JUDICIARY
Guber Election: Tribunal Refuses LP Application to Bring BVAS to Court
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu on Friday refused to grant the application of Chijioke Edeoga, the LP governorship candidate’s request to bring Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used for election in court.
Edeoga is challenging the declaration of Gov.
Peter Mbah as the winner of the March 18 Governorship Election in Enugu State.The lead counsel to the petitioner, V.
O Azinge, SAN, had during the hearing requested the tribunal to make another order summoning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to bring the BVAS machines to the tribunal for inspection by the Labour Party.She had reminded the court that the INEC, the first respondent had refused to effect the order of the court by allowing the petitioner to inspect the BVAS machines.
“The first respondent has disobeyed the court again by not bringing the BVAS to court today,” she told tribunal.
In response, the INEC lawyer, Mr Humphrey Okoli, told the court that the INEC had obeyed the order by granting access to the LP.
He said the attendance register being made to that effect was with him in the court to see that INEC had complied to the order.
“The issue of the matter is that the petitioner failed to comply with the rules of service as they served their subpoena on the wrong person,” Okoli said.
Reacting, Azinge objected to the position of the first respondent and prayed the court to mandate them to comply with the said order of the court issued on March 23.
The petitioner’s counsel who was not happy with the ruling told the court that July 15 was Saturday, adding that INEC did not open on Saturdays.
“My Lord, what I am asking for is extension of time within the week so that INEC could come for the inspection,” she pleaded.
The Chairman of the tribunal, M.K Akano, in her ruling told the petitioners ‘ counsel to do the needful, explaining that court had to sit and hear the application before she could grant another order for inspection of BVAS.
Akano maintained that the court was time-bound to deliver its judgement within 180 days and had other cases to entertain aside LP and the PDP matter.
“This tribunal is time-bound to deliver its judgment within a specific period of time, and will not be able to give any extension of time to any party because there are more cases to be heard,” she explained.
Meanwhile, some of the LP witnesses during cross examination told the tribunal that polling unit results were different from the results being collated.
Augustine Ezeme and Solomon Attah, both LP polling agents, said the results of the polling units which the agents in Udenu and Igboeze North council areas monitored were different from the results collated at the council areas.
The Chairman of the tribunal, however, adjourned the matter to July 15 for continuation of hearing (NAN)
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, shifted the judgment in a suit seeking the removal of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Sept. 23.The matter, which was earlier fixed for today, was not on the cause list.NAN gathered that the parties in the suit had earlier been reached by the court registrar for a new date because the judgement was not ready.
“We have already called the parties on phone to inform them of the development. A new date is next week, September 23,” a reliable source said.Justice Inyang Ekwo had, on July 5, fixed today (Sept. 18) for the judgment.Justice Ekwo fixed the date after counsel to the plaintiff, Benjamin Davou; and lawyers to the defence adopted their processes and made their submission for and against the case.The plaintiff; the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had filed the suit to queried the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geo-political zone.In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiff listed Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.The plaintiff wants the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the APC.It also prays the court to issue an order directing INEC not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.The plaintiff is contending among others, that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.It argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo- political zone to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the NEC of the party, among other reliefs.(NAN)
A 30-year-old poultry farm manager, Stephen Nwachi, on Thursday, appeared before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, over alleged N160,000 fraud.The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge bordering on felony and advance fee fraud.The police prosecutor, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 24, at 04.
00 p. m. at a poultry farm opposite Zomelo hotel on Okitipupa-Aye Road in Okitipupa.Orogbemi said that the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N160,000 from one Morenike Orukotan, under the pretext of supplying some crates of eggs to her but failed to do so.The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.The Chief Magistrate, Mr Philip Akinlosetu, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety in like sum.He ordered that the surety should reside within the jurisdiction of the court.Akinlosetu also held that the surety should show evidence of two years tax payment to the state government.He adjourned the case until Sept. 17 for further hearing. (NAN)A Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos, on Wednesday remanded a 44-year-old man, Sunday Lukas in custody, for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl.The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, ordered that Lukas be remanded at the Awarjigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry, after he pleaded not guilty to a count charge of assault.
He ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the office of the Director for Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. Adekomaiya, however, adjourned the case until Oct. 28 for ruling on the bail application filed by Lukas and for DPP’s legal advice.Earlier, the police prosecutor, Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 28, at 12.20 p.m., at No. 4, Aribena Site, Ijanikin area of Lagos.He said that Lukas indecently assaulted the nine-year-old girl by inserting his fingers in her private part.The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)
Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to UNGA
SharePresident Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has...
NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results
ShareThe National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent...
NDDC Unveils Initiative to Enhance food Security in N’ Delta Programmes
Share The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security...
Kwara Govt. Seals off 14 Buildings over Concerns about Environment
Share The Kwara Government has in the past few days sealed off 14 buildings due to environmental concerns, the state’s...
Microsoft Boss Warns of Meddling Ahead of U.S. Presidential Election
Share Brad Smith, the president of technology giant Microsoft has issued a stark warning regarding foreign attempts to influence the U.S....
New Dangote Varsity Pro-chancellor Promises to Turn Challenges into Opportunities
Share The newly-appointed Pro-chancellor of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Justice Abdu Aboki, has promised to turn...
KWASIEC says 21,000 Applied for 7,000 ad Hoc job During Saturday’s LG Elections
Share Alhaji Mohammed Baba-Okanla, Chairman of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC), says more than 21,000 persons applied for...
FCT Civil Service Commission Begins Regularisation of FCTA Staff Appointments
Share The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission has begun the regularisation of staff appointments in the FCT Administration and...
FCT primary Teachers Resume Strike over Unresolved Welfare Concerns
Share The Federal Capital Territory Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) on Wednesday, resumed industrial action over unresolved...
Nigeria to Lead $7.7trn Global Halal Market – Shettima
ShareVice-President Kashim Shettima has expressed the determination of the country to become number one hub of opportunities in the global...
Pingback: Kano Election Tribunal: Gov. Yusuf Closes Case with SSG as Sole Witness Daily Asset Online