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Court to hear APC’s suit seeking Ighodalo’s disqualification Sept. 19

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A Federal High Court in Abuja  on Tuesday, fixed Sept. 19 to hear a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking the disqualification of Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate for the Sept. 21 governorship election in Edo.
Justice Peter Lifu fixed the hearing of all pending applications after lawyers to the parties in the suit reached an agreement for the adjournment to allow PDP’s Counsel, Oyetola Atoyebi, SAN, respond to the plaintiff’s amended originating summons.
The APC, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1001/2024, had sued INEC, Ighodalo and PDP as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
In the application filed by Prof J.O. Odion, the APC sought an order of mandatory injunction directing INEC to immediately remove from its online portal and ballot documents Ighodalo and his party’s names for alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, among others.
On its part, INEC urged the court to dismiss the suit.
The electoral umpire, in its counter affidavit deposed to by Hussaini Abdullahi, a staff in the Legal Services Department, said Ighodalo is the PDP’s nominated candidate for the Sept. 21 poll.
However, the APC, in a motion  on notice filed on Aug. 30, sought the leave of the court to amend its originating summons.
Part of the prayers sought was an order granting leave for the striking out of Ighodalo’s name from the suit.
The APC argued that the amendment was to remove irrelevant references and to meet the purpose of the suit which is to seek the determination of INEC’s statutory power to disqualify an erring political party under Section 84(13) of the Electoral Act, 2022, and in pursuance of the plaintiff’s right of action as guaranteed by Section 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
But, in a preliminary objection filed by Ken Mozia, SAN, on Ighodalo’s behalf, the lawyer sought an order striking out the APC’s motion on notice.
Mozia, in his two-ground argument, said the court had no jurisdiction to hear the motion for amendment when there is a pending preliminary objection.
The lawyer also argued that the proposed reliefs sought to be introduced by the APC’s “application are statute-barred.”
In its proposed amended originating summons, the APC sought a declaration that Section 84(13) of the Electoral Act 2022, Section 285(14)(c) and Paragraph  15(a),(c) and (f) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) confers a statutory duty or power on INEC to disqualify from participating in an election the candidate of a political party that fails to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act (as amended).
It also prayed the court for an order declaring the provision of Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022 as unconstitutional, null and void by virtue of its inconsistency with the provision of Section 285 (14) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), among others.
When the matter was called on Tuesday, Adaze Emwanta, who appeared for APC, informed the court that the matter was adjourned for hearing of all pending applications.
The lawyer said at the last adjourned date, he notified the court that the plaintiff would be amending their originating process.
“We have filed our motion for amendment and served same on the defendants. But unfortunately, we couldn’t serve the 3rd defendant (PDP) until this morning,” he said.
 Emwanta, therefore, told the court that lawyers to the parties had a consensus that the matter be adjourned to Thursday next week for hearing of all the applications.
Counsel to Ighodalo, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, and PDP’s lawyer, Oyetola.Atoyebi, SAN, confirmed Ewanta’s oral application.
Justice Lifu consequently adjourned the matter until September 19 2024 for hearing of all pending applications.(NAN)
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NNPC Appointment: Ojulari Is A Northerner – Olayinka

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Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications to Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has responded to the recent appointment of Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).

Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to address discussions surrounding this leadership transition. His post aimed to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not dismiss Mele Kyari, a northerner, to replace him with a southerner, as some speculated. Instead, Olayinka pointed out that Ojulari, like Kyari, hails from the northern region of Nigeria.

According to Olayinka’s post on his official X account, he emphasised that Bashir Ojulari is from Kwara State, located in North Central Nigeria. Additionally, the new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, originates from Borno State in the North East.

His post stated: “Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL CEO, is a northerner from Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. The new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is also a northerner, from Borno State, North East Nigeria.”

Olayinka’s statement came in response to narratives suggesting that the appointment was politically motivated to favour one region over another.

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Middle Belt Forum Condemns Uromi killings, Warns Against Retaliatory Attacks

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By Israel Bulus, Kaduna

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, while warning against retaliatory violence targeting Southerners in Northern Nigeria.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