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Tinubu Accuses PDP, LP, Others of Plot to Scuttle Presidential Inauguration
President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has warned the duo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) to stop blackmailing the judiciary.
Tinubu gave the warning through his Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, who alleged that two political parties and their surrogates, whom he described as lawyers, clerics and some ethnic groups, had “mounted a desperate campaign for the postponement of the inauguration of the President-elect on May 29.
He insisted that the 2023 election was the best and the most free, fair and transparent since the second republic.
In a statement issued via his Twitter handle yesterday, Onanuga tackled the emeritus Catholic Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan for his claim that the election was rigged, saying the claim was nothing but a lie and a malicious propaganda told repeatedly by the opposition parties and their supporters.
His statement is coming on the heels of the commencement of sitting by the presidential election petition tribunal yesterday.
The spokesman claimed that introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, made a significant difference in the 2023 elections, which he described as the best since the return to democracy in 1999.
Onanuga said those criticizing the electoral commission on account of the non-transmission of the results recorded at the polling units were being mischievous.
He insisted it was because “the outcome of the election, especially the presidential election did not match their expectation.”
“PDP and LP must stop the blackmail against the judiciary
“I have witnessed many elections since 1979 and I can say without any equivocation that the 2023 election was the best, the most free and fair, the most transparent.
“Those who are pillorying the election and INEC, the electoral umpire are simply saying so because the outcome of the election, especially the presidential election did not match their expectation.
“The Labour Party and the PDP and their surrogates, some of them lawyers, clerics and some ethnic groups have also mounted desperate campaigns for the postponement of the inauguration of the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 29 May.
“As the tribunal begins sitting today, let Labour and its senior partner, the PDP stop further blackmail of the judiciary. Enough is Enough,” the statement read in part.
Presidential Election Tribunal Dismisses AA Party’s Petition against Tinubu
The Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja yesterday dismissed one of the five petitions challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu in the 25 February poll.
A five-member panel of the court led by Haruna Tsammani dismissed the case after the petitioner’s lawyer announced its withdrawal.
It was the first among the five petitions received by the court to be called for hearing.
The court earlier held its inaugural sitting during which it assured all litigants that it would do justice to all parties to the case pending before it.
Lawyers, in response, gave their commitment to cooperate with the court.
The panel members went on a short break after the ceremonial opening of the court and returned to begin hearing AA’s case.
A confusion about the legal representative of the party ensued when the party’s case was called.
Oba Maduabuchi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, first announced appearance for the AA party. Another lawyer, Malachi Umuebe, also announced appearance for the party.
Mr Maduabuchi insisted that he was the party’s lawyer.
The court discountenanced Mr Umuebe since he was not the one who filed the petition before the court.
Shortly after the court recognised Mr Maduabuchi, the lawyer announced the withdrawal of the case.
The respondents’ lawyers – Wole Olanipekun, SAN, representing Mr Tinubu, and Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said they had no objection against the application for the withdrawal of the petition.
The court then dismissed the petition.
But the Action Alliance has urged the court to nullify the polls owing to alleged refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload the name of its actual presidential candidate – Solomon-David Okanigbuan – to its portal for the February poll.
The National Chairman of Action Alliance, Adekunle Omo-Aje, had said in January that Hamza Al-Mustapha, recognised by INEC was not the authentic presidential candidate of the party.
He spoke against the background of the leadership tussle rocking his party, which gave rise to the emergence of two presidential candidates.
Tribunal Adjourns to May 10
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned its sitting to Wednesday, May 10, matters brought before it by the Labour Party and Peter Obi and that of the Action Peoples Party (APP), challenging the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
This was disclosed yesterday by one of the spokespersons for the Labour Party, LP, Kenneth Okonkwo,
“After a brief pre-hearing trial, the case was adjourned to Wednesday, 10th May 2023 at 2 pm prompt,” Okonkwo wrote.
The presidential election petition tribunal commenced proceedings in Abuja, yesterday.
Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his counterpart in the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi are challenging the declaration of Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of the February 25 presidential poll.
Rejects Lalong as Tinubu’s Representative
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has barred Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State from standing before it as the representative of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
The Plateau State Governor had stood up and announced himself as Tinubu’s representative immediately after the first petition lodged against the outcome of the 2023 presidential election was called up.
“My Lords, my name is Simon Lalong, and I am here to represent Tinubu,” the Governor stated.
However, Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel declined to recognize him as Tinubu’s representative.
“You cannot represent an individual. Tinubu is not a corporation that would need a representative,” the presiding justice held.
But Governor Lalong responded, “My Lords, in that case, I will represent the All Progressives Congress, APC.”
Tribunal Adjourns Sitting to Hear PDP, APM Petitions Today
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, the nation’s capital has adjourned its sitting to today.
It also adjourned for the continuation of pre-hearing proceedings till Wednesday for the petition of the Labour Party and Peter Obi and that of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
Today’s proceedings will have the petitions of Atiku Abubakar and Allied People’s Movement in its schedule.
The commencement of the tribunal’s pre-hearing of the petitions challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress polled 8,794,726 votes to win the election. While Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party came second with 6,984,520 votes, Peter Obi of the Labour Party was third with 6,101,533 votes.
Having rejected the outcome of the polls, Atiku and Obi approached the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to annul Tinubu’s victory.
