COVER
Supreme Court, APC Deny Tinubu’s Alleged Conversation with CJN
The Supreme Court, yesterday said there was no conversation between Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), and President Bola Tinubu regarding the outcome of the election petition tribunal.
Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, standard bearers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), are challenging the victory of Tinubu in the last election.
Abubakar and Obi recently submitted their final written addresses after closing their respective cases at the election tribunal.
The tribunal is yet to fix a date for judgment in the petitions.
However, Jackson Ude, a Twitter user, had claimed that the president spoke with the CJN over the outcome of the presidential election petition.
Ude alleged that the CJN told Tinubu to prepare for a rerun election.
Reacting to the allegation in a statement on Wednesday, Festus Akande, spokesperson of the Supreme Court, described the claim as “false”.
“It is imperative to state clearly that there is no iota of truth in the narrative, as there was no such telephone conversation between the CJN and anyone,” Akande said.
“Nigerians have been following the proceedings at the presidential election petition tribunal with admirable enthusiasm.
“So, it is advisable we all sustain the tempo and follow it up to the end, instead of relapsing into the realm of speculations and rumour peddling that will not do anyone any good.
“If this current trend of falsehood and mudslinging is sustained, our nation may not make the desired progress.
“The courts are statutorily established to serve the best interest of the masses and we are ever poised to do that to the best of our ability.
“We wish to plead with everyone to cooperate with the judiciary to serve the country to its full capacity, as no one will ever be favoured against the other in any dispute.
“The rule of law and supremacy of the Nigerian constitution will always be upheld and applied in every matter that comes before the courts; as the facts presented and the subsisting laws must be applied in determining the merit or otherwise of each matter.
“The public should rest assured that justice will be done to all matters pending in the various courts across the country, irrespective of who is involved.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has also denied the allegation by Ude.
Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed report of an alleged telephone conversation between the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola and President Bola Tinubu over the outcome of the presidential election petition currently before the court.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary in Abuja.
The party described the speculations as mischievous, adding that the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) should be allowed to do its job.
“We have become aware of a decidedly mischievous and intentionally misleading tweet by Mr Jackson Ude.
“He alleged that President Tinubu had a telephone conversation with the CJN, in which the CJN purportedly told the president and the APC to prepare for a presidential election rerun,” Morka said.
He said it was disturbing and disgraceful for Ude to fabricate a falsehood of this kind on a matter of serious national importance that was actively under review by the PEPC.
He maintained that Tinubu and the APC won the Feb. 25 presidential election without a doubt.
Morka added that the party and Tinubu do not have any need to engage in side conversations with the CJN regarding pending petitions before the PEPC.
He said as the core democrat that he is, Tinubu respects the right of aggrieved candidates in the election to seek redress for any grievances they may have.
He noted that the Constitution and the Electoral Act provided effective guarantees of that right.
“The PEPC should be afforded the time and space to perform its important constitutional and statutory duty of adjudicating and delivering a verdict in the matter without needlessly calling the integrity of our Judges into question.
“Falsehood and conjecture by the likes of Ude only aim to inflame political passions, create doubt and panic, and preemptively undermine the verdict of the courts in this important matter.
“We are confident that Nigerians are smarter and more discerning than to be affected by this opposition brand of tasteless and crass mercenary expedition,” the APC said. (NAN)
Atiku’s Witnesses Fail to Prove Electoral Fraud against Tinubu — INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja to dismiss Atiku Abubakar’s petition challenging the outcome of the February 25, election.
The commission said the 27 witnesses he called to prove his petition fell far short 100 he proposed to call.
Atiku, the presidential flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the disputed poll, is challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu.
INEC had on 1 March declared Mr Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) election winner.
One of Atiku’s major issues with the election centred around INEC’s alleged manipulation of votes in favour of Mr Tinubu.
He alleged that the electoral umpire allowed a third-party device to hijack its electronic Results Viewing (IReV) portal during the presidential election, creating a loophole for Mr Tinubu to manipulate poll results.
Atiku, the 1st runner-up at the poll, proposed during the pre-hearing session to call 100 witnesses to prove allegations of electoral malpractices and fraud against INEC and Mr Tinubu.
