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Politics › Re: Tribunal Chairman Disagrees To Judgement Declaring Adeleke Winner Of Osun Guber by engineerboat(m): 10:27pm On Mar 22, 2019
kahal29:
Ghen Ghen
What is ghen ghen


No be only ghen ghen



N.a. generator
Politics › Re: Adeleke: Don't Celebrate Yet, Dakuku And Mama Taraba Also Won At The Tribunal by engineerboat(m): 6:10pm On Mar 22, 2019
Why won't PDP celebrate yet.


Una no serious APC

Johnnyessence come here let's celebrate

Las las Imole free nipinle osun
Politics › Re: Adeleke: Don't Celebrate Yet, Dakuku And Mama Taraba Also Won At The Tribunal by engineerboat(m): 6:10pm On Mar 22, 2019
MORNDEW:
Adeleke Don't celebrate yet, Dakuku, and Mama Taraba also won at the tribunal
I was walking home from work when a friend called me with joyous tone that the tribunal has declared the pdp candidate for Osun Gubernatorial election winner. I asked what was the celebration all about he said he is now the governor na. I just called him "olodo and dropped the call.

Tribunal judgements since election cases gets to the Supreme Court has become mere academic exercise. After the 2015 governorship election, many candidates who lost the election went to court. Yours truly followed the cases of the then Rivers State Apc governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside and Taraba State governorship candidate of the Apc Mrs Aisha Alhassan, (Mama Taraba).

These candidates won at the tribunal and the court of appeal but lost at the apex court. So what's the celebration all about? Adeleke and the PDP should not celebrate yet until this matter gets to the Supreme Court.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/breaking-appeal-court-sacks-gov-wike-orders-fresh-election-in-rivers/
http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/07/breaking-tribunal-nullifies-governor-ishakus-election-declares-mama-taraba-winner/

So I wonder the need for this half celebration that might be shortlived.
People should understand intrigues of legal battles before rushing to celebrate.
Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Princewill Chimereze
Writer, public affairs analyst and social commentator.

https://enlightennigeria..com/2019/03/adeleke-dont-celebrate-yet-dakuku-and.html

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=780447358996590&id=248706512170680&__tn__=%2AW-R#footer_action_list
Can you tell me Oshogbo government is not already set for pari when APC e-warriors were busy brandishing fake figures about
Politics › Re: Osun Tribunal Judgement Will Easily Be Upturned At The Supreme Court by engineerboat(m): 6:06pm On Mar 22, 2019
Myd44 will soon push this one to the front page just like Adeleke objection strikes out thread
Politics › Re: Osun Tribunal Judgement Will Easily Be Upturned At The Supreme Court by engineerboat(m): 6:05pm On Mar 22, 2019
kahal29:
In a split decision of 2:1, the Osun State elections petition tribunal declared Adeleke the winner of Osun State election governorship election held last year.

The two tribunal members in their lead judgement held that INEC was wrong to have declared the election inconclusive and a such there was no need for the supplementary election.

However it is my respected view that the tribunal erred in declaring the supplementary election null and void. This is because inec's power to declare an election inconclusive and also conduct a supplementary election has been upheld in the Supreme Court judgement between James Faleke and INEC 2016.

Part of the judgement is reproduced below:

According to Justice KUDIRAT MOTONMORI OLATOKUNBO KEKERE-EKUN, JSC


It is evident that a declaration as to who received the highest number of votes cast and who should be declared elected is to be made by the appropriate Returning Officer after the results have been ascertained by counting the votes cast for each candidate.

Section 133(1) of the Electoral Act also provides that the only venue to ventilate a complaint of undue election or undue return at an election is before a competent Court or Tribunal in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution or Act.

In effect, I agree with the finding of the court below that contrary to the submission of learned senior counsel for the appellant, Sections 179(2) and 181(1) of the Constitution are not self-executing. There must be a declaration or return of a candidate as the winner of an election before the sections become applicable. I agree entirely with learned senior counsel for the 1st respondent that to hold otherwise would lead to a situation where anyone could declare himself as the deemed winner of an election, which would certainly lead to anarchy. The electorate is also entitled to have the results of the election formally declared by an unbiased umpire.


