A former member of the Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga has told Nigerians, especially workers, to ignore the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero’s directive asking them to go on strike next Wednesday over the removal of petrol subsidy.
Onanuga alleged that Ajaero is playing politics and acting the script of the opposition Labour Party, LP, insisting he is out to destabilise President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a post via his verified Twitter handle on Friday, Onanuga claimed that the NLC president is privy to the distressing financial figures which, according to him, justified why subsidy should have been scrapped a long time ago.
Onanuga wondered whose interest Ajaero is championing, noting he (Ajaero) did not oppose the position of the LP and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who he claimed campaigned with the promise to scrap subsidy from day one, if elected.
Giving reasons why fuel subsidy is no longer sustainable, Onanuga claimed the Federal Government is virtually broke, pointing to the N77 trillion national debt and about N2.4 trillion owed to the NNPC Limited for past subsidies.
He called on the Nigerian people and workers to “support the government as it works out new wages and rolls out other interventions, as promised by the President, to mitigate the effects of new fuel price.”
The statement read:
“The Politically tainted NLC, TUC
“NLC President Joe Ajaero has asked workers to go on strike next Wednesday over the removal of petrol subsidy, despite being privy to the distressing financial figures, which justified why subsidy ought to have been scrapped a long time ago. My advice to the perceptive workers and the Nigerian populace is simply to ignore Ajaero and his ilk. He is playing politics and is actually acting the script of the opposition Labour Party, out to destabilise the young Tinubu administration.
“Besides, one wonders whose interest Ajaero is championing, when he did not oppose the position of his Labour Party and presidential candidate, who campaigned with the promise to scrap subsidy from Day One, if elected.
“NLC and TUC leaders knew since last year November that subsidy will be scrapped from July 1 as no provision has been made in the budget for it, beyond this date.
“The Federal Government which already commits 96 percent of its revenue in servicing debt is not in any position to continue selling subsidised fuel, most of which is smuggled across our borders for criminal and obscenely unpatriotic profit.
Subsidy of fuel is no longer unsustainable as the FG is virtually broke. Apart from its N77 trillion debt, it also owes the NNPC Limited about N2.4trillion for past subsidies.
“The Nigerian people and workers should support the government as it works out new wages and rolls out other interventions, as promised by President Tinubu, to mitigate the effects of the new fuel price.
“Let’s not make ourselves pawns in the hands of the politically biased and tainted NLC and TUC. Ajaero is no more a labour leader. He is a politician and leader of the Labour Party. He is no more representing all the Nigerian workers.”
Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Josephine Otabor, better known as Phyna, has revealed that she is finally ready for marriage.
She disclosed this via her Twitter handle on June 2, 2023.
Sharing photos of herself donning a wedding gown, Phyna wrote: “Me practicing my wedding gown. 26 and ready.”
DAILY POST recalls that Phyna recently disclosed that she was receiving a lot of marriage proposals via social media.
The West African Examination Council says unscrupulous supervisors are behind malpractices that plague the conduct of examination by the body.
The examination body condemned the action of the corrupt supervisors, accusing them of making “a lot of money” from exam malpractices.
Patrick Areghan, WAEC’s head of the national office in Nigeria, made this known on Thursday in Abuja while monitoring the examination in some government secondary schools.
“Supervisors are our problems. They make a lot of money from this. The exam is taking place in over 21,000 secondary schools in Nigeria with only 2,000 staff strength. How many centres are we going to man?” stated Mr Areghan.
He added, “These supervisors are teachers given to us by state ministries of education, and when they come, they make it a business. We are not in control of social media, small boys post questions for advertisement and ask candidates to subscribe on their websites, and then they give them fake questions.”
The WAEC official appealed to candidates, teachers and parents to maintain the ethics of examination to have a good and sound educational system saying that all hands must be on deck to fight the monsters called examination malpractices.
Also, the WAEC board chair, Binta Abdulkadri, expressed concerns about the involvement of school principals in exam malpractice.
Abdulkadri, the director of senior secondary education at the federal ministry of education, commended WAEC for deploying technology to nab perpetrators of examination malpractice.
Meanwhile, WAEC said it had identified 56 rogue website operators that leaked its West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).
