Days after a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was jailed in the United Kingdom, UK, the Federal Government of Nigeria has kept sealed lips.
It also maintained the same stance all through the time the trial lasted.
A public affairs commentator, Chuks Ibegbu, who was not comfortable with the scenario, said Ekweremadu’s case had exposed the Federal Government’s alleged double standard.
Ibegbu said the Federal Government’s silence was an indication that once a personality from a section of the country has issues, such a person is left to their fate.
It could be recalled that a London court had sentenced Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta to prison for organ harvesting.
But, while Ekweremadu’s conviction has continued to draw sympathy from Nigerians, the Federal Government has been silent.
Keen watchers say the Federal Government’s window to use diplomacy to resolve Ekweremadu’s case was lost when it failed to reach out to its UK counterpart within 24 hours after he was arrested for organ harvesting.
“Allowing the case to go to court might indicate that the Nigerian Government was interested in Ekweremadu being convicted in the UK,” a source indicated.
Also, while Ekweremadu was facing trial in the UK, the Nigerian Government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had moved for the confiscation of some of his properties in Nigeria, Dubai, and UK.
The EFCC had told an Abuja Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2022 that the properties were suspicious proceeds of crime.
Speaking with DAILY POST, Ibegbu said: “My take is that nobody is above the law, and the judicial system in London has convicted Ekweremadu, but the fact that he was a deputy Senate President and a high-ranking personality in Nigeria was enough reason for the Federal Government to intervene in the matter.
“I expected the Federal Government to have intervened in the matter and probably appealed for a reduced sentence or transferred the case down to Nigeria from London. It’s part of the inconsistency and double standard of the Federal Government on issues concerning some parts of the country.
“It might have been borne out of the double dealings that once you are from the favoured part of the country, the Government takes your matter seriously, or else you are left to your fate. Like I said again, nobody is above the law; if you commit a crime, you should face the music.
“In the past eight years, the Federal Government has been known for favouritism. Once somebody not from the favourite place falls into problems, he or she is left to their fate.
“This does not mean we are encouraging crime, but with Ekweremadu’s status, we expected the Federal Government to be proactive and intervene and send a legal team to London, irrespective of the severity of his action; he’s an official of the Federal Government.
“Ekweremadu’s conviction is the conviction of Nigeria. A high-ranking Nigerian was being tried in London and the Federal Government did not deem it fit to send a representative.
“Be that as it may, the attitude of Nigerian big men is condemnable; they treat the ordinary Nigerian like toilet paper; otherwise, Ekweremadu won’t have meddled himself in all these kinds of things, but that is the reflection of the way Nigerian big men treat ordinary people.”
[DailyPost]
For the country to attract investors and generate more revenue, Stransact, Nigeria’s correspondent firm for the sixth largest international accounting firm, RSM Network, has charged the incoming administration to oversee critical reforms to move the economy forward.
General Partner, Stransact, Eben Joels, said this during a media engagement, noting that the challenges of foreign exchange (FX) should be among the reforms the next administration urgently address as it affects investors and businesses.
He said since Nigeria operates an open market economy, the market forces should decide what the exchange rate should be and not the monetary authority deciding it by fiat.
He lamented that the FX window in the country is being operated as a major door to corruption in Nigeria.
Joels, who spoke on ‘Reforming Nigeria’s Tax Environment for Economic Growth, Opportunities for the New Government’, said while the government seeks to maximise revenue generation, the burden of multiple taxations should be reduced on taxpayers.
He said rather than the government taxing businesses, it should ensure businesses are regulated to improve the welfare of the citizens.
He urged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to make compliance easier for businesses and taxpayers, advising that the new tax Promax by the agency should neither be a burden to taxpayers nor erode their rights under the law.
Buttressing Joels’ comments, Partner, People and Regulatory, Yomi Salawu, said rather than increasing taxes to the already-burdened businesses, the government should expand the tax net.
Noting that Nigeria has the highest number of taxes globally, he urged that taxpayers’ monies should be utilised through the provision of basic amenities such as good roads, good policing and better healthcare services, among others.
According to him, these will attract people into moving across states and will increase states’ Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Also corroborating Joels, Partner, Tax Services, Victor Athe, advised that while widening the tax net, the government should go about formalising the informal sector.
He said: “Nigeria should fix its reputation for corruption and accountability, as well as reduce appetite for borrowing. Adhering to this will improve our credit rating as a nation and as we borrow at a lower cost to pay our debts. Credit is driven by ratings. Increasing taxes increases our reputation for corruption.”