This brings me to the next consideration, which is, whether the appellant and the late Prince Audu met the requirements of Section 179(2) of the Constitution. The lower court found, and I entirely agree that there was no declaration or return of any of the candidates who participated in the election of 21/11/2015 as winners having regard to the declaration of INEC that the election was inconclusive.


That declaration was made based on the provisions of Chapter 3 paragraph 3.11, step 14 of INEC’s Manual for Election Officials. The argument of learned senior counsel for the appellant is that the provisions of the Manual cannot be employed to amend or augment the provisions of the Constitution. It is not disputed that pursuant to Section 160(1) of the Constitution, INEC has the constitutional power to regulate its own procedure or confer powers and impose duties on its Officers for the purpose of discharging its functions. Sections 73 and 153 of the Electoral Act contain similar provisions to ensure the proper discharge of its functions. Section 73 empowers the Commission to publish in the Gazette, guidelines for elections "which shall make provisions for the step by step recording of the poll in the electoral forms as may be prescribed.... "while Section 153 empowers the Commission to issue regulations, guidelines or manuals for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Electoral Act and for its administration. I agree with the finding of the lower court at page 1608 of the record that the above provisions give statutory backing to the Manual as a subsidiary legislation and that where it is found to be relevant, its provisions must be invoked, applied and enforced.

The relevance of INEC's Manual for Electoral Officers in the proper conduct of elections was acknowledged by this Court in the case of C.P.C Vs INEC (2011) LPELR – 8257 (SC) AT PAGES 54 – 55 F – B per Adekeye, JSC thus:

"By force of law the Independent National Electoral Commission has the duty of conducting elections. Besides the constitutional provisions, it is guided by the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the Election Guidelines and Manual issued for its officials in accordance with the Act. These documents embody all steps to comply with in the conduct of a free, fair and hitch free election."

(Emphasis mine)

Having discovered electoral malpractices in 91 polling units in the State, it was proper for the 1st respondent to consult and apply the provisions of its Manual to determine the next course of action in the circumstances. I do not agree with Chief Olanipekun, SAN, with due respect that resort to its manual in the circumstances amounted to a flagrant disregard of the supremacy of the constitutional provisions as contained in Section 179(2).

Chapter 3 paragraph 3.11, step 14 of the Manual for Election Officials (updated version) at page 325 of Volume 1 of the record provides:

3.11: Final Collation and Declaration of Governorship Election Results at State Level:

The State Collation/Returning Officer for the Governorship shall:

Step 14: "Where the margin of win between the two leading candidates is not in excess of the total number of registered voters of the polling unit(s) where elections were cancelled or not held, decline to make a return until another poll has taken place in the affected polling unit(s) and the results incorporated into a new Form EC8D and subsequently recorded into a new form EC8E for Declaration and Return." (Emphasis mine)


The provision is clear and straight forward and did not require a foray into any other provisions in the Manual for it to be effected. There is no dispute as to the fact that the margin between the votes scored by the late Prince Audu and the appellant on the one hand and Capt. Wada and Arch. Awoniyi, on the other was 41,619, which was less than the total number of registered voters in the 91 polling units where votes were cancelled.

I therefore agree with the court below that the 1st respondent was correct to have declared the election inconclusive on the basis of the number of registered voters in the 91 affected polling units. Having regard to the clear provisions of the Election Manual, it would have been wrong for any electoral official to base his decision on any other consideration, such as the number of registered voters who had collected their PVCs,or the geographical spread of the votes already cast.


Clear and unambiguous provisions must be given their natural and ordinary meaning. Neither the court nor learned counsel is entitled to read into a provision what it does not contain.


https://nigerialii.org/ng/judgment/supreme-court/2016/84
Sifia Pain.


1. It was wrong for RO to cancel polling unit result.

2. It was wrong to manipulate for ec8 with consent of parties involves



You did not see those one abi.

Sorry ghennnn

Sifia pain
Politics › Re: Tribunal Declares Ademola Adeleke Winner Of 2018 Osun Election by engineerboat(op): 3:36pm On Mar 22, 2019
lalsticlala we know some people are not happy about this,

but with fareness to justice, this should get to the destination ground, as the other one get there to give latest information about the tribunal
Politics › Re: Tribunal Declares Ademola Adeleke Winner Of 2018 Osun Election by engineerboat(op): 3:35pm On Mar 22, 2019
Johnnyessence this call for celebration.