The WAEC official explained that the exam body had implemented technology to detect malpractices from any location.
“I am happy to announce that so far in this exam, we have made a lot of arrests. We made arrests in Ibadan, Maiduguri, Abeokuta, Osogbo, Umuahia and many other states,” he disclosed. “In all, we have made arrests of no fewer than 15 persons comprising candidates, supervisors, school proprietors, and others connected with the malpractices.”
One million six hundred twenty-one thousand eight hundred ninety-five candidates are sitting the examinations across the country in over 21,000 secondary schools.
(NAN)
In the heat of the campaigns during the last presidential elections, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now president, pledged to follow in the footsteps of the then President Muhammadu Buhari, a pledge that made both Buhari and Tinubu the butt of jokes by the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike.
Having been declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Tinubu assumed office last Monday as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Eminent Nigerians have however counselled the president to be wary of some of the false steps taken by his predecessor which he must avoid in order to repair the damage that had been done in the country.
Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, former President, of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must avoid the tribalistic and nepotistic tendencies of his predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. He must unite Nigeria by placing merit, equity and geopolitical spread above tribal sentiments in his appointments. Buhari divided Nigeria with his nepotism. We had expected Buhari to depart from the culture of a leader surrounding himself with people that look like him and sound like him. That’s not the way to unite Nigeria. Tinubu should not follow that pattern.
He should show an understanding of the workings of the economy and not engage in policy somersaults or ignorance in economic management as exhibited by his predecessor. He should avoid thinking it’s okay to keep borrowing and printing money.
That devalues the Naira and raises inflation. Tinubu must be real and genuine in the fight against corruption. Buhari pretended to be fighting corruption but there was no real evidence. Under his watch, there were more corrupt individuals and corruption cases in Nigeria. Nigeria’s rating in the corruption index also worsened. We expect that Tinubu should be present and not absent. He should show proof that he is in charge, unlike Buhari that stood aloof.
I commend Tinubu for his quick intervention in the recent face-off between the EFCC and the DSS. He gave orders immediately and there was calm, unlike Buhari that looked away. Tinubu must be impartial in the war against insecurity, unlike Buhari who fought against his ethnic Fulani bandits with kid gloves. Tinubu must respect the rule of law, an attitude, Buhari lacked.
He should not be discretionary like Buhari. Government must obey its court orders. If government disobeys its own laws who does it expect to obey it. That can lead to anarchy.
Tinubu must also give conscious attention to investment promotion. He must show an understanding of the relationship between job creation and investment. He should focus on investment promotion and try to make Nigeria attractive for investors. He should maintain a single exchange rate.
We cannot talk of developing Nigeria by depending on money printed by the Central Bank. We need investment capital to flow. And the only way it can flow is by creating the enabling environment, making Nigeria conducive and attractive for investments”.
Ambassador Yemi Farounmbi
The major footstep of former President Buhari which President Tinubu should follow is infrastructural development, there were attempts to develop the infrastructure, like the second Niger bridge, the establishment the University of Medicine and Nutrition, Polytechnics and Technical Colleges of Education, Lagos-Ibadan express road, Enugu-Port Harcourt express road and Oyo- Ogbomoso-Ilorin express road.
But I hope President Tinubu will not follow Buhari’s footsteps in the area of security, because, under his watch, the security deteriorated or totally collapsed in Nigeria. What used to be a North-East crisis became a national tragedy and headache. We also hope he will not follow Buhari’s footsteps in his fight against corruption.
We didn’t really see an active fight against corruption the way we thought we would see. We hope he will not follow Buhari’s footsteps in the pauperisation of the people because it will appear the people were economically healthier when he came on board eight years ago than when he left last week. We hope the new President takes a more rational, objective decision to tackle the economic situation.
We hope the escalating inflation is curtailed so that the value of the naira will be enhanced, poverty is drastically reduced, more jobs will be created or a conducive atmosphere is created for those that will do it. That is what we hope to see from this President.
Chief Frank Kokori, former General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG and Chieftain of APC
If Bola Tinubu said he was going to follow in Buhari’s footsteps, it does not mean he is going to be like Buhari. He was looking for power, so those were just political talks. Tinubu will follow his own strategy and from now on, you will see changes. Buhari does not have any philosophy or achievement that people can be proud of which Tinubu will follow.
