The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, says it has deployed its entire workforce, including Special Marshals to the highways to ensure hitch free movement of commuters across the country during the yuletide.
A statement by Deputy Corps Marshal, Bisi Kazeem, on Monday in Abuja, said the personnel would combat traffic gridlock and ensure zero Road Traffic Crashes.
He said that the personnel had been provided with logistics and operational materials, including radar guns to check speed violations.
Mr Kazeem added that 16 traffic control camps have been set up along different routes, while 53 critical routes would receive special attention.
Mr Kazeem quoted the Corps Marsal, Dauda Biu as directing Commanding Officers to ensure 24-hour surveillance along high volume traffic and gridlock prone areas.
He also directed the full mobilisation of the 26 Help Areas, and full utilisation of the 59 Emergency Ambulance Points, the mobilisation of roadside clinics, and 24-hour broadcast of traffic situation on the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM.
According to him, the special operation would round up on Jan. 15, 2024.
The personnel were also to identify alternative routes to assist motorists during gridlocks, and give notification of traffic distressed areas for intervention, he said.
Mr Kazeem added that Night Rescue teams have been stationed on standby at all operational Commands.
“The operation is billed to cover the following critical corridors: Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi corridor, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum corridor, Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos corridor,
“Others are Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor, Okene-Ogori-Isua-Owo corridor, Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo Afor-9th Mile corridor, Asaba-Abraka-Ughelli-Warri corridor, Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu corridor, Sagamu-Mowe-Lagos corridor, amongst others.”
Mr Kazeem said that the FRSC’s holistic approach was to ensure safer roads in view of the upsurge in traffic volume recorded during such time.
He said that the target was to avert chaos and indiscipline on the highway, so as to avoid crashes and fatalities.
“The directive also mandates the Corps’ operatives to ensure effective collaboration with Military Units, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“Other sister agencies to work with include Directorate of State Services, NGO Ambulance Service Providers, National Network on Emergency Road Services and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency,” he said.
Mr Kazeem urged motorists to utilise FRSC social media handles: facebook.com//frscnigeria, Instagram.com//frscnigeria, twitter.com//frscnigeria, for necessary updates.
“In case of emergency, call the 122 toll free number and the National Traffic Radio live lines: 08052998090, 09067000015, and 08052998012.
“The public can also reach the situation room on 07054005754 and 07054005712,” he added.
NAN
The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, reserved judgments in appeals filed by the Governorship candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Azeez Adediran, against the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Naija News recalls that Sanwo-Olu contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election held in March 2023.
The appeals by Rhodes-Vivour and Adeniran are against the earlier judgments of the Court of Appeal in Lagos, which affirmed the two decisions of the election tribunal.
The election tribunal had dismissed their petition, challenging Sanwo-Olu’s victory in the last governorship election.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice John Okoro told parties that they would be informed when the judgments are ready.
Rhodes-Vivour and Adeniran are challenging the declaration of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which declared Sanwo-Olu as the winner.
The governorship candidates are seeking to be declared the Governor of Lagos State.
The deputy governor, Femi Hamzat, Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin and some other senior officials of the Lagos State Government witnessed the court session.
[NaijaNews]
Gunmen suspected to be armed bandits in the early hours of Tuesday attacked Tursa village in Rabbah Local Government area of Sokoto State, killing at least one person and abducting at least six persons from the village.
Confirming this ugly development to our correspondent on Tuesday morning in Sokoto, the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmed Rufai, said the incident happened at midnight on Tuesday.
Rufais said, “The gunmen entered the village and set ablaze a room and burnt down the one person inside.
“They also burnt down two motorcycles in the process and kidnapped six persons while an undisclosed number of cows were also rustled in the process.”
While assuring that the state commissioner of police has ordered the manhunt of the suspected criminals, he further promised to give more updates on the incident later.
[Punch]
The Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (Christ the King Cathedral, in Kaduna has honoured African Peace Icons, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and Pastor Yohanna Buru, for promoting harmony and tolerance among the people.
According to Pastor Christopher Solomon of the Church, the selection of Gumi and Buru was a result of their remarkable contributions to humanity and their dedicated efforts towards peace, NAN reports.
He said that the duo were recognized as ‘Peace Ambassadors’ for their unwavering commitment to peace-building in the state.
“Their efforts in promoting religious tolerance and fostering better understanding have played a significant role in mitigating religious extremism and attacks among adherents of different faith-based organizations,” he said.
In response, while receiving the honours the award recipients expressed their gratitude to the Almighty God for the honour bestowed upon them.
