JUDICIARY
Federal High Court Declares Jonathan Eligible

From Tayese Mike, Yenagoa
The controversies surrounding former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s eligiblity to contest next year’s presidential election has been put to rest as the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa has declared that former the President is eligible to contest the 2023 presidential election.
Though Jonathan himself has not come out categorically to declare to Nigerians whether he will context or not and under what platform even though it is being speculated that he might contest under the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC).
The presiding judge, Justice Isa Dashen made the declaration in the judgement that lasted for over two hours on Friday.
Justice Dashen held that Jonathan only was elected into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria once in 2011 as he only completed the term of Late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua in 2010 “not on the basis of any election but by constitutional appointment.”
He further declared as “spurious, baseless and unsubstantiated,” the plaintiffs claims that Jonathan has been elected as president on two previous elections.
He also ruled that Jonathan’s right to contest for the office of president again cannot be denied by any retroactive law.
In an origination summons filed by some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham, the plaintiffs had sought an order of the court stating that Jonathan is not affected by the fourth alteration to the constitution barring Vice-Presidents who succeed their principals from serving more than one full term.
In the suit marked FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022, the Jonathan, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were listed as defendants.
Reacting to the judgement, counsel to Jonathan, Eric Omare, said: “Some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Andy Solomon approached the federal high court to seek for two declarations essentially, his case was that by virtue of Section 137 subsections1(b), Jonathan having taken the oath of office as president on two occasions is disqualified from contesting the presidential election.
“Secondly, he also contended that by virtue of Section 137 subsection 3 which was brought into the Constitution by the fourth alterations to the Constitution in 2018, Jonathan having completed the term of Late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua and having served one term is no longer qualified to contest.
“We joined the issues with them and today in a well considered judgment that lasted for over two hours, the court agree with us that one, Jonathan only had not contested for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on two occasions that he only completed the term of Late President Yar’adua on the basis of constitutional requirements.
“Secondly, the court also held that the fourth alteration which also introduced Sections 137, subsection 3, does not apply to disqualify Jonathan, so in summary the court agree with us and held that Jonathan is qualified t contest the 2023 presidential election.”
In his reaction to judgement, counsel to the plaintiffs, Sigha Egbuwabi, said: “We are the plaintiffs counsel in this suit challenging the eligibility of the first defendant Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, we canvassed our position before the court that he is no longer eligible by the introduction of Section 137 subsection (1b) and subsection 3 because he has taken the oath for the office of the president twice.
“Because he has taken the oath to the office of the President twice and by introduction of subsections 3 which is the law as it is now, it is our position that under that law he is going to be screened for the election coming 2023 which primaries will commence very soon.
“What we have canvasses is that he is no longer eligible, ordinarily we know that former President Jonathan is a good person, a person who has ruled this country with integrity and dignity, we do not have any challenge having him back again, however, we also do not want a situation where he will come to transgressed the law.
“For so much integrity he has acquired, he worked hard to acquire all these and he will be allowed to slip into an error that will make him transgressed the law will not equally speak well of him. That was the reason why our clients who were the plaintiffs instituted this matter.
“The court has though ruled otherwise but we are eager to have a copy of the judgement, we will come together look at it critically but I always assuage everybody that we will go to the court of appeal to test it.
It is not as if we are eager to deny him contesting the presidential election but what we are maintains is that he cannot be allowed to transgressed the law that is what we are maintaining and by provisions of that Subsection 3 though its commence in 2018, what we are maintaining is that he is no longer eligible, the law now as it is, we are talking of the law as it is, not the law as its ought to be, not the law, not the law as it was but the law as it is.”
As at the time of filling in this report, their is no official statement from former president Jonathan media team as the numbers of his media is switched off.
JUDICIARY
Pastor Arraigned over Alleged Rape of Married Woman in Edo

From Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin
A 38-year-old pastor, Simeon Okehielem of the Synagogue Prayers Ministry has been arraigned before an Edo State High Court for allegedly raping a married woman, Isoken Vivian Aigbedo.
The pastor, who was accused of engaging in sexual relationships with married women within his congregation, was docked before the court in Benin City, on Thursday last week.
The charges against Pastor Okehielem followed a year 2022 incident in Uholor Community of Benin City where the cleric allegedly drugged and raped the woman leading to the birth of a child.
Recent DNA results reportedly confirmed the pastor as the biological father of the child, which prompted the Nigerian Police to re-arrest and formally arraign him.
The presiding judge, Justice Erhabor, granted an ex-parte order to remand the suspect at the Benin Correctional Custodial Centre for 14 days, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Edo State.
The State Prosecutor, P.O. Odion told the court that the alleged offence occurred in February 2022.
Okehielem was slammed with two-count charge on alleged rape and administering a stupefying substance with the intent to commit a felony.
The charge sheet, marked Suit No: BLOD/2323M/2025, reads: “That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, did rape one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4, punishable under Section 5(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021.
“That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, with intent to commit a felony, administered a substance to stupefy one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 256 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.”
Speaking to journalists after the court session, the victim’s legal counsel, Clinton Ogbebor, applauded the Police for its diligence.
“We are in court today over the alleged rape of my client, Mrs Isoken Aigbedo, by one Pastor Simeon Okehielem,” he said.
Ogbebor confirmed that the case file would now be forwarded to the office of the DPP for legal advice, after which the trial will proceed accordingly.
The development has stirred debates across Benin City, with residents and religious leaders expressing shock and calling for justice.
The case has been adjourned pending further legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.
JUDICIARY
Court Bars Bello from Acting as Nasarawa APC Chairman

A Senior District Court 3, Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Thursday restrained Mr Aliyu Bello, the embattled Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, from presenting himself as Chairman or a member of the party.This followed a motion filed by Suleiman Turaki, Counsel to Ibrahim Iliyasu, the Chairman of APC in Gayam Electoral Ward of Lafia Local Government Area of the state.
Report says that on July 1, Iliyasu, alongside 13 other officials of the party in the ward, suspended Bello from the party over alleged anti-party activities. The order signed by Abdullahi Lanze, Senior District Judge of the court, stated that the prayer was granted after hearing the application presented by the applicant’s counsel.The order specifically restrained Bello, his agents, privies, supporters or any person acting on his behalf, authority, or direction, from presenting himself as a member or Chairman of the party.The court also barred Bello from issuing statements, carrying out functions, or acting in any manner whatsoever, through the media or otherwise, as a member or Chairman of APC.This would be pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. (NAN).JUDICIARY
Unemployed Man Arraigned for Allegedly Impersonating Military Officer

A 30-year-old unemployed man, Sadiq Usman, on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly parading himself as a military officer.
Usman is facing a two-count charge of impersonation.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 24 at about 3.
30 p. m. at Alaba Rago Market area of Ojo, Lagos State.Ikhayere said that the defendant, who was unemployed, unlawfully had in his possession a Nigerian military camouflage uniform, cap, belt, and boots.
“He paraded himself as a member of the Nigerian Army and had in his possession two Nigerian Navy identity cards,” she said.
According to her, the defendant was arrested when he failed to give a satisfactory account of the items.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 77(a)(b) and 79(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 77 stipulates a three-year jail term for anyone found guilty of impersonating a member of the armed forces or the police.
Section 79 stipulates two years imprisonment for unlawfully wearing the uniform of the armed forces.
The Magistrate, Mr Lateef Owolabi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N150,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.
He ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
Owolabi adjourned the case until July 1 for mention. (NAN)