However, he presented 27 witnesses who comprised electoral officers and experts to substantiate his claims.
INEC had blamed its inability to upload photographic copies of polling units’ results of the Presidential election on its IReV portal on technical glitches.
In its final written address in response to Atiku’s allegations of electoral fraud, INEC, through its lead counsel, Abubakar Mahmoud, told the court that Atiku called only 24 witnesses from over 176,000 polling stations.
Mahmoud, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued that 24 witnesses were insufficient to establish electoral malpractices in the 176,000 polling units across Nigeria where the presidential election was held last February.
“By law, the petitioners (Atiku and PDP) must prove through credible evidence from the 176,000 polling units that the non-use of the BVAS device to transmit the results real-time affected the outcome of the (presidential) election,” Mr Mahmoud argued.
The lawyer further contended that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, which Atiku alleged were not functioning properly in the 176,000 polling units in Nigeria during the polls, were not produced by the PDP candidate in support of his case.
He said all of Atiku’s witnesses testified before the five-member panel of the court that the BVAS device functioned adequately except for the uploading of images of the presidential election from the polling stations, which INEC argued did not detract from the election’s “integrity and credibility.”
Responding to Atiku’s allegations of manipulation of ballots, BVAS, intimidation and harassment of voters and massive thumb printing of ballot papers, amongst others, the commission said the allegations were criminal in nature.
“We submit that these allegations as contained in the petition are criminal in nature and must be proved beyond reasonable doubt.”
Alleged manipulations in Sokoto, Kano, Kogi, Borno, Lagos and Rivers
The electoral commission contended that Atiku and the PDP failed to prove results cancellation in 241 polling stations in Sokoto State during the presidential election.
It said Atiku’s reliance on Dino Melaye, PDP’s national coordinator for the presidential election, was fatal.
In his testimony before the court, Mr Melaye, PDP’s candidate for the forthcoming 11 November Kogi State governorship election, said there was substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act in INEC’s conduct of the polls.
But the commission, in its address, urged the court to discountenance Mr Melaye’s testimony, arguing that “he operated from” PDP’s situation room in Abuja and cannot give an accurate account of what transpired on election day across Kogi and other parts of the country.
In Kano State, INEC said the petitioners failed to prove how electoral officers’ inability to properly fill out polling units’ booklets robbed Atiku of votes cast during the polls.
“The petitioners’ failure to bring before this court the affected forms from the 44 local government areas in Kano State is that this court is being urged to speculate on the allegation of improper filling of electoral documents used in the election,” the INEC’s final written address read partly.
It will be recalled that Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), won the election in Kano overwhelmingly.
Mr Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano, came fourth in the race, scoring over a million votes.
In Borno, INEC pointed out that Atiku did not mention at what stage of the electoral process it “imputed wrong results” for him. It said the petitioners failed to prove allegations of corrupt practices in Borno State during the election.
Atiku and the PDP had alleged issues of voter intimidation and harassment in Lagos, Mr Tinubu’s home state.
But the commission argued that the petitioners’ witnesses, in their evidence-in-chief, never mentioned names of high-profile persons who threatened to hurt voters in Lagos for refusing to vote for Mr Tinubu.
“Despite these weighty allegations in their pleadings, the petitioners failed to adduce cogent and credible evidence in support of these assertions,” Mahmoud wrote in the INEC’s final address.
Mr Mahmoud told the court that Atiku “failed to discharge the onus of proof placed on him to displace the presumption of the regularity of the election.”
“They failed to prove that the 2nd respondent (Mr Tinubu) was, at the time of the election, not qualified to contest the election.
“They failed to prove that scoring 25 per cent of the votes cast at the FCT is a condition precedent to winning the presidential election under the constitution.
“The 1st respondent (INEC)’s case was unchallenged,” Mr Mahmoud said, urging the court to dismiss Atiku’s suit and affirm Mr Tinubu’s victory.
Mr Obi and his party, the Labour Party, are expected also to file and serve their response to the individual written addresses of the INEC, Mr Tinubu and the APC.
A date will then be fixed by a five-person panel of the court headed by Haruna Tsammani for closing arguments of parties to the suit.
