₦airaland Forum

The Kebbi State Police Command has intercepted two articulated vehicles conveying 7,500 live cartridges and parcels of Indian hemp worth over N600 million.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one of the trucks was coming from Ghana through Togo and Benin Republic to Nigeria, while the second vehicle took off from Benin Republic to Nigeria, beating different security checkpoints.

Briefing journalists on the development, the spokesperson of the command, SP Nafi’u Abubakar, described the arrest as “huge.”

He said that on September 10 at 7:30 pm, a police border patrol team on Saransa-Maje Road, Bagudo Local Government Area, intercepted a container truck with Lagos registration number IT 21520 LA, conveying 4,927 parcels suspected of being Indian hemp, valued at over N300 million.





Abubakar said three suspects, Emmanuel Chukwuma from Abia State, Kanta Bisa from Ghana, and Shola Adeyemi from Ondo State, were arrested while others escaped.

Two days later, on September 12, at about 9:30 pm, the same border patrol team intercepted another container truck with registration number IT 21608 LA, conveying 7,500 live cartridges and 4,106 parcels of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

“The substance is valued at over N300 million, and one AbdurRasaq Agbola of Iyana Ajiya area in Ibadan, Oyo State, was arrested,” the Kebbi Police spokesman added.

The Rivers State Police Command has officially released the picture of the suspected leader of the cult gang that murdered the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ahoada Police Divisions in the state, Gift David Okpara, popularly known as 2-Baba, following his declaration as a wanted person.

The image was publicized by the Command’s Public Relations officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, as directed by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Akali Baba, and the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who also declared Okpara and members of his gang wanted.

In the photograph publicized by the police, the suspect is being charged with conspiracy, cultism and the murder of SP Bako Angbashim.

The police are requesting that members of the public who have information about the whereabouts of Okpara and members of his gang, should report to the State Criminal Investigation Department for the rewards as promised to the Governor of the state.

Governor Fubara had placed a N100m bounty on Okpara and his gang.

SP Angbashim was killed by suspected cultists terrorizing Ahoada East and West in Rivers State last week Friday, in Odiemude community, Ahoada East Local Government Area.

His body was dismembered by the suspects.

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Emmanuel Ajibola Obakin for allegedly stealing N251,685,000 belonging to a firm, Lee Fakino Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC made these declarations via a statement issued on Tuesday.

Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, in the statement made available to .ng, noted that the commission on Tuesday arraigned the suspect before Justice Ladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court.

He added that the commission dragged the suspect to the court on a four-count charge bordering on alleged stealing.

It maintained that the suspect, one of the two directors of the company and a signatory to the company’s account, committed the alleged offence in December last year.

The commission, while speaking further, revealed that the suspect allegedly withdrew the money without authorization and consent of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akindele Fajemiyo.

The prosecution counsel, Oyelakin Oyediran, asked the court for a trial date.

It also prayed the court to remand the defendant in the correctional facility pending the determination of the case.

But, counsel to the defendant, Ibrahim Lawal, in his remarks, urged the court to admit his client to bail.

Akintola, after listening to the two parties, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50 million and two sureties, preferably the wife and younger brother to the defendant, in like sum.

The judge then ordered that the defendant provide the court with his National Identification Slip and residential addresses.

He, however, adjourned the matter till 23rd October, 2023 for further hearing.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, said that the FCT Administration would give due attention to the development of satellite towns.

Wike stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the inauguration of Mandate Secretaries for the FCT Administration.

He said that the prosperity and well-being of the residents extend beyond the city centre, stressing the need to ensure that all areas of the FCT experience progress and development.

The Mandate Secretaries inaugurated are Mr Bitrus Garki, Secretary of the Area Council Services Secretariat; Mr Lawan Geidam, Secretary, the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat; and Mr Danlami Ihayyo, Secretary of the Education Secretariat.

Others are Adedolapo Fasawe, Secretary of Health and Environment Services Secretariat, Mr Salman Dako, Secretary of Legal Services Secretariat; Mr Chinedum Elechi, Secretary of Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnership.

Mr Uboku Nyah was also inaugurated as Secretary of the Transportation Secretariat.

Wike stressed the need for them to address issues affecting the delivery of services in FCT Administration, particularly the procurement process.

He said, “Transparency, efficiency, and accountability must become the cornerstones of our administration.

“As mandated secretaries, your role in this journey of transformation is pivotal. You are not only advisors but also leaders and implementers of our policies.

“You have a duty to translate our vision into tangible actions that will shape the future of the FCT.

“Our President has entrusted us with the monumental task of rebuilding and developing the FCT into a world-class city.

“To achieve this, we must address several key areas that are essential for the progress of our city and the well-being of our residents.

He added that part of the mission includes the enhancement of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), through innovative ways to raise the needed funds to support the development agenda.

