Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, chairman of Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, has admitted selling the land on which a building has been marked for demolition.
Daily Trust reports that the government of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has marked some property for demolition.
Among them are plazas and filling stations located along popular BUK road, as well as property built around the ancient Kano City Wall (Badala).
Isma’ila Bello, one of the owners of structures along BUK, opened up that he got the land from the state’s anti-graft boss.
The businessman further accused the government of double standard in its recent demolition exercise, alleging that some of the properties marked for demolition were “legally” acquired from individuals with connection with the incumbent government.
But Rimingado, who was the businessman accused of selling him the land, told Daily Trust that he was allocated the land by the previous government and that he received it because he was convinced it was not an illegal entity.
He said the land was not situated in or around a school or worship centre and did not affect the ancient Kano city wall.
While addressing journalists on the issue of the properties marked for demolition by the government late hours of Friday, the businessman, who is also the Secretary of BUK Haudi properties forum, said they bought their lands where they’ve erected shops from the anti-graft agency chairman, Rimingado who is currently spearheading the demolition exercise.
Bello, a resident of Sabuwar Kofa, said, “We woke up yesterday and saw red paint marked on our properties. This thing that the government is doing is not the way out. A leader protects the lives and properties of his people. That place was given to big men in the state at that time.
“His (Rimingado) plot was number 25 opposite Gidauniya just by Hauren Shanu. And if you are talking about Badala, Gidan Murtala building was built on Badala and other buildings beside it are all on Badala.
“There is no reason (for the demolition) and it does not make sense because we got it from the previous government that it should be demolished,” Bello said.
He further alleged that there are properties that have not been marked along the site because they belong to people who are close to the government.
“There is a place I bought, it was a pond that has claimed so many lives. I bought it from Gwaggo the wife of the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, the in-law of former Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the deposed emir gave her the place.
“I went to her house in her sitting room and bought it. I came back and filled it with sand. We demolished Badala inside the pond and found out that some youth have created a room inside. We found guns and other dangerous weapons. The police at zone one are aware. They took the items. The residents there thanked me immensely for that,” he said.
When contacted, Rimingado, said he stands by the position he expressed on Trust TV on the buildings marked for demolition at Salanta and that it was mischievous for anyone to try to use the recent development to cast aspersions on him and the government.
He confirmed that he was allocated a plot around the area marked for demolition but that the plot, which he sold “when in need of money”, was not within or built on the Kano ancient wall (Badala).
“Marking for demolition is a different thing as it is not within a school, place of worship or hospital. As far as I am concern the governor can issue a plot of land for anyone but a governor cannot issue a public space for anyone. I stand by my position (on Trust TV).
“I don’t know why they marked that place for demolition. And the owner of the property can take it up with the government for clarification”, he added.
[DailyTrust]
Former governors, senators, and other bigwigs in the All Progressives Congress, APC, have intensified lobbying for ministerial appointments from President Bola Tinubu.
DAILY POST investigations indicated that some state chapters of the ruling party have already compiled names of persons nominated for ministerial slots, while others are still in the process.
According to reliable sources, the lists are set to be forwarded to the party’s secretariat in Abuja for onward transmission to President Tinubu, who will decide on the shortlist and unveil the names of ministers and their portfolios any time soon.
DAILY POST recalls that former President Muhammadu Buhari, on March 17, 2023, assented to a bill mandating the President and governors to submit the names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners within 60 days of taking the oath of office.
Buhari signs amended bills that mandates Tinubu to name cabinet within 60 days – Daily Post Nigeria
The lists are subject to confirmation by the Senate and state House of Assembly, respectively. In line with this new order,
President Bola Tinubu, who took over power on May 29, has less than 33 days left to unveil the list of his ministers.
There are 27 ministries left vacant by the previous administration. These are:
Federal Capital Territory Administration
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ministry of Aviation
Ministry of Budget and National Planning
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Environment
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Information and Culture
Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Labour and Employment
Ministry of Petroleum Resources
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development
Ministry of Mines and Steel Development
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs
Ministry of Power
Ministry of Transportation.
