Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), the leading counsel of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi has vowed to expose the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly withholding essential documents, alleging that the electoral umpire is probably trying to manipulate the documents, before releasing them.
According to him, he will focus on the most important witnesses in the case in the three weeks allotted to his team to present their case.
Uzoukwu said this during an interview with journalists Tuesday at the tribunal pre-hearing in Abuja.
“We have written five letters indicating to pay and that we’re ready to collect those documents. The letters were duly received and endorsed by INEC. Why are they telling lies to say that we couldn’t pay? This is very unfortunate.
“What about the documents we have collected? Don’t we pay for them? Of course, we paid for them and those ones were given to us but refused
to give us others,” he said.
Obi’s lawyer also said his party would serve INEC a subpoena as soon as hearing resumes May 30 (a day after inauguration), to compel them to produce the documents.
The lawyer said his team will manage the three weeks allotted, by focusing on the most essential witnesses that would prove the case.
On consolidation of petitions, Uzoukwu explained that all three petitions will be heard together, but each one will maintain its identity.
President Muhammadu Buhari has sought the National Assembly’s approval for the issuance of N16.7 billion promissory note to Borno Government as refund for reconstructed federal roads in the state.
The request is contained in a letter addressed to President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan and read at plenary on Tuesday.
“Distinguished Senate President may wish to be informed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting of May 3, approved the reimbursement of N16,772,486,002.19 to the Borno Government through the issuance of promissory notes in respect of federal road projects executed by the state.
“Distinguished Senate President may wish to note that the FEC had earlier approved the reimbursement of N3,084,769,393.63 to Borno State at its meeting of Feb. 1, along with the approval of N6,601,769,470.99 for reimbursement to the Plateau Government.
“My request for the resolution of the National Assembly for the issuance of promissory notes to the two states has already been forwarded to the National Assembly.
“Distinguished Senate President may wish to note that this approval by FEC for the reimbursement of the additional N16, 772,486,002.19 to the Borno Government was based on an appeal by the state and my directive to the Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure that sufficient funds are provided for the completion of the Damboa/Chibok road based on the current cost of completion of the project,” he said.
Buhari added: “The FEC’s approval was also subsequent to the recommendation of a cabinet committee which reviewed documents submitted by the state and carried out physical inspection and verification of the projects executed by the state government.
“In view of the foregoing, I wish to request the senate to kindly consider and approve through its resolution, the reimbursement of N16,772,486,002.19 through the issuance of promissory notes to Borno Government in respect of the road projects executed by the state on behalf of the federal government.
“The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing would provide any information that may be required by the National Assembly for the consideration of this request.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has sought the National Assembly’s approval for the issuance of N16.7 billion promissory note to Borno Government as refund for reconstructed federal roads in the state.
The request is contained in a letter addressed to President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan and read at plenary on Tuesday.
“Distinguished Senate President may wish to be informed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting of May 3, approved the reimbursement of N16,772,486,002.19 to the Borno Government through the issuance of promissory notes in respect of federal road projects executed by the state.
“Distinguished Senate President may wish to note that the FEC had earlier approved the reimbursement of N3,084,769,393.63 to Borno State at its meeting of Feb. 1, along with the approval of N6,601,769,470.99 for reimbursement to the Plateau Government.
“My request for the resolution of the National Assembly for the issuance of promissory notes to the two states has already been forwarded to the National Assembly.
“Distinguished Senate President may wish to note that this approval by FEC for the reimbursement of the additional N16, 772,486,002.19 to the Borno Government was based on an appeal by the state and my directive to the Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure that sufficient funds are provided for the completion of the Damboa/Chibok road based on the current cost of completion of the project,” he said.
Buhari added: “The FEC’s approval was also subsequent to the recommendation of a cabinet committee which reviewed documents submitted by the state and carried out physical inspection and verification of the projects executed by the state government.
“In view of the foregoing, I wish to request the senate to kindly consider and approve through its resolution, the reimbursement of N16,772,486,002.19 through the issuance of promissory notes to Borno Government in respect of the road projects executed by the state on behalf of the federal government.
“The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing would provide any information that may be required by the National Assembly for the consideration of this request.”
Senate President Ahmad Lawan, says he is not seeking re-election for the position he currently occupies in the 10th national assembly.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lawan said he has neither informed anyone he was vying for the seat nor did he hold any meeting about it.