This, according to him, is crucial to financing ambitious projects and initiatives.

The minister identified public transportation as a major challenge that must be addressed comprehensively.

According to him, no modern city can function effectively and efficiently without a reliable and comprehensive public transportation system.

A yet-to-be-identified woman collapsed and died in the early hours of Monday, at Mile 2 area of Lagos State.

Eyewitnesses explained that the woman was walking across the bridge when she suddenly collapsed and passed away.

A commercial motorcycle rider said: “She was about to get on a motorcycle when she suddenly collapsed. Initially, I thought it was a simple fall, but it became evident that something was terribly wrong when she stopped breathing.”

At the time of filing this report, the identity of the deceased woman remained unknown, Vanguard reports.

Lagos State authorities are working to identify the deceased and investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested six suspects in connection to the killing of the late Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ahoada Police Division, SP Bako Angbashim.

The command made the arrest during an operation at Odumude community, Ahoada East Local Government Area, with the objective of recovering the body of the deceased DPO.

According to .ng, the operation was led by the state Commissioner of Police, Nwonyi Emeka, where a locally crafted pistol and various charms were recovered.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement, said the suspects and the confiscated items are currently in police custody.

She also added that the suspects are undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Port Harcourt.

Iringe-Koko said as a result of the development, residents of Odumude community have fled the area.

A new DPO, SP Zuokumor Richard, has been assigned to the Ahoada division, she added.

The statement revealed that the new Ahoada DPO was accompanied by half a unit of men from Mopol 48, one-third unit from Mopol 19, 56, and tactical teams.

It noted that SP Richard had been tasked with a thorough search of the area, apprehension of the culprits responsible for the DPO’s demise, recovery of his body, and location of any operational weapons used.

Drama ensued at the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigative hearing on Thursday as a construction company, DC Engineering Limited accused officials of the Federal Ministry of Works of inflating a road contract from N9.8 billion to N54.3 billion.

Construction and rehabilitation of 41-kilometre Ijebu-Igbo Ita Ibadan Road has been halted for over five years after its award of contract and became a source of deep concern leading to the setting up of an Ad-hoc Committee by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

The Executive Director of DC Engineering Ltd, Engr. Ade Adedeji who was summoned for appearance by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, revealed in full glare of the public that the contract was supposed to be completed within two years but it took the Federal Ministry of Works five years (2018 to 2023) before it was able to pay 15 percent mobilisation fund of N1.3 billion.

Armed with documents, including the letter of the award of contract, Engr. Adedeji alleged that having been inflated, it became a challenge for the Federal Government to fund the project.

“The slow pace of work was due to lack of release of funds,” he said.

According to him, the 15 percent mobilisation fee was paid in several instalments until about a few weeks ago when the last instalment of the 15 percent was paid.

Adedeji said his company had approached the Ministry of Works to review the contract sum from N9.8 billion to at least N14 billion due to the high cost of materials, but the ministry of works refused.

He said they were surprised to notice that the same ministry that refused to review the contract upward to at least N14 billion, re-awarded the same contract to AREATECH Construction Ltd at the sum of N54.3 billion without the termination of their contract.

The Director of Highways South, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Adedamola Kuti, who represented the ministry before the committee, said the ministry had terminated the contract of DC Engineering since September 2022.

He was, however, silent on why they refused to review the contract sum upward to at least N14 billion as requested by the DC Engineering but went ahead to re-award the same contract to another company, AREATECH Construction Ltd at the sum of N54 billion.

When asked to provide the details – letter of termination of contract with DC Engineering Ltd, certificate of no objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to AREATECH Construction Ltd and Federal Executive Council’s approval letter, he promised the probe panel that he will go and come back.

In the submission of the Solicitor, Tolu Babaleye & Co on behalf of the DC Engineering Ltd, the company alleged that the activities of Hon. Tolulope Akande Sadipe, a member representing Oluyole Federal Constituency of Oyo State, has been frustrating the efforts of his client to execute the project.

“Our Client is also very much aware of the activities of Hon. Tolulope Akande Sadipe, a member representing Oluyole Federal Constituency whom our client informed us has turned to a torn in its flesh and who has been promoting AREATECH Construction Ltd as contractor to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for the contract to be re-awarded to the said company for a reason best known to her.

“This vexed issue is known to everyone in the ministry, especially two particular directors working hand in hand with them and all attempts have been made to re-award the contract for the sum of 54.3 billion Naira from the initial contract of 9.8 billion Naira to AREATECH Construction Ltd whom we understand had signed an agreement with the ministry and had submitted advance payment guarantee from its bank.