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development
Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation
Ministry of Youth and Sport
Ministry of Works and Housing
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
While President Tinubu has been enjoying public acceptance following his recent appointments, there are worries that party loyalists rather than competent individuals may occupy the ministerial seats.
DAILY POST findings indicated that some of the party chieftains, including ex-governors and former lawmakers who lost out in the February 25 election, have been sighted frequently at the APC National Secretariat in the past few weeks. Their sudden appearances at the secretariat in the nation’s capital are being construed as an apparent jostling for ministerial positions.
Others did not show up in Abuja, but their names are strongly mentioned as likely candidates to appear on the ministerial list. This category includes former governors Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano.
Similarly, there are speculations that former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, currently a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, is contemplating defecting to the ruling party for a subsequent appointment.
States chapters of APC are also contending for slots as compensation for their contribution to Tinubu’s presidential victory.
The immediate past Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, is being considered for a ministerial slot in Sokoto State, while party members in Osun State are rooting for the immediate past governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, to be named a minister.
Beyond rumours, a party source who spoke to Daily Post on the condition of anonymity confirmed that some party members who did not win the last general election but toiled tirelessly to ensure Bola Tinubu’s victory on February 25 will be rewarded with ministerial jobs or other high-ranking positions.
He was quick to add, however, that such appointments would be determined on a quid pro quo basis.
He said: “You want to be appointed as a minister, but meanwhile you were not able to even deliver your own polling unit for Asiwaju. It is not possible; this is politics.
“There are people in the party who obviously worked against us. Such people are now lobbying for ministerial slots, how is that possible? The fact that you are well-known in the party is not enough reason to be appointed. You gain favour based on the favour you render.”
He further added: “There are some people who were not members of our party but fought a good fight to ensure that Asiwaju won that election; should Tinubu now abandon them and go for those who didn’t do anything just because they are party members? No, it doesn’t work like that.
“If you are not loyal, you cannot work with Bola Tinubu. He works with people he trusts, not someone who is just an APC member.”
Iorfa Thomas, a leader in the ruling party and a former senatorial candidate in Benue’s Zone C senatorial district, claimed that Tinubu will have a good cabinet that will provide Nigerians with the desired level of governance.
According to him, previous appointments made by the president are a good indicator of how his ministers will also be appointed.
He said: “President Tinubu will not disappoint Nigerians; even though he does not have enough time, Nigerians should expect capable people in his cabinet. It is not about spending the whole year looking for a capable person. I believe he already knows those he can work with.”
Continuing, he noted: “Former president, Buhari had almost half a year to pick his ministers, yet they didn’t meet the expectations of average Nigerians. Tinubu has limited time based on the recent law mandating him to pick his ministers within 60 days of his assumption of office, but he will have the best ministers in the history of the country.”
He said further: “If you look at his recent appointments, you will see that the president balanced them by going to different regions. He is going to make sure that nobody is left out.
“For example, in Benue, the Tiv already have George Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); so a ministerial slot is likely to be given to Zone C, the Idoma nation.
“I am certain that at the end of the day, when the list is out, we will all have reasons to celebrate the President.”
Some state chairmen contacted by DAILY POST declined to speak on the matter.
[DailyPost]
Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board says it turned down 114 Nigerians who applied for refugee protection between January and June, 2023.
So far, 12,035 Nigerians have been rejected under the scheme since January 2013, data from the Refugee Protection Division of the IRBC shows.
The IRB grants refugee protection in Canada if the RPD satisfactorily confirms that an applicant or claimant meets the United Nations definition of a convention refugee, “which has been incorporated into Canadian law, or that the applicant is a person in need of protection.”
The 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees defines refugees as persons with a substantiated fear of persecution because of their race, nationality, religion, political ideology or membership in a particular social group. Such social groups can include sexual orientation, gender identity, being a woman and persons living with HIV/AIDS.
However, the document indicated that people asking for protection in Canada must show evidence showing the danger of torture, a risk to their life, or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment should they return to their country of nationality.