Tinubu is a wise person; he has his own agenda and one of the first things he should do is to ensure that Nigeria is run on a real federal system. Nigeria is being fraudulently run by what the military did, so he should decentralize the government properly.
All Nigerians know the importance of security. Buhari talked about security but he could not perform anything on security; he was a failure in the area of security. Tinubu should fight corruption and get the economy running. Buhari was very secluded, and taciturn and barricaded himself with a cabal.
Buhari was not in control of his government, his ministers were in control. Buhari’s ministers were lords, they could do anything. No government in the world allows its ministers to do anything they like.
Dr Bitrus Pogu, National President, Middle Belt Forum
Nigeria will plunge into a disaster if President Bola Tinubu emulates or follows the footsteps of former president Muhammadu Buhari as there was nothing good about the outgone administration to emulate.
There is nothing in former president Buhari’s governance that one would follow that would move Nigeria forward. Is it the economy, is it the unfulfilled promises, is it the insecurity, is it the worsening poverty, is it the state of education in the country? The list is endless.
Mr Ayo Fadaka, former South West Zonal Publicity Secretary, PDP
I have queried myself as to what Buhari’s footsteps are and do not seem to have an answer. The truth is that the Buhari years represent an era of hollowness and comprehensive depreciation in our national life and if the Tinubu years are going to be a semblance of that, Nigeria will decline and disintegrate.
The hike in the prices of fuel has dire consequences that spiral across all facets of our economic life and those at the lowest rung of life are affected the most, that is over 70% of the population. Tinubu must put on his thinking cap and roll out policies that will relaunch Nigeria and position it into its previous place of pride in Africa, failure to do this will only spell doom for our democracy and nation.
Mr Taiwo Akerele, former Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki
Buhari performed in the infrastructure sector, particularly in the railway and roads across Nigeria. So it will be a welcome development if the Tinubu administration can even triple the amount of money that the out-gone government of Buhari invested in that sector.
The only advice is that it should involve the private sector in infrastructure financing because the government alone cannot fund infrastructure.
The Buhari government also invested significantly in human capital particularly during COVID-19 when the economy was shut down and a lot of people could not do business.
For the first time, Nigeria carried out a very ambitious social investment program that affected millions of people across the country. However, Tinubu should differ in other sectors particularly in the area of economic management, because the Buhari government did not do well in that sector.
He should also differ in the area of security, he should have zero tolerance for kidnapping, and he should have zero tolerance for the abduction of school children, it is totally unacceptable that under the Buhari government, children were being kidnapped on a regular basis, especially between 2021 and 2022.
So, the Tinubu government should come out with a national security architecture that will take care of school children and people travelling along the expressways, in-fact he should guarantee the lives and property of our people.
Abagun Kole Omololu, National Organizing Secretary, Afenifere
President Tinubu has outlined his policies during his inaugural speech. He only identified with Buhari on infrastructure and it is a good thing that the President wants to follow that step. Tinubu is a cosmopolitan city boy, nepotism and religious bigotry are alien to him. He was an international student and a corporate giant who understands world view.
A Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State’s capital, has declared that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lacked the constitutional powers to invite by letters, telephone calls or any other means of communication serving and past officials of the state for the purpose of explaining how the state’s funds are utilised.
Justice Aminu Bappa Aliyu made the order on Wednesday while delivering judgement on a suit instituted by the Government of Zamfara State and Attorney General of Zamfara State against the EFCC and the Attorney General of the Federation.
The Court held that the power to audit the public accounts of Zamfara State is not vested in the 1st defendant (EFCC) or any other authority, person, body or organisation other than in the Auditor General of Zamfara State.
The court also set aside EFCC’s letter of invitation to the past and serving officials of Zamfara State Government, dated 28th September, 2021, or any other date, noting that such letter, “being ultra vires the powers of the 1st defendant”, was null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
These and other orders were made after the court had listened to submissions of the plaintiffs’ counsel, Abdulfathu Shehu; and counsels to the defendants, Adebisi Adeniyi and P. A. Attah, in the Writ of Summons suit, dated and filed on November 16, 2021 and marked: FHC/GS/CS/30/2021.