“This is a big distraction to our client. Please note that our client wrote for an upward review of this contract sum to an amount far below 54.3 billion Naira but the request was ignored and yet some people in the ministry wanted to re-award the job to someone else for 54.3 billion Naira all in a desperate attempt to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the Solicitor to DC Engineering Ltd said in a statement submitted to the ad hoc committee.

Responding to the allegation of Hon. Sadipe’s involvement in the contract, the Director of Highways South, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Adedamola Kuti denied having any deal with Sadipe.

However, he admitted sending her a congratulatory message after she emerged victorious in the last general election.

Sadipe also denied having any relationship with the contractor, AREATECH Construction Ltd, threatening lawsuit over the allegations against her.

The Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, Hon. Kwamot Bitrus Laori said the committee is not witch-hunting anyone but to ensure they get to know the cause of failure of the road project and the way forward.

He allayed the fear of the DC Engineering Ltd, that the company will not get justice from the probe panel since Sadipe is also a member of the parliament and a mover of the motion resulting in the setting up of the ad hoc committee.

Laori said though the committee was set up at the instance of Sadipe’s motion, she is not a member of the committee and she has been excluded from all the committee’s activities except her invitation to respond to the allegations against her.

On Engr. Adedamola Kuti’s position that the contract of DC Engineering Ltd with the Federal Ministry of Works has been terminated in September 2022 and that the company is owing the ministry, the committee was thrown into a confusion when the Executive Director of DC Engineering Ltd, Engr. Ade Adedeji said the ministry had just paid some amount of money to them about two weeks ago as part of the 15 percent mobilisation fee.

When Laori asked the host communities of the said project to clarify which company is now handling the project or whether no contractor is on site, the Chairman of Olojuoro Road Joint Communities Forum, Oluyole LG, Oyo State said, “We are not aware of any contractor on the site apart from DC Engineering Ltd. Their equipment as at July, 2023 were on the site doing ‘palliative work’.

“I called it palliative work because it is only the critical aspect of the job we wanted them to do; there is no fund according to them to do everything.”

Our correspondent learnt that the present Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi in a recent meeting with the contractors and some top officials of the ministry warned against sharp practices and shady deals.

Engr. Kuti also confirmed the meeting between Umahi, contractors and top officials of the ministry but did not give any detail about it.

The representative of the Public Complaints Commission, Hon. Asuwaju Folawuyo Bello, (Commissioner, Oyo State) blamed the mess of the Nigerian Roads on the activities of the ministry of works officials.

Bello, who said they have received several complaints over the said project, expressed dismay on how a project that is supposed to be completed within 24 months (two years) will take the Federal Ministry of Works five years to pay only 15 percent of the contract sum.

The ad hoc committee chairman, Laori directed the Federal Ministry of Works and all other relevant parties to submit the required documents to the committee’s secretariat before or on Monday 11 September, 2023.

The committee then adjourned sine die.

The police in Ogun State have arrested two men said to be suspected members of the Eiye confraternity.

The arrest of the suspects followed an operation led by the DPO of Agbado division, CSP Adekunle Awoniyi, on September 4.

The DPO had led the operation, in response to a tip-off about cult related activities in the Fadahunsi area of Ogun State.

Omolola Odutola, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun, told newsmen in a statement that the prompt response of the police had “quelled the disturbances caused by the cultists, leading to the arrest of two individuals at the scene: Sodiq Idowu, 27 years and Yusuf Wahab, 25 years.”

Odutola disclosed that “both suspects have confessed to being members of the Eiye confraternity and have provided valuable information that will aid the police in apprehending other fleeing suspects involved in cultist activities.”

According to her, the duo had provided details about the syndicate, the location of their armourer and the whereabouts of weapons being used in their “criminal activities.”

She stated that preliminary investigations were ongoing, adding that the suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a more discreet investigation into their alleged involvement in the Eiye cult group and other related crimes.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested two suspected drug traffickers in Yobe State.

This is was disclosed in a notification of arrest and seizure made available to newsmen on Thursday by the Command’s Principal Staff Officer Media and Advocacy, Ramatu SB.

The arrested suspects include 26-year-old Gapchiya Modu who was discovered to be in possession of 80 blocks of dried weed suspected to be cannabis sativa weighing 60kg.

He was intercepted during a stop and search operation along Kano-Nguru Road.

Another suspect according to .ng, Suleiman Mohammed, 37, was also arrested for being in possession of cannabis sativa weghing 5.0kg.

“On the 5th of September, 2023, a team of strike force officers of NDLEA Damaturu, while on stop and search operation intercepted one Suleiman Mohammed, 37 years old “M” for being in possession of 5 Blocks of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa weghing 5.0kg,” the notice released by the anti-narcotic agency said.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) recently charged officers and men of the agency to remain steadfast in their efforts to ensure that drug demand and supply are reduced to the barest minimum across the country.