Osun ire oooooooooo
Politics › Tribunal Declares Ademola Adeleke Winner Of 2018 Osun Election by engineerboat(op): 3:22pm On Mar 22, 2019
The Osun State Governorship Election Pet‎ition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has declared as winner Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate in the last year’s governorship election in the state, Ademola Adeleke.

It held that the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Gboyega Oyetola was not validly returned.
https://punchng.com/breaking-tribunal-declares-pdps-adeleke-winner-of-osun-election/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Politics › Re: Osun Election Tribunal’s Judgment: Live Update by engineerboat(m): 3:22pm On Mar 22, 2019
#OsunTribunal has declared PDP Adeleke winner of the Osun election
Politics › Re: Osun Election Tribunal’s Judgment: Live Update by engineerboat(m): 3:13pm On Mar 22, 2019
Participation of PDP in the rerun is legal and the challenge of the entire election by PDP is lawful. - Osun Election Petition Tribunal
Politics › Re: Osun Election Tribunal’s Judgment: Live Update by engineerboat(m): 3:11pm On Mar 22, 2019
Cancellation of 7 units is unlawful...rerun election cannot stand.It is a product of illegality -Tribunal Judge
Politics › Re: Osun Election Tribunal’s Judgment: Live Update by engineerboat(m): 3:06pm On Mar 22, 2019
#OsunTribunal declares Sept. 27, 2018 supplementary election in Osun as illegal.
Politics › Re: Osun Election Tribunal’s Judgment: Live Update by engineerboat(m): 2:57pm On Mar 22, 2019
#OsunTribunal says PDP/Adeleke proved that it was the state Returning Officer who cancelled the results in 7 PUs. It says the petitioners also proved that the Returning Officer has no power to cancel election results of a polling unit.
Politics › Re: Osun Election Tribunal’s Judgment: Live Update by engineerboat(m): 2:40pm On Mar 22, 2019
#OsunTribunal to deduct 2,029 votes from Apc scores and 1,246 votes from PDP votes in 17 polling units where there was non compliance
Politics › Re: Osun Election Tribunal’s Judgment: Live Update by engineerboat(m): 1:42pm On Mar 22, 2019
#OsunTribunal rejects INEC's explanation that the alterations were corrections on Forms EC8A correction of genuine mistakes.
Politics › Re: Osun Election Tribunal’s Judgment: Live Update by engineerboat(m): 12:02pm On Mar 22, 2019
TheTrueSeeker:
Who's the 3rd Respondent in the case?
INEC
Politics › Re: Breaking News: CCB Offers Onnoghen Their Remaining 3 Witness by engineerboat(op): 7:15am On Mar 22, 2019
JoanHicks:
Especially the BBQ dude, he was crying the thing for head
History will not forget them of spreading lies and fake rumour
Politics › Re: Breaking News: CCB Offers Onnoghen Their Remaining 3 Witness by engineerboat(op): 7:10am On Mar 22, 2019
BMC LIARS sons and daughters you are all disappointed at the turns of event against your lying


Madridguy
Buhariguy
Sarrki
Mannabique
Clirkmarin
seunmsg
Politics › Breaking News: CCB Offers Onnoghen Their Remaining 3 Witness by engineerboat(op): 7:07am On Mar 22, 2019
Moment after CCB 3 witnesses speaks in support of Onnoghen Case.

The CCB decides to stop calling the remaining 3 witnesses and decided to offer their remaining 3 witnesses to Onnoghen in which His counsel rejects this Greek offer.

More details

Politics › Re: ' Lies & Campaign Of Calumny Against CJN Exposed by engineerboat(m): 7:03am On Mar 22, 2019
Johnnyessence:
seun and other moderators should ban
I think Lalasticlala and Seun should

Why will someone go about brandishing bogus money that is fake
Politics › Re: ' Lies & Campaign Of Calumny Against CJN Exposed by engineerboat(m): 7:01am On Mar 22, 2019
[quote author= post=76866322]Thanks for the heads up man.
They will hear from us ASAP!! cheesy

E be like say as Buhari be our Baba, na d CJN be dis one wey carry our name open thread Father-in-law! cheesy grin[/quote]History will remind you of Been a liar
Politics › Re: Onnoghen Vs FG: Dr. Joe Abah Reacts by engineerboat(m): 6:57am On Mar 22, 2019
[quote author= post=74754136]CCT is not trying him for professional negligence but for criminal acts.
Gone are the days of cabals. If you do the crime do the time.
This is the big change we voted for.
CJN Salary/Annum = N9,012,000 CJN savings in Foreign Accounts alone = N250,500,000. Does he trade in Judgements?

