JUDICIARY
Tribunal Sacks Oju/Obi Reps Member, Declares Okwu Winner
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From Chris Gaga, Makurdi
The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, has declared Mr Samson Okwu of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) as winner of the March 23, National Assembly election for Oju/Obi Federal Constituency.
The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) had declared Hon.
David Ogewu of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), winner of the Oju/Obi federal constituency seat in the march 23 elections.Delivering Judgement on the petition filed by Samson Okwu against Mr David Ogewu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance today the Tribunal Chairman Justice A.A Adeleye ordered The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to immediately issue a certificate of return to Mr Samson Okwu while the earlier certificate of return issued to Mr David Ogewu of APGA be withdrawn.
According to the Tribunal Chairman, all the witnesses called by the petitioner testified to the fact that election results for Obi local government were not collated by the Oju/Obi returning officer, adding that the petitioner, Mr Samson Okwu was able to prove that the collation and declaration of the APGA candidate, Mr David Ogewu was in non-compliance with the electoral law
In his ruling, Justice Adeleye further stated that evidence before the tribunal shows that election in Obi was peacefully conducted but the returning officer did not wait to collate it based on allegation that there was apprehension which made him to only announce the result from Oju.
The Tribunal Chairman further stated that the electoral returning officer for Oju/Obi federal constituency should not have declared David Ogweu as winner of the election in a situation where the result of Obi local government of over 59,000 registered voters was not declared.
In his argument earlier,counsel to Mr Samson Okwu Kenneth Ikonne(SAN) pointed out that the collation of result from Oju had some mathimatical errors and the tribunal agreed with him that two hundred and fifty two votes has no origin. The counsel to the 2nd respondent, Mr David Ogewu did not disprove the claim.
The two hundred and fifty two votes out of the total votes gotten by the APGA candidate in Oju was however deducted which brought the total votes in the two local govt for Mr David Ogewu to 13,306 votes , while the petitioner Mr Samson Okwu total votes was put at 14, 300.
Justice Adeleye however said that the Tribunal has power to add up valid votes in the two local govt and accordingly noted that in the final collated result Samson Okwu of the Peoples Democratic Party led with a total of 994 votes
Reacting to the judgment,the chairman of Obi Local govt Mr Joseph Ipenyi described the judgment as wonderful and a victory for the Igede people.
He however called on the candidate of the APGA Mr David Ogewu to embrace Mr Samson Okwu the House of Representative member for Oju/Obi federal Constituency to chart a way forward for the development of Igede land.
The member representing Obi at the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Oche applauded th ruling, saying it has lifted the burden of sleepless nights on the Igede nation.
Our Correspondent reports that the 2nd respondent, David Ekwu of APGA who was not issued certificate of return since the election wasclast week handed a certificate of return following an Appeal court order.
JUDICIARY
3 Docked Over Alleged Theft of Transformer Valued N50m
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Three men, were on Tuesday, arraigned before an Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing an electricity transformer valued N50 million.
The defendants, Kehinde Akinkugbe, Tope Salisu, and Isiaka Amusa, whose addresses were not given, are being charged with conspiracy, stealing and malicious damage.
The defendants, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, told the court that Akinkugbe, Salisu and Amusa, committed the offences at about 2.
30a.m on Aug. 22, at Ajeri Street, Ijede, Ikorodu, Lagos.Isaac said that the defendants maliciously damaged an electricity transformer, belonging to the Federal Government.
The prosecutor said that the defendants were apprehended by residents of the area, who later reported the matter to the police.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 411, 287 and 339 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.B. Olagbegi-Adelabu, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
Olagbegi-Adelabu, ordered that one of the sureties must own a landed property, and should present evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The Magistrate adjourned the case until Oct. 10 for mention.(NAN)
JUDICIARY
Tinubu Swears in Kekere-Ekun as Acting CJN
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President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Justice KudiratKekere-Ekun as the 23rd and second female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), in acting capacity pending confirmation by the Senate.She takes over from Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who retired on Aug. 22 at the age of 70.(NAN)
JUDICIARY
Labourer Jailed 18 Months for Attempting to Steal from a Church
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A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Friday, sentenced a 28-year old labourer , Naanswan Daboer to 18 months imprisonment for attempting to steal from a church premises.The Magistrate, Mr Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced Daboer after he pleaded guilty to the crime.The magistrate , however, gave the convict a fine of N100,000.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel,Ibrahim Gokwat told the court that the case was reported on July 9, at the “C” Division Police Station by Yohanna Nanjul and Musa John, the complaints. The prosecutor said that the convict trespassed in to the church premises and switched off their security lights but was caught.The offence, according to him, is punishable under the Plateau Penal Code Law. (NAN)