Since the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced Godswill Akpabio, former minister of Niger Delta affairs and Barau Jibrin, senator representing Kano north, as its choices for senate president and deputy, there have been moves to go against the party.
Lawan, who represents Yobe north, added that as a stakeholder in the All Progressives Congress (APC), he is finding a lasting solution to the 10th assembly leadership tussle.
“I have read some media reports that I have joined the race for the presidency of the 10th senate. Ordinarily, I would not have responded to these reports but when lies are not refuted, they have the tendency to create an illusion of truth,” Lawan said.
“The truth is that I have never told anyone or held a meeting with anyone that I am running for the presidency of the 10th senate. So the public should discountenance the reports.
“The fact remains that I am part of the leadership of our great party, the APC, seeking to find solutions to the numerous issues arising from the contests for the leadership of the 10th national assembly and I will continue to remain focused on that.”
TheCable had reported how Mohammed Sani Musa, Niger east senator vying to be deputy senate president, distanced himself from an alleged plot that he and some senators-elect were working to return Lawan as president of the 10th senate.
Musa said the report of the alleged plot was an attempt to cause disaffection between APC and Bola Tinubu, president-elect.
Three courts have turned down petitions by the Lamidi Apapa-led faction shopping for injunctions against the Labour Party (LP), the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Pastor Obiora Ifoh claimed.
In a statement he signed, Obiora Ifoh said Apapa and his group have continued their search for a court that would grant their injunction in spite of the failed attempt.
He said, “Labour Party sources who have been monitoring the clandestine movement of Akingbade and his team have informed us that the former Legal Adviser has visited three states in the North as at today, moving from one court to the other, shopping for a judge who will give them an injunction in order to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to recognize them.
“They have visited three judges in the North who have all turned down their requests.
“They are still prowling the Northern states with enough liquidity at their disposal to influence the legal officers but we can confirm that as of today, none of the judges have agreed to their tempting offers.
“We therefore commend the judges who have refused their offers, and who are insisting that justice can not be bought.
“Notwithstanding, the unfortunate incident in Kano Federal High court last week where they deceived the judge to enter a judgement against Labour Party.
“We are happy that their motives was not defeated but also the clarification of His Lordship, that his judgement was misinterpreted to mean a blanket punishment against all elected members of the party across Nigeria was heart warming. Labour Party has also swiftly applied for notice of appeal. We believe that justice will also be dispensed accordingly.
“We use this opportunity to call on the judiciary to be up and doing, and to be on notice of the plots of these anti-democratic elements to derail our thriving democracy.
“We also call on the Chief Justice of the Federation and Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to advice judges under them not to allow the name of the judiciary to be dragged into the mud by desperate politicians.
“The judiciary has a duty to protect our democracy and we believe that this arm of government has done well but can still do more until the likes of Apapa and his cohorts are properly caged in accordance with the law and are made to pay for the injury and pains they have continued to inflict on our democracy,” Obiorah stated.
Seun Kuti, the Afrobeat singer, has regained freedom after spending eight days in police detention.
The musician was released to his family on Tuesday evening after meeting his bail conditions.
Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, the singer’s counsel, confirmed he was released around 7.30 pm.
The lawyer also disclosed that Seun will be at the magistrate’s court in Yaba on Wednesday for the proceeding which was adjourned today.
The purpose of that proceeding, according to Adeyinka, is to receive the director of public prosecution (DPP)’s advice.
Seun, the youngest son of Fela Kuti, the late Afrobeat legend, was apprehended on April 15 after he was filmed assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge.
He was detained at the state criminal investigation Department (SCID) and arraigned before the magistrate’s court on April 16.
The police had sought to get an order to further keep him in custody for 21 days pending the conclusion of its investigation.
But Adeola Olatubosun, the chief magistrate of the court, directed the police to detain the musician for additional 48 hours and then release him on bail.
On Thursday, Olatubuson extended Seun’s remand for additional four days to enable the police to continue with its investigation.
She also ordered that Seun’s file be duplicated and sent to the DPP and subsequently adjourned the trial till May 22.
The trial was thereafter shifted to Tuesday, May 23.
The trial was, however, stalled today due to the absence of the chief magistrate.
Earlier in the day, protesters were seen outside the court carrying banners with inscriptions like ‘Free Seun Kuti’ and ‘End Police Brutality’ among others.