[Guardian]
• Two more flights expected last night
No fewer than 126 stranded Nigerians evacuated from Sudan arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, about 10:30am yesterday.
Among them were 52 minors. One of the returnees who was ill was provided with medical support by the Port Health officials.
This brings total number of returnees to 1,729.
Two more flights were also expected last night.
The returnees, who were airlifted by Tarco Aviation, were received by NEMA Director-General, Mustapha Ahmed, who was represented by the Director Special Duties, Dr. Onimode Bandele.
After clearance by the Nigerian Immigration Service, the returnees were served meals and given N100,000 and dignity kits.
One of the returnees said he would have loved that Sudan never experienced crisis. He said it was painful that such was happening in Sudan, which he had regarded as home.
Would he love to return once peace is restored, the final year medical student of El-Razi University, Khartoum, said he would love to as he does not fancy starting afresh in Nigeria.
But many others said they were not thinking along that line as it was difficult to digest what they went through escaping to the border and enduring days of no food and water.
[Nation]
The outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi has disclosed that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu prevailed on him to step down for Sen. Godswill Akpabio in the race for the 10th Senate’s Presidency. Umahi made this known on Monday at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Onueke while fielding questions from journalists on arrival to the state from Abuja.
The Governor, who is also the current Senator-elect of Ebonyi South Senatorial district said that he discussed the issue of his senate presidency bid with Tinubu and had to accede to his request in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the South East zone.
“I discussed the issue with him when he was in Paris and on return to the country, he invited me.
“It was an honour to be invited by the President-elect and he told me that he had made commitments.
“It is his right as the President-elect to make commitments and anyone running for such office makes promises.
“I did not want to be a clog in the wheel of his progress so I accepted,” he said.
Umahi said that his withdrawal from the race was in the interest of the South East as it could no longer continue to be in the opposition.
“We cannot continue opposing everything as politics is all about dialogue, give and take.
“What could have happened if I said no and considering our efforts to promote the APC in the zone, we will get a tangible position,” he said.
Umahi further stated that he was not aware of any resolution of South East Senators to support former Abia Governor, Sen. Orji Kalu for the position.
“I am the Chairman of the Akpabio campaign council and can tell you that we have more APC senators on our side,” he said.
He said that he would never lobby to be appointed a Minister in the incoming administration but leave the decision to destiny, Tinubu and the party.
“I will accept whatever God wills for me but as a person, I will prefer to be in the senate to rest.
“I will however, have no choice if it is the sacrifice to make in the interest of the party, South East and to help the President-elect,” he added
[NewsDirect]
After weeks of intrigues, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, finally announced that it has zoned the position of the Senate President to the South-South and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the North-West for the forthcoming 10th National Assembly.
The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka confirmed the arrangement in a press briefing at the end of the party’s NEC meeting held at its national secretariat in Abuja.
The Party also said it zoned the position of Deputy Senate President to the North-West and Deputy Speaker to the South-East.
Adopting a zoning template of candidates by its President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC settled for Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jubrin for the Senate leadership and Messrs Abass Tajudeen and Ben Kalu for the House of Representatives leadership.
“The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-elect and the leadership of the NWC. The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders to ensure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the APC nationwide.
“The zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows: Senate President – South-South Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Deputy Senate President – (North West), Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).
“Speaker, House of Representatives North West-Hon. Abbas Tajudeen (Kaduna); Deputy Speaker (South East), Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia)”, Muoka said.
The development has seemingly put to bed the ambition of Orji Uzo Kalu and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State to clinch the much-revered position in the NASS.
The duo who had won senatorial elections on the platform of the APC canvassed to be made Senate President, as, according to them, that would ensure equity because they are from South East.
“So, for inclusiveness, unity of the country and for everybody to be carried along, the South-East deserves the position, and so far, nobody has been able to say this is the reason why the South-East should not be given that position, and I am pleading for that,” Umahi had said.
Kalu, on his part, had described himself as the best candidate to emerge as the next Senate President.
He claimed he could unite Nigeria if elected as Senate President.
“I am the best among the candidates. I have the capacity to unite Nigeria, and I am the best to work with our President-elect for the best interest of Nigeria.
“I have the integrity, honesty, and experience to lead the Senate”, Kalu said.
However, as the drama ensued, Umahi jettisoned moves by South-East stakeholders to produce the next president of the Senate.
He claimed that Tinubu urged him to step down for Akpabio in the race for the 10th Senate presidency.
Umahi explained that he discussed his Senate presidency bid with Tinubu and had to accede to his request in the interest of the party.