Buru and Gumi also called upon Muslims and Christians to consistently live in peace and harmony with one another.
They appealed to both the state and Federal Governments to address the prevailing security challenges affecting various sectors of human endeavors while thanking the organizers for the recognition.
The awardees also prayed for peace and stability in the state and the country at large.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has increased the cost of registration forms for 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Recall that JAMB had earlier fixed the date for the sale of the form to run from January 15, to February 26, 2024.
The Board in a statement shared on its official X handle on Sunday, disclosed that the cost of the form will be N6,200 and an additional N1,500 for candidates willing to take the voluntary mock exams, bringing the total cost to N7,700.
This is a N2000 difference from the N4,700 paid for registration and N1,000 for Mock exams in the 2023 UTME.
The statement reads in part; “This is to inform all prospective 2024 UTME/DE candidates that creation of profiles for registration has officially started, while the sale of application documents would commence on Monday 15th January, 2024.
“Registration Fee for the 2024 UTME: N7,700 (with Mock); N6,200 (without Mock).”
JAMB in the statement also added that the sale of application documents for foreign candidates is $30.
LITERALLY fuming on Monday, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka demanded the Barrest and detention of everyone directly or indirectly indicted in the alleged scam involving the Mambilla power project.
He was speaking to the arrest and detention of a former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his alleged involvement in the long-running Mambilla saga.
The literary icon was particularly riled by a statement he credited to the chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede that only President Bola Tinubu could order the release of Agunloye.
Querying the decision of the anti-graft agency to declare Agunloye wanted when the former minister had been visible in public, Soyinka said, “Olu Agunloye has pursued his movements openly to the extent of being present and photographed at my sister’s funeral on December 8. He did not appear in disguise, did not sneak in and out.
“He functioned as any normal human being at an event at which the Press was present. Less than thirty-six hours later, he was declared WANTED: If that was an EFCC joke, it was in extremely bad taste, obviously designed for Social Media sensationalism, not for any serious crimesolving commitment.
“Nonetheless, Agunloye, as a dutiful citizen, issued a statement on his visibility and ready compliance. He promised to show up at the EFCC offices in Abuja the following day. He appeared, and was promptly arrested and detained.
“The information I have been able to obtain during the past two days of my return to the country is that the Head of the EFCC declared that he would release him only on the instructions of the President of the Nation.
“True or false? I am not in the game of “He said, I said”. What matters is the murky exercise of power. I have had cause to intervene before this, all the way from (Kayode) Are, through (Nuhu) Ribadu and (Ibrahim) Magu, that last until he stopped taking my calls.
“The present however transcends all other interventions, as it involves certain issues of national interest, in tandem with the evident issues ot fundamental citizen rights”.
While he is reportedly for the unmasking of the culprits in the alleged Mambilla scam, Soyinka says he is for a Her said “put succinctly, ” wish to claim that finally, after so many years of frustration, the nation is being offered an opportunity to put the Mambilla Project to rest, be it through terminal abandonment or resuscitation. In addition, we stand a chance to finally solve a nation’s high-profile murder case, this being none other than that of Bola Ige, also prior minister of Power under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Let this be understood. The murder of Bola Ige, plus a monumental act of sabotage that took place under Ige’s watch, involving the loss of some en-gineers, was linked to massive corruption that underlay the Mambilla collapse.
“It is time to end the deception, the cynical cover-ups, the blame passing, the diversionary utterances, and the now open admission of corporate corruption with high reaches of power.
“We are calling for a non-partisan Commission that will sit in public, take evidence, ask questions, and cross-examine witnesses over even one year if necessary. After all, this massive failure, has gone on for nearly two decades. We can spare one more year, surely to lay bare the ugly face of Truth, then let the public do what it will with the revelations.
“The cycle of self-deception has gone on far enough. Let the two legislative chambers take the bull by the horns to end the charade, cut our losses, and move on.
“In the meantime, the EFCC should release all its prisoners or, in the alternative, equally arrest and detain all those involved in this mammoth scam that has deprived the “Giant of Africa” the basic survival facility for a twenty-first-century society.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday inaugurated the 11-man board and management team for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Speaking after the inauguration in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the president charged the board members to focus on profitability, increased production, and robust governance.
President Tinubu stressed that their appointment should not be viewed as mere “cake sharing,” urging optimal performance on their part.
He also called for a critical review of Petroleum Industry Act and recognition of the Niger Delta’s vital role in producing oil.
