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JUDICIARY

Kaduna Gov Election Tribunal Concludes Sitting, Reserves Judgment

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The Kaduna State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned sitting on Monday after counsel adopted their final written addresses and replies to points of law.

Justice Ibrahim M. Bako, Chairman of the three-member Tribunal, said that a date would be reserved for judgement and all parties will be notified through their counsel.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Governorship candidate, Alhaji Isah Ashiru had petitioned the March  9 poll in which  Gov.

Nasiru El-Rufai was returned as duly elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).The Petitioners in their final written address on Monday, asked the  Tribunal to cancel a total 515, 951 votes which it contended were unlawfully added to the total votes cast during the March 9 poll.
The petitioners had called 135 witnesses out of the 685 they assembled to prove massive rigging,  ballot stuffing and other irregularities during the poll as contained in their petition.The petitioners alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had added 391,741 votes to Nasiru El-Rufai of APC and a total of 124, 210 unlawful votes to the PDP through wrong or double entry on the result sheets.The PDP and its candidate also contended that declaring El-Rufai winner by INEC was illegal as he did not score majority of lawful votes.The PDP through its legal team led Emmanuel C. Ukala (SAN), said  deducting  391,741 votes from 1,045,427 scored by El-Rufai and 124,210 from Ashiru’s 814, 168 votes will give victory to PDP and Ashiru, its candidate in the poll.The counsel further argued that after the deduction of the alleged unlawful votes, Ashiru will be left with 689,958 lawful votes, while El-Rufai will have 653,686 votes.In his submission, Ukala  argued that all parties to the petition are bound to argue their cases on the basis of whether or not the petitioners had assembled credible evidence to sustain their petition, as formulated by the tribunal.According to him, “only the 2nd respondent premised his argument on the issues formulated by this honorable tribunal. The 1st  and 3rd respondents went on their own forays.“It is therefore our submission that the argument of the 1st and 3rd respondents should go to ‘no issue’, having not addressed the issue which was binding to all parties, “ Ukala argued.The petitioners counsel further said that based on the issues formulated by the tribunal, the issue has been narrowed down to the credibility of evidence.“Based on this simplification of the issue, it is our humble submission that when the evidence led by both sides are placed on the imaginary scales of justice, what is obvious is that the weight of evidence of the petitioners will overwhelmingly weigh in favor of the petitioners as against the respondents, “ he said.“First, the petitioners called 135 witnesses. All respondents put together, 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents,  called a total of five witnesses.“What is obvious is that there were so many areas covered by the petitioners that were not addressed by the respondents.“ Ukala further pointed out that the quality of the petitioners’ evidence was more qualitative than that of the respondents with polling unit agents who actually saw what happened on the election day and testified.However, in its final written address and reply to points raised by the petitioners, Counsel to APC, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) said: “our final written address before the tribunal is that the petitioners have not been able to establish their claim before the court.“There are certain allegations that were made which were criminal.“The petitioners also complain that certain votes were illegally recorded for  the 2nd and 3rd respondents, but unfortunately no evidence were made to prove those points.“So, we urge the Tribunal to dismiss the petition as  the petitioners have failed to live up to the standard expected of them in proving their petition.”Similarly,  Abdulhakeem  Mustapha, counsel to El-Rufai, the 2nd respondent in the petition, asked the tribunal “to invoke its majestic powers to dismiss the petition as lacking in merit and to confirm that the 2nd respondent, Malam Nasiru El Rufai as duly elected as governor of Kaduna State on the March 9 election. “Mustapha in an interview with newsmen also said: “we have been able to tell the court that all the witnesses called by the petitioners failed woefully to prove the ingredient of the fact relied upon in their petition.“The onus is on the petitioners to come with credible evidence and all the testimonies of the witnesses produced by the petitioners were demolished under cross examination.“ There is nothing that the court will see to be persuaded to give judgment in their favor, we have been able to show with the witnesses we called that the election was conducted in conformity with the provision of the electoral Act.“We are very satisfied with the proceedings and we are very sure that justice will be done and sure that Malam Nasiru  El-Rufai was duly elected by the people of Kaduna State. “On behalf of the 2nd respondent, the final written address which was dated 2nd August, was filed on 3rd August, 2019, while the 2nd respondent filed a reply on fact of law on August 16,” Mustapha said.Meanwhile, Counsel to the 1st respondent, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  Aliyu Umar (SAN) urged the tribunal to “dismiss the petition and confirm El Rufai as duly elected Governor of Kaduna State.“Umar drew the attention of the tribunal to the fact that the petitioners had just served him with a list of additional authorities on the day of sitting.He also told newsmen shortly after the sitting that:  “We told the tribunal to take witnesses of the petitioners one by one and urged the tribunal to hold that their evidence was different from what they alleged in their petition.“And their witnesses have all confirmed during cross examination that no INEC officials connived with any other person.“The petitioners only called 135 of the 685 witnesses the petitioners said they would call, that is short of the number they were supposed to call to prove their case.“They are to win their case by the evidence presented not by our witnesses,“Umar said.At the end of the sitting, Justice Bako, thanked counsel to all the parties, party members and representatives of the media  for their cooperation and publicity through out the hearing.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that  Khadi Adamu Usman and Justice Jude Obiora served as members of the Kaduna State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.(NAN)