For the wailing wailers, If the opposition had been the one to level this allegations against the CJN and Buhari failed to do anything, you guys would still cite his failure to act this close to elections, because the CJN is an ally he wants to use at Tribunals..
Wailers will ALWAYS wail, it's in their DNA.....N.B[/quote]Zombies history will not forget you for your lies you peddled on this man
Politics › INEC Timeline For Conclusion Of Rivers Election by engineerboat(op): 8:43pm On Mar 21, 2019
INEC timeline for Conclusion of rivers Election

Politics › Re: FG Closes Case Against Onnoghen After 3 Witnesses by engineerboat(m): 8:28pm On Mar 21, 2019
Earlystar698:
if this hit front page, someone should call me to comment
Oya come and comment
Politics › FG Closes Case Against Onnoghen by engineerboat(op): 6:27pm On Mar 21, 2019
…Suspended CJN to file no-case submission

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The Federal Government on Thursday closed its case of false and non-declaration of charges preferred against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.



Although, the prosecution led by Mr. Aliyu Umar (SAN) had proposed to call six witnesses to prove its case against the defendant, it closed its case after calling three of them.

Umar announced his decision to close the prosecution’s case after the third witness, Ifeoma Okeagbue, an official of Standard Chartered Bank, concluded her testimony on Thursday.

The prosecuting counsel said he had chosen to offer to the defence team the rest of his proposed witnesses, three of them, who were not called by the prosecution.

But the lead defence counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), rejected the offer.

He then sought the permission of the three-man bench led by its Chairman, Danladi Umar, to consult with the defendant who was seated in the dock.

After a brief interaction with the suspended CJN, Awomolo announced that Onnoghen had opted to file a no-case submission, implying that the defence will contend that the prosecution has failed to make a case against the defendant and there will not be any need for the suspended CJN to enter his defence.

https://punchng.com/fg-closes-case-against-onnoghen/
Politics › CCB Hasn’t Verified Onnoghen’s Assets Declaration Forms Submitted Since 2016, Sa by engineerboat(op): 6:07pm On Mar 21, 2019
CCB hasn’t verified Onnoghen’s assets declaration forms submitted since 2016, says ex-official

A prosecution witness, Mr. Awal Yakassai, on Thursday, admitted before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, that the two assets declaration forms submitted over two years ago by the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, have not been verified by the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Testifying as the second prosecution witness in Onnoghen’s ongoing trial on charges of false and non-declaration of assets, Yakassai a former CCB official, said the suspended CJN submitted two assets declaration forms on December 14, 2016.

‎The two CCB 1 Forms meant to cover for Onnoghen’s declarations for years 2014 and 2015, are the basis for the six counts of false, non-declaration of assets of which the suspended CJN is being prosecuted.

However, under cross-examination by Onnoghen’s lead defence lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the witness, when shown the two forms, admitted that the columns for verification of the contents of the forms remained blank and unsigned.


https://punchng.com/ex-official-admits-ccb-hasnt-verified-onnoghens-assets-declaration-forms-submitted-in-2016/
Politics › Re: Atiku, PDP File 5-Ground Petition, Resuscitate Certificate Scam Against Buhari by engineerboat(m): 9:11pm On Mar 19, 2019
sageer1706:
PDP are just confused, so is now certificate issue, no more "our mandate was stolen", they will soon sue PMB for travelling abroad for treatment
Eyes is for reading


Brain is for understanding

Use the two very reasonably
Politics › Re: Osun Governorship Election Tribunal Judgement Is On Friday, 22nd March by engineerboat(op): 8:58pm On Mar 19, 2019
AbaLion:
engineer boat, you and your party will lose all the way to the supreme court.



