Appeal Court Dismisses APM Suit Seeking Obi’s Disqualification

 The Court of Appeal Abuja has dismissed a suit by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) seeking to disqualify Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

Delivering Judgement, the President of the Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensan dismissed the appeal on the grounds that the appeal lacked merit and APM lacked the legal right to initiate the suit.

The appellate court also awarded a cost of N200,000 against APM, in favour of the Labour Party and Peter Obi who are the 2nd and 3rd respondents in the suit.

INEC Appeals Osun Tribunal Judgement, Lists 44 Grounds

The Independent National Electoral Commission has appealed the judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal that nullified the victory of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, in the July 16 governorship poll.

In the Notice of Appeal dated 30th January 2023, filed before the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday, the commission listed 44 grounds of appeal and asked the court, to set aside the judgement of the Tribunal.

The appellant also asked the court to dismiss the petition filed by All Progressives Congress and its candidate at the poll, Adegboyega Oyetola, for lacking in merit.

A Tribunal panel led by Justice Tertsea Kume had nullified Adeleke’s victory and declared Oyetola as the duly elected governor at the poll in its judgement of January 27, 2023.


The panel said over-voting was established in 744 polling units and deducted the excess votes from the votes garnered by Adeleke and Oyetola.

But in a minority judgement delivered by another member of the panel, Justice A. Ogbuli, he dismissed APC’s petition and upheld Adeleke’s victory at the poll.

Also in the Notice of Appeal signed by counsel to INEC, Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN) and 17 others, the Commission challenged the decision of the Tribunal on the grounds that the panel erred in law by claiming that Adeleke did not score the majority of the lawful votes, saying the petitioners only called two witnesses who did not prove that the PDP candidate did not win the election.


The INEC also said the Tribunal erred in law by using a table contained in the final written address of the petitioners to determine overvoting and deducted votes scored by the respondent.

The electoral body also dismissed the Tribunal’s claim that because it issued different accreditation reports, its conduct was tantamount to tampering with official documents.

It also said the allegation that it tampered with the official records was a criminal allegation that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, noting that there was no proof it tampered with any records before the panel.
 

EFCC Re-arraigns Social Media Influencer, Adeherself, For Alleged Internet Fraud

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday re-arraigned a social media influencer and comedienne, Adedamola Adewale alias Adeherself, for alleged of N7.9 million internet fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adewale was charged alongside two others at large, on a three-count charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, attempt to obtain money by false pretences and retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge before Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

EFCC counsel, Mr Samuel Daji, informed the court that the case was re-assigned, and urged it to remand the defendant pending commencement of trial.

Daji argued that the case was new before the court and there was need for proper bail application by defence.

He said: “My lord, this case was heard before Justice Sherifat Solebo before she retired, and when it was transferred to this honourable court, I informed my learned friend that the case would be coming up on Jan. 25.

“He said he thought it was the day before. 

“This is a matter that is starting afresh before your lordship, and we do not know if the sureties, who stood for her earlier, are dead or not.

“It is proper for defence to apply afresh for bail before your lordship.”

Defence counsel, Mr Kassim Molade, however, prayed the court to retain the bail granted by Solebo to the defendant, pending filing of a new bail application.

According to Molade, the defendant has not been absent from court and is ready to make herself available for trial.

“We passionately urge your lordship to allow the defendant to continue to enjoy the bail given to her by the sister court.

“The reason we were not here on Jan. 25 is that prosecution did not get back to me.

“I assure your lordship that before the close of today, I will rush to the sister court to get a copy on the ruling on the bail application,” he said.

The judge consequently retained the bail granted to the defendant by Solebo pending filing of a new bail application by defence counsel.

Dada also ordered the defendant to present her bank statement of account within three weeks.

She held that failure to do so would make the court to order her remand.

The EFCC alleges that the defendant with two others, Lasisi Adeleke and Sodiq Adeleke, still at large, with intent to defraud, attempted to obtain $6, 000 from one Mr Joseph Rumoro on the pretext that the money was meant for procurement of his passport and visa as well as tax payment.

The commission also alleges that Adewale retained in her bank account, proceeds of cybercrime to the tune of N7.9 million.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 8(a) and 1(3), 8(b) and 1(3) and 17 (a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences, 2006.

The case has been adjourned until April 18 for commencement of trial.

(NAN)

Youths Dragged Down Tinubu’s Banner In Ogun State

 Some residents in Ogun State were spotted tearing down APC Presidential Candidate Banner apart. I think this is related to the riot that ended with bullet been shot at Protesters

EFCC Arraigns Yahaya Bello’s Wife Rashida & Nephew Over ‘N3bn Fraud

Rashida Bello, the wife of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with alleged N3bn fraud.

Rashida was charged before a federal high court in Abuja alongside Ali Bello, identified as a nephew to the governor.

The EFCC in a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said the Bello was arraigned on Wednesday alongside three other persons on an 18-count charge “bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3,081,804,654″.

The charge reads in part, “That you, Ali Bello, Abba Adaudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, Rashida Bello (at large) sometime in June, 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured E-Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty One Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
 

Nigerian Community Donates Relief Materials For Turkey Earthquake Victims

 Some relief materials have been donated by the Nigerian community to victims of earthquake in Turkey

The death toll from a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck on Monday in some parts of Turkey and Syria has risen above 7,100

Prophet Genesis Refuses Offering From Church Members Because Of Naira Crisis

 Prophet Isreal Genesis has refused to take offering and tithes from his church members due to the ongoing naira and fuel scarcity.

The clergy claims they need the money at this time we more than the church and it would be wrong to burden them.


Prophet Genesis refuses to take offering and tithes from church members because of naira scarcity