The Police Command in FCT has arrested one Bunmi Samuel, mother of two, her boyfriend and 12 others, over alleged various crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery and burglary.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Haruna Garba, who paraded the suspects at the command headquarters on Thursday in Abuja, said the suspects were arrested at different locations in the territory.

Garba said that various assorted weapons, vehicles, laptops, phones, musical instruments, among others, were recovered from the suspects.

According to him, a 36-year-old Bunmi Samuel was arrested along with his boyfriend, who specialised in snatching GSM Phones from innocent commuters.

“After snatching phones, he removes the SIM cards and sells the phone, then hands over the SIM cards to his girlfriend, one Bunmi Samuel.

“The girlfriend, on her part, makes withdrawals of all monies from the accounts that are linked to the SIM cards.

“The police operatives have so far recovered 76 SIM cards, two Opay ATM cards and a golden wrist watch from the suspects,” he said.

He said that the police operatives, in collaboration with the vigilante, also arrested five suspects, namely, Bernard Francis, Felix Benjami, Peter Benjamin, Helen Sylvester, and Hamza Haruna, over their alleged involvement in kidnapping of a minor.

According to him, police also arrested a 26-year-old Kennedy Esezobor of Tudun Wada village, Lugbe, FCT a notorious criminal and cultist, with one fabricated single barrel gun and locally fabricated AK-47 rifle

He said the operatives of the Anti-kidnapping unit of the Command, acting on actionable intelligence, stormed Kabin Mongoro Forest and arrested one Mohammed Hamza while on his way to bandits camp bordering Nasarawa State.

“The suspect confessed to being an informant, a drug and food supplier to one Dogo,” he said.

According to him, the command, in a swift operation, impounded six vehicles between August 30 and August 31, bearing both foreign and local plate numbers or with foreign number plates at the back and a Nigerian number plate in front of the vehicle.

“The modus operandi of these drivers is that they use the vehicle to convey unsuspecting passengers, and midway to their destination, they dispose of their handsets and other valuables.

“The moment they carry out this criminal act and to avoid being traced or linked to the crime, they quickly remove the Nigeria Plate number,” he said.

He said that police also arrested a 38-year-old Mustapha Kyari, who specilaised in vandalising manholes in the city

“The police operatives, while on a routine stop and search duty at Secretariat Junction, Gwagwalada, intercepted a motorcycle with a passenger later identified as one Japheth Nuhu ‘m’ of behind Brown Berry Estate Phase 3 Gwagwalada.

“The said Japheth jumped down and took to his heels on sighting the police, but was given a hot chase.

“He was subsequently arrested, and a berretta pistol with four rounds of 9mm live ammunition was recovered from him,” he said.

According to him, it is being suspected that the suspect and his accomplice at large are behind the robbery activities in Gwagwalada and its environs.

The aggrieved presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abubakar Atiku and that of the Labour Party, Peter Obi have announced their decision to challenge the Presidential Election Tribunal’s judgments at the Supreme Court.

They made their decisions public on Wednesday shortly after the Tribunal pronounced their petitions dismissed.

In a bid to ensure quick filing of their appeals at the Apex Court, Atiku’s lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, requested the Tribunal to make a copy of the judgment available to him to enable his client to exercise his right of appeal.

He said that the former Vice President has directed that appeal against the decision be filed immediately.

Uche told newsmen that Atiku got judgment at the Tribunal but did not get justice, hence, his decision to go on appeal.

Similarly, Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, the lead counsel to Obi confirmed that his client had directed that the judgment be challenged at the Supreme Court.

He wondered why the Tribunal which ruled against live telecast of proceedings suddenly allowed live coverage of the judgment.

In response to Atiku’s request, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani assured that clean copies of the judgment would be released to them on Thursday to enable them proceed on their appeal to the Supreme Court.

The long-awaited judgement day is here. There is tension, anxiety across Nigeria.

PM NEWS reports that hours after the Presidency issued a statement, on Sunday, September 3, to disclose that President Bola Tinubu will be travelling to New Delhi, India, for the G-20 Summit, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, finally announced that it had set a date to deliver judgement in petitions filed against the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

Interestingly, the PEPT said the judgement delivery would be televised live.

Tinubu will not be in the country when the tribunal decides whether to affirm his victory, or nullify it, as requested by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, and the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, who filed separate petitions to challenge the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after the February 25 presidential poll.

It could be a coincidence that the tribunal fixed the judgement on a date the President would be away from the country but Nigerians are waiting with bated breath for the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led panel to deliver its verdict.

The 2023 presidential election was one of the most keenly contested, and fiercely disputed since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999 and the anxieties that surrounded the polls has heightened as the tribunal gets set to announce its decision today, Wednesday.

Already there is tension across the country.