Having gone through the processes filed by the parties, Justice Aliyu granted all the prayers of the plaintiffs, stressing that only the Zamfara State House of Assembly and the Auditor General of the state are vested with the constitutional authority of seeking explanation or inviting public officials on how the state’s money is being spent and not the EFCC or the AGF.
The Zamfara State Government had also prayed the court to bar EFCC from inviting, arresting or detaining any government officials as regards the appropriation of public funds in the state as such contradicts the power of the anti-graft body.
The presiding judge granted all the plaintiff’s prayers, saying, “A declaration is made that, having regard to the provisions of Section 120, 121, 122. 123, 124, 128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, the 1st Defendant (EFCC) does not have the powers to invite (by letters, telephone calls or any other means of communication) serving and past officials of the Plaintiff for the purpose of explaining how funds meant for security votes, estacodes and travelling allowances were utilised, or are being utilised, when such funds are such that the Auditor General and the Zamfara State House of Assembly have the constitutional authority to conduct investigation and exercise powers and control over same.
“A declaration is made that upon a calm and proper interpretation of the provisions of Section 125 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, the power to receive financial statement and annual accounts of Zamfara State from the Accountant General of Zamfara State is not vested in the 1st Defendant or any other authority, person, body or organisation other than in the Auditor General for Zamfara State.
“A declaration is made that upon a proper interpretation of the provisions of Section 125 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, the power to audit the public accounts of Zamfara State is not vested in the 1st Defendant or any other authority, person, body or organization other than in the Auditor General of Zamfara State.
“A declaration is made that upon a calm and proper interpretation of the provisions of Section 125 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, the Auditor General or any person authorised by him, cannot be subjected to any direction or control of the 1st and 2nd Defendants (EFCC and AGF) or any authority, person, body or organisation.
“An Order of Injunction is made retraining the 1st Defendant by itself, agent, servant, detectives, employees, staff, operatives and privies from inviting, or further inviting. arresting and or detaining past or present officials of the 1st Plaintiff (Zamfara State Government) with respect to how funds meant for security votes, estacodes and travelling allowances were expended by the 1st Plaintiff except through the House of Assembly of Zamfara State and in strict compliance with provisions of the Constitution of the Federal of Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.
“An Order of Injunction is made restraining the 1st Defendant whether by itself, its agents, employees, servants, operatives, detectives, privies, investigating officer(s), and other person by whatever name called, from inviting, or further inviting, intimidating, harassing and threatening to arrest or detain, or from arresting or detaining any past or present official of the 1st Plaintiff on the basis of the same facts or similar facts as herein stated.
“An Order is made setting aside the 1st Defendant’s letter of invitation to the past and serving officials of the Plaintiff, dated 28th September, 2021, or any other date, same being ultra vires the powers of the 1st Defendant, and therefore, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”
North-central may produce DSP
The leadership tussle in the National Assembly is about to take an interesting dimension following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the duo of Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that Tinubu, following series of complaints that greeted the zoning arrangement of the principal offices in the two chambers of the federal parliament, decided to intervene in order to find an amicable solution to the issue which was already creating tension among the lawmakers.
A reliable source told our Correspondent in confidence that Tinubu specifically gave a definite assignment to Lawan and Gbajabiamila to ensure that double nomination was avoided in both chambers on June 13.
The source said the presiding officers told the President pointblank that there was no way a zoning arrangement which excludes the North Central and gave two slots to the North West would work.
The source said, “The President wanted to avoid all forms of distractions and ill-feelings among members-elect of the 10th National Assembly so that he could concentrate on the onerous task of providing good governance.
“As we are all aware, the National Assembly is very critical. Since the APC has the highest number of members in both chambers, it was the president’s opinion that the leadership must not be imposed.”
Further investigations by our correspondent revealed that both Lawan and Gbajabiamila had asked all aspirants to put their houses in order to avoid rancour on the day of inauguration.
Towards this development, the camp of Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin met at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Thursday night for several hours.
Similarly, the Senate Democratic Caucus which has the likes of Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and Osita Izunaso, also met at Destination Hotel in Wuse 2, Abuja.