At yesterday’s hearing, the tribunal headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani assured all parties involved that justice will be served.
In attendance at Monday’s pre-hearing are lawyers to the petitioners, journalist, Governor Simon Lalong of the APC and Mr Obi of the LP.
Other panel members include Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf, Justice Boloukuoromo Moses Ugo and Justice Abbah Mohammed.
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By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
Senate yesterday set up a seven-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the lack of completion of the $18.5billion Abuja Centenary Economic City project, a decade after commencement.The Upper Chamber tasked the committee to review the original Public Private Partnership agreement and recommend amendments if necessary to facilitate the smooth and expeditious completion of the project.
The Senate also urged the Federal Government to prioritise the revival of the Centenary City project by providing appropriate support, resolving regulatory issues and addressing any other impediments, given its beneficial potential to the economy and people of Nigeria after 10 years of stalled progress. The resolutions of the senate followed its consideration of a motion titled: “Urgent need to revive and complete the stalled Centenary City Project, to realise its economic and development potential” during plenary yesterday.The motion was sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ashiru Yisa (APC – Kwara South).Senator Yisa in his lead debate urged colleagues to note that the Abuja Centenary Economic City project commenced in 2014 through a public private partnership to develop a modern city in the mood of Dubai, to commemorate 100 years of Nigeria’s amalgamation celebration.The Abuja Centenary Economic City Project was to be built according to the model and standard of global smart cities like Dubai, Monaco and Singapore.President Goodluck Jonathan laid foundation for the project on February 27, 2014 with a funfare.After Jonathan was defeated in the 2015 general elections, the succeeding Muhammadu Buhari administration put a halt to the project.The project driven by private investors was launched to mark the 100th anniversary of Nigeria costing $18b with 10–15 years completion period.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a July 7, 2024 deadline for Point of Sales (PoS) operators to complete registration with the Corporate Affairs Corporation (CAC).This was revealed during a meeting between Fintechs and the Registrar-General/Chief Executive Officer (CAC) Hussaini Magaji (SAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, the CAC boss said the two-month timeline to register their agents, merchants, and individuals with the commission, was “in line with legal requirements and the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria”. “The measure aims at safeguarding the businesses of Fintech’s customers and strengthening the economy,” a statement titled ‘CAC, PoS Operators Agree to Two-Month Deadline to Register Their Agents and Merchants to Strengthen the Fintech Industry”, the CAC added.He stressed that the action was equally backed by Section 863, Subsection 1 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAMA 2020, and the 2013 CBN guidelines on agent banking.Magaji explained that the timeline for the registration which will expire on July 7, 2024, was not targeted at any groups or individuals but aimed at protecting businesses.Several speakers from the Fintech industry pledged to collaborate with the commission to ensure hitch-free implementation of the directive.Some of them, however, stressed the need for adequate and collective sensitisation, to ensure that the exercise achieved the desired results.The Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Innovation, Tokoni Peter, in his remarks, pledged to ensure smooth facilitation of the process in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative of the present administrationThe representatives of Opay, Momba, Palmpay Ltd, Pay Stack, Fair Money MFB, Monie Point, and Teasy Pay present at the event, later signed up for a document to support the project.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has exempted 16 items from the 0.5 per cent Cybersecurity levy on all electronic transactions.CBN had directed banks to begin charging 0.5% cybersecurity levy on transactions as part of efforts to contain the rising cybercrime threats in the financial system.
According to the Apex Bank, deducted funds will be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund (NCF), which shall be administered by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). A circular released by the CBN on Monday directed all commercial, merchant, non-interest and payment service banks to comply with the directive.The circular revealed that it was a follow-up on an earlier letter dated June 25, 2018 (Ref: BPS/DIR/GEN/CIR/05/008) and October 5, 2018 (Ref: BSD/DIR/GEN/LAB/11/023), in compliance with the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015.Following the enactment of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (amendment) Act 2024 and under the provision of Section 44 (2)(a) of the Act, a levy of 0.5 per cent (0.005) equivalent to half per cent of all electronic transactions value by the business specified in the Second Schedule of the Act is to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund, which the Office of the National Security Adviser shall administer.The exemptions included loan disbursements and repayments, salary payments, intra-account transfers within the same bank or between different banks for the same customer, intra-bank transfers between customers of the same bank, and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) instructions to their correspondent banks.The exemption also applies to interbank placements, banks’ transfers to CBN and vice versa, inter-branch transfers within a bank, cheque clearing and settlements, and Letters of Credit (LCs).Others include banks’ recapitalisation-related funding only bulk funds movement from collection accounts; savings and deposits including transactions involving long-term investments such as treasury bills, bonds; and commercial papers; government social welfare programmes transactions, e.g. pension payments; non-profit and charitable transactions including donations to registered non-profit organisations or charities; educational institutions transactions, including tuition payments and other transaction involving schools, universities, or other educational institutions.Transactions involving the bank’s internal accounts, such as suspense accounts, clearing accounts, profit and loss accounts, inter-branch accounts, reserve accounts, nostro and vostro accounts, and escrow accounts, are also exempt from the levy.The central bank warned that Section 44 (8) of the Act prescribes that failure to remit the levy constitutes an offence punishable on conviction by a fine of not less than two percent of the defaulting business’s annual turnover, among other things.
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