On Monday, September 4, the same day the tribunal announced the date for its judgement, the Department of State Services, DSS, disclosed in a statement that it had uncovered plans by some elements in parts of the country to stage violent protests in order to discredit the Federal Government.

Although the DSS did not link the alleged plot to the tribunal’s judgement, the language of the statement was similar to an earlier one released by the agency to alert Nigerians of plans by some politicians to form an interim government after the 2023 general elections, just before former President Muhammadu Buhari handed over to Tinubu on May 29.

“Intelligence reports have indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are desperately mobilising unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic-based associations, youth, and disgruntled groups for the planned action.

“The Service has identified the ring leaders of the plot as well as sustained monitoring around them in order to deter them from plunging the country into anarchy,” the DSS said in the statement released on Monday, September 4.

Meanwhile, just before he left for India, Tinubu chaired a meeting of the National Security Council at the State House, Abuja. ⁣⁣

Details of what transpired at the meeting were not made public. But many Nigerians are insinuating that the meeting might not be unconnected with tensions surrounding the tribunal’s judgement.

President not worried about tribunal judgement – Presidency

However, with tensions rising as the clock counts down to the judgement, Tinubu’s spokesperson declared that the President is not worried about the decision of the tribunal.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, made the claim when he appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday evening.

“He’s not worried simply because he knows he won the election,” Ngelale said.

But, in a veiled reference to the controversial ‘All Eyes on the Judiciary’ billboards erected by some Nigerians ahead of the tribunal’s verdict, the presidential spokesperson added, “The President sees no need to threaten judicial officers. He sees no need to raise speculations against the integrity of judicial officers; he believes in the sanctity and integrity of the Nigerian judicial system, he believes the great men and women on the panel will make their decisions based only on the facts before them.”

According to Ngelale, “He (Tinubu) will continue to ensure that no matter what the outcome of the judgement is, he does his part and ensure that our institutions continue to be respected, not just by him, but all actors.”

However, the Labour Party immediately countered the Presidency’s assertion that Tinubu won the election.

When contacted by DAILY POST on Tuesday, September 5, spokesperson of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh expressed confidence that the judgement will go the way of the party and its presidential candidate, Obi.

“We are positive that the judgement will favour the Labour Party and our presidential candidate, Peter Obi. We are also positive that the will of the people will prevail.

“Most Nigerians have waited this long and their wishes will be granted. The mandate freely expressed on February 25 will be returned to the rightful winner of the election,” Ifoh said in a message he sent to PM NEWS on Whatsapp.

PDP spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, could not be reached for comments on Tuesday. Calls to his phone were not answered. He also did not reply to an SMS sent to him by PM NEWS.

Arguments, prayers before the tribunal

The tribunal had since August 1 reserved judgement after parties in the suit adopted their final written addresses.

According to the result declared by INEC, Tinubu of the APC polled 8,794,726 votes to win the presidential election. Atiku, of the PDP, finished second with 6,984,520 votes, while Obi, of the LP, came third with 6,101,533.

Tinubu won in 12 states, just like Atiku. But Obi won 11 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Tinubu’s eligibility to be President after failing to get up to 25 per cent of the votes cast in the FCT is one of the key issues to be determined by the tribunal in arriving at its verdict.

Atiku, Obi and the APM are asking the tribunal to nullify the result of the 2023 presidential election.

Atiku, through his lead counsel, Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had asked the tribunal to declare that Tinubu was not qualified to contest the February 25 presidential election due to a United States court ruling that ordered him to forfeit $460,000 for drug and money laundering-related offences.

The PDP candidate, in the petition marked CA/PEPC/05/2023, also asked the tribunal to nullify the election and order a fresh poll.

According to Atiku and the PDP, the INEC contravened provisions of the amended Electoral Act by failing to electronically transmit the results of the election, even after receiving over N355 billion for the conduct of the poll.

Obi, in asking the tribunal to nullify Tinubu’s victory in his petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, hinged his claims on Tinubu’s alleged drug trafficking offence in the US, as well as his inability to win 25 per cent of votes cast in the FCT.

According to Obi’s legal team, led by Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, Tinubu, due to the forfeiture of $460,000 in the US and his failure to receive 25 per cent of the votes cast in the FCT, should not have been declared President.

Obi’s lawyers also argued that the votes cast for Tinubu should be voided because his running mate, Kashim Shettima, was simultaneously nominated as APC candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District and the party’s vice presidential flagbearer, in violation of provisions of the Electoral Act.

The LP candidate equally faulted INEC’s claim that technical glitches were responsible for the inability to upload results on the INEC Result Viewing, IReV, portal.

Rather, according to Obi’s lawyers, INEC’s failure to upload the results was an act of sabotage designed to influence the outcome of the election.

