedication and belief in their abilities “as no one gave them a chance of winning the league unbeaten or qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup.”

”This is a well-deserved victory and I hope to see you boys in Benin soon,” the Edo Deputy Governor told the victorious Bendel Insurance players and 2023 FA Cup champions.

Bendel Insurance of Edo have qualified for next season’s CAF Confederation Cup after defeating Rangers International of Enugu one nil on Wednesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State, to emerge champions of the 2023 Federation cup.

Wednesday’s Insurance victory capped their impressive season with their 4th FA Cup after 43 years, as they pipped their old rivals, Rangers, to lift the 2023 edition of the NFF/Tingo Federation Cup.

It was a repeat of the 1978 finals when Bendel Insurance defeated Enugu Rangers International 3 nil to lift the federation cup, with Imade Osarenkhoe scoring in the 45th minute from the penalty spot.

Rangers were reduced to ten men squad, after Chinemerem Ugwueze got his second booking for a deliberate handball inside the box as he tried to foul ref Quadri Adebimpe by stopping a goal bound effort.

Insurance’s Imade converted the resultant penalty for the solitary goal of the match.

The victory crowns the effort of Insurance who were unbeaten in group A of the abridged 2023 Nigeria premier league.

With Wednesday’s victory, Bendel Insurance will now join their Rivers United counterpart as Nigeria’s representatives in next season’s CAF confederation cup.

https://metrowatchxtra.com/2023/06/22/bendel-insurance-lifts-4th-fa-cup-after-43yrs-qualifies-for-caf-confederation-cup-metrowatch/

Lala Mynd44

Management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City, has astronomically increased school fees payable by undergraduate (UG) students of the institution by over 100 Per cent.

Checks by METROWATCH on Tuesday night showed that the new fee regime for the institution located in Edo State, takes effect from the next 2022/2023 academic session.

Science students, who until now pay the sum of N73,400 as school fees per session, will henceforth pay N190,000; while fees for non-science students was increased from the current N69,900 to N170,000.

A breakdown of the new fee regime showed that while items such as ICT, Counseling, Accreditation, Sanitation and Certificate Screening were introduced into the list; charges for existing items such as Examination Fee, Laboratory Fees, Library/MTN Lib., Orientation Brochure, Sport, Utility, Bank Charges/Portal Charges and Student Union dues were simply increased.

It was, however, observed that fees for returning students for the current 2021/2022 academic session remain unchanged. While Science students pay N45,400, their non-science counterparts pay N41,400.

Meanwhile, efforts to obtain comment from Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Institution, Mrs Benedicta Adeola Ehanire, on the development, proved abortive.

But, President of the Institution’s Students Union, Mr Nmoye Israel, alias Cyano, in a post on social media, ascribed the fee to typographical error, while calling on students to remain calm as the “error” would be corrected.

However, an explanation offered on the website of the University saying the new price regime takes effect from the 2022/2023 academic session and does not affect returning students, contradicted Israel’s statement.

“Please note that all students admitted before the 2022/2023 session will continue to pay their earlier stated respective charge(i.e N45,400 for science and N41,400 for non-science students),” the statement published on the students’ portal of the University of Benin read.

According to the amended calender of the Institution, affected [new] students for the 2022/2023 academic session are expected in the halls of residence on July 2, while lectures are to commence on July 10.

Students kick

Meanwhile, students of the institution have kicked against the austronimcal increment of school fees, while calling for immediate reversal of the hike and threatening to occupy the streets.

Our correspondent observed that the students have since taken to social media to vent their anger against management of the institution and the Bola Tinubu led federal government.

Some believe that the new price regime may not be unconnected to the FG students loan recently signed into law by President Tinubu, where the federal government had hinted that it could no longer fund universities’ activities.

Andrew Adaeze Emwanta, a former Edo Commissioner for Youth and Gender Affairs, has claimed that political “godfatherism” has returned to the state under the current administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Emwanta, who is also a former Commissioner of Communication and Orientation, stated this in an interview on AIT News while explaining the reasons behind his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former Edo PDP chieftain said, “There has been the return of godfatherism in Edo State. In my LGA, a man I perceive as “illiterate” was made the leader of the party.

“Unfortunately, there are professors, doctors, and lawyers within the same LGA. Sadly, decisions are now taken in the personal abode of this said party leader. This same issue made some of us stand with the current governor in 2020 in rejection of godfatherism.

“I described the man as illiterate because he can neither read nor write. I also realized that my political interests could not thrive within the PDP. It appears that we have a leadership crisis where the governor has not taken charge of the developments within the party in Edo State. I decided to walk away due to a lack of proper leadership.”

Emwanta resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo on June 14, in a resignation letter he addressed to the Chairman of the PDP in his Egor Local Government Area.

He also announced the withdrawal of his earlier application letter to serve as the Commissioner representing Egor LGA in the State Exco earlier submitted to the Governor.

His resignation came barely days after another chieftain of the PDP, Barr Kenneth Imasuagbon, better known as Rice Man, dumped the PDP for the Labour Party ahead of the Edo 2024 governorship race.

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, has called for more recognition and accolades for fathers over their roles in nation building, saying, just like mothers, fathers too deserve praises for their sacrifices especially in keeping the family and society together.

