JUDICIARY
Tribunal Sacks Oju/Obi Reps Member, Declares Okwu Winner
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a certificate of return to Mr Samson Okwu while the earlier certificate of return issued to Mr David Ogewu of APGA be withdrawn.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.
Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa says the judiciary remains the hope of the common man in the society, charging officers in the temple of justice to always strive to be upright.Diri said this on Friday in Yenagoa at a Thanksgiving/Valedictory Court Section for the commencement of the 2025/2026 Legal Year in the state.
The governor said: “It has become an annual ritual but we all know that the bible says seek ye first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added on to thee. “Today we are handing over this new legal year to God for His protection to the judiciary. I believe you are going to do beyond our expectations with God on your side.“In this country today without exception, I appeal to us Nigerians, Bayelsa people to allow the judiciary to be used by God, to be allowed to work to the best of their ability and conscience to deliver incorruptible and sound judgement.”Diri said that the trust of the public lies with the judiciary which demands justice for all manner of people, irrespective of the class in the society.The governor urged the judiciary especially the judges to always stand tall on what is right, as they are highly autonomous as an arm of the government.On her part, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa, commended the Bayelsa government for the support in various ways to ensure that the judiciary is autonomous.She said that the judiciary enjoys cordial working relationship with the Nigeria Bar Association, the Legislature and the Executive.The chief judge said that the new legal year allows them to assess the previous year, adding that it is a day of accountability towards the people they serve and to strengthen the rule of law.Ayemieye said that the Bayelsa judiciary aspires to be one of the best judiciary as they have earned respect among other judiciary in the country.Also, Mr Biriyai Dambo (SAN) the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, expressed happiness over the commencement of the new legal year.He said that they are committed to service delivery in Bayelsa and commended the bar and the bench for their hard work to ensure that justice is served in Bayelsa.The Commissioner said that for the past years the judicial system had changed and that the welfare of the judiciary and that of the Ministry Justice is one of the priorities of Diri’s administration which has paid in full all monies owed law officers.“This current administration has boosted the morale of law officers, as they have contributed to the justice delivery in Bayelsa state.“This current administration has equally assisted the NBA Yenagoa and Sagbama branches respectively. My office is wide open to enhance the justice system in Bayelsa state,” he said. (NAN)
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed cybercrime charges filed by the Inspector-General of Police against a female medical doctor, Bolanle Aseyan. Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu discharged and acquitted Aseyan, stating that the police failed to prove the essential elements of the alleged offences.
The Inspector-General had arraigned Aseyan on a four-count charge of defamation, harassment, and intimidation against another doctor, Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya. The police alleged that Aseyan used social media platforms to harm Ogunsanya’s reputation. He was said to be her former boyfriend. The charges were filed under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, which addresses online threats and cyber harassment. To support the case, the police presented three witnesses. Aseyan also called two witnesses to testify in her defence during the trial. Justice Lifu, while reviewing the matter, noted both doctors were once in a romantic relationship before it turned sour. He further observed that the two had sexual relations while in the United Kingdom and later made conflicting social media posts against each other. The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore could not secure a conviction. Specifically, the judge said the defendant’s alleged Twitter handle used in the cyberbullying was not tendered as evidence before the court. Justice Lifu also said there was no proof of threats or intimidation, but rather evidence of a previous affectionate relationship. Consequently, the judge dismissed all four charges, discharged and acquitted Aseyan, and declared the case closed. He ordered the police to immediately return all seized items, including her international passport, upon service of the judgment. Aseyan said she met Ogunsanya online in 2019 and travelled to the United Kingdom in 2020, where she claimed she was raped. She stated that upon arrival in Leeds on March 7, 2020, tired and disoriented, Ogunsanya offered her wine shortly after she got to his home. She alleged that after taking the drink, she passed out and later woke up to find that he had allegedly had sex with her without consent. Aseyan further claimed that Ogunsanya maltreated her before she returned to Nigeria shortly after the alleged incident. (NAN) From Abdullahi Abubakar, Ilorin.
A Kwara State High court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced Abdulrahman Bello, a self-acclaimed cleric and the killer of Hafsoh Lawal, a final year student of the Kwara State College of Education to death, by hanging. This was contained in a judgement delivered by Justice Hannah Ajayi on Thursday, in which, four other defendants were set free and cleared of any wrongdoings.
Charged with five-count, the judge started by acquitting the four out of the five defendants namely Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Jamiu Uthman, Suleiman Muyideen and Abdulrahman Jamiu of any complicity, subsequently setting them free of taking part in the death of the victim (Hafsoh Lawal).
However, Justice Ajayi, while delivering judgment on the main culprit, described Bello’s act as cruel, wicked, and an extreme display of human wickedness, saying all evidence proved that Hafsoh was killed in order to be used for money ritual and trading in human parts.
The judge further noted that Abdulrahman’s confession of love and plan to marry the victim, are all concocted lies to lure her to his residence in order to kill her. She therefore sentenced Abdulrahman Bello to death by hanging while setting free the other four suspects not guilty.
It would be recalled that the victim went missing, sometimes in February 2025, shortly after attending the naming ceremony of a family member. When she left, but didn’t return later in the day, her parents went into panic mode, and search party was raised, and a complaint was lodged at the police station.
Her phone line was tracked, and traced to the suspect’s (as it were) area. Upon invitation and interrogation, it was discovered that he is a serial killer, who had killed many victims before Hafsoh.
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