Obi is asking the tribunal to cancel the election and order INEC to conduct a fresh one, or, in the alternative, declare him the President-elect, and order the electoral commission to issue him a certificate of return.

The APM, in its petition, contended that Tinubu’s candidacy was invalidated by the withdrawal of Ibrahim Masari, who was initially nominated as the vice presidential candidate of the APC, going by the provisions of sections 131(c) and 142 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

According to the APM, there was a gap of about three weeks between the period that Masari expressed intention to withdraw, the actual withdrawal of his nomination, and the time Tinubu replaced him with Shettima

Arguing that Tinubu’s candidature had elapsed at the time he nominated Shettima as Masari’s replacement, the APM urged the tribunal to declare that Shettima was not qualified to contest as the vice presidential candidate of the APC as of February 25 when the election was conducted by INEC, having violated the provisions of Section 35 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The party urged the tribunal to nullify and void all the votes scored by Tinubu in the presidential election and also set aside the Certificate of Return that was issued to him by INEC.

Tinubu and APC’s lawyers, as well as those of the Independent National Electoral Commission, are asking the tribunal to dismiss the petitions filed against the outcome of the presidential poll.

APC counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, now Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, had while adopting his final written addresses argued that Tinubu’s forfeiture of $460,000 in the US was a civil matter and should not warrant disqualification from the election.

Picking holes in another critical argument against his client’s election, Tinubu’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, had argued that the FCT counts as 37th state for electoral purposes and as such, the President’s failure to get 25 per cent of votes in the territory should not invalidate his election.

Olanipekun urged the tribunal to dismiss the petitions for lacking in merit.

INEC counsel, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, faulted the petitioners’ claims that the Commission’s failure to upload results on the INEC IReV portal affected the outcome of the election.

Insisting that the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, as amended, the INEC counsel told the tribunal that it was illogical for the petitioners to claim that a candidate must secure 25 per cent votes in the FCT to be declared winner of the presidential poll.

All eyes on the judiciary

Billboards with the inscription ‘All Eyes on the Judiciary’ sprung up in different parts of the country after the presidential election tribunal reserved judgement on August 1.

The billboards were eventually dismantled in controversial circumstances after the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) ordered their removal on August 15.

ARCON said it considered the billboards as “blackmail against the Nigerian Judiciary, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, and particularly the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal who are expected to discharge their judicial functions without fear or favour”.

However, all eyes will indeed be on the Nigerian judiciary when the tribunal delivers its verdict today, Wednesday.

Some Nigerians, who spoke to PM NEWS on Tuesday, September 5, shared their expectations on the judgement.

President, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, CRRAN, Olu Omotayo, said the tribunal’s verdict should not be based on technicalities.

Omotayo said the judgement should be based on justice, fairness and equity.

He said, “Nigerians are divided along political lines. Peoples’ expectations are largely based on their political affiliations.

“Supporters of the APC, PDP and LP are all clamouring that the judgement must be in their favour. But this is like a game of football, not all of them will carry the day. Somebody will come out victorious.

“But the judgement should be based on sound reasoning. Whatever decision they arrive at should be based on sound principles of law, not on technicalities. That is what every Nigerian should be expecting.

“Justice is not a one-way traffic. Justice must be done based on what the law says. The only advice for the judges of the tribunal is that their judgement should be based on justice, fairness and equity and on sound principles of law.”

Also speaking with PM NEWS, Secretary General of the Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Willy Ezugwu, noted that the eyes of the whole world is on the tribunal.

“The world is watching, not only Nigerians. Everybody is watching the judiciary. We are watching to see what the tribunal will come up with, with all the evidence on the ground,” Ezugwu said.

He also advised against building the judgement on technicalities.

“They don’t have to arrive at the judgement on technicalities. Every person knows – no one can say they are not judges and for that reason, they are not able to decide. That is why Nigerians are crying, they are shouting, they are pronouncing that all eyes are on the judges,” he stated.

Ahead of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Judgment scheduled to take place today (Wednesday), Nigerians, particularly supporters of opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Labour Party, LP, have been urged to eschew violence and remain calm.

PM NEWS reports that there are insinuations that the LP supporters and their counterparts in the PDP are planning to stage a protest if the judgement is made in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Recall that the presidential candidate of LP in the February election, Peter Obi and his PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar had rejected the outcome of the election over alleged irregularities, which according to them marred the poll.

Contrary to the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that President Bola Tinubu won the poll after scoring the highest votes, Obi and Atiku approached the tribunal seeking the nullification of Tinubu’s victory.

Obi and Atiku argued that Tinubu did not win a majority of lawful votes as claimed by the electoral umpire.

According to the petitioners, as at the time INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakuku, declared Tinubu as winner, collation was ongoing, since many of the presidential election results were yet to be uploaded unto the INEC’s Results Viewing (IReV) Portals.