Shaibu made the call on Sunday at the yearly event marking the feast of Catholic Men Organisation (CMO)’s Patron Saint of the St Paul’s Catholic Church, Benin City, in commemoration of this year’s Father’s Day celebration.

He said, “It is important that mothers should always appreciate their husbands at home. They should also amplify this, with the children. Mothers should be able to organise the family in such a way that fathers are appreciated back home.

“As the head of the family, we fathers should also sustain that headship and not be autocratic at home. We should love our wives. Even in the Bible, God charged us men to love our wives, while women are to be submissive.”

The Deputy Governor, however, called on fathers to take care of their family like St. Joseph who humbled himself before the Lord and was useful to humanity during his life on Earth, while encouraging them not fail as breadwinners as well as in their marital, financial and other obligations.

On the roles of fathers in nation building, Shaibu noted that fathers were expected to live up to their responsibility by exhibiting exemplary conduct that would mould the children into future leaders, and discourage them from engaging in vices cable of dividing the nation.

According to him, it is the responsibilities of fathers, as the first teachers of their children, to teach them, from early childhood to become clear-thinking and enlightened citizens who participate in decisions concerning society.

Shaibu noted: ”The society is in dire need of role models. We understand the current situation in the country, especially with the removal of fuel subsidy, which has imposed untold hardship on all of us.

“As fathers, this is the time to think deeper and be more active and work together with our wives. Palliative or not, what is critical is contentment. We should be able to diversify to provide for the family, and make the society a better place.

“Let’s take advantage of technology; think outside our salary, and beyond our take home by doing the right thing, and engaging in other positive commercial and legal activities that can augment our salaries.”

He prayed for grace for fathers to be able to overcome the current situation, while calling on mothers and the children to be patient with them especially with the present predicament which has brought more burden on every father, saying, “may God bless the works of our hands.”

The United States Government on Friday announced a ban targeting Ugandan officials, citing human rights abuses and corruption.

The Department of State said it is taking steps to impose visa restrictions under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The President Joe Biden administration noted that the U.S. government will continue to evaluate additional actions under the policy.

The affected individuals are accused of being responsible for/complicit in corruption, undermining the democratic process, and abusing human rights, including those of LGBTQI+ persons.

Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, enacted in late May, prescribes prosecution and life imprisonment or the death penalty for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual people.

The Department of State has also updated its travel guidance to Americans to highlight the risk that LGBTQI+ persons, or those perceived to be LGBTQI+.

The U.S. assures “strong support” for Ugandans, expressing commitment “to advancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Uganda and globally.

Uganda recently signed a bill prescribing death sentence for homosexuals into law, with the President vowing to send convicted persons to their 'maker'.

The Labour Party governorship candidate in Enugu State, Mr Chijioke Edeoga, told the election petition tribunal sitting in Enugu on Friday that he will call 36 witnesses to testify against Governor Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party to prove his certificate forgery.

Mbah, who was declared the winner of the March 18 governorship election in Enugu State by the Independent National Electoral Commission, is facing a mounting challenge from the Labour Party candidate, Edeoga, over his alleged forgery of the National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate presented to the electoral umpire.

Edoga is praying the tribunal disqualify Mbah over the alleged NYSC certificate forgery.

During the resumed sitting of the tribunal on Friday, the petitioners, through their counsel, Mr M. J. Numa, told the panel that they intended to call 28 witnesses as a whole within their control and eight subpoenaed witnesses.

Numa further told the tribunal led by Justice K. M Akano that they would require a period of five weeks to call the witnesses and had agreed that the witnesses within their control would need 15 minutes for cross-examination.

He added that they had taken care of the interpreter as they would schedule the process.

Responding, counsel to Mbah and the PDP, Mr Wole Olanikpekun and Mr Tochukwu Maduka, respectively, argued that the FCT High Court had resolved the issue of alleged certificate forgery as there was a leave of appeal and that Sections 177 and 182 of the constitution had settled the matter.

Numa said that there was no record of any appeal on such subject matter, adding that the court could not speculate on the existence of an appeal.

He said that the tribunal had competent jurisdiction for the matter and pleaded the court’s indulgence to strike out the objection.

“177 and 182 of the constitution are mutually exclusive, 182 has more elaboration than 177, so they are two separate provisions that stand on their own. I, therefore, invite your Lordship to decline those invitations,” he said.

The counsel to Mbah, Olanikpekun, said that they would be calling 44 witnesses, adding that they required 25 days to call all their witnesses and 15 minutes for cross-examination.

Olanikpekun said that the petition on the ground that the second respondent was not qualified due to alleged certificate forgery was not a petition before the tribunal, noting that the tribunal had no jurisdiction over the matter.

Also, counsel to the PDP, Maduka, stressed that there was no application for the alleged certificate forgery.

He added that the tribunal was not to determine whether the FCT High Court has jurisdiction or not.

He, however, told the tribunal that the PDP intended to bring 54 witnesses, which would include subpoenaed witnesses and forensic experts.

Ruling on the arguments of the parties, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Akano, said that the tribunal would deliver its judgement on the alleged forgery.

The tribunal consequently adjourned the case to June 22 for the continuation of the hearing.