Meanwhile, our Correspondent learnt that another meeting called by the Democratic Caucus group at the Wuse Zone two, was holding simultaneously then.
It will be recalled that Tinubu and the National Working Committee of the APC had zoned the position of the Senate President to the South-south and specifically endorsed Akpabio as its candidate with Senator Barau Jibrin as deputy.
Kalu, Yari, Izunaso and others had objected to the action of the APC’s leadership and vowed to contest against the Akpabio/Jibrin ticket on Inauguration Day.
Speaking at a meeting of the forum of APC non serving senators on Thursday evening, a leader of the party, former governor Segun Osoba, urged the ex-senators to reach out to the aggrieved aspirants with a view to dousing the current tension caused by the zoning arrangements.
Osoba said, “I want to appeal to you on two issues. Let us all organise a serious lobby system by convene a meeting of all aspirants for the position of Senate President in 10th Senate to make them see reason why they should toe the line of the party.
“The Party has decided on zoning and has zoned the positions. We cannot afford to start this government on another crises. The fuel subsidy removal crisis is already there.
“Let us go back to our states and lobby our senators-elect to support the choice of the party. With this I believe we shall achieve our goal without any hitch.”
“A former Nigeria Ambassador to Ghana, Musiliu Obanikoro, also appealed to the anointed aspirants to reach out to the aggrived ones in order to find an amicable solution to the issue.
He said, “Don’t also take any senator elect for granted. Don’t say some people are in safe zone, they don’t need special treatment. Let us reach out to everyone in a dignified manner after all, other aspirants are doing it.”
The Director General of the Akpabio/Jibrin Stability Group, Senator Ali Ndume, however, disagreed with Obanikoro on the occasion.
He said, “We are Distinguished Senators, I disagreed with the suggestion of the last Speaker (Obanikoro), who suggested that we should do what other aspirants are doing. It is disgusting to think Senators should be bought over with money.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grilled Pauline Tallen, former minister of women affairs, over alleged corrupt enrichment.
Tallen was questioned at the Abuja zonal command for allegedly misappropriating N2 billion.
Although details of the case against the ex-minister are still unclear, a source familiar with the probe said it involves funds from the African First Lady Peace Mission Project (AFLPM).
The initiative, conceived by Maryam Abacha, former first lady, is centred on promoting peace and harmony in Africa.
TheCable could not immediately reach Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson of the EFCC, for details of the probe.
Shortly before May 29, the EFCC had said it intends to go after then-outgoing governors and other public officials
On Thursday, the anti-graft agency invited Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti, over allegations of N4 billion misappropriation.
The probe is said to be connected to the handling of funds during his tenure.
Fayemi however said he was grilled on “a frivolous petition from a faceless group, the so-called Ekiti Patriotic Coalition”, adding that he “stands ready to cooperate fully”.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has explained reasons why him, former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and former governor of Delta State (1999-2007), James Ibori met with President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the purpose of their visit was to show their support for the current administration.
On the issue of subsidy, the Oyo State governor described it as a tough decision but that the President has started on the right note.
He called for citizens support for the policy.
Asked why they were in the Villa, Makinde said: “To let him know that he has started well and he has the support of the generality of the people.”
On if they discussed the subsidy issue, he said: “Yes, we discussed it. It’s something that is on top of public discuss right now. We know it’s a tough decision for the people and he needs the support of everybody to see this through.”
Wike, also speaking on the subsidy removal said “There’s no big deal about it, the governor of Oyo has told you what we came to do; to give him support. We are supporting all the decisions he’s taking, it shows that he’s prepared for the job and there’s nothing bad about that.
“It requires tough decisions for a country to move forward.”
The trio arrived the presidential villa at 4:20pm prompt and left at 7pm.
TRIBUNAL: ‘Real Disaster Happened At Collation Centre’ — More PDP Witnesses Testify On How Election Was ‘Rigged’ For Tinubu In Ebonyi, Borno, Niger
AdminOn Friday, three Peoples Democratic Party’s state collation agents testified before the Presidential Election Petitions Court sitting in Abuja on how results in the election won by President Bola Tinubu was allegedly “changed” in Borno, Ebonyi and Niger states.