It was learnt that the protection claims are made when immigrants notify the Border Services Agency at any port of entry upon arriving in Canada or report to an immigration officer.
“The officer decides whether the claim is eligible to be referred to the IRB. If the claim is eligible, it is sent (‘referred’) to the RPD to start the claim for refugee protection process,” an application guideline by the Refugee Board reads.
However, the RPD has rejected about 12,035 such applications from Nigerians for a decade and six months.
The breakdown showed that 127, 241, and 248 Nigerians were denied protection in 2013, 2014, and 2015 respectively, under the new system for determining refugee protection claims made in Canada – which took effect on December 15, 2012.
Also, 476, 917, and 1,777 claims were rejected in 2016, 2017, and 2018 respectively.
2019 saw the highest rejected claims so far, with 3,951 Nigerian applicants turned down, while 1,770, 1,686, and 728 persons were denied protection in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Nevertheless, 9,783 Nigerians were granted refugee status within the period under review. There were 20 in 2012; 308 in 2013, 394 in 2014 and 389 in 2015. Also, 389 Nigerians were received in 2016, 764 in 2017, 755 in 2018, and 1,733 in 2019. While 2020, 2021, and 2022 saw 1,534, 2,302, and 1,315 persons granted protection, respectively. 289 Nigerians have been accepted for protection in the first six months of 2023.
As of June 2023, 2,198 applications were pending, as at least 432 persons had withdrawn their refugee claims.
In a previous interview with Sunday PUNCH, the Executive Director, Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, who judged the acceptance rate as “fair,” said irregular migration was often the main cause of rejections.
Ladipo-Sanusi said, “Most times, many Nigerians miss it when they don’t understand the laws governing refugee status as adopted in their chosen destination. Every country has its regulations for absorbing people into its system.
“For one, documentation is crucial because coming irregularly will get you rejected from their system. But ultimately, everybody’s rights must be protected. Migration must be safe, orderly and regular. Even if their status is irregular, those who really need protection should be protected.”
Also speaking, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Singapore, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, noted that although it was not practicable for all refugee and asylum seekers to be admitted, border control agencies had the duty to reject persons perceived to be a threat to their countries.
[Punch]
The attention of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has been drawn to calls by imposters and sponsored amorphous groupings acting as fronts for the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike, that APC in Rivers State is calling on him (Mr Wike) to join the same party he had characterised as suffering from Cancer.
Nothing can be more preposterous than this kite being flown by minions of Wike working hard to justify their pay cheque.
We wish to unequivocally dismiss any such rumour or sponsored story planted in any medium that Rivers State APC had at any forum invited Mr Wike to join our party none the least calling on Wike to take over leadership of a party he never campaigned for. We dare anyone to provide video evidence of any campaigns where Mr Wike openly campaigned for the APC. The terror unleashed on our party members in the cause of his eight years maximum rulership alone is enough evidence to confirm that Wike has no business with Rivers State APC. Asking him to come and take over is asking an enemy to come and finish off his victims.
We are aware of his schemes to escape justice over the looting of the collective patrimony of Rivers people which is the major reason for his romancing top APC members.
For those who may be suffering from amnesia, a none APC member cannot be cheerleader for the entry of Wike into APC. Nobody can decree his membership of a political party through radio or newspaper publications. All vexatious attempts at distracting our party in Rivers State will keep failing.
For the avoidance of doubts, the APC in Rivers State has a legally recognized state office where all official businesses are conducted. We do also have standard procedure for convening our meetings according to our party's constitution. Therefore, it is expedient for the public to be aware that village meetings or gatherings cannot equate with a stakeholder's meeting of APC in Rivers State, especially a gathering that took place at a hotel belonging to such a non-APC member.
We therefore disassociate the leadership of our party from any so-called stakeholders meeting suggesting that our party be handed over to Mr Wike. We reiterate our party's resolve to lend 100% support to the policies and programmes of the Federal Government under the indefatigable leadership of our President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
We warn blackmailers and conflipreneurs to desist from the shameless tradition of using the name of our party to curry favour from desperate politicians seeking relevance at the centre.