-Lion
Ta lo gunyan fun e to ni tobe o soro
Politics › Supplementary Election: Dino Melaye To Lead International Human Rights Observers by engineerboat(op): 8:48pm On Mar 19, 2019
Supplementary election: Dino Melaye to lead international human rights observers


- International Human Rights Commission has nominated Senator Dino to lead a delegation of observers

- This was disclosed by Ambassador Friday Sani, the commission’s diplomatic head to Nigeria and African Countries

- The observers would observe the supplementary elections in Rivers and Kano states

Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi west at the national assembly has been nominated by Nigerian central office of the International Human Rights Commission to lead a delegation of observers in the scheduled governorship and state assembly supplementary election on March 23.

Leadership reports that this was disclosed in a letter signed by Ambassador Friday Sani,the commission’s diplomatic head to Nigeria and African Countries.

READ ALSO: Nigeria’s 2019 election is bad news for democracy - Ex-US ambassador

According to the statement, the observers would observe elections in Rivers and Kano states.

“On behalf of the world secretary general of the International Human Rights Commission, Sir Rafal Marcin Wasik, you have been nominated as the leader of the Commission’s delegation to observe the upcoming scheduled supplementary polls especially in Rivers and Kano states,” it said.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused President Muhammadu Buhari of rigging the Saturday, February 23 presidential election.

The party said President Buhari's statement that he would not intervene on behalf of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the supplementary election scheduled in states where the gubernatorial elections were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was an affirmation that he rigged the presidential election.

It would be recalled that the presidency rejected criticism from members of the ruling APC who frowned at his failure to intervene in favour of the party in states where gubernatorial elections were declared inconclusive.



https://www.legit.ng/1228408-supplementary-election-dino-melaye-lead-international-human-rights-observers.html
Politics › Osun Governorship Election Tribunal Judgement Is On Friday, 22nd March by engineerboat(op): 6:15pm On Mar 19, 2019
The Trubunal Judgment in the Osun State Governorship Election is schedulled for Friday March 22, 2019.


Stay tune for more updates

Politics › Onnoghen’s Trial: FG Filed Charges Before We Concluded Investigation – CCB Offic by engineerboat(op): 8:08pm On Mar 18, 2019
Onnoghen’s trial: FG filed charges before we concluded investigation – CCB official

…my asset declaration forms tampered with, Onnoghen cries out
…FG tenders evidence, as CCT adjourns hearing till Thursday

ABUJA – A senior investigative officer at the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr. James Akpala, on Monday, admitted that the charge against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, was filed before his team concluded investigation on the allegation that he falsely declared his assets.


Justice Walter Onnoghen and Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, Mr. Danladi Umar

Mr. Akpala, who is the star prosecution witness, PW-1, testified before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, where the embattled CJN is answering to a six-count charge that was preferred against him by the Federal Government.
Aside allegation that he failed to declare his assets as prescribed by the law, FG had in the charge marked CCT/ABJ/01/19, FG, alleged that Onnoghen operated five foreign bank accounts, contrary to section 15(2) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

FG had insisted that it was the CCB that okayed Onnoghen’s trial based on certain infractions that were discovered in his asset declaration forms.

The Mr. Dalandi Umar-led tribunal had in a bench ruling on March 11, granted FG the nod to call witnesses and tender evidence against the defendant who was suspended from office by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25.

At the resumed proceeding on Monday, the prosecution, presented Mr. Akpala as its first witness.

Led in evidence by FG’s lawyer, Mr. Aliyu Umar, SAN, the PW-1, told the tribunal that he was a member of a three-man team of investigators that uncovered alleged infractions in asset declaration forms the defendant submitted before the CCB.

The witness, tendered in evidence, six sets of documents that included a copy of the petition he said led to Onnoghen’s trial, as well as his bank account details.

Onnoghen remains CJN, says CJN Muhammad


FG equally tendered through him, two asset declaration forms the suspended CJN submitted in 2014 and 2015.

The petition dated January 7, 2019, which was sent to the CCB by a civil society group under the aegis of Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative, was admitted in evidence as Exhibit 1.

Meanwhile, before the asset declaration forms were admitted, Onnoghen, through his lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, alleged that it was tampered with.

Onnoghen insisted that the Form 001 he filled in 2014 and 2015, were no longer the way he submitted it to the CCB.

He queried why the hitherto bound documents appeared “in loose form” before the tribunal, alleging that it was tampered with, with some of the pages missing.

Awomolo said he would raise his client’s objection to the admissibility of the documents, in his final written address.

“We have some reservation on the documents, we will not object in the interest of justice but we have reservations that would be addressed at the end of the day”, he added.