Addressing State House reporters after the inauguration, Chairman of the 11-man board, Chief Pius Akinyelure, set an ambitious production target of two million barrels per day by 2024 for the NNPCL, stressing the substantial challenges confronting Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
He also canvassed for a comprehensive overhaul of the national security architecture to address losses incurred through oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He said: “To make sure that as the key performance indicators of the oil industry in Nigeria, probably, we’ll become number one in Africa and probably competing with leading oil and gas companies around the world. It is not an easy task, but we know we have the challenge of oil stealing, the vandalisation of our pipelines.
“Our commitment is to produce at a rate of two million barrels per day, anytime from next year. But to do this, we have to overhaul our security architecture so that the incidences of stealing, vandalisation of pipelines can be reduced. And this will possibly help to build up our cash flow. And this will possibly help to build up our cash flow”.
Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated board says it is committed to raise the nation’s crude oil production to the minimum of 2 million barrels per day by 2024.
The board also promised that Nigeria would compete with the oil and gas industry around the world while it ensures that the key performance indicators of the oil industry of the country are rated number one in Africa.
The Chairman of the NNPCL Board, Chief Pius Akinyelure, made this known on Monday while speaking to State House Correspondents after the inauguration of the NNPCL Board by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Chief Akinyelure said if the board is to achieve this, the federal government would ensure an overhaul of the security architecture of the oil-producing regions across the country to end the issue of oil theft and vandalisation of pipelines.
“It is not an easy task. We know we have the challenge of oil stealing, and vandalisation of our pipelines, our commitment is to produce 2 million barrels per day anytime from next year but for this, we have to overhaul our security architecture so that the incidences of stealing, vandalisation of oil pipelines can be reduced and this will help to beef up our cash flow and we will become a better nation.”
The Chairman also said that the Board members assured the President of collective efforts to reposition the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to sustain the economy better while it guaranteeing improved fortune for Nigeria.
“We have assured him of our collective effort to make it a company that we will all be proud of and a company that will help sustain the economy and make sure we create some element of prosperity for Nigerians
Chief Akinyelure further made known that the board secured 100 per cent assurance and support of the President to carry out its responsibilities fully.
“He has assured us of his support and on our part too we have given him our 100percent assurance that we will do the best we can to make sure the key performance Indicators of the oil Industry in Nigeria will be rated number one in Africa and proudly competing with Oil and Gas industry around the world.” Chief Akinyelure added.
Recall that on November 28, President Tinubu appointed Chief Akinyelure as board chairman of the NNPCL alongside eight other board members including Mele Kolo Kyari, Alhaji Umar Isa Ajiya, Mr Ledum Mitee, Mr Musa Tumsa and Mr Ghali Muhammad.
Others are Prof. Mustapha Aliyu, Mr. David Ogbodo and Ms. Eunice Thomas.
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has submitted his 40-man provisional list to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations with Gent forward Gift Orban one of the biggest omissions.
Orban’s omission may be related to the fact that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are unwilling to gamble with his controversial international status.
The forward, who also qualifies to play for Togo, was born and raised in the West African country, although the Gent forward claims his father hails from Benue State
The 21-year-old did not make his long-awaited Super Eagles debut against Sao Tome & Principe in Uyo earlier this year after he reportedly suffered an injury.
According to the list, only three Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players were called up. Bendel Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, as well as his counterparts from Sporting Lagos and Enyimba, Christain Nwoke, Ojo Olorunleke, respectively being called up.
Recent absentees from the Super Eagles – Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Zaidu Sanusi, and Paul Onuachu – have all been named to the preliminary list, which will be reduced to 27 players on January 3, 2024.
In a departure from the norm, CAF has increased the size of the final squads from 23 players to 27 for the 2023 AFCON. The registration of the four more players on the final list is merely an option, not a requirement.
However during the competition, only 23 players will be eligible to be selected for each match.
Furthermore, a player included in the final squad may only be substituted in the event of a major injury, and only if the CAF Medical Committee has approved the medical certificate and at least 24 hours have passed before the team’s first game.
Nigeria’s quest for a fourth AFCON victory and the first in 10 years, the Eagles will look to navigate a tricky Group A.
The three-time African champions find themselves in the same group as the host country, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, who faced Nigeria during the qualifiers.
Nigeria, bidding for a fourth AFCON title, will face Equatorial Guinea in their first group match of the 2023 edition on January 14, 2024, before further matches against Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea in Group A.
Stakeholders in Rivers State have agreed on eight resolutions to restore peace to the troubled oil-bearing state, following the face-off between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The disagreement between Fubara and Wike has polarised the state House of Assembly, leading to the emergence of factional leadership.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu on Monday evening intervened again in the political crisis in the state as he met the two key personalities in the supremacy battle.