Signed:
Darlington Nwauju
Rivers State APC Spokesperson
24/6/2023
Nkechinyere UMEH has emerged as the leading scorer in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, having achieved an impressive cumulative mark of 360.
During the ongoing 2023 policy meeting in Abuja, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examinations, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made a presentation revealing that...
Umeh, hailing from Anambra State, has reportedly scored an impressive 360 points, as stated by Oloyede.
In a recent development, the JAMB boss has revealed the names of the top 10 candidates who excelled in the examination. Notably, Aguele Stephen and Ositade Oluwafemi secured the top spot with a score of 358, followed closely by Gbolahan Ayinde with a score of 357. Other high-performing candidates include John Fulfilment and Chimdubem Ugonna, who scored 356 and 355, respectively.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a new warning to banks and other financial institutions regarding their business relationships with Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).
CBN said the banks and other financial institutions should apply a risk-based approach to identifying Politically Exposed Persons and apply appropriate Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) measures when dealing with them.
In a document titled, ‘GUIDANCE NOTES ON POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSONS’, which was issued to banks on June 22, 2023, but obtained on Saturday, the CBN said the enhanced due diligence is necessary due to the PEPS exposure to corruption.
The apex bank also listed exposure to money laundering, financing of terrorism and proliferation financing (ML/FT/PF) as some of the reasons the banks must apply the EDD and the Customer Due Diligence (CDD).
According to the CBN, PEPS could pose reputational and financial crime risks to banks and other financial institutions due to their political office.
“Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) who may be vulnerable to corruption thus may portend reputational and financial crime risks to the FI. PEPs pose a high risk of money laundering, financing of terrorism and proliferation financing (ML/FT/PF) due to the possibility that individuals holding such positions may misuse their power and influence for personal gain or advantage to themselves, close family members and/or associates,” the document reads.
In its definition of a PEP, the CBN explained: “PEPs who are or have been entrusted with prominent public positions in Nigeria are known as “Domestic PEPs”.
“PEPs who are or have been entrusted with prominent public positions in any other foreign jurisdiction are known as “foreign PEPs”.
“PEPs who are or have been entrusted with the management or any prominent function within an international organization are known as “International Organizations PEPs”
“Close associates of PEPS: are individuals who are closely connected to a PEP, either socially or professionally and include a PEP’s widely- and publicly known close personal friends, business colleagues, and personal advisors. Close associates also include persons having joint or ownership right in a legal person or arrangement established in favour of a PEP.
“Family members of PEPS: include a PEP’s direct family members, their spouse, their children and their spouses, their parents, and the siblings.”
Despite the high risk, the CBN informed the banks and other financial institutions not to prevent or close their business relationships with a customer on the grounds of the person being politically exposed.
Aside from direct requests for information from the PEPs, the CBN urged banks to conduct a third-party search by tracking the PEPs on the Internet or media.
“FIs may use the internet and media as sources of information for the determination, monitoring, verification of information in relation to PEPs, although it should be noted that such information may not be comprehensive or reliable,” the CBN suggested.
“Consequently, the CBN issues this Guidance in line with CBN AML/CFT/CPF Regulations 2022, FATF Recommendations, FATF Guidance on PEPs (2013) and Wolfsberg Guidance on PEPs (2017), to assist FIs in the identification and management of risks associated with PEPs.
“This Guidance provides minimum standards for FIs in their relationships with PEPs and does not limit measures to be taken by FIs to meet their statutory obligations. The Guidance Notes will be revised from time to time, as necessary,” the apex bank noted.
[NationalDaily]
The Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has hit the ground running by approving the appointment of New General Officers Commanding (GOCs), for some of the divisions of the Nigerian army and commandant for the Nigerian Defence.
Lagbaja appointed Major General A.B Ibrahim as the Chief Of Policy and Plans.