Code of Conduct Tribunal: Examining its place in the Nigerian Judicial hierarchy


In his Evidence-In-Chief, the witness, told the tribunal that the petition was handed to his team for investigation by his superior at the CCB, Mr. Samuel Madojemu, on January 9.

“The petition was authored by Chief Dennis Aghanya of the Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative, alleging breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers, including non-declaration of assets and false declaration of assets, against the Hon. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“Thereafter, the team wrote to the Federal Political Officers Unit (of the Bureau), Asokoro, requesting the defendant’s asset declarations received from 2000 to 2009.

“The department responded. The two asset declaration forms were examined and filed in the case file”, the witness stated.

Under cross-examination, the witness, told the tribunal that he was not aware that the CCB had a central register where asset declaration forms submitted to it by public officers are kept.

He said he also had no idea of the number of asset declaration forms the Bureau issued from 1993 to 2019.

The PW-1 maintained that the constitution mandated every public officer to go to the nearest office of the CCB to declare their assets.

Responding to further questions, the witness said: “I have never worked in the department where asset declaration forms are issued to public officers.

“I have never worked in the department where the forms are verified”.

He said the petition was delivered to the CCB on January 9 and forwarded to his team on January 10.

“We requested for records of his accounts from the bank on January 11”.

Asked by if he would be surprised to know that the charge against Onnoghen was filed on January 10, including the list of witnesses, the PW-1 said: “I cannot answer that question”.

When he was shown a copy of the charge and the day it was filed, the witness said: “As at January 10, we had not taken the statement of the defendant. We concluded our assignment on January 11”.

Onnoghen: Mass action can’t change course of justice — Lai Mohammed



At that juncture, Onnoghen’s lawyer asked him: “So Mr. Akpala, will I be correct to say that within 24 hours that the petition was received, investigation was concluded and an order secured from the tribunal to prefer charges against the defendant?”.

The witness replied: “Yes that is correct. We requested for documents and they were forwarded to us, which we examined. Based on examination we conducted on the documents, the charge was filed”.

Onnoghen’s lawyer then asked him: “When you obtained statement of the defendant at the Supreme Court, around 1pm on January 11, you did not tell him that a six-count charge had already been filed against him?”.

The witness said: “My Lord, I am an investigator, I do not work in the legal department.

“At the time the defendant recorded his statement around 12:30pm, the team had no idea that the charge had been filed.

“At about 2pm when we got to the office, we had not written our report then.

“We finished our report at about quarter to 3pm. The report was addressed to the Deputy Director Intelligence, Investigation and Monitoring”.

Asked if he would be surprised to know that as at that 3pm when the team submitted its report, FG had already secured leave of the tribunal and preferred charges against Onnoghen, the witness said: “My lord I cannot answer this question.

“All I know is that we filed our report after we obtained statement of the defendant. We were not aware that the charge was already filed”.

He told the tribunal that his team did not at any stage, involved the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the investigation.

Asked if he would also be surprised that some of the bank documents FG tendered in evidence against the CJN, was actually addressed to the EFCC, the witness said. ” My lord I cannot answer”.

Earlier in his testimony, the PW-1 told the tribunal that the defendant submitted the first asset declaration form as Justice of the Supreme Court from June 8, 2005 to November 22, 2014.

He said two Union Bank accounts were declared in the form.

According to him, the form was received and acknowledged by the CCB on December 14, 2016.

He said the second asset declaration form was when Onnoghen was appointed as the CJN.

In the form, he said the defendant declared five Standard Chartered Bank accounts and two Union Bank accounts.

He said the defendant also submitted the form to the CCB on the same December 14, 2016.

He added that after the team’s work, an investigation report was filed.

Narrating how the investigation was conducted, the PW-1 said: “After the routine investigation process, the team wrote to the Department of Federal Political Office under the CCB requesting for the defendant’s asset declaration records from 2000-2019.

“The two assets declaration forms that the team received were examined and filed in the case file.

“Other members on the team include Abu Simon Isaac, Deputy Director and Samuel Madujemu, Assistant Director all of Intelligence, Investigation and Monitoring.

“The petitioner was invited to make a statement and his statement was filed in the case file.