The three witnesses, however, admitted that they did not state the polling units or wards where the alleged irregularities were committed in the statement on oath they deposed before the PEPC.
The presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, is among three petitioners currently challenging the outcome of the 2023 presidential election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission in favour of President Bola Tinubu.
So far, the PDP has tendered as evidence, the 2023 Presidential Election Results, INEC Forms EC8A (which is the summary of presidential election results) and Form EC8E series for the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, INEC certified documents in respect of number of PVCs collected for 2023 presidential election and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS machine-printed report for the 36 states, including FCT.
Other documents tendered are additional Forms EC8A as downloaded by INEC (for 17 local government of Abia state and INEC authentication certificate), Forms EC8As for Bayelsa, Kaduna, Ogun states, certified true copies of Forms EC8Es from Kaduna and Kogi state.
These documents have been objected to by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the All Progressives Congress.
But the documents were all admitted as exhibits by the court in line with the PEPC directive that no Certified INEC materials shall be objected to at the point of tendering from the bar.
THE WHISTLER reports that on Thursday, PDP counsel Chris Uche SAN, presented his legal team’s first three witnesses (State Collation agents for Ogun, Abia and Kogi states) before the court for examination and cross-examination by lawyers.
They all insisted the election was allegedly marred by non-compliance to the Electoral Act, harassment of voters and inflation of votes in favour of Tinubu.
At the continuation of the hearing on Friday, PDP lead counsel, Chris Uche SAN, said he was continuing his case with the presentation of additional three witnesses.
Former House of Representatives member, Sani Kutigi, was then presented as the fourth witness.
He testified that he served as State Collation Agent for Niger State but did not sign the Form EC8D (PC26), that is, the collated and summary of results for Niger State, after final results were announced by the INEC state collation officer.
Under cross examination, INEC’s lawyer Oluwakemi Pinheiro asked him if he was familiar with the process of election.
He said he was familiar with the process of the election, adding “I voted in the presidential election.”
Chief Akin Olujimi SAN, counsel for Tinubu and Shettima, asked the witness to confirm that the PDP polling units agents performed their job very well at the respective polling units in the state.
“Absolutely,” the witness replied.
Olujimi pressed him further on his witness statement on oath where he alleged the actual results were not transmitted, asking “but did you state the actual results?”
He said he did not.
When queried by Lateef Fagbemi SAN, APC’s lawyer, the witness affirmed he did not state any figure different from the results announced by INEC for Niger State, in his statement on oath.
The fourth witness, Nicholas Sheriza, was then called up by the PDP counsel.
He was the PDP State Collation Agent for Borno state.
Pinheiro asked him to confirm to the court whether the agents of PDP did well during the election.
Sheriza said they performed well only where they were allowed to do so.
“The real election was held at the polling units but the real disaster happened at the collation centre where rigging took place,” the witness said.
Tinubu’s counsel, Olujimi, asked him if he stated the polling units where results were marred in his statement on oath.
But Sheriza said he did not, adding that “The disaster happened at the Ward Collation where the results were changed. When you compare the results from ward level and polling units, they are at variance “
But Olujimi asked him if he stated the supposed disaster in his statement on oath and he replied he never did because he could not input all the developments at the entire polling units in his statement.
When APC counsel, Fagbemi cross-examined him on whether the PDP had agents at the LGA collation centre, the witness said they did.
The sixth witness came up, whose name and description was identified as Silas Joseph Onu Esq, State Collation Agent for Ebonyi state.
INEC’s lawyer asked him to confirm if his duty was just limited to collation at the centre.
“There was nothing like that, we were given permission to move across the state, not just collation centre,” Onu replied, adding he received information from agents in polling units, wards and LGAs.
“Were your agents given results at polling units?” the INEC lawyer further asked, to which Onu replied “Some of the agents collected the results but others were chased away”.
Olujimi asked him to confirm his knowledge of polling units in Ebonyi.
The witness confirmed there were 2,964 polling units in 13 LGAs and 171 wards.
“You said Infractions occurred in all the polling units in the state but were you there?” Olujimi further asked, to which the witness responded that he visited several places.
APC’s lawyer, Fagbemi asked him if he stated the polling units he visited or where results were marred.