Under the new arrangement, Major General Alabi is now the General Officers Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna, Major General E.A Abubakar, 3 Division Nigerian Army, Jos, Major General Mala, GOC 7 Division, Major General.
Also appointed is a new Provost Marshal, Army, Brigadier General Garba, Chief of Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Ugiagbe, Major General Ochai, Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Major General Maina, Commandant Army War College Nigeria.
Others include Major General Aligbe, Commander Training And Doctrine Command, Minna, Major General Oluyede, Commander Infantry Corps, Major General Kange, and Commander Artillery.
The appointment, it was gathered, became necessary following the gap created by the retirement of some officers due to the selection of new service chiefs by President Bola Tinubu on June 19.
[PoliticsNigeria]
A former Chairman of Nigerite Nigeria Limited, Dr Yemi Oladimeji has disclosed that leaders of the Western world did not really care about Nigeria and urged President Bola Tinubu to be smart in dealing with them or their agents.
Speaking with Vanguard in Osogbo during the weekend, Oladimeji, a Fellow, American Society of Nephrology, and a United States-based Associate Professor of Medicine advised the President to be smart in dealing with individuals, groups and countries outside Nigeria, who are visiting the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja to felicitate with him and to offer help to Nigeria.
He said it’s important that Tinubu protect and put the interest of Nigeria and the black people first before that of this “multitude of guests, particularly the ones outside Africa.”
He said; “I watched and followed with keen interest events that led to President Tinubu’s emergence as the candidate and standard bearer of his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The unfolding events characterized by high-level lobbying, bridge building and theatrics before, during and after the APC primary election in Abuja, have proved he is really smart and well equipped and prepared for the tasks ahead.
“He effectively manoeuvred his way through all land mines and deployed so much diplomacy and political sagacity to become the President and Head of Government of the African nation with the highest concentration of black people in the world. For these and for your brilliant and outstanding performance as two-term governor of Lagos State, you have really won my admiration and you are worthy of my support.”
According to him, Tinubu is smart but should be smarter in dealing with “these nations and groups outside Nigeria and Africa. He should never derail from his core development agenda for Nigeria and Africa, insisting that the principle of Nigeria first before any other considerations must guide and guard his steps.
He warned further that the President should know that the individuals, groups and nations, visiting him have hopes, dreams and aspirations different from Nigeria and Africa, and therefore, should always hold close to his chest, the interest of Nigeria.
His words: “Some of these big nations when they see an African country with good leadership, they will find a way to frustrate and bring down its government. I know their mission, they don’t have good plans for Africa. I have an opportunity of over four decades outside Nigeria. I know how the advanced nations operate, many of them don’t have good plans for African countries.
“They know Tinubu will make Nigeria great and they are now looking for ways to frustrate his government. Some of those visiting him will come as friends with beautiful and strategic development plans in order to have an early closeness to him and later cripple his administration’s performance.
“Some of these guests are linked to the advanced nations’ secret police services and are working for them to foster their fixed and irreplaceable agenda that is inimical to the progress and economic prosperity of the less developed nations.
“I want this to be clear to Mr President that he has a golden opportunity to defend and be committed to the interest of Africa because Nigeria, as a leader in the African continent and for black people in the diaspora, has great responsibilities.
“Nigeria must be cautious and be thorough in analysing and knowing its interest at all times. We can’t afford to fall into the trap of any group or nation. We should always think of Nigeria’s survival. I want Nigeria to take note of how countries like India, China and some oriental nations have lately charted their ways to become forces to be reckoned with in the world’s technological, socio-economic and political order.”
Oladimeji, tasked Tinubu to look inward and lead with African strategies, which borders more on self-reliance, selective cooperation and adoption, adding that now is the golden opportunity for Nigeria to get it right so that other African nations can get it right too.
Acknowledging that Tinubu has achieved what his forerunners, Nigeria’s once leading political figure and late sage, Obafemi Awolowo; and the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, Presidential election, late MKO Abiola; could not achieve by ascending national power, he reminded him that “attaining power is not enough but what you achieve with it is far more important.”