“On January 11, having examined the defendant’s asset declaration forms, the receiving officer, Auwal Usman Yakasai was invited and the schedule officer, Ikpeme Etim Amba was equally invited and their statements recorded.

“The team proceeded to Standard Chartered Bank requesting for the defendant’s account statement with the bank, account opening documents and certificate of identification. The bank responded.

“During examination, the team realised that the account opening package was incomplete and the account officer, Ifeoma Okagbue, was notified.

“She now came on March 6 with the complete account opening document and her statement was recorded.

“On January 11, at about 12noon, the team visited the defendant at his office at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja. We met his secretary, Jane Esu Edu, who led us to him.

“He read through the petition and gave an oral explanation to the team concerning the allegations contained in the petition.

“My superior, Madujemu, asked him if he was willing to record his oral explanation in writing or the team should go and come back some other time. The defendant said he was willing to record his oral statement.

“He brought out a plain paper but the team informed him that CCB has a cautionary form for statements and he was informed that he needs a witness to observe the writing of the statement who could be a lawyer or a reputable person.

“The defendant called his secretary, Jane Esu Edu, to witness the statement. She sat beside the defendant and the defendant recorded his statement in his own handwriting.

“Intermittently, he went to his inner chamber to seek audience with his visitors. After some time, he came back, continued and ended the statement. The defendant signed the statement and leader of our team, Mr. Madujemu and myself counter-signed”, the witness added.

Meantime, shortly after the witness was discharged, FG’s lawyer requested for an adjournment, even as he applied for a subpoena to be issued against officials of Standard Chartered Bank for them to appear and testify before the tribunal.

The CJN equally notified the tribunal that he was scheduled to appear before the National Judicial Council, NJC, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Before the matter was adjourned till Thursday, the tribunal Chairman, Mr. Umar, said his panel would no longer accept any medical report from a private hospital.

“Henceforth, if the defendant gets sick or not able to attend his trial on health ground, the medical report must come from government hospital and not from a public hospital, we cannot accept that any more”, Mr. Umar held.

It will be recalled that the CJN had on March 12 when full-blown hearing was originally scheduled to commence in the matter, failed to appear before the CCT over a claim that he suffered toothache and high blood pressure.

His lawyer tendered a medical report that indicated that he was mandated by his Doctor to observe a 72-hour bed rest by his doctor.

However, on the same day, the suspended CJN, lodged an appeal to challenge the decision of the tribunal to proceed with the trial despite a motion he filed to challenge its jurisdiction to entertain the charge against him.

In his three grounds of appeal, Justice Onnoghen maintained that the CCT panel erred in law in its interpretation of section 396(2) of the ACJA, with respect to his application challenging the constitutional jurisdiction and competence of the proceeding before it, “when they deferred ruling on the application to the conclusion of trial when the issue of jurisdiction is a threshold issue which ought and must be determined immediately”.

According to him, “The Chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal erred in law In the interpretation of Section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 1015 when they ruled that the ruling on the applicant’s application challenging the constitutional jurisdiction of the tribunal and the application asking the tribunal’s chairman to rescue himself on grounds that he had demonstrated acts which showed bias and partiality in the proceedings against the appellant, shall be determined along with the final judgment on the merit of the entire case and thereby denied the appellant his right to fair hearing under section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended”.

Specifically, Onnoghen had in his objection, queried the validity of the six-count charge against him, contending that FG failed to respect established judicial precedents by not allowing the NJC to firstly investigate the allegation against him, before it rushed the matter to the CCT.

He argued that failure to channel the petition against him, as well as the outcome of the investigation that was purportedly conducted on assets declaration forms he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, to the NJC, rendered the charge invalid.

He urged the CCT to abide by a subsisting Court of Appeal decision in Nganjiwa v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2017) LPELR-43391, to the effect that any misconduct attached to the office and functions of a judicial officer, must first be reported to and handled by the NJC, pursuant to the provisions of the laws.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/onnoghens-trial-fg-filed-charges-before-we-concluded-investigation-ccb-official

Politics › Re: Declare Emmanuel Jime Winner Of Benue Governorship Election - Observers To NEC by engineerboat(m): 11:16am On Mar 18, 2019
senatordave1:
You are correct.how can jime suddenly start losing in all the tiv areas buhari won? So buhari is now more popular than jime
How can Ganduje start losing in Kano where Buhari won landslide

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