Media
[PRESS STATEMENT] Etuboms Traditional Council decries the string of unauthorised letters and announcements that have been making the rounds
AdminStarting from January 2024, Nigeria and other foreign students studying in the United Kingdom (UK) cannot bring their family members to the country as dependents except “under specific circumstances,” Naija News understands.
This is as the UK government put in place a new law that aims to bring immigration into the country that stands at around one million down.
According to Sky News, under the new rule, the UK will remove the ability for international students to switch out of the student route and into work routes before their studies have been completed to prevent misuse of the visa system.
It also noted that “there will also be a review of the maintenance requirement for students and dependents and a crackdown on “unscrupulous” education agents “who make use of inappropriate applications to sell immigration, not education”.
Fresh students starting courses in the UK are expected to take out time to plan to adapt to the new law before it takes effect in January 2024.
In a written ministerial statement published on Tuesday, UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said recent immigration figures had shown an “unexpected rise” in the number of dependants coming to the UK alongside international students.
Naija News learnt also that the new UK Immigration policy will see all master’s students and many other post-graduates banned from bringing family over.
However, the ban will not apply to PhD students, whose courses usually last between 3 and 5 years and are very highly skilled, the UK Media House reported.
Governors from Nigeria’s south-east region have named the Second Niger Bridge after President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari Sallau, the president’s personal assistant on media, wrote on his Facebook page: “Following consultations, the governors of the south-east have agreed that the second Niger Bridge shall be named the Muhammadu Buhari Second Niger Bridge”.
Speaking at the virtual inauguration of the bridge, Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo, said despite the south-east not voting for him, Buhari fulfilled the promise he made to the geopolitical zone.
“He asked for our votes, we did not give him. He made a promise and now he has fulfilled the promise even though we didn’t vote for him.”
Charles Soludo, governor of Anambra, said: “As you (Buhari) leave office, the south-east will remember you. It would not be inappropriate to call you Mr Infrastructure. This is a promise delivered.”
Reacting to the naming of the bridge, Tolu Ogunlesi, a special assistant to the president on digital and new media, said the south-east governors agreed to name the new bridge after the president.
“Following consultations, the governors of the south-east have agreed that the Second Niger Bridge shall be named the Muhammadu Buhari Second Niger Bridge.”
On December 15, 2022, the federal government opened the Second Niger Bridge for use, in order to ease traffic in the south-east during the festive season.
The bridge opened for one month during the yuletide and was later closed to traffic on January 15, 2023, for the completion of the Loko-Oweto Bridge and link roads between Benue and Nasarawa states.
On May 15, the bridge was fully opened to motorists, while some finishing touches like lane markings were ongoing.
In a statement on Monday, Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesperson, said Buhari is expected to commission seven legacy projects, including the Second Niger Bridge, on Tuesday.
On his part, Bashir Ahmad, special assistant on digital communication to Buhari, on Tuesday, announced that the 1.6 km long bridge has been named after the president.
“The name is now being officiated. Thank God for our brand new Muhammadu Buhari bridge. Thank you, President Muhammadu Buhari,” Ahmad wrote on his Twitter page.
“The second Niger Bridge is to officially be called/known as Muhammadu Buhari Second Niger Bridge,” Ahmad added.
President Muhammadu Buhari, has unveiled the newly-built N19.6 billion Nigeria Customs Service corporate headquarters in Abuja.
The project, which was commissioned on Tuesday, comes after the President inaugurated the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, established by the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, on Monday.
According to the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who addressed a news conference in Abuja on Monday, the building had a 12-floor tower with five floors on both wings of the tower and “bridges” linking the two wings.
Adeniyi said construction of the building commenced in 2007 following the need to build a befitting edifice for the service, the News Agency of Nigeria said in a report.
He further said that the need for more space in view of the capacity of the service, informed the construction of the building.
Adeniyi said the building, sitting on approximately 25,000 square metres, was designed and constructed by indigenous firms.
More...
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has dissolved the state executive council.
The development was contained in a statement signed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor who also doubles as the Chairman, Transition & Inauguration Committee, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi.
The statement further revealed that the appointments of political office holders in the state have been terminated and all affected persons were directed to hand over all government property in their possession to the most senior civil servant in their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
However, Governor Makinde instructed that political officeholders in statutory commissions are excluded from the directive.
The statement reads: “I have the directive of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde to inform you of the dissolution of the Oyo State Executive Council and the termination of the appointment of all political officeholders with effect from today. Tuesday, May 23, 2023.”