[Vanguard]
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, on Saturday reacted to the criticisms from Nigerians over the photographs he took in Paris, France.
Okonjo-Oweala had posted a photograph of him in which President Bola Tinubu was cropped out.
The WTO DG had taken the photograph during the summit for ‘A New Global Financing Pact’ convened by the French President, Emmanuel Macron.
The summit afforded Tinubu the opportunity of projecting, on a global stage, his advocacy for widening the fiscal space, economic justice for Africa as the world accelerates the pace of energy transition, and the urgency of addressing the pressing issues of poverty and climate change.
The photograph had generated so much controversy among Nigerians.
Reacting to the controversy generated, Okonjo-Oweala urged Nigerians to relax.
Tweeting, the former Finance minister said the controversy has exposed how polarised Nigeria has become.
According to Okonjo-Iweala: Nigerians, please relax! Re Paris, Interesting attacks from both sides. This sadly shows the depth of polarization in our society.
“I post photos in the order received by accompanying staff or colleagues. Reading more into it is unwarranted. Let’s unite to build our country, not attack.”
[DailyPost]
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved 140 as the minimum admission cut-off mark for admission into universities in Nigeria, while that of polytechnics and Colleges of Education is pegged at 100.
Registrar of the board, Professor Is-haq Oloyede announced this on Saturday in Abuja during his presentation at the 2023 policy meeting on admission to tertiary institutions in Nigeria, following the conclusion of conduct of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The National Tolerable Minimum UTME Score (NTMUS) of 140 for universities, 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education were agreed upon by the stakeholders at the policy meeting.
Oloyede explained that all the tertiary institutions had earlier sent their proposed cut-off mark to the Board and that no institution would be allowed to go below what they had proposed as their individual cut-off mark.
He said that all institutions must abide by this rule and must not go below the approved points.
He also said that every tertiary institution must ensure its own minimum standard especially as it related to institutional screening and grading in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), which must not be lowered than 50 marks.
”All institutions must abide by this minimum point. This means that no institution can go below the standard.
”For the 15 private universities that demanded between 120 and 130 as minimum points, note that the 140 is sacrosanct and must not be violated.
” This is because the system put in place will not recognise 139, so ensure you comply,” he said.
Oloyede also said that institutions must not collect more than N2,000 as screening fees from candidates
More...
Sierra Leonean voters turned out in their numbers on Saturday, 24th June to choose a new president, members of parliament, mayors and local councilors with the voting process taking off to a slow start in some Centers in Western Area and other parts of the country.
Officially, voting starts from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM local time.
Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Head of the ECOWAS 95-member strong Election Observation Mission supported by the Deputy Head of Mission, Amb. Ansumana Ceesay and the ECOWAS Commission’s Technical Team led by Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, arrived at the Aberdeen Municipal School Polling Center in Freetown before the official opening of balloting at 7:00 AM.
Voting started at 8.25 AM at Polling Station 08, at the Centre with 204 registered voters.
Preferential treatment was given to Persons Living with Disability and the elderly. Tholley Idrissa, 43, the first voter, took approximately eight minutes to cast his ballot.
The situation was similar in some Centers from the field reports by ECOWAS Observers deployed to the 16 electoral districts.
Dr Chambas and his delegation had to appeal to agitated voters to exercise patience at the Logos Academy polling Centre, in Aberdeen, Freetown urban.
The Centre has seven polling stations with about 2,300 registered voters. By 9 am, voting had not started because of late arrival of sensitive electoral materials, including ballot boxes.
When contacted, Mohamed Konneh, Chair of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), said the situation at the Logos Academy had been brought to his notice. He blamed the situation on a mix up and pledged that the Commission was in the process of resolving it.
He also assured the ECOWAS Mission that every voter on the queue by the closing time of 5:00 PM will be allowed to vote.
The Head of ECOWAS Mission and his delegation later visited the same polling Centre for the second time, and the electoral process was proceeding smoothly.