Wike joined the meeting around 7pm.
At the end of the closed-door meeting, attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the state deputy governor, Prof Ngozi Ordu, a former governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, and some other stakeholders, it was agreed that the leadership of the state House of Assembly as led by the Martin Amaewhule shall be recognised alongside the 26 members who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The communiqué was signed by the governor, his deputy, Wike, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, factional speaker of the Assembly, Amaewhule, PDP Chairman in Rivers State, Aaron Chukwuemeka, APC caretaker chairman in the state, Tony Okocha.
The communiqué titled ‘Directives for the resolution of the political impasse in Rivers State’ read, “All matters instituted in the courts by the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Fubara, and his team, in respect of the political crisis in Rivers State, shall be withdrawn immediately.
“All impeachment proceedings initiated against the governor of Rivers State by the Rivers State House of Assembly should be dropped immediately.
“The leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly as led by the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule shall be recognised alongside the 27 members who resigned from the PDP.
“The remuneration and benefits of all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and their staff must be reinstated immediately and the Governor of Rivers State shall henceforth not interfere with the full funding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The Rivers State House of Assembly shall choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interference and/or hindrance from the executive arm of government.
“The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Fubara, shall re-present the state budget to a properly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The names of all commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council, who resigned their appointments because of the political crisis in the state, should be resubmitted to the House of Assembly for approval.
“There should not be a caretaker committee for the local governments in Rivers State. The dissolution of the local government administration is null and void and shall not be recognised.”
Before the latest intervention, the crisis in Rivers State has led to a series of consequences, including the demolition of the state House of Assembly complex, the imposition of security blockades at the Assembly entrance, the emergence of parallel sittings, an impeachment plot against the governor, and a gale of resignation of pro-Wike commissioners in Fubara’s cabinet.
The President and some elder statesmen had intervened in the crisis earlier in October but it degenerated into a full-blown fight.
- Ozoene Heads Planning Committee
In line with the resolution of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), recently held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) plans to launch the Nigerian Editors Trust Fund to address the professional and welfare needs of media houses and editors in Nigeria.
At the ANEC in Akwa Ibom State, publishers, media executives and editors harped on the urgent need by the Guild to initiate strategic move that will focus on the professional and welfare needs of media houses and editors in Nigeria. This will be part of the efforts to help them to effectively discharge their constitutional and social responsibility to the society without necessarily compromising their ethical standards.
In a statement issued on Monday by the President of the NGE, Mr Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the professional body of editors and media executives said the initiative is a response to the increasing professional/welfare challenges faced by the highest echelon of Nigerian journalists in performing their duties.
‘’The trust fund, which is expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2024, will also address the daunting economic challenges that media executives and editors are faced with during and after office. The fund will benefit the Guild’s members in the print, electronic and online media.
The Guild, at its annual conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State last month, set up a committee headed by its Vice-President (East), Mr. Sheddy Ozoene, to liaise with media stakeholders and coordinate the launching of the outfit in the first quarter of next year.
According to the statement, ‘’The trust fund will create the much-desired impact in the journalism profession in the country as the editors and media executives will be exposed to empowerment programms and innovations in the media industry, retraining and networking opportunities with colleagues from around the world.
‘’The trust fund will be a collaborative effort among all the stakeholders in the media sector, including the public sector – aimed at addressing key challenges that affect the professionals, who are the ultimate gatekeepers in their media organisations’’, the Guild added.
The trust fund, which will be managed by trustees made up of eminent personalities from within and outside the media, will be a fallback cushion for media executives and editors in critical situations, and a source of addressing their welfare needs as well as funding for key media projects that will impact Nigeria’s democracy, good governance and national development.
[peopleandpolitics]
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The Supreme Court is poised to convene this Thursday to deliberate on the appeal filed by Kabiru Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) following the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the Election Petition Tribunal’s decision to overturn his election victory.
Confirming this development to Channels Television, the Commissioner of Information, Baba Dantiye, affirmed the scheduled hearing, which holds significant implications for the Kano State governorship seat.
Both the Appeal Court and the Tribunal upheld the stance that Nasiru Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, emerged victorious in the election.
Consequently, both courts directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revoke the Certificate of Return previously issued to Yusuf and reissue it to Gawuna, recognising him as the state’s duly elected governor.
However, Yusuf, who was sworn in as governor in May, approached the apex court to challenge the decisions of the lower courts.
