JUDICIARY
C/River Governorship Petition: Tribunal to deliver judgment Tuesday
The Governorship election petition tribunal in Cross River will on Tuesday deliver judgment in the petition filed by Prof. Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the victory of Sen. Bassey Otu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is contained in a statement by the Secretary of the tribunal, Mr Akawu Bambu in Calabar on Sunday.
The suit Suit No.
EPT/CR/GOV/02/2023 was jointly instituted by Onor and the PDP.The Counsel to Onor and Otu, .J. Y. Musa, SAN and Prof. Mike Ozekhone, SAN, respectively presented their written addresses and were adopted by the three- man tribunal.
In the final written address, Musa, told the court that evidences extracted under cross-examination of the respondents goes to fortify the case of their petition and also also confirm the falsity of the evidence presented by the second and third respondents (Governor Otu and Peter Odey).
Onor closed his case after calling some witnesses while Otu called 10 witnesss.
The tribunal led by Justice Oken Inneh had reserved judgment following the adoption of written addresses by both parties on Aug. 13.
Musa said the case of the petitioners is not allegations of forgery against any of the respondents (Otu and Odey) and so all the authorities they cited to the effect that they needed to call witnesses from institutions are non-sequitor, rather their case is that the second and third respondents lied on oath.
He insisted that the second and third respondents (Otu and Odey) brought documents to show that they forged documents.
In the process of trying to say they did not lie on oath, they opened a Pandora box where we saw the discrepancies.
“I, therefore, urge the tribunal to declare the votes of the second and third respondents wasted because they were not qualified to stand for the election and declare the petitioners winner of the elections,” he stated.
On his part, lead counsel to the second and third respondents, Prof. Mike Ozekhone, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the petition “for being frivolous, unmeritorious, gold-digging, distracting and for constituting an abuse of the court process.”
He added that “withdrawal of grounds two and three by the petitioners sounded a death kernel to their own petition because it was an admission that the elections were validly held.”
On his part, counsel to the first respondents (INEC), K. O. Balogun, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition and also adopted Ozekhome’s submission in respect of the qualification of the second and third respondent.
Ozekhome had urged the court to dismiss the petition for being frivolous, unmeritorious, distracting and for constituting an abuse of the court process.
He added that the withdrawal of grounds two and three by the petitioners sounded a death kernel to their own petition because it was an admission that the elections were validly held.
“From my own submission today, the truth is that, from the 10th of July 2023, when they withdrew grounds two and three of the petition, which talked about discrepancies, non-accreditation, non-e-transmission through BVAS, through iRev and all the other alleged malpractices.
“That time when they withdrew those allegations which were funny and untrue allegations, their petition collapsed like a pack of cards,” he said.
NAN reports that INEC declared Otu as winner of the election after polling 258,619 votes to defeat the PDP candidate who scored 179, 636 votes.(NAN)
JUDICIARY
Court Remands Suspects Linked to Bello Turji in Kuje Correctional Centre
A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the remand of four suspected terrorists linked to notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a short ruling, made the order after the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge bordering on terrorism.
Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter until Feb.
10 for trial.Report says that the four suspects; Musa Muhammad Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.
k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma, denied their involvement in the offences with which they were charged when the 11 counts were read to them.Report had earlier said that though eight defendants were listed on the face of the charge, three of them, including Bello Turji, were at large.
However, shortly after the court registrar called the case, only four defendants were in court.
Justice Nwite then asked about the whereabouts of Bashir Abdullahi, who is the 3rd defendant.
David Kaswe, who appeared for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), told the court that Abdullahi was also at large.
Kaswe, who acknowledged the mistake, apologised to the court.
The lawyer, therefore, sought the leave of the court to enter “at large” for Abdullahi and the judge granted the oral application after it was not opposed by the defence lawyers.
NAN reports that the FG, through the office of the AGF, had filed the 11-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024 against the eight defendants, four of who are at large.
In the charge dated and filed on Dec. 16 by M.B. Abubakar, Director, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma were sued as 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants.
While Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal, who are all at large, are sued as 3rd, 6th, 7th and 8th defendants respectively.
Upon resumed hearing, Kaswe informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment of the defendants and that they were ready to proceed.
He said the defendants had been duly served with the charge.
“We have 11-count charge. May I seek the leave of the court for the charge to be read to the defendants,” he prayed.
But A.M. Lukman, who appeared for the 1st, 2nd and 4th defendants (Kamarawa, Hashimu and Chinedu), told the court that a preliminary objection had been filed against the charge.
The lawyer urged the court to hear their objection.
“What is the objection all about?” Justice Nwite asked.
Responding, Lukman said: “It is on the issue of territorial jurisdiction of this honourable court my lord “
“Is that what the law says,” the judge asked.
Kaswe, who represented the AGF, opposed Lukman’s application on the ground that it was not ripe for hearing.
“Counsel has just served me with the application this morning. It is not ripe for hearing my lord,” he argued.
Justice Nwite, who aligned with Kaswe’s submission, directed the charge to be read to the defendants.
Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor, however told the court that he did not understand English Language and the counts were read in English and Hausa to the defendants to take their plea.
After they pleaded not guilty to the counts, A.I. Mohammed, who appeared for the 5th defendant (Chukwuma), sought a short adjournment to enable them file their clients’ bail application.
But the judge assured them that the aplkication would be heard as soon as they were ready.
In count one, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, aka Doctor; Bashir Abdullahi; Samuel Chinedu; Lucky Chukwuma; Bello Turji (at large); Aminu Muhammad (at large) and Sani Lawal (at large), sometime between 2018 and 2022 in Sokoto State, were alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit the terror act.
They were alleged to have provided material services to terrorists groups led by Turji, Kachalla Halilu, Danbokolo, Lawali, Atarwatse, Buderi and others, by procuring and supplying illicit drugs, including penta injections and cannabis plants (aka indian hemp); food items; military and police uniforms, camouflage.
They were also alleged to have supplied , boots, caps and building materials, including bags of cement, cover zinc, bags of nails, M.M. iron rod, etc., to terrorist camps in the forests located in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna States.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
In count four, Kamarawa, Muhammad (at large) and Lawal (at large), sometime in 2021 in Sokoto State, allegedly aided and abetted the commission of acts of terrorism by acquiring a military gun truck from Libya and supplying same to a terrorist, Kachalla Halilu, at a cost of approximately N28.5 million (28,500,000).
They were alleged to have paid for the gun truck partly in cash and partly via electronic transfer.
“And which you knew or had reason to believe that this vehicle would be used by Kachalla Halilu, a known terrorist, to commit acts of terrorism.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act,” the count read in part.
The offence is contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.(NAN)
JUDICIARY
Man Sentenced to Death with Reprieve for Driving car Into Crowd
A man who drove a car into a crowd in Changde City, central China’s Hunan Province, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Monday for endangering public safety by dangerous means.
On Nov. 19, Huang Wen crashed a car into a crowd in Dingcheng District of Changde after the vehicle stopped, he exited the car and continued attacking people, leaving 30 injured, including 18 students.
Changde Intermediate People’s Court found that Huang committed the crime as a result of investment losses and family conflicts, acting out in an attempt to vent his frustrations.
(www.nannews.ng) (Xinhua/NAN)JUDICIARY
Woman in Court for Allegedly Damaging N2.5m Shop
One Mrs Subomi Kalejaye, on Thursday, appeared before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly damaging a shop worth N2.5 million.
Kalejaye, whose address was not provided, is charged with malicious damage and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
She, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Sgt.
Samuel Owolabi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Dec. 9, about 11.49 a.m. at Jericho area of Ibadan.Owolabi said that the defendant maliciously damaged a shop belonging to one Ajomale Ibrahim.
He added that the defendant conducted herself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by engaging in the act.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 249(d) and 451 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs Gladys Oladele, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Oladele adjourned the case until Jan. 27, 2025, for hearing. (NAN)