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JUDICIARY

Tribunal Sacks Oju/Obi Reps Member, Declares Okwu Winner

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Federal High Courts
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From Chris Gaga, Makurdi 

The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, has declared Mr Samson Okwu of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) as winner of the March 23, National Assembly election  for Oju/Obi Federal Constituency.

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) had declared Hon.

David Ogewu of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), winner of the Oju/Obi federal constituency seat in the march 23 elections.

Delivering Judgement on the petition filed by Samson Okwu against Mr David Ogewu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance today the Tribunal Chairman Justice A.A Adeleye ordered The Independent National  Electoral Commission(INEC) to immediately issue a certificate of return to Mr Samson Okwu while the earlier certificate of return issued to Mr David Ogewu of APGA be withdrawn.

According to the Tribunal Chairman, all the witnesses called by the petitioner testified to the fact that election results for Obi local government were not collated by the Oju/Obi returning officer, adding that the petitioner, Mr Samson Okwu was able to prove that the collation and declaration of the APGA candidate, Mr David Ogewu was in non-compliance with the electoral law 

In his ruling, Justice Adeleye further stated that evidence before the tribunal shows that election in Obi was peacefully conducted but the returning officer did not wait to collate it based on allegation that there was apprehension which made him to only announce the result from Oju.

The Tribunal Chairman further stated that the electoral  returning officer for Oju/Obi federal constituency should not have declared David Ogweu as winner of the election in a situation where the result of Obi local government of over 59,000 registered voters was not declared.

In his argument earlier,counsel to Mr Samson Okwu Kenneth Ikonne(SAN) pointed out that the collation of result from Oju had some mathimatical errors and the tribunal agreed with him that  two hundred and fifty two votes has no origin.  The counsel to the 2nd respondent, Mr David Ogewu did not disprove the claim.

The two hundred and fifty two votes out of the total votes gotten by the APGA candidate in Oju was however deducted which brought the total votes in the two local govt for Mr David Ogewu to 13,306 votes , while the petitioner Mr Samson Okwu total votes was put at 14, 300.  

Justice Adeleye however said that the Tribunal has power to add up valid votes in the two local govt and accordingly noted that in the final collated result Samson Okwu of the Peoples Democratic Party led with a total of 994 votes 

Reacting to the judgment,the chairman of Obi Local govt  Mr Joseph  Ipenyi described the judgment as wonderful and a victory for the Igede people.

He however called on the candidate of the APGA Mr David Ogewu to embrace Mr Samson Okwu the House of Representative member for Oju/Obi federal Constituency to chart a way forward for the development of Igede land.

The member representing Obi at the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Oche applauded th  ruling, saying it has lifted the burden of sleepless nights on the Igede nation. 

Our Correspondent reports that the 2nd respondent, David Ekwu of APGA who was not issued certificate of return since the election wasclast week handed a certificate of return following an Appeal court order. 

CRIME

3 Docked for Allegedly Breaking into Bank, Stealing Laptops

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Three men, Olufemi Faleti, 59, Ayoade Adewale 41 and Idowu Yusuf, 41, on Friday, were brought before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court Ibadan charged with breaking into a bank and stealing laptops.

The defendants,whose addresses were not provided, were charged with conspiracy, house breaking and stealing, to which they pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Insp Elisha Tellang told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on March 24, at 7:30 p.

m, at First Bank, Asogo, Oyo.

He alleged that the defendants broke into the bank and stole two laptops worth N800, 000.

Tellang said the offences contravened Sections 516, 413 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Mrs Moyosore Atanda granted each defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 and with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case until Sept. 8, for hearing. (NAN)

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CRIME

Ex-convict Bags 2 years Imprisonment for Stealing Speaker, Mobile Phone

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 An Ota Magistrate’s Court in Ogun, on Friday, sentenced a 21-year-old ex-convict, Habeeb Jimoh, to two years imprisonment for stealing a Zealot speaker, Infinix mobile phone and other goods worth N595,000.

In her judgment, the Magistrate, Mrs O.

O.

Fadairo, sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Fadairo said that the prosecution counsel had proven beyond reasonable doubt that he was guilty of the charge preferred against him.

The convict, of no fixed address, had pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. E. O. Adaraloye, told the court that the convict committed the offence on May 28, at about 3.

00 a.m. at Singer area, Ewupe in Sango-Ota.

Adaraloye said that the security guard identified him after stealing a Zealot speaker, an Infinix phone and other items, worth N595,000, after which he fled.

According to him, the offence contravenes Section 390 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006. (NAN)

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CRIME

Man Bangs 7 years Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking 

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 A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a 24-year-old man, Emmanuel Chekwube, to seven years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

Justice Lewis Allagoa sentenced the convict after he had pleaded guilty to the four-count charge of drug trafficking.

Allagoa, however, gave the convict an option of five million naira fine.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had arraigned Chekwube on charges of conspiracy, illegal storage of restricted drug, unlawful use of premises to store banned narcotics and unlawful deal in narcotics.

He had pleaded guilty to the charges.

Following his plea, the Prosecutor, Ms M.

I. Erondu, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered several exhibits before the court, such as: a statement of the defendant, a drug analysis form and packaging of substance form.

Also tendered were: remnant of the narcotics, request for scientific aid form and transparent pouch, among others.

The prosecutor then urged the court to convict the defendant based on his plea as well as the evidences adduced.

Consequently, the judge convicted the defendant as charged.

Before the sentence, the defence had prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy, saying that as his client was a first time offender and that he would turn a new leaf.

Delivering his verdict afterwards, Allagoa sentenced Chekwube to seven years imprisonment on each count, which, he said, would run concurrently.

He, however, gave the convict an option of five million naira fine.

In the charge, the convict was said to have committed the offences on May 7 at Amukoko, Ijora area of Lagos.

He was said to have used the premises to engage in illegal storage of 56.2 kg Tramadol Hydrochloride, 1.2 kg Nitrazepam and 72g of Swinol

All the substances are said to have been listed in the NDLEA schedule as banned narcotics, thus contravening the provisions of Sections 12 and 14(b) of NDLEA Act, 2004. (NAN)

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