In response to the pending Supreme Court session, Dantiye said, “The forthcoming Supreme Court hearing is crucial in determining the election outcome. We await the court’s decision and hope for a resolution that upholds justice.”
The imminent Supreme Court session has heightened anticipation across the state as stakeholders eagerly await the final verdict that will ultimately determine the rightful occupant of the Kano State governorship position.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has issued an order freezing the accounts of the Oyo State Government in 10 commercial banks in the country.
The order was issued by Justice Anitte Ebong in a ruling on a garnishee proceeding initiated by ex-council chiefs in Oyo State, sacked on May 29, 2019, by Governor Seyi Makinde, and who in 2021 got a N4.9bn judgement against Makinde and other officials and agencies of the state.
The garnishee proceeding is intended by the ex-council chiefs, led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, to recover the balance of N3.5bn which is outstanding from the actual judgement sum, from which Makinde paid only N1.5bn in 2022.
The banks in which the Oyo State Government’s accounts are blocked are Zenith Bank, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Wema Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Ecobank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank, Polaris Bank, Jaiz Bank and Union Bank.
In a ruling, Justice Ebong ordered the banks to file affidavits and attend the court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the garnishee orders nisi hereby granted should not be made absolute.
The judge awarded N300,000.00 as a cost against the judgement debtors and ordered that a copy of the order be served on Makinde and others and adjourned till January 5 next year for hearing.
On May 7, 2021, when the Supreme Court gave judgement, voiding Makinde’s sack of elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in Oyo State, the apex court gave a similar judgement in respect of Katsina State and ordered both states to pay the salaries and allowances of the effected ex-council chiefs.
Justice Ejembi Eko, who delivered the lead judgment in the Oyo State case, condemned the decision by Makinde to unlawfully sack the elected council chiefs before the end of their tenure.
While the Katsina State Government has since paid its ex-council chiefs, who were unlawfully sacked, the Oyo State Government, under Makinde has failed to pay the ex-council chiefs he sacked before the end of their tenure, and which sack the Supreme Court voided in its May 7, 2021 judgement.
President Bola Tinubu on Monday, December 18, inaugurated the management and Board of Directors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Recall that the president had approved the appointment of a new Board and Management team for the NNPCL, which would take effect from December 1, 2023.
In a statement released in November by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the appointment complies with Section 59 (2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
President Tinubu anticipates the fullest measure of compliance with the performance-driven and results-oriented mandate of his Renewed Hope administration in implementing an energy policy that will monetize all available oil and gas resources of today.
The president added that the policy would pave the way for the total exploitation of new and cleaner energy sources of tomorrow by this distinguished team.
The board members and management team are as follows:
(1) Chief Pius Akinyelure — Non-Executive Board Chairman
(2) Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari — Group Chief Executive Officer
3) Alhaji Umar Isa Ajiya — Chief Financial Officer
(4) Mr. Ledum Mitee — Non-Executive Director
(5) Mr. Musa Tumsa — Non-Executive Director
(6) Mr. Ghali Muhammad — Non-Executive Director
(7) Prof. Mustapha Aliyu — Non-Executive Director
(8) Mr. David Ogbodo — Non-Executive Director
9) Ms. Eunice Thomas — Non-Executive Director
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the re-election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State in an appeal entered by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani
The appeal court also ordered Binani and APC to pay the cost of N1 million to the governor and his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for filing a “vague” application.
Binani’s appeal was against the judgement of the Adamawa State governorship election petition tribunal which affirmed Fintiri’s re-election.
After its supplementary election, INEC announced Fintiri as the winner of the polls with 430,861 votes while Binani of the APC polled 398,788 votes.
Binani then approached the tribunal citing allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance to the Electoral Act.
But the Tribunal dismissed Binani’s petition saying “the petitioners woefully failed to establish their allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act and prove their case with cogent, credible and satisfactory evidence.”
Binani’s counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in 27 grounds of appeal, asked the Appeal Court to declare that the lower court erred.
On Monday, a three-man panel of the court led by Justice Tunde Awotoye held that the appellant’s brief was invalid and is likely to be struck out for being incompetent.
Awotoye further held that the appellants filed an incompetent record of appeal contrary to the practice directions of the court and tried to make the appeal court speculate.
The appeal court also held that the appellant’s allegations of corrupt practices were not backed by sufficient evidence and were rightly struck out by the Tribunal.
“The evidence of the appellants at the Tribunal was hearsay evidence which deserves to be ignored,”
“I hold that this appeal lacks merit and is dismissed,” the court held while approving the cost of N500,000 in favour of each of the second and third respondents (Fintiri and PDP).