JUDICIARY
Kano Election Petitions Tribunal Stops Yakasai From Giving Evidence
Ganduje Accuses PDP of Smugling Witnesses Before Election Tribunal
From Abdulgafar Oladimeji, Kano.
Kano governorship Election Tribunal headed by Justice Halima Shamaki sitting at Miller road, on Tuesday night refused PDP chieftain, Umar Tanko Yakasai from giving evidence at the ongoing governorship election trials.
Yakasai, who was ushered before the court by Abiodun Jelili Owonikoko(SAN) according to the court, Yakasai would not be permitted to testify owing to the discovery that his name was not enlisted amongst the witnesses before the court.
Earlier, Barrister Owonikoko(SAN) told the court that the witness had made deposition, urging the tribunal to permit the witness to give evidence.
Counsel to the first respondent(INEC), Adedayo Adedeji raised an objection over the appearance of Yakasai before the court.
He told the court that the name on the list of witnesses was one Tijjani Yakasai and not Dr Umar Tanko Yakasai.
According to him, the tribunal on 16th July rejected an application made by PDP, requesting to amend the list of witnesses, he stated that Umar Tanko Yakasai was on the list sought to be amended, which was dismissed by the tribunal.
He argued that the witness despite his deposition on oath is not qualified to testify, explaining that his name ought to also be enlisted to be eligible to give evidence.
Adedayo further told the court that the attempt by PDP to bring Yakasai into the witness box was a flagrant disregard of the Tribunal.
He prayed the Court to stop Yakasai from testifying before the tribunal.
The tribunal presided by Justice Halima Shamaki granted the request made by the respondents, explaining that her decision to stop the witness from giving evidence was informed by the ruling, delivered by her tribunal, dismissing the request for an amendment on the list of witnesses.
According to her, the petitioners have filed an appeal challenging her initial ruling on the application seeking to make amends to the list of witnesses, on this ground, she said “my hands are tied” saying Umar Tanko Yakasai would not be allowed to testify.
Ganduje Accuses PDP of Smugling Witnesses Before Election Tribunal
Meanwhile, the Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has accused the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Kano state chapter of allegedly smuggling a witness to testify before the Kano governorship Election Tribunal.
Ganduje, represented by his Counsel, Offiong Offiong(SAN) raised an alarm, against the attempt by Umar Tanko Yakasai to give evidence before the governorship tribunal.
According to him, the name Umar Tanko Yakasai is not enlisted on the list of witnesses, adding that the appearance of the witness before the court is an alleged attempt by the petitioners to smuggle the witness before the court .
Ganduje told the court that the Kano PDP through the back door attempted to present a witness to testify before the tribunal.
According to him, the name on the list of witnesses was enlisted as one Tijjani Yakasai and not Dr Umar Tanko Yakasai.
Adding that the tribunal on 16th July rejected an application made by PDP, requesting to amend the list of witnesses, he stated that Umar Tanko Yakasai was on the list sought to be intended amended list, which was dismissed by the tribunal.
Counsel to the petitioners, Barrister Abiodun Jelili Owonikoko(SAN) furiously resent the use of the word “smuggle” by the representative of Governor Ganduje.
A Kano State High Court has restrained the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, from parading himself as a member of the party.
Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, on Wednesday, made the order, following an exparte motion filed by Dr Ibrahim Sa’ad on behalf of two APC executive members of Ganduje ward, Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area.
The plaintiffs are the party’s Assistant Secretary, Laminu Sani, and its Legal Adviser, Haladu Gwanjo.
The duo are among the nine ward executive members who suspended Ganduje from the party at the ward level, two days ago.
The respondents in the case include, All Progressives Congress (APC), APC National Working Committee (NWC), APC Kano State Working Committee (KSWC), and Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Granting the motion, Na’abba made an order restraining Ganduje from parading himself as APC National Chairman.
The court further made an order directing Ganduje to henceforth, desist from presiding over all affairs of the APC National Working Committee (NWC).
The court directed the respondents to henceforth maintain status quo ante belum as from April 15, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit on April, 30.
Justice Na’abba also granted the plaintiff’s prayer which ordered the APC SWC, from interfering with the legally and validly considered decision of executives of Ganduje ward, essentially on action endorsed by two thirds majority of the executives as provided by the party constitution.
“An order is hereby granted directing all parties in the suit APC (1st), APC National Working Committee (2nd), Kano State Working Committee APC (3rd), Dr. Abdullah Umar Ganduje (4th), to maintain status quo ante belum as of 15th April, 2024.
“The order thereby restraining the 1st respondent (APC) from recognizing the 4th respondent (Ganduje) as member of APC and prohibiting the 4th respondent (Ganduje) from presiding over any affairs of the NWC and restraining the state Working Committee from interfering with the legal and valid decision of the ward executives of Ganduje ward.
“That the 4th respondent (Ganduje) is prohibited from parading himself as member of APC or doing any act that may portray him or seem to be a member of APC, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit”.
It will be recalled that nine members of the Ganduje ward proclaimed the suspension of the National Chairman of APC over the allegation of corruption slammed on him by the Kano state government.
The nine APC executives said they were prompted to act following a petition written by one Ja’afaru Adamu, a member of APC from Ganduje’s polling unit.
In the petition, Adamu made allegations of corruption charges against the former governor just as he urged the ward leaders to investigate the matter to redeem the dented image of the party against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s fight against corruption.
Following the failure of the Ward Chairman and Secretary to act on the petition, nine members of the executives, led by the legal adviser, acted and took the decision that led to the suspension Ganduje. (NAN)
A Jos Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday, sentenced a 28-year-old businessman, Peter Sunday to one year imprisonment for stealing motor parts valued at N200,000.
The Magistrate, Mr Shawomi Bokkos, summarily sentenced Sunday after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Bokkos, however, gave the convict an option to pay N30,000 and a compensation of N100,000 to the complainant.
The magistrate held that the punishment would serve as deterrent to other would-be offenders.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Labaran Ahmed, told the court that the case was reported on March 19, at the “B” Police station Bukuru by one Stephen Dung, the complainant.
The prosecutor alleged that the convict had trespassed into a mechanic workshop and stole the gearbox.
He told the court that the convict was however, apprehended at the point of his wanting to sell the stolen item.
The offence, according to him, is punishable under the Plateau state Penal Code Law. (NAN)
A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 29-year-old security guard, Harow Mali to three months imprisonment for stealing 25 litres of diesel.
The Judge, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily sentenced Mali after he pleaded guilty.
Bokkos, however, gave the convict an option to pay N10,000 fine.
The judge said the punishment would serve as deterrent to other would-be offenders.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Labaran Ahmed told the court that the case was reported on March 20, at the “A” Police station Jos by one Yab Sunday, the complainant.
The prosecutor said the convict was caught with the 25 litres of diesel by the Police.
The offence, according to him, is punishable under the Plateau state Penal Code Law. (NAN)
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