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello will spend the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year days in Kuje prison, Abuja, following refusal of his bail application by the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Justice Maryann Anenih yesterday adjourned the case until Jan.
29, Feb. 25, and Feb. 27, 2025 for the continuation of the hearing.The former governor is standing trial, along with two others, in an N110 billion money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Anenih had refused to grant a bail application filed by Bello, saying it was filed prematurely.
The judge admitted Umar Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, to bail in the sum of N 300 million each with two sureties.
Justice Anenih, while delivering a ruling said, having been filed when Bello was neither in custody nor before the court, the instant application was incompetent.
“Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused,” she said.
Recalling the arguments before the court on the bail application, the judge had said, “before the court is a motion on notice, dated and filed on Nov. 22.
“The 1st Defendant seeks an order of this honourable court admitting him to bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge.
“That he became aware of the instant charge through the public summons. That he is a two-term governor of Kogi State. That if released on bail, he would not interfere with the witnesses and not jump bail.”
She said the Defendant’s Counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, had told the court that he had submitted sufficient facts to grant the bail.
He urged the court to exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously to grant the bail.
Opposing the bail application, the Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the instant application was grossly incompetent, having been filed before arraignment.
He said it ought to be filed after arraignment but the 1st Defendant’s Counsel disagreed, saying there was no authority
“That says that an application can only be filed when it is ripe for hearing.”
Justice Anenih held that the instant application for bail showed that it was filed several days after the 1st defendant was taken into custody.”
Citing the ACJA, the judge said the provision provided that an application for bail could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned or brought before the court.
Bello had filed an application for his bail on November 22 but was taken into custody on November 26 and arraigned on Nov. 27.
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Association (CONAECDA) has called on the federal government to intensify efforts in the resettlement of displaced persons in their ancestral homes.
The organization made this call at the end of its conference held in Jos, the Plateau State Capital weekend.
Thirty resolutions were passed covering security, economy, politics, governance, culture, languages, human rights and indigenous peoples’ rights among others.
The Conference President, Samuel Achie and Secretary Suleman Sukukum in a communique noted that the conference received and discussed reports from communities based on which resolutions were reached on securing, reconstruction, rehabilitation and returning communities displaced by violence across the Middle Belt.
“After considering the reports from communities displaced by violent conflicts, conference resolved, and called on government to focus on providing security to deter further displacements.
“Call on government to provide security to enable communities to return. Government and donor partners should assist in reconstructing and returning displaced communities,” the communique stated.
The GOC 3 Armoured Division Nigeria Army represented by Lt Col Abdullahi Mohammed said the Nigerian Army is committed to working closely with communities to achieve a crime-free society, urging communities to support them with credible information.
“Security is a collective effort, and we cannot do it alone, the community plays a crucial role in ensuring safety.
“We urge everyone here not to shield or protect individuals involved in criminal activities. Transparency and collaboration, together, with maximum cooperation, we can achieve peace, security, and prosperity for our society,” the GOC stated.
The National Coordinator of CONECDA, Dr. Zuwaghu Bonat in his address at the gathering noted that the theme of this year’s program, Returning, Resettling, and Rehabilitating Displaced Communities, was chosen as a wakeup call on the federal government.
He maintained that the organization is aware that President Bola Tinubu has expressed a commitment to ensuring that displaced communities return to their ancestral lands.
He said similarly, some state governments, including Plateau State, have set up committees to address the lingering matter.
The coordinator however cautioned, “It is critical that we avoid generalizations or profiling. For instance, Not all Muslims are involved in terrorism. The overwhelming majority of Muslims in Nigeria are peaceful and reject extremist ideologies.
“We also know that some terrorists exploit religion to mobilize support or rationalize their actions. However, their atrocities – slaughtering women, cutting open pregnant mothers, and killing children show a profound disregard for humanity and God. Normal human beings would not commit such acts.
“We must also be cautious about lumping banditry with terrorism. While statistics indicate that many bandits and kidnappers may share similar ethnic backgrounds, kidnapping has now evolved into a profit-driven enterprise. This distinction is vital to address the root causes effectively,” he stated.
