JUDICIARY
Tribunal Judgment, a Miscarriage of Justice – Melaye
Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) on Friday, described the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal judgment nullifying his March 22 election, as a miscarriage of Justice.
The tribunal sitting in Abuja, while delivering judgment in the petition filed by Sen.
Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress(APC), nullified the election and ordered for a fresh one to determine who represents the Kogi West Senatorial District.Melaye in his reaction to the jugment, said it wss full of importation of information alien to the case.
His reaction was contained in a statement signed by him and issued in Lokoja.
“I , however , commend the courage and moral strength of the chairman of the tribunal for resisting evil and standing on the part of justice.
“I have confidence in the appeal court to right the wrongs as contained in the pronouncements of the judgment. I also want to tell those jubilating that their jubilation will be short lived.
“While appealing to my teaming supporters to remain calm as their mandate is safe and secured and cannot be taken away through any mischievous means
“However, Our legal team is already working on appealing the judgment and I assure all that justice will prevail, ” he said.
Also reacting to the tribunal judgement, Mr Bode Ogunmola, the Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi, said the pronouncement would not stand the test of time as he alleged some high level complicity.
“we are going to fight it with everything we have. As a party, the seat belongs to us and whatever they say is not our headache.
“It will have no effect. we are going on appeal immediately and by the grace of God we hope to come out of it a better and stronger party,” Ogunmola assured.
In reaction, Mr Abdul Miliki, a Rights activist and Executive Director , Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) said the court process was yet to be exhausted.
“As far as we are concerned , the court process has not been exhausted and it is only when it is exhausted that one can make a categorical statement,” Miliki who is also from Kogi West said.
Mr Williams Aliwo, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lokoja branch, said though , the judgment viuld be frustrating for Melaye and his constituents, the Judiciary has provided an inherent redress for him to exploit.
“Dino has right of appeal and by the virtue of the Right of Appeal, if exercised within the prescribed statutory period, he will still be in office and will not vacate his seat in the Senate until the determination of his appeal,” he said. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Kano High Court Affirms Ganduje’s Suspension
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)
JUDICIARY
Businessman Jailed 1 Year for Stealing Car Gearbox
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)
JUDICIARY
Security Guard Jailed 3 Months for Stealing 25 Litres of Diesel
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)