CRIME

3 Men in Court Over Alleged ₦25m Maize Farm Theft, Damage

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Three men were arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Friday over alleged theft and destruction of a maize plantation valued at ₦25 million.

The defendants—Olaide Oyesola (40), Sataru Yunusa (45), and Odubayo Olufisayo—whose house addresses were not disclosed, are being charged with a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, malicious damage, unlawful entry, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

The prosecuting counsel, Insp Salewa Hammed, told the court that the defendants conspired to steal maize worth ₦5 million and maliciously damaged a plantation valued at ₦25 million.

He further alleged that the defendants unlawfully excavated sand from the farmland valued at ₦23 million, assaulted workers, and forcibly chased employees of Atolans Resources Limited from the land.

Hammed alleged that the defendants also unlawfully entered the property in possession of Atolans Resources Limited, which was represented in court by one Adelani Adesope.

He said the defendants committed the alleged offences between January and November 2024 at Victoria Garden City, Kilometer 8, Old Oyo Road, Ibadan.

Hammed said the offences contravened Section 383 and are punishable under Sections 81, 249(d), 390(9), 451, and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Magistrate Maaruf Mudashiru granted them bail in the sum of ₦5 million each, with one surety each in like sum.

The magistrate adjourned the case until Aug. 7 for hearing.(NAN)

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CRIME

EFCC Arraigns Estate Agent Over Alleged N70m Accommodation Fraud

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 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned an estate agent,  Ntai Bagshaw,  for allegedly defrauding accommodation seekers of N70 million.

Bagshaw  appeared  before an Ikeja Special Offences Court alongside his company, Terraworks Ltd.

, on a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

EFCC counsel, Mrs Fadeke Giwa, urged the court to remand the defendant pending hearing and determination of his bail application.

Giwa also prayed the court for a trial date.

Justice Ismail Ijelu ordered that  the defendant should be kept at the Ikoyi custodial facility.

He adjourned the case until May 13 for  hearing of bail application of the defendant.

EFCC is alleging  that  the defendant, with intent to defraud, obtained under false pretences, money meant for payment for a detached Duplex on Renat Axis in Ogudu GRA, Lagos State.

The commission  also alleged that the defendant unlawfully converted the sum to his personal use.

According to EFCC, the offences contravene Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, and Section 278(2)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011. (NAN)

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JUDICIARY

Court Remands Man for Alleged Defilement of Minor

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 An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday remanded a man, Erickson Iyanagbe for allegedly defiling a 15-year-old minor (names withheld).

Iyanagbe was arraigned by the Lagos State Government on a one-count charge of defilement.

The defendant, whose residential address was not given, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Abiola Soladoye ordered the the remand of the defendant at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the commencement of trial and determination of the case.

Soladoye adjourned the case until July 9 for the commencement of trial.

The State Counsel, Mrs Ibukun Ibikunle told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence sometimes in 2023 on Chosen Avenue, Greenville Estate in Ajah, Lagos.

Ibikunle alleged that the defendant defiled the minor by having an unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

The
prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)

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