NEWS
Kwara LG Poll: Court Allows KWSIEC to Proceeds with Process
From Samuel James, Ilorin
On the restraining order regards the releasing of the National Voter Register to the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) for the purpose of conducting local government election in the state, a Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn an ex-parte order on the restrictions.
The order which was issued on July 29 was lifted by Justice Peter Lifu on the ground that it has expired it time limits in the provisions of the law having lasted for more than 14 days. In a ruling on Monday on the request by Kwara SIEC for lifting of the order, Justice Lifu agreed with J. J Usman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) that the order ought to be set aside in line with the provisions of the law.On that, Justice Lifu dismissed the request by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to commit the Chairman of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) Okanlawon Baba to prison on allegations of violation of valid court order.The judge also dismissed the request on the ground that the contempt of court charge initiated against the electoral body chairman was not served on the context as required by law.Justice Lifu therefore held that since contempt charge is quashing criminal charge, it ought to have been served personally on the Kwara SIEC chairman and not through any other party or person.The judge said that the failure of PDP to serve the contempt charge on chairman in line with the provisions of the law was faulty to the request which the Judge said violated section 36 of the 1999 Constitution by denying the contemnor fair hearing.He said that from the record of the court, there was no evidence of personal service on KWSIEC chair while at the same time, there was no evidence of substituted service obtained from the court to serve the contemnor through substituted means.It would be recalled that on July 29, Justice Lifu had restrained INEC from releasing the National Voter Register to the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) for the purpose of conducting the September 21 local government elections in Kwara State.The court had also stopped KWSIEC and the State Attorney General from receiving, accepting or using the national voter register or any part relating to Kwara State from the electoral body for the Council’s election in Kwara State tate.Justice Lifu issued the orders while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by PDP and arged by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Kehinde Ogunwumiju.Though Kwara SIEC was restrained from taking any step on the planned election, its chairman, Okanlawon Baba had in alleged violation of the order wrote two letters to political parties inviting them for peace meeting and another for submission of names and photographs of their agents for the purpose of the election.The two letters signed by the SIEC chairman were tendered by PDP as exhibits in court to establish violations of court order and to justify contempt of the court.Having dismissed the two motions argued during vacation, the Judge ordered that the case file be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho for re-assignment to another Judge upon completion of the vacation.Justice Lifu had also restrained the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and the State Security Service (SSS) from participating in or providing security protection for the conduct of local government elections in Kwara pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by PDP for interlocutory injunction.The complaint of PDP tabled before Justice Lifu is that the Kwara State Electoral body is in grievous contravention, breach and violation of Sections 9, 28, 29 and 106 of the Electoral Act 2022, Sections 20 (1) and 21 (1) of Kwara State Local Government Electoral (Amendment) Law, 2024.PDP claimed that all the conditions and precedents contained in Local Government Electoral Laws in Kwara State have been deliberately jettisoned and violated under unacceptable circumstances.Among others, PDP claimed to be a duly registered political party in Nigeria, eligible to participate and field candidates to contest elections in Nigeria including the Kwara State Local Government Elections 2024 sought to be conducted by the defendants.It alleged that 2nd defendant (KWSIEC) has applied to the 1st defendant (INEC) for the Register of Voter for Kwara State for use in the conduct of the Kwara State Local Government Council election, which the party said, is in breach and violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 and Kwara State Local Government Electoral (Amendment) Law, 2024.The defendants in the suit are INEC, KWSIEC, Kwara Attorney General, IGP and SSS as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
By David Torough, Abuja
The remains of elder statesman and President General of the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have been slated for burial on November 1.
Chairman of the burial committee, Senator Ben Obi, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Alongside with the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb Okey Emuchay and burial sub-committee chairmen, Senator Osita Izunaso, Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika (retd) and others, Obi unveiled a series of activities culminating into the actual burial ceremony.“Our message today is to convey the dates for the burial of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Lagos day of tributes, Wednesday 16th October 2024 at Eko Hotels and Convention Centre.
“Abuja Day of Tributes Friday 18th October, 2024 at the National Ecumenical Centre.
“Enugu Day of tributes, Saturday 26th October with a brief stop at Ohanaeze headquarters, 7 Parkland GRA Enugu while the main event will be held at the Okpara Square.
“Owerri Service of Songs Tuesday 29th October 2024. Commendation Service on 1st November in Owerri and Imo day of burial on Friday, 1st November 2024,” he said.
He added that further details will be communicated in due course.
On whether the Federal Government would participate in the burial, Senator Obi said the committee will visit President Bola Tinubu to intimate him about the transition of the statesman and details of his burial.
“We will be visiting President Tinubu to formally announce to him details of this transition and I am sure the President knows all that Chief Iwuanyanwu had done and he will do the needful,” he said.
Asked whether the late newspaper publisher had regrets about his inability to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and ensure the realization of a restructure federation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo scribe said Chief Iwuanyanwu died a fulfilled man because he never shies away from doing his best in the circumstance.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu and I visited Kanu in jail and I think that was his last official assignment before his demise.
“Prior to that, he had never missed any opportunity to call for the release of Kanu.
“On restructuring, he never minced his words on equity, fairness and justice and he knew that he couldn’t do it alone.
“So he operated with the South-South PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum and Afenifere. He asked for parity in the number of states in each geopolitical zone.
“We in Ohanaeze will continue to pursue these issues that were very dear to his heart and we want to give the assurances that we will not fail,” Obi said.
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
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