Obi is also asking the court to nullify Tinubu’s victory on the ground that the ruling party failed to garner 25 per cent votes in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

A month after concluding hearing in the petitions, the five-member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, is set to deliver judgment.

PM NEWS reports that the event which is expected to be televised, has triggered tension across the country.

While the spokesperson to President Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale claimed that his principal is not worried about the possible verdict of the presidential election tribunal, the same may not be the reality with some Nigerians, including the petitioners.

According to the Department of State Services, DSS, some individuals are already planning to stage violent protests across the country.

However, some stakeholders have called for calm, urging Nigerians to prepare themselves to accept the judgement in good faith.

In a chat with PM NEWS on Tuesday, the Head, Media and Communications of the defunct Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Diran Onifade said there is no need to cause chaos no matter the verdict by the tribunal.

According to him, the tribunal judgement is not final, stressing that it is still subject to appeal.

He said, “We have always been appealing to our own supporters to take the judgement whichever way it comes.

“This is just a first instance in the case, there is still opportunity for appeal. We don’t know who the judgement will favour yet but we have been appealing to our supporters to give peace a chance.

“We should not go with the mindset that we can’t get justice. The judges gave us fair opportunities, they listened to us and each of us presented the evidence we have.

“While in court, we saw what the other party presented and we know we have a good case. It is now up to the judges to determine the outcome”.

Similarly, a Chieftain of the main opposition party, PDP, Mr Iorfa Mathew called on Atiku’s supporters to remain calm no matter the outcome of the petition.

In a chat with our correspondent, Iorfa urged Nigerians, especially Atiku’s supporters, to accept whatever the judgement may be.

“All we want is a country where things are working. It doesn’t matter who the judgement favours, Nigeria will not crash.

“It is the desire to see things working in the country again that made the petitioners go to court, so why would anyone think of causing chaos because of tribunal judgement?

“The tribunal’s judgement is not final. The Supreme Court will have the final judgement, so why are we so worried?

“The system has been in a bad shape for a very long time, changing it won’t come easy. So we should set aside our emotions and accept whatever the judges tell us.

“If we could be so mature when the INEC declared Tinubu winner of the poll and decided to do it in a legal way, we can still do it. Let’s be calm and embrace peace for the sake of our dear nation”, he said.

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Monday to attend the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, on the special invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to attract foreign direct investment.

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

On the sidelines of the summit, the President will participate in and deliver keynote addresses at the Nigeria-India Presidential Roundtable and the Nigeria-India Business Conference.

Leading businessmen from Nigeria and India, as well as senior government representatives from both nations, will attend the CEO roundtable.

In the statement, Ajuri said Tinubu aimed to leverage this platform to attract global capital and promote increased foreign direct investments in key labour-intensive sectors of Nigeria’s economy for job creation and revenue expansion.

“Moreover, he will use this opportunity to highlight Nigeria’s attractiveness as an investment destination, specifically outlining his cross-sectoral reform plan encapsulated by the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Given the President’s renowned experience attracting investment to Lagos State, leading industrialists have sought separate private engagements with him at the summit.

“The President’s itinerary will also feature bilateral meetings with a cross-section of world leaders from four continents, representing G-20 and non–G20 countries.

“These engagements are geared towards strengthening bilateral economic, trade, and investment partnerships for mutual benefit.

“At the G20 Summit, the Nigerian leader is expected to share Nigeria’s perspective on the theme, “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” which speaks to the global unity required to address the challenges facing humanity and the planet.

“With its collective contribution of up to 80% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and housing 60% of the world’s population, the G-20 constitutes a significant economic power bloc of socio-economic opportunity and geo-political stability,” he stated.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani; and Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, are part of Tinubu’s team to the summit.

A 20-year-old boy, simply identified as Ridwan, has confessed that he killed his biological father for money ritual in Ogun State.

He was arrested on Thursday by men of the Ogun State So-Safe Corps at Oshoku village, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The So-Safe Corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo, in a statement by the corps spokesman, Moruf Yusuf, said at about 12am on Thursday, August 31, officers of the corps on routine patrol heard a strange noise in a building at Oshoku.

The officers were said to have made their way into the building to confirm what was happening, “but to the officers’ dismay, they found a man’s body lying lifeless in a pool of his own blood and the alleged killer fled the scene,” Ganzallo said.

The statement quoted Ganzallo as having instructed the Zonal Commander, Ijebu Zonal Command, Marcus Ayankoya, to get the suspected killer arrested within 24 hours.

“The suspected killer was nabbed where he was hiding in a bush.

“He confessed to have killed his father, Ishau with a rope tied to his neck and a knife used to remove the needed parts of his body for ritual purpose,” he said.