The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang represented by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Middle Belt Nationalities, Hon Daniel Kwada noted that the conference was apt to addressed the various underlying issues bedeviling the region and its people.
“We in the Middle Belt have long been standing at the crossroads of Nigeria’s complex history. Despite our tireless efforts to stabilize this nation, we have faced immense challenges, including underdevelopment, security issues, and marginalization.
“Often, we are unfairly maligned, but gatherings like this offer a chance to change the narrative.
“Such conferences set the tone for better discussions. They allow us to drive processes that bring development, ensure security, and elevate our people to greater heights,” Mutfwang noted.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has called on banks to reinforce their corporate governance principles and risk management frameworks to boost investor confidence during the ongoing recapitalisation exercise.
Dr Emomotimi Agama, Director-General, SEC, said this at the yearly workshop of the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) held in Lagos.
The theme of the workshop is: “Recapitalisation: Bridging the Gap between Investors and Issuers in the Nigerian Capital Market”.
Agama, represented by the Divisional Head of Legal and Enforcement at the SEC, Mr John Achile, stated that the 2024–2026 banking sector recapitalisation framework offers clear guidance for issuers while prioritising the protection of investors’ interests
He restated the commission’s commitment towards ensuring transparency and efficiency in the recapitalisation process.
The director-general stated that the key to bridging the gap between issuers and investors remained the harnessing of innovation for inclusive growth.
In view of this, Agama said, “SEC, through the aid of digital platform, is exploring the integration of blockchain technology for secure and transparent transaction processing to redefine trust in the market.”
He added that the oversubscription of most recapitalisation offers in 2024 reflects strong investor confidence.
To sustain this momentum, the director-general said that SEC had intensified efforts to enhance disclosure standards and corporate governance practices.
According to him, expanding financial literacy campaigns and collaborating with fintech companies to provide low-entry investment options will democratise access to the capital market.
He assured stakeholders of the commission’s steadfastness in achieving its mission of creating an enabling environment for seamless and transparent capital formation.
“Our efforts are anchored on providing issuers with clear guidelines and maintaining open lines of communication with all market stakeholders, reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks through digitalisation.
“We also ensure timely review and approval of applications, and enhancing regulatory oversight to protect investors while promoting market integrity,” he added.
Agama listed constraints to the exercise to include: addressing market volatility, systemic risks, limited retail participation as well as combating skepticism among investors who demand greater transparency and accountability.
He said: “We are equally presented with opportunities which include leveraging technology to deepen financial inclusion and enhance market liquidity.
“It also involves developing innovative financial products, such as green bonds and sukuk, to attract diverse investor segments.
“The success of recapitalisation efforts depends on collaboration among regulators, issuers, and investors.”
Speaking on market infrastructure at the panel session, Achile said SEC provides oversight to every operations in the market, ranging from technology innovations to market.
He stated that the commission is committed to transparency and being mindful of the benefits and risks associated with technology adoption.
Achile noted that SEC does due diligence to all the innovative ideas that comes into the market to ensure adequate compliance with the requirements.
On the rising unclaimed dividend figure, Achile blamed the inability of investors to comply with regulatory requirements and information gap.
He noted that SEC had done everything within its powers to ensure that investors receive their dividend at the appropriate time.
He, however, assured that the commission would continue to strengthen its dual role of market regulation and investor protection to boost confidence in the market.
In her welcome address, the Chairman of CAMCAN, Mrs Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma, said banks’ recapitalisation is not just a regulatory requirement, but an opportunity to rebuild trust, strengthen the capital market, and drive sustainable growth.
Joel-Nwokeoma stated that the recent recapitalisation in the banking sector had brought to the fore the need for a more robust and inclusive capital market.
She added that as banks seek to strengthen their balance sheets and improve their capital adequacy ratios, it is imperative to create an environment that fosters trust, transparency, and cooperation between investors and issuers.
The chairman called for collaboration to bridge the gap between investors and issuers to create a more inclusive and vibrant Nigerian capital market.She said: “we must work together to strengthen corporate governance and risk management practices in banks, enhance disclosure and transparency requirements for issuers.” NAN
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