“All political officeholders are required to officially hand over and submit all government properties in their possession to the most senior civil servant in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies.”
“Please note that political officeholders in statutory commissions are excluded from this directive.”
“His Excellency appreciates your tremendous contributions to the development of our dear State and wishes you success in your future endeavours. I thank you.”
The legal team of the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic party, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the forthcoming swearing-in of President-elect, Bola Tinubu after the sitting of the Presidential Election Petitions Court on Tuesday in Abuja.
Atiku’s lawyer, Chris Uche SAN, in a statement, urged supporters of the PDP candidate not to lose sleep over the May 29 inauguration ceremony of the President-elect Bola Tinubu whose electoral victory is being challenged in court.
“People are asking about May 29. We want to assure people that swearing-in (of Tinubu) is a ceremony that does not tie the hands of the court,” Uche said.
He added that an election can be overturned by the court regardless of whether or not a previously declared winner has been sworn in.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the tribunal ordered petitioners to start calling their witnesses from May 30.
The PEPT equally consolidated all petitions before it into one, having established that they are all disputing the outcome of the 2023 poll.
Uche expressed satisfaction with the consolidation of all petitions of PDP, Labour party and Allied Peoples Movement and the three weeks the court gave them to prove their case.
He said the decision of the court is targeted at fast tracking the case.
“We are very happy that pre-hearing session has been speedily concluded and we are going into proper hearing,” he said.
Lawyers to the Independent National Electoral Commission and Tinubu refused to speak to the press after the Tribunal gave the fresh directive on the petition challenging the election.
Counsels to Seun Kuti, an Afrobeat singer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), and Kunle Adegoke, said the embattled singer will be released today (Tuesday).
Kuti’s lawyers made the remark in a statement they jointly signed and released to the media stating that the release of Mr Kuti on bail, as ordered by the Magistrate, is only waiting for administrative approval.
The statement reads, “The purpose of today’s sitting was to receive the Lagos DPP’s advice.”
“The Court, as you will recall, had ordered that the prosecution of the case must be by the DPP’s office and not by the Police, hence the Police was also ordered to send the case file to the DPP for evaluation and decision as to prosecution.
“The court was, therefore, to sit today to receive the DPP’s advice, but did not because, as we were informed, the Magistrate is attending a training course. However, the advice of the DPP is not ready as the police investigation team is still holding on to the case file.
“Nevertheless, the release of Mr Kuti on bail, as ordered by the Magistrate, is only waiting for administrative approval.
“That process has nothing to do with whether or not the court has a physical sitting. We are hopeful that Mr Kuti will be out today on the bail granted him, having fulfilled the terms.” He said.
QUDUS Shodimu, a 44-year-old native doctor, who was arrested by the Ogun State police command for allegedly aiding cultists by making charms to deflect bullets aimed at them, has admitted doing so, but said that the cultist killed by rivals close to his residence brought some herbs and concoctions which he mixed his with.
The native doctor said that the mixture probably caused the failure of the bulletproof charm he made for the deceased.
The state Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Yomi Oladimeji, told journalists that the arrest of the native doctor along with suspected cultists followed the information received by the anti-cultism section on April 30 that members of the dreaded Aiye Confraternity had assembled at Elega area in Abeokuta in preparation for a supremacy battle with their rival cult group, Eiye Confraternity.
The police commissioner said that acting on the report, the anti-cultist team in collaboration with men of the So-Safe Corps, moved to the scene of the incident. The cultists however reportedly started shooting when they saw the police operatives but were overpowered.
According to CP Oladimeji, two of the cultists, later identified as Noah Ayobami a.k.a Anobi 7 and Azeez Ololade a.k.a Bouncing, died during the encounter.
It also led to the arrest of the native doctor, Shodimu, and Oluwaseun Adebowale a.k.a Eko.
Recovered from them were a locally-made double-barrel gun, five local knives, a battle axe, five expended cartridges and some charms.
A policeman and two vigilantes also sustained minor injuries during the incident.
Before the police encounter with the Aye cultists, the Nigerian Tribune learnt that they shot an Eye cult member to death moments after he left Shodimu’s place.
Speaking on his arrest, Shodimu said it was as a result of him being the one preparing bullet proof and protection charms for the cultists.