The corps commander noted that the alleged killer told the officers of the corps during interrogation that “he only removed the private part, larynx, and just four teeth of his father as requested by a ritualist he identified as Baba Kekere.”

Ganzallo further revealed that when he was asked about the whereabouts of the ritualist, he refused to give details.

He stated that the alleged killer had been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force, Ogbere Divisional Headquarters, for further investigation and likely prosecution.

The police command in Imo State has reportedly killed two suspected kidnappers and rescued their victim along Umuezorokam- Avu in Owerri West Local Government Area., LGA.

The command also recovered one locally-made cut-to-size gun, two cutlasses, and charms in their possession.

Henry Okoye, spokesperson of the command, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, said the operatives, in a follow-up to a distress call received on August 29, 2023, at about 1230hrs, from a Good Samaritan, sighted hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons attacking a young man named (withheld) along Umuezorokam- Avu in Owerri West LGA with a machete in an attempt to kidnap him.

The statement reads, “The DPO in charge of Nekede Divisional Headquarters swiftly mobilised his men and stormed the scene with the assistance of the Local vigilantes.

“The hoodlums, on sighting the police, immediately opened fire but were overwhelmed by the professionalism and stiff resistance showcased by the ever-gallant operatives, who manoeuvred into vintage position and returned fire.

“In the ensuing gun duel, two of the criminal syndicates were neutralised while others escaped to the adjoining bushes with various degrees of gunshot injuries. Efforts are in top gear to arrest other fleeing members of the criminal syndicate.

“On searching the neutralised hoodlums, one locally-made cut-to-size gun, two cutlasses, and charms were recovered in their possession.

“The victim was rescued with a deep machete cut on his hand and other parts of his body and was immediately rushed to Federal Medical Centre Owerri, where he is currently receiving medical attention while the lifeless bodies of the neutralised hoodlums have been deposited at the morgue for preservation.

“While commending DPO Nekede, his men, and the local vigilantes for a job well done, the Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, reaffirmed the Command’s unresolved commitment to ensuring that the life and properties of all and sundry in the State are adequately protected.

“More so, the CP stated in strong terms that there will be no hiding place for criminally minded elements across the length and breadth of Imo and beckoned on Imolite to continue to support the Police and other sister security agencies in the onslaught against all forms of crime and criminality in the state.”

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested three suspects for child trafficking.

The suspects arrested across three states include Peace Patrick Paul of Obot in Akara, Akwa Ibom; Mary Eunice in Aba, Abia; and Bella Uko in Asaba, Delta.

Parading them alongside other suspects of various crimes at the police headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, on Wednesday, Akwa Ibom Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, explained that Paul deceived Utibeabasi Monday Enang and stole her two children, who are three and five years old, in May and sold them to Eunice in Aba, who in turn sold them to Uko in Asaba.

Durosinmi said the mother of the stolen children was almost beaten to death when she demanded her children from the suspect and had to flee for her life.

The Commissioner of Police also disclosed that a female suspect, Alayodi Paul Onyekwere of Abroma, Rivers State, was arrested for stealing the 11-year-old daughter of Emmanuel Macauley Daniel of Ikot Ikot Village in Obot Akara LGA.

He said: “The suspect alleged that she was sent by her grandmother to steal the child, which she led operatives to recover in Rivers State. The children are here today and will be reunited with their families.”

In an interview, the mother of the two children, Utibeabasi Enang, explained that the suspect deceived her with a promise to take her to a hospital in Ikot Abasi to treat her for an ailment but attempted to kill her after taking her children to an unknown destination.

According to her: “After Peace took me to the hospital in Ikot Abasi, where it was diagnosed that I had internal heat, she took me to the houses of her different boyfriends, where we stayed for over three weeks. When I started asking for my children, she promised to take me to where they were.

“On our way, she asked the driver to stop by a bridge, saying we would have to cross the bridge. As we were trying to cross the bridge, Peace started beating me and attempted to push me into the river, but I struggled with her until a man who lived close by came to rescue me. He took me to his house, where I used his phone to call someone to send me money because Peace had seized my phone from me.

“When I returned to my village, I reported the matter to my village chairman, who reported the case to Yak Iyamma organisation. I really thank God that after everything, my children were found.”

Also paraded was Sunday Michael Ben, a father who was accused of raping his six-year-old daughter.

The suspect, during interrogation, said: “I had my daughter with me in the house, and that night, I woke up to fix my heater that was bad because there was light. I didn’t touch her. I believe my girlfriend, who was with me in the house, committed the act. I only noticed in the morning that she had bloodstains on her leg.”

The victim, on her part, explained that somebody touched her at night, but she couldn’t say anything or see the person who touched her.

The Commissioner of Police affirmed that the suspects would be charged in court after the conclusion of investigations.