“It is clearly not there,” the witness said, adding he received reports directly from agents from all the polling units.
The court discharged all the witnesses from the testimony dock and adjourned proceedings to Monday, as agreed by lawyers.
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has reacted to his appointment as President Bola Tinubu's Chief of Staff.
Reacting on his Twitter page, the Speaker said he will do his best to assist the President in delivering the dividends of democracy.
The tweet reads: “Thank you Mr. President for finding me worthy of being your Chief of Staff.
“Having spent the last 20 years in the Nigerian Parliament, and after winning my 6th term election into the National Assembly, I shall work with Mr President in discharging the enormous task ahead of him for the peace and progress of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“I shall give my best when I take office on June 14, 2023 as reflected in Mr. President’s official letter.”
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The Independent National Electoral Commission has given an explanation why it opposed documents tendered by the Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi, in aid of his petition against the election of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Punch, the electoral body had since the start of the hearing opposed the admissibility of various documents brought to the Presidential Election Petition Court by the petitioners as exhibits to prove their case and held, like other respondents, that reasons would be advanced during the address stage of the petition.
However, during Friday’s proceedings, counsel for INEC, Kemi Pinhero, SAN, told the court that the electoral body objected to the tendering of the election result sheets because the petitioners went beyond the areas where the election was being disputed.
He said those local government areas improperly brought into the proceedings of the court are strange to the petition and cannot stand in the face of the law.
Interjecting, the chairman of the five-man panel, Justice Harunna Tsammani, held that it was unacceptable for the lawyer to give reasons for their objection after the commission had indicated that it would advance reasons at the address stage of proceedings.
Subsequently, Peter Afoba, SAN, who conducted the proceedings for Obi and LP tendered before the PEPC, additional exhibits to back up their petition against Tinubu which were admitted and marked as Exhibits PB 16 to PB 21.
The exhibits, which were admitted in evidence by the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led panel, consisted of certified true copies of results of the presidential election from six states of the federation – Adamawa, Bayelsa, Oyo, Edo, Lagos and Akwa Ibom states.
Although Obi won the presidential election in Lagos State, he alleged in his petition that there was massive suppression of votes in the state.
The petitioners also tendered evidence before the court, including the result from Bida Local Government Area in Niger State, which was admitted as Exhibit PE 24.
Earlier on Thursday, he had tendered the results of the election from select local government areas in Rivers, Niger, Benue, Cross River, Osun, and Ekiti but did not tender that of Bida LGA in Niger.
As in the case of INEC, other respondents objected to the admissibility of the document and said they would equally reserve their reasons for objecting until the final address stage of the petition.
The court thereafter admitted results from 21 LGAs in Adamawa State and marked them as Exhibits PH 1 to PH 21. It also admitted the results of the presidential election from eight LGAs in Bayelsa State and marked them as Exhibits PJ1 to PJ 8.
Results from 31 LGAs in Oyo that the court admitted as exhibits were marked PK 1 – PK 31, while results from 18 LGAs in Edo State were marked as Exhibits PL1- PL 18.
Further tendered were results from 20 LGAs in Lagos State, which were admitted as Exhibits PM 1 – PM 20, and results from 31 LGAs in Akwa Ibom State, accepted in evidence as Exhibits PN 1–PN 31.
The panel adjourned to Monday, May 5, for a further hearing in the matter.
Reno Omokri, the former presidential spokesman, has spoken on the recent appointments made by President Bola Tinubu.
He said the appointment of the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Judge Akume by President Tinubu was commendable.
DAILY POST earlier reported that the president officially announced the appointment of Femi as his Chief of Staff and Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Reacting, Omokri, lauded the president for balancing the appointment citing Femi as a Muslim and Akume, a Christian.
In a post on his official Facebook page, he said the development shows that Tinubu would keep to his promise of not Islamising his administration
He wrote, “I like how President Bola Tinubu balanced the two most important appointments in his government between Christians and Muslims, naming George Akume, a Christian Middle-Belter, as his Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Femi Gbajabiamila, a Muslim Southwesterner, as his Chief of Staff.