According to him, “before I went into practising traditional medicine and divination, I was a timber lorry driver. However, I had an accident and had fractures in my two legs. I started using my master’s hut in the village to attend to clients who were coming for consultation and fortification. I was feeding on the little I could get from it.”
“It was Adebowale who brought two people to me. As a motorboy, he told me that the two men were cultists and needed protection and bulletproof charm. I started the work of a native doctor two years ago.”
On the killed cultist
“The deceased lived in the same community with other cultists. They were all friends. On the fateful day, he came to my place. He and others used to come to play. After he left, other cultists also followed. The next thing I heard was the sound of a gunshot. I asked some children to go and check what was happening. They came back to tell me that the man that just left me had been killed and his body lay by the roadside.
“I asked to know those who carried out the killing but they said they didn’t know. By then, Adebowale a.k.a. Eko, and other cultists had run away. It was one of the residents who specifically told me that Adebowale was seen among the killers.”
When asked why one of his clients was killed despite the bullet-proof charms he prepared for him, the suspect said that the client brought some concoctions himself and just asked him to add to them to make traditional bulletproof charm. He said he collected N10,000 from Adebowale for the charms he did for him, but didn’t collect anything from the deceased prior to his murder, as he just came to play with friends.
How I learnt to be a native doctor
“I didn’t inherit the work from anyone. It was what our masters taught us in the forest in the course of driving log lorries that I put to use after I had an accident.”
The second suspect, Adebowale, aged 28, told the Nigerian Tribune that he became a motorboy after his primary school education. “I have no mother again but my father is still alive. I was arrested for engaging in cult activities. I joined Neo Black Movement of Africa, popularly known as Aye Confraternity or Black Axe, in 2020. The initiation took place at Ikija in Abeokuta. I was introduced to the cult group by one area brother called Azeez a.k.a Bouncing.”
How I was initiated
“Bouncing told me to follow him to a party at Ago Ika area of Abeokuta. We started late in the evening and were there till after midnight. I was told that it was time to return home and asked to hop on a motorbike. On the way, I noticed that we were going very far and out of the way and I called Bouncing’s attention to it. I asked him where were going to, but he told me to be calm, saying that he didn’t have the intention of abducting me as we were together. It was at about 2am.
“I was taken into the bush where we met a lot of people. The cult members descended on me, beating me till dawn. Then they poured some wine in a calabash and asked me to drink it, after which I was told that I had become one of their members. I reminded Bouncing of the brother I was living with who belongs to Eiye cult group. The man was also feeding me, though we have no blood relationship. He was selling marijuana. Bouncing replied that it was because of my benefactor that I was initiated into Aye cult so that he would not make me an Eye cult member. They said I needed not to live with him again but I replied them that I had nowhere else to stay. They assured me that they would allow me to dwell with them.
“I had not been following the cult members or attending meetings because as a motorboy, I was always on the road.
“I was picked when Bouncing mentioned my name. We also named others belonging to the cult group and we took the police to the native doctor that fortified us traditionally.
“I have never killed anyone whether due to rivalry or otherwise. I used to hear of killings but it is not everyone of us that was doing that.
“The killing that led to our arrest was the one that happened recently, where the murdered victim was killed in the neighbourhood we were staying at Ikija.
“The person belonged to Eiye Confraternity. He came to our native doctor for charms and notification but he was cornered there.”
Why our rival was killed
“I didn’t know what the two sides were quarreling over. I just went there that day to smoke marijuana. I was not part of the killing. I’ve been taking the drug for so many years.”
The command’s police boss told the Nigerian Tribune that after being briefed by his officers on the crime situation in the state, he mapped out strategies to deal with the criminal elements in order to ensure that the good people of the state sleep with their two eyes closed.
“The command’s tactical teams and Divisional Police Officers were there and given a marching order to take the battle to the doorstep of the criminals wherever they may be across the state.
“The result of the various strategic operations to flush out the criminals is what we are showcasing,” he said.
He thereby warned criminals that “the beat has changed and the dancing steps must follow suit. It is time for criminals in the state to relocate because the state will no longer be conducive for them.
“All in our arsenal will be rolled out to wage war against crime and criminality, as well as their sponsors.
“To the law-abiding citizens, rest assured that your safety is guaranteed at all time and we seek your cooperation to tackle criminals among us headlong.
“This you can do by giving us useful information that will assist us in our efforts to rid the state of crime.”