JUDICIARY
PEPT: APC Threats Pre-emptive Move to Intimidate Judiciary – PDP
By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the threat contained in the written address by lawyers to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) is a pre-emptive move to intimidate the judiciary.
The party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon.
Debo Ologunagba, on Monday that the statement by Tinubu and APC lawyers in the said written address threatening crisis and anarchy in the country in the event of the Court ruling that their clients did not meet the Constitutionally required 25% votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was not only “subversive”, but “an affront to Democratic Order and assault on the corporate existence of the nation. ”The PDP noted that it was alarming and disturbing that the APC externalized to the public, their final written address in which they also threatened national peace if the Court upholds the clear provisions of Section 134 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) with regard to the mandatory and statutory requirements for which a Candidate in a Presidential election can be declared winner.
It said that the threats, either through counsel or officials of the APC was calculated to intimidate and harass the Judiciary and indeed Nigerians.
“The PDP holds that the clear intent of the APC is to blackmail the Court and emasculate the independence of the judiciary to discharge its duties in accordance with the dictates of the law. This action is ostensibly to set the stage to orchestrate violent crisis in various parts of the country with the intention to further blackmail the PEPC.
“We ask, why is the APC externalizing their final written address to the public? Is the APC being pre-emptive and now seeks to heighten tension, subvert the judicial process and trigger anarchy, having realized the weakness of their case before the PEPC?
“The PDP however cautions and emphasizes that Nigeria is a country of Rule of Law. The statutory requirements for a winner in a Presidential election as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022 are clear and unambiguous,” the statement said.
It, therefore, asked the APC to respect the provisions of the law and allow the judiciary to discharge its duties independently, without threats, intimidation and coercion.
“Contrary to the doomsday claims of the APC and its lawyers, upholding the provisions of the Constitution and the laws at this point will rather promote peace and stability in the polity, deepen our democracy and engender confidence in the Institution of the Judiciary,” the PDP said, and called on Nigerians to remain calm, at alert and hopeful in the ability of the Judiciary to dispense justice accordingly.
JUDICIARY
Court Shifts Judgment in Suit Seeking Ganduje’s Sack Until Sept. 23
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, shifted the judgment in a suit seeking the removal of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Sept. 23.The matter, which was earlier fixed for today, was not on the cause list.NAN gathered that the parties in the suit had earlier been reached by the court registrar for a new date because the judgement was not ready.
“We have already called the parties on phone to inform them of the development. A new date is next week, September 23,” a reliable source said.Justice Inyang Ekwo had, on July 5, fixed today (Sept. 18) for the judgment.Justice Ekwo fixed the date after counsel to the plaintiff, Benjamin Davou; and lawyers to the defence adopted their processes and made their submission for and against the case.The plaintiff; the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had filed the suit to queried the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geo-political zone.In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiff listed Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.The plaintiff wants the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the APC.It also prays the court to issue an order directing INEC not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.The plaintiff is contending among others, that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.It argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo- political zone to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the NEC of the party, among other reliefs.(NAN)JUDICIARY
Poultry Farm Manager Faces N160,000 Fraud Charge
A 30-year-old poultry farm manager, Stephen Nwachi, on Thursday, appeared before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, over alleged N160,000 fraud.The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge bordering on felony and advance fee fraud.The police prosecutor, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 24, at 04.
00 p. m. at a poultry farm opposite Zomelo hotel on Okitipupa-Aye Road in Okitipupa.Orogbemi said that the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N160,000 from one Morenike Orukotan, under the pretext of supplying some crates of eggs to her but failed to do so.The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.The Chief Magistrate, Mr Philip Akinlosetu, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety in like sum.He ordered that the surety should reside within the jurisdiction of the court.Akinlosetu also held that the surety should show evidence of two years tax payment to the state government.He adjourned the case until Sept. 17 for further hearing. (NAN)JUDICIARY
Court Remands Man, 44, for Allegedly Defiling 9-year-old Girl
A Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos, on Wednesday remanded a 44-year-old man, Sunday Lukas in custody, for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl.The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, ordered that Lukas be remanded at the Awarjigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry, after he pleaded not guilty to a count charge of assault.
He ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the office of the Director for Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. Adekomaiya, however, adjourned the case until Oct. 28 for ruling on the bail application filed by Lukas and for DPP’s legal advice.Earlier, the police prosecutor, Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 28, at 12.20 p.m., at No. 4, Aribena Site, Ijanikin area of Lagos.He said that Lukas indecently assaulted the nine-year-old girl by inserting his fingers in her private part.The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)