“Yesterday, I saw the President-elect on his invitation, and he told me that he is already committed that I should hold on. So I have stepped down for my brother Akpabio. He is my consensus candidate,” he said.
But Kalu insisted that Igbos should be compensated with the position of Senate Presidency after giving President Muhammadu Buhari the needed support.
However, mixed reactions have continued to trail the choice of Akpabio by the ruling party.
Despite his nomination by the ruling party, opposition mounts from several quarters on his road to victory.
Akpabio is not in the good books of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caucus in the National Assembly, including both the outgoing 9th Assembly and the incoming 10th Assembly. As a result, entreaties from the former governor of Akwa Ibom is not gaining the expected impact.
Also, Zamfara West Senator-elect, Abdul’Aziz Yari, is said to have rebuffed persuasion by Tinubu to step down for Akpabio in the Senate presidency race, insisting he will go ahead to contest the position.
Yari said it should be based on constitutional provisions and not instructions by anyone.
He said, “What is going to happen that day, it is going to happen based on the instructions of the constitution and not for anyone.”
Some northern aspirants for leadership positions in the National Assembly have also kicked against the planned zoning arrangement of the APC.
For instance, Senator Ali Ndume and Jibrin Barau, who are eyeing the Senate presidency, have said they would contest with or without the zoning arrangement.
Jibrin noted that the position of the Senate president requires experience and competence, not sentiments.
Also, Kalu, who declared it his turn to become the Senate President in March, has written personal letters to the members of the NWC of the APC and all of the 108 Senators-elect, indicating his interest in being the next Senate President.
Kalu’s media office released an official statement on Monday refuting news making the rounds that the South-East senators-elect endorsed him.
The former Abia State governor said he is offering himself to Nigerian people, the senators-elect and the party with sincerity of heart, humility, and candour, for the position of Senate President.
“I promise to work for you, promote and defend the constitution and the party, and foster a congenial and cordial relationship between the party, the executive and the judiciary.
“One thing is indubitably certain: working together in unity and mutual love and respect, we can take Nigeria to the next level of peace, progress, and development,” part of Kalu’s letter read.
On his part, the Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi claimed that the South-East is okay with the list of endorsed principal officers of the National Assembly by the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Amadi, a public affairs analyst, claimed that people of the Southeast were happy and reacted to their sidelining, saying, “We don’t want a distraction. We are building bridges.”
His comment is believed to be an aftermath of the 2023 presidential election, during which some prominent politicians from the zone, including Kalu and Umahi, had said Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, was wasting his time and that the South-East was not ripe for the position.
They had insisted that the Igbo were not ripe, mature and ready to produce the president. Their position was that the Igbo should rather take more time to build political bridges.
“People in Southeast seem to like the APC list of endorsed principal officers of NASS. They are saying ‘we don’t want distraction. We are building bridges’.
“I think @OfficialAPCNg shows better deliberateness in their zoning than the others. Be quick and clear any how you want to do it,” Amaadi wrote on his twitter handle.
Meanwhile, Onyebuchi Igboke, the Project Manager of Advocacy Partnership for Good Governance and Convener, Office of the Citizens, told DAILY POST that what Orji Kalu and Dave Umahi are experiencing were expected and should be a lesson.
Igboke advised the Igbo political elites, including traditional rulers, to come back to the drawing board and strategize on how to engage other zones politically.
He said that the duo might be paying a price for making statements that did not favour the South-East.
He said, ”Regarding the issue of National Assembly Senate president, Dave Umahi and Orji Kalu, though people are mocking them, for me it shouldn’t be the issue of mocking individuals, in the sense that the whole thing is becoming deliberate that a certain region is being marginalised.
“It is also understandable to know why some people started mocking them because it looked as if they could not read the handwriting on the wall or they were over ambitious or over trusted the political cabals in the APC. If you remembered what Kalu said about Obi before the general election, and even Dave Umahi, they were making all kinds of statements that did not favour the South-East.
”Currently, some people might feel they are getting their own share of their deeds, but the issue here is that it is high time we began to come together as a people, we began to know that we must come as a group. Group interest should override our individual interest politically.
”I don’t know why it is always about the Igbos. With what is happening currently, it is high time the Igbo political elites, traditional rulers, and all the stakeholders in Igbo land should come back to the drawing board and strategize on how to engage in the political process.
“It is obvious even in the PDP that Igbos supported over the years, they could not give a presidential ticket to a South-East person. So it is time they come back to do a kind of review.
