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JUDICIARY

Kano Election Tribunal: Gov. Yusuf Closes Case with SSG as Sole Witness

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Kano Election Tribunal

Gov. Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has closed his defence against the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Abdullahi Baffa-Bichi, as a sole witness.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petitioner, APC is challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for declaring Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.

The respondents in the suit are INEC, Yusuf and NNPP.

At the resumed sitting as led in evidence by Counsel to the governor, R. A. Lawal SAN, the second respondent witness (2RW1) adopted his deposition of witness on oath dated May 14, as his evidence.

Baffa-Bichi told the court that Yusuf was declared winner by INEC on March 20, having scored 1,019,602 votes against Nasiru Gawuna of APC, who polled 890,705 votes, with margin difference of 128,897 votes.

“The second respondent is a bonafide member of NNPP with registration number: NNPP/HQ/KN/GWL/DS/001.

“The NNPP membership card was issued by the National body through the State chapter to the local government chapter then the ward and it was signed by the National and Ward chairmen,” Baffa-Bichi said.
Read Also: Guber Election: Tribunal Refuses LP Application to Bring BVAS to Court

Under cross-examination by Counsel to the petitioner, Mr Offiong Offiong SAN, the RW1 informed that he acted as the State returning agent for the second and third respondents at the INEC Kano headquarters level.

Baffa-Bichi said the rules and regulations of the election does not require the list to have pictures, but rather a photo ID pursuant to Section 9 (c) of the Electoral Act.

“I received the summary of results that were read by the state returning agent of INEC after receiving from local government collation offices of INEC.

“INEC are in better position to identify and recognise this statement of result because they are in custody of the originals as certified true copy, ” he stated.

He also told the court that he was at INEC head office Kano to protect the interest of NNPP and Yusuf, and ensure that INEC, its officers and staff substantially comply with the provisions of the Constitution, Electoral Act and guidelines of the manual of election.

“I am fully satisfied that INEC and all its staff from my experience at the collation centre have substantially complied,” Baffa-Bichi asserted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was an earlier mild drama when counsel to the petitioner (Offiong) tendered some documents as exhibit while cross-examining the 2RW1.

But Counsel to INEC, Emmanuel Osayomi, objected the admissibility of all the documents by the petitioner.

“My Lord if the documents are admitted while cross-examing the witness, it will be an unfair trial,” Osayomi argued.

Counsels to Yusuf, Lawal and Counsel to NNPP, John Olusola SAN, also objected the admissibility of the documents.

“There is a witness in the witness box as we speak, the duty of the petitioner is to cross-examine not tendering of documents,” he maintained.

Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay adjourned the matter until July 24, for the third respondent to open their defence.

NAN also reports that the petitioner is also asking the Tribunal to declare that NNPP has no candidate as Yusuf is not in their register of voters submitted to INEC at the time of the election. (NAN) 

JUDICIARY

Pastor Arraigned over Alleged Rape of Married Woman in Edo

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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.

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JUDICIARY

Court Bars Bello from Acting as Nasarawa APC Chairman

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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).

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JUDICIARY

Unemployed Man Arraigned for Allegedly Impersonating Military Officer

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 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)

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