“Both men have the necessary educational qualifications and political experience for the positions they are to fill. Round pegs in round holes
“So far, he is keeping his promise of not Islamising his administration. So far, so good. If he derails, we will give details.
“We will still meet you in court, where I hope our petition to unseat you succeeds. But for now, well done.”
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has awarded an N100 million fine against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over an allegation bordering on the arrest and killing of Ja’afar Muhammad, a member of Free Zakzaky protesters in Abuja.
Justice Zainab Abubakar, in a judgement in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CD/409/2020, held that the arrest of late Muhammad by police officers at Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital on July 22, 2019, and his killing on July 24, 2019, at SARS Abattoir, Abuja, amounted to a gross violation of his fundamental rights as enshrined in Section 33 (1) 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Justice Abubakar also described the action of the police as illegal, unlawful, null, and void.
It would be recalled that Mr Naziru Isah Abdullahi, a brother to the deceased, through his counsel, Bala Dakum, had sued the IGP and the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Asokoro District Hospital as 1st and 2nd respondents, respectively, before the court.
In the originating motion on notice filed on March 19, 2020, Abdullahi averred that Muhammad was shot by operatives of the police while on a peaceful protest to demand the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, and his wife Zeenah, at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, on July 22, 2019.
He was subsequently rushed to the Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital for medical attention, where he was arrested the same day and detained at SARS Abattoir, Abuja, without Medicare before he gave up the ghost on July 24, 2019.
In the judgment delivered on May 22 and a certified true copy of the document made available to newsmen on June 2, Abubakar held that Abdullahi had been able to establish that his brother, Muhammad, was shot by the police, and as a result, sustained injury while on a peaceful protest and died in custody.
The judge further held that it was established that, upon the demise of Ja’afar Muhammad, his corpse was deposited at the Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja.
“Based on the foregoing, I hold that the applicant has proved the infringement of his fundamental rights against the respondents as he alleged, and he is therefore entitled to the grant of the reliefs sought.
“Accordingly, reliefs (a), (b), (c), and (d) are granted to the applicant as prayed,” she declared.
Abubakar, who gave an order directing the IGP and the CMD to release Muhammad’s corpse to the applicant for immediate burial in accordance with Islamic rites, also directed the IGP to pay the sum of N100 million for unlawful detention and killing of Muhammad.
She equally ordered the IGP to tender a formal apology to the applicant (Abdullahi) by publishing the same in two national dailies.
A Non-Governmental Organisation that focuses on human rights and peace-building, Stefanos Foundation, has disclosed that between January and April, 2023, there were 217 attacks from 34 states in Nigeria.
According to the Jos-based human rights organisation, the attacks resulted in the killing of 1,872 persons, 714 abductions, and 65 persons sustained various degrees of injuries.
Ms. Fatima Njoku, the Advocacy Manager at Stefanos Foundation, during a joint press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, stressed that there was the urgent need for action to address the underlying causes of the violence in parts of the country.
She said, “From eyewitness reports and testimonies of direct victims across board, we can say that the attacks are carried out in literally the same style, with attackers dressed in similar fashion and victims with similar profiles.
“This has happened in Agatu, Guma, Logo in Benue State, Kagoro, Zangon Kataf, Kajuru, Kafanchan in southern Kaduna, Bassa, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, and now Mangu in Plateau State, and the list goes on.”
She stated that the new administration had come in at a time when the security of lives and property, which is the primary purpose of government, is at its worst in Nigeria’s history, stressing that it calls for the urgent attention of the government.
The Mwaghavul Development Association, MDA, in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State had alleged that the ongoing violence in their communities may be linked to deep economic interests and called for immediate action to address the situation.
Chief Joseph Gwamkat, MDA’s National President, stated that the return to their ancestral homes was non-negotiable, saying that if nothing was done to address the situation, there will be “hunger and poverty” in the land, with the present economic climate.
He explained that about 40 percent of farm produce from Plateau State comes from Mangu LGA, saying that the ongoing violence was a threat to their livelihoods.
Gwamkat said the MDA strongly recommended the “establishment of state policing” in all states and communities in Nigeria, and “creation of special courts” to dispense justice between conflicting communities.
He lamented that the presence of the National Emergency Management Agency or the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency had never been felt.