”What is happening to Orji Kalu and Dave Umahi, for me I expected such to happen, and it should be a lesson. But the likes of Umahi are already supporting Akpabio. I believe we can come back together and restrategize collectively and stop pursuing all those things as individuals. Most of us are very desperate for power.”
However, the President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo, told DAILY POST in an interview, said Umahi and Kalu do not wield much political power within the APC structure.
The legal expert, however, called on the APC to ensure Federal Character in the composition of the leadership structure of the country.
He said, ”I will not be able to say much on the internal politics of APC as a party but be that as it may, the party is advised to ensure Federal Character in the sharing formula of power or in the composition of leadership structure of this country.
”The duo may not be strong enough to wield much political power within the APC structure for the fact that there are very few Senators of South-East extraction in the APC. So I believe that they can do little in the face of the present predicament facing them.
”I don’t think it’s an issue of payback time, but it shows that though they are in the party but they do not have the clout or in the real sense lack the political power or influence to sway critical decisions in favour of their zone, which is the South-East.”
In a sharp disagement, however, a former media aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri warns that exlusing South-East would cause more problems for the country.
He said the South-East ought to have the Senate Presidency for the sake of equity.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Omokri maintained that if Nigeria must be peaceful, stable and prosperous, it
must practice power sharing.
He wrote, “Yes, the Southeast has had 5 Senate Presidents since 1999, but they have never had the Presidency. The Northwest, Southwest and South-South have. The Northwest, Northeast, South-South and Southwest have also occupied the vice Presidency.
“If we want Nigeria to be peaceful, stable and prosperous, we must practice power sharing. For equity, the Southeast ought to have the Senate Presidency. That, and rapid infrastructural investment in the region, will make them feel part of Nigeria and loved by the rest of the country. If we do not give it to them, let us be ready for more separatist agitations.”
The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal on Tuesday gave an indication that it would consider the prayer of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party’s demand for a live broadcast of its proceedings.
The tribunal presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani asked the parties in the ongoing petitions to settle and decide on their objections, including the motion on notice filed by the PDP and its standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar requesting for the live broadcast of the presidential tribunal proceeding which began on Monday.
Speaking at the resumed pre-hearing session, the head of the five-man panel assured that the application for a live broadcast of the proceedings “will be considered together with the other issues.”
The PDP and Atiku, in an application dated May 5, argued that televising the court sitting would enhance transparency and boost citizens’ confidence in the judicial process.
The PDP and Atiku are challenging the victory of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, in the February 25 presidential election on the grounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission failed to electronically upload the election results as of the time the winner was declared.
The respondents in the petition marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023, are the INEC, Tinubu and the APC.
Also, the LP and its candidate, Peter Obi claimed the ex-Lagos State governor did not secure at least one-quarter of the votes cast in the election in the Federal Capital Territory.
Atiku on coverage
In their application for a live telecast of the court proceedings, the PDP and Atiku specifically prayed to the court for an order directing the court’s registry and the parties on modalities for admission of media practitioners and their equipment into the courtroom.
The application filed by their team of lawyers led by Chris Uche, SAN, was premised on the grounds that the matter before the court was a dispute over the outcome of the presidential election held on February 25 and therefore, a matter of national concern and public interest.
They also contended that being a unique electoral dispute with a peculiar constitutional dimension, it was a matter of public interest where millions of Nigerians were stakeholders with a constitutional right to watch the sitting.
The applicants said, “An integral part of the constitutional duty of the court to hold proceedings in public is at discretion to allow public access to proceedings either physically or by electronic means.
“With the huge and tremendous technological advances and developments in Nigeria and beyond, including the current trend by this court towards embracing electronic procedures, virtual hearing and electronic filing, a departure from the rules to allow a regulated televising of the proceedings in this matter is in consonance with the maxim that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.
“Televising court proceedings is not alien to this court, and will enhance public confidence.”
Addressing the court during the resumed pre-hearing session on Tuesday, the counsel to Atiku and the PDP stressed the urgency of the application.
He pointed out that the application was a motion of priority which required immediate attention given the national importance of the issue at hand.
Uche stated, “We urge your Lordship to set it down for hearing and adoption as soon as the court’s business may allow.”
In the course of announcing the appearance of the petitioners’ legal team, Uche craved the indulgence of the court to permit him to announce five names against the three recommended, adding that he stumbled upon “order 3 rule 11” which provided the allowance.
But Tsammani asked him to maintain the agreed three names with respect to the presidential election.
“Agreement is an agreement,” the justice said, but the senior lawyer responded, ‘’My Lord, there were many agreements in this election that were broken.”
“We were not part of that,” Tsammani countered.
The counsel for INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud acknowledged the application for a live broadcast of the proceedings which he described as “innocuous” and requested for time to respond “being served yesterday.”
He also adopted their answers in the pre-hearing information sheet filed on May 2.
Responding to the question of live coverage, he said they would wait for a formal response.
The lawyer to the president-elect, Akin Olujimi, SAN, said they would reply to the prayers for live media coverage of the proceedings at the appropriate time.
He added that he had an application to strike out the petition in addition to others.
The counsel to the APC, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, equally adopted the answers filed on May 2.
He said they had received the application and “we are taking steps to respond appropriately to the application.”
Fagbemi also told the court that he had filed two motions seeking to dismiss the petition and to strike out the responses of the petitioners.
On the motion for live broadcast filed by the petitioners, he said they would reply at the appropriate time.
Responding further, Uche argued that he was just hearing that the 2nd and 3rd respondents had filed their responses, adding that in the spirit of cooperation, he was prepared to accept service in the open court.
“We pray that the parties don’t insist on the maximum length of time if we are to make progress,’’ he said.
Fagbemi, however, objected to his statement, insisting on abiding by the rules.
‘’The motion was filed by 9:30 am and not in the open court. If he said counsel should cooperate, we will follow the time and we will not flout the rules,” he noted.
After the legal teams adopted their various responses, Tsammani ordered them to meet and harmonise their positions in respect of documents to be tendered, those they would object to and those to allow.
He, thereafter, adjourned the pre-hearing of the petition against Tinubu till Thursday by 2 pm.
Earlier, the tribunal also held a pre-hearing session for the petition filed by the Allied Peoples Movement.
The party, through its team of lawyers led by M. Atoyebi, adopted answers filed on April 21, in response to a pre-hearing information sheet that was issued.
Speaking on their demand for live media coverage of the court hearing, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said it was a matter of national concern and public interest.
Ologunagba, who addressed a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, contended that being a unique electoral dispute with a peculiar constitutional dimension, it was a matter of public interest in which millions of Nigerians are stakeholders with a constitutional right to watch the sitting.
He stated, ‘’As you are aware, the pre-hearing session in our petition before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal commenced today (yesterday), Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
“At the pre-hearing session, our legal team announced the filing of a motion on notice before the PEPT requesting a live broadcast of the proceedings of the court.
“This application, which is innocuous, is in the interest of openness which is an essential ingredient of participatory democracy especially as Nigerians are desirous of being directly involved at every stage of the electoral process.’’
“The PDP and Atiku Abubakar have a water-tight petition. Our facts and body of evidence are incontrovertible. Our party restates its confidence in the ability of the Judiciary to discharge its Constitutional duty dispassionately based on the evidence before it,” Ologunagba declared.
LP on coverage
Also, the Chief Spokesman for Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko, endorsed the PDP application for the live transmission of the proceedings.
He said, “It should be telecast live if there is an opportunity for it. This is because of the interest Nigerians have in the case. It is very important they air this particular deliberation publicly so that people will know how the proceedings go.
“Locally and internationally, everybody is interested in this case. It is about the definition of the sovereignty of the nation and its judicial council. It is a very serious matter. It also defines who we are. Are we actually democrats who support the rule of law in this country? If not, we are not democrats.”
Tanko passed a vote of confidence on the court proceedings in the last two days.
He, however, urged the judiciary not to give in to intimidation and sentiments in dispensing its verdict.
He noted, “So far, so good, what the judges have said was so clear that they are going to look at the substance of the case. It is more important than looking at the technicalities.
“They also make us believe that they want to do away with this matter before swearing-in. That’s encouraging to us. Because the target is to ensure that whoever becomes the president does not have adjudication on his head. If defined deeply, it gives the power to Section 146 of the Constitution to come into action.
Party on swearing-in
“In the event that there is no president, the Senate president, Ahmad Lawan will take over. If the present case goes the way we are praying, what it means is that Lawan will take over as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And if Lawan is not returned in the 10th Assembly, he must hand over to the newly elected president of the Senate on June 10.’’
‘’He will then ask for nine months to conduct a fresh election for the president of the country to emerge. That is how it should be to avoid lacunas anywhere. That is no reason for anybody to be apprehensive. Our judiciary should act based on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PDP has commended the Supreme Court for upholding the election of Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, describing the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.
Also, Atiku in a statement signed by his media adviser, Paul Ibe has said that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System has come to stay as a legal instrument for the accreditation and transmission of election results in Nigeria.
The former Vice President stated this in response to the Supreme Court’s affirmation of Adeleke’s victory.
While congratulating the people of Osun State for the victory, Atiku added that the introduction of technology in the conduct of elections in Nigeria is progress that cannot be reversed.
“We are all witnesses to the copious references to the BVAS technology in coming up with this judgment. The law governing our elections has truly brought power to the people, and those power-mongering politicians who believe that they can freely subvert the inherent power of democracy now have their hopes dashed,” the statement read in part.
He further urged Nigerians to take an active interest in the nation’s democracy, saying, “We must not put the laws in our hands but remain vigilant because, as the saying goes, ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
[Punch]
Albert Bassey, candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom, has alleged that Umo Eno, governor-elect of the state, was expelled by the University of Uyo in 2005 over certificate forgery.
In a petition filed at the governorship election tribunal in Uyo, Bassey claimed that Eno was one of the students expelled from the university in 2005 for obtaining admission with a fake West African Examination Council (WAEC)/Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) certificate.
In the petition marked AKW/GOV/01/2023, Bassey through his lawyers, asked the tribunal to nullify the declaration and return of Eno as the winner of the governorship election in the state.
Bassey alleged that Eno was not at the time of the election qualified to contest because he presented a forged WAEC June 1981 certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during his nomination by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a response opposing Bassey’s petition, Eno through his lawyers, filed a 63-paragraph statement denying forging the WAEC result.
He added that he also possesses a bachelor of science and master’s of science degrees in political science and public administration obtained from the University of Uyo.
But backing his claims, Bassey said findings from the university showed that Umo was expelled from the institution in 2005 for presenting a fake 1998 WAEC certificate.
He also alleged that the WAEC certificate presented by Eno to the university while he was seeking admission, bears the examination number 15725119 — the same as his 1983 WAEC certificate he (Eno) claims to also possess.
“It was also revealed that while Eno Umo Bassey claimed to have used his WAEC/SSCE certificate of December 1998 to gain admission into the university, the admission for 1998/1999 academic session was in October 1998,” the petition reads.
“Eno Umo Bassey was listed as No 19 in the University of Uyo’s senate list of expelled students dated 10th February 2005.”
A similar alleged certificate forgery case was filed against Eno by Akan Okon, a former governorship aspirant of the PDP, but was struck out by a federal high court in Uyo for want of merit. The sum of N15 million was also awarded against the plaintiff.
Agatha Okeke, the presiding judge, ruled that Okon’s petition was based on assumption and that he was unable to prove to the court that Eno’s certificates were forged.
The high court judgement was upheld by the appeal court in January.
A three-member panel of the appellate court presided over by Elfreda William-Dawodu, upheld the judgment of the high court, but reduced the N15 million awarded to Eno to N5 million.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside the appeal by Mr Adegboyega Oyetola challenging the election of Senator Ademola Adeleke as Osun State Governor.
The Court, in its judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, also upheld the Appeal Court’s judgment which upheld the election of Adeleke as the state governor.
The apex court held that the appellant failed to adduce enough evidence to prove his allegation of over voting in the July 17, 2022 governorship poll.
More to follow…
Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, claimed that “all eyes, both at home and abroad, are now on the Nigerian Judiciary.”
Ezekwesili requested help from God in a tweet on Monday, pleading with the five justices to act with “utmost integrity” and uphold the law at all costs.
In addition, she prayed that the Lord’s fear would rest upon them, causing them to exercise caution when passing judgement.
Her statement was made shortly after the presidential election petition tribunal hearings in Abuja started on Monday.
Citing a biblical passage from 2 Chronicles 19:5-7, the former minister told the justices to consider what they are doing because ”they do not judge for man but for the Lord”, who they will render judgment.
“All eyes – at home and abroad- are now on the Nigerian Judiciary.
“May the Lord help those our five justices to act with the utmost integrity and uphold the Rule of Law at all cost, thereby advancing Judicial Independence in our Democracy. Amen!
“He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment. Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe. 2 Chronicles 19:5-7.
“A Word of Wisdom for the #PresidentialElectionTribunal,” she wrote.
EFCC To Extradite Two Nigerian Brothers Who Allegedly Defrauded A Teenager, Forced Him to Commit Suicide In US (Photo)
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Femi Otedola, billionaire businessman, says he offered to acquire Transcorp Plc for N250 billion and take the company’s market capitalisation to N2 trillion but his bid was rejected.
Recently, Otedola acquired a 5.52 percent stake in Transcorp Plc to become the second largest shareholder of the company, but then sold out his entire holding to Tony Elumelu, the chairman of the group.
Elumelu had said he welcomed Otedola’s investment in the company and looked forward to working with him, adding: “He’s my very good friend. In fact, I only follow two people on Instagram, my wife and Femi Otedola… that shows the level of friendship we have.”
In a press statement he shared with TheCable on Tuesday morning, Otedola spoke for the first time on the events surrounding his bid to take over the company.
He went down memory lane on his relationship with Elumelu and his plans for Transcorp before he opted out because his bid was rejected.
“In 2005, while Tony was the Managing Director of Standard Trust Bank he approached me to get funds to acquire UBA. I enthusiastically gave him $20million, which was N2 billion at that time to buy the necessary shares in UBA for the acquisition. After a short period of time the share price moved up and I decided it is was a good moment to sell and get out of the bank. However, Tony appealed to me to hold on to the shares as he was convinced that there were future prospects – so I kept the shares,” Otedelo said.
“I became Chairman of Transcorp Hotel in 2007 with a shareholding of 5% and unknowingly Tony gradually started buying shares quietly.
“By the following year in 2008 I went bankrupt in Nigeria. Tony proceeded to take my shares in UBA to service the interest on my loans and he also took over my shares in Africa Finance Corporation, where I was the largest shareholder.
“Shortly after, Albert Okumagba informed me that an American firm wanted to acquire my shares in Transcorp, which I then agreed to sell. However, this supposed American firm turned out to be Tony Elumelu. The revelation of this prompted me to resign as Chairman of the hotel.
“Years later in 2012 Tony said he wanted to see me so we met in my office where I had previously had a meeting with foreign investors who had not yet departed the premises. Curious to know, he asked what sort of meeting I had had and I disclosed that I wanted to go into the power business, specifically Ughelli Power Plant. Tony quietly went ahead to bid for Ughelli and he outbidded me by offering to buy the plant for $300million.
“And as a some would say: the rest is history.
“Fast forward to the present…
“I offered to buy Transcorp Plc for N250 billion, but unfortunately, my offer was rejected. My goal was to maximize the company’s potential as a Nigerian conglomerate with a market cap of at least N2 trillion instead of the current N40 billion, but it seems some shareholders have a different vision.
“As a businessman, I believe in healthy competition and market dynamics. Two captains cannot man a ship, and I respect the majority shareholder’s decision to buy me out. This is the nature of the game.
“But let me be clear: my offer was made with the best intentions for Transcorp Plc and its shareholders. I saw an opportunity to unlock the company’s full potential and create value for everyone involved.
“It’s important for investors to understand that free entry and free exit are crucial to healthy markets. The scramble for shares after my acquisition is a testament to the value that Transcorp Plc can offer, and I hope the company continues to thrive under new leadership.
“My message to Transcorp Plc and its shareholders is this: I remain committed to the growth and success of Nigerian businesses, and I will always be looking for ways to create value for all stakeholders. Stakeholders are unfortunately always shortchanged by getting stipends while the owners and managers of the business live a jet set lifestyle, which is detrimental to the stakeholders. Thank you for the opportunity to engage in this exciting chapter of Transcorp’s history.”
Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south district, says Godswill Akpabio is not the “anointed” candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for senate president of the 10th national assembly.
Speaking in a chat with Arise TV on Monday, Ndume said Akpabio is only a preferred choice of the party.
The APC had nominated Akpabio and Abbas Tajudeen, a ranking member of the house of representatives, as leaders of the 10th national assembly.
Akpabio was nominated for president of the senate, while Tajudeen was endorsed for the role of speaker of the house of representatives.
The announcement came after two months of intense politicking by some lawmakers-elect for leadership positions in the national assembly.
Reacting to the party’s declaration, Ndume said describing Akpabio as the anointed candidate would connote a “fait accompli”, adding that the label does not represent the situation.
Ndume, who had also declared his interest in the position, said the senators would still have to vote to determine the leader of the red chamber.
“I don’t think anointed is the right word to use. The APC has Akpabio as its preferred candidate, that would be a better word,” he said.
“Not anointed but preferred candidate. Because if it is anointed then it is fait accompli, which is not the case. We have to go into the chamber and vote, and it can go anywhere.
“Akpabio is going to be first among the equals as president of the senate. It is going to take the remaining 108 of us to restore integrity to the senate.”
Nigeria’s foreign exchange repatriation has risen to $5.6bn by the end of 2022 due to the Race to US$200 billion in FX Repatriation (RT200) programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria, according to the Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
He said in the first quarter of 2023, repatriation proceeds have already hit $1.7bn, making it $$7.3bn between 2022 and the first quarter of 2023.
Emefiele made the disclosure on Tuesday at the Bi-Annual RT200 Non-Oil Export Summit in Lagos, themed ‘RT200: Challenges and Prospects to Success’ and monitored by THE WHISTLER.
The RT200 in FX Repatriation was launched in February 2022 by the apex bank, exclusively from non-oil exports, over the next 3-5 years.
The RT200 Programme has five key anchors: Value-Adding Exports Facility, Non-Oil Commodities Expansion Facility, Non-Oil FX Rebate Scheme, Dedicated Non-Oil Export Terminal and Biannual Non-Oil Export Summit.
The programme was designed to incentivise exporters who sell their proceeds to the I&E FX Window through a rebate scheme.
He said the proceeds from the repatriation will be utilised for the benefits of all Nigerians.
Emefiele said the situation of Nigeria requires the enactment of unconventional and complimentary macroeconomic policy actions that are inclined towards a market-based financing system.
The CBN boss said, “Our naira for dollar and RT200 initiatives are all attempts in that direction to drive long run economic development.
“Today I’m happy to note that the RT200 programme has made tremendous progress in export proceeds repatriation since its establishments in February 2022.
“When we started between February and March, because we were taking quarterly number. In February and March, it was only $62m. By the second quarter- April to June, it has risen to $600m. By the third quarter, July to September it had risen to over $900m.
“Available data shows that repatriation due to the programme increased by 40 per cent from $3bn in 2021 to $5.6bn at the end of 2022.
“The momentum for 2023 is equally showing strong number and impressive prospects. In the first quarter of 2023, $1.7bn was repatriated to the economy while about $970m dollars were sold into the I&E Window year to date.
“The balance of the proceeds remain in the export domiciliary accounts of our exports and please note proceeds that are not sold at the I&E Window cannot and will not be eligible for our rebate.”
Emefiele said countries all over the world are turning to FX repatriation to maintain a healthy reserve and balance of payment.
“We all know that a nation that continues to consume more than it produces, a nation that imports more than it exports is a nation that is destined to fail.
“In Nigeria, whereas it is compulsion to a little extent, all we do is monitor exporters and when they export, they should use the proceeds for the good of their company and country in general.
“I’m hearing cases of people who are trying to sidetrack the process and all I can do now is to continue to appeal to those of us who export without documentations to please try as much as possible to desist from this practice.
“We will continue to engage customs; we will continue to engage the Nigerian Ports Authority and we will continue to engage the shipping lines or shipping agents to ensure we need to board the incidence of exporting without documentation.
“What you do is that you hurt the export earning potentials of the country when you do this.”
Emefiele said the CBN and the shipping lines had agreed to disclose all export activities without documentation, adding that the bank had threatened to sanction the shipping lines including ‘Post no Debit’ on their accounts.
“We have not done such because we thought they will do things right. But if we do not see the kind of corporation that we expect, I will have to insist that we do what we need to do,” he added.
Orji Uzor Kalu, chief whip of the senate, says he will serve Nigerians with sincerity as senate president.
Kalu’s position was contained in a letter addressed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership and 108 senators-elect on Monday.
His letter came hours after the ruling party nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, for senate president, and Barau Jibrin, senator representing Kano north, as deputy senate president.
The former governor of Abia state said he possesses what it takes to make the 10th senate successful.
“It is with a deep sense of joy and humility that I bring you warm greetings and that of the Abia north senatorial zone. My emergence as the senator to represent Abia north in this critical time in the history of our dear nation comes with huge responsibilities, top of which is to make quality laws for the good governance of our people,” the senator said.
“To be able to achieve these enviable goals, we require good leaders who will pilot the affairs of the 10th senate.
“Leadership of a sophisticated senate at the 10th session will need men and women with abundance of shared vision, consensus building, charisma, credibility, and pragmatism in the saddle.
“This is why I most humbly write to officially inform you of my interest to be elected the next senate president. I make this offer to serve you and the Nigerian people with sincerity of heart, humility, and candour.
“The biggest asset I bring to the table is wisdom and experience garnered over the years in the management of human and material resources.
“I promise to work for you, promote and defend the constitution and the party, and foster a congenial and cordial relationship between the party, the executive and judiciary.
“One thing is indubitably certain: working together in unity and mutual love and respect, we can take Nigeria to the next level of peace, progress, and development.”
In April, Kalu said it was his turn to become the senate president.