Similarly, the electoral process was orderly and peaceful at the Hockey pitch polling Centre in Wilberforce Barracks, also in Freetown urban.
This Centre has 14 polling stations each with approximately 300 registered voters. The electoral process started between 7:00 AM and 8:00AM, and by 9.25 AM, polling stations 08 and 09 had each recorded about 40 voters.
Giving his preliminary assessment, Dr Chambas, who also met other Heads of Observation Missions, including former Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, leading the Commonwealth Mission, and Mr Haile Mariem Desalegn Bosche, the African Union Head of Mission, appealed for calm and expressed optimism that voting would pick up during the day.
He commended the discipline and orderliness of many voters who started arriving at the polling centers as early as 2:00 AM, noting that this was a demonstration of their determination and commitment to democracy.
The Head of Mission later visiting the ECOWAS Situation Room, from where the Technical Team was coordinating the observation and liaising with the Observers in the field.
Sitting President Julius Maada Bio, of the SLPP, who is seeking a second term, is facing challenges from 12 other contestants, including Samura Kamara, of the opposition APC, whom he defeated in the 2018 election.
Results of Saturday's polls are expected to be announced within 48 hours and if no candidate gets the mandatory 55% of the valid votes in the first round, the two frontrunners will go into a run-off vote, two weeks after the official announcement of the first-round result.
The ECOWAS Mission and other international and local observers are following the electoral process.
President Bola Tinubu on Friday concluded his official trip to Paris, France, during which he had an outstanding participation in the summit for ‘A New Global Financing Pact’ hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Aside his participation at the event where he represented Nigeria well, President Tinubu also held high-profile sideline meetings with fellow heads of state and government, global business leaders and chief executives of leading multilateral and development finance institutions from around the world.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Dele Alake, the summit afforded the President the opportunity of projecting, on a global stage, his advocacy for widening the fiscal space, economic justice for Africa as the world accelerates the pace of energy transition, and the urgency of addressing the pressing issues of poverty and climate change.
President Tinubu, who was initially scheduled to be back in Abuja on Saturday, will now proceed to London, United Kingdom, for a short private visit.
The President will be back in the country in time for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival.
The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has dismissed and struck out the petition filed by the Abia South senatorial candidate of the Labour Party, Chinedu Onyizu, against the election of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.
Onyizu’s petition was dismissed for non-compliance with paragraph 18 of the first schedule of the Electoral Act.
The Court ruled that the petitioners did not apply for pre-trial, adding that there was no proof of service of reply to the respondents.
Earlier when the matter was called up and appearances announced, Counsel to the 1st petitioner, Anagha Kalu Anagha, informed the court that his client, Onyizu was personally in court, and had information he would want to personally deliver to the court.
When given the floor, Onyizu said that he had lost confidence in the Justice Adeniyi-led three-man panel, claiming that he heard that some people were bragging that they had access to the panel.
He further said that the Chairman of the panel was also the one who chaired the tribunal that tried petitions against Abaribe in 2019, alleging that there is an affinity between the Senator and the tribunal Chairman.
Onyizu said he no longer had confidence in the justice of the tribunal and demanded that the matter be transferred to another panel.
But in a swift response, Counsel to Senator Abaribe, Machukwu Ume, SAN, expressed shock over the comments and vituperations by the petitioner.
He said even though the Chairman of the panel presided over the 2019 tribunal that handled the petitions against Abaribe, the Senator did not in any way, influence the decision of the panel.
Similarly, Counsels to APGA, Ogbonna Enekwa; and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Dr J. An Akubo, respectively, urged the court to throw away the petitioner’s application, arguing it ought to have come by way of motion in accordance with relevant laws.
INEC’s lawyer said the allegation of bias against the tribunal was baseless and should be dismissed.
After arguments and counterarguments, the court reserved judgment for the same day and emerged after about four hours to deliver judgement.
Delivering judgement, the tribunal ruled that election petitions are special in nature, and if the application were allowed, it would open the floodgates for other litigants.
It further held that the right to transfer matters only lay with the President of the Court of Appeal.
On the motion by the respondents that the petitioners did not comply with paragraph 18 of the first schedule of the Electoral Act which stipulates that seven days after the close of pleadings, petitioners ought to apply for the issuance of pre-trial forms, the court agreed with the respondents.
Counsels to the respondents had argued that according to the law, failure to comply with that stipulated that respondents could apply for the dismissal of such suit ” because it means that the petitioner has abandoned his petition”.
The court ruled that the petitioners filed their petition but could not produce proof of service.
Speaking with Vanguard, one of the Counsels to APGA, Uche Ihemanma, hailed the ruling of the court, saying that the petitioner abandoned his petition.
” The Court found that the petitioners did not comply with paragraph 18 of the Electoral Act which has to do with the issuance of pre-trial from. And the position of the law is that it is a helpless situation.
” It means that the petitioner abandoned his petition and there is nothing the court can do because it has robbed the court of jurisdiction to do any other thing in that trial”.
Responding also, Senator Abaribe described the court ruling as upright and victory for democracy.
The Senator who spoke through his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, said ” we didn’t expect anything less because Senator Abaribe won that election fair and square”.
He commended the judiciary for remaining the last hope of the common man.
Abaribe urged his opponents to consider the elections over and support him in his bid to give the people quality representation.
” He should congratulate the winner after all, Senator Abaribe is his brother. He loses nothing if he cooperates with his brother who is a man widely acclaimed as being a true representative of his people.
” He is fearless and committed to issues that concern the Igbo race. He should congratulate his brother and he has nothing to lose because the future is still bright for him as a young man”.
Speaking with Vanguard, Onyizu described the action of the tribunal as ” a travesty of justice” and vowed to appeal the ruling.
He expressed shock that his protest against the Chairman of the tribunal was not considered.
He accused the court of bias and throwing his suit out on frivolous technicalities
” I got into the court with my lawyers and I observed for the first time that the Chairman of the panel was the same man that delivered judgement in favour of my opponent in 2019 in the suit filed against him by Chris Nkwonta.
” So, when I observed this, I told the panel to move my case file to another panel because I had lost confidence in the make-up of the tribunal.
“Just as if I saw what was coming, the proceeding went ahead. They said it was too late for me to ask for that.
” The reason for striking out my suit was frivolous. My lawyer filed a reply and did not serve the respondents. Meanwhile, the law expects the belief of the tribunal to serve the respondents if the petitioners paid for it, and I paid for the service.
The second reason by the court was that the lawyer who signed my application was not listed as one of my lawyers. Meanwhile, I briefed the law firm handling my case which has many lawyers working for it. If it had employed a lawyer between then and now why should it be a matter?
” They refused to look at the merit of the petition and just struck it out. I’m heading to the Appeal Court but my concern is that the way things are going, I don’t know if it will be the same outcome. There is no hope again for the common man”
Fans of popular Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe have taken to social media to gush over some new pictures of the actress wearing Hijab.
The actress, who recently converted to Islam after getting married to popular filmmaker and Movie distributor, Kazeem Adeoti, is currently in Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj.
Mercy Aigbe, who renamed herself ‘Hajia Meenah’ after adopting Islam, took to Instagram today to share some pictures from the holy land of Mecca and wished her fans a happy Friday.
Capturing the pictures of herself in a Hijab, she wrote, “May Allah accept our supplication on this very special day as an act of ibadah. Amin ? Jummah Mubarak, everyone.”
The pictures have, however, caught the attention of her fans who took to the comment section to gush over the actress beauty in Hijab.
“She is so beautiful in Hijab. There is no doubt that the Hijab really adds to beauty,” mareeyam_craft commented.
Another Instagram user, Posh_rainbow, wrote, “See how the Hijab fits my Hajia Meenah with the ‘H’.”
“See how beautiful, modest, and unique you are with the Hijab. Don’t stop using it, Alhaja,” Hafsoh_muhammad commented.
Rabiat711 wrote, “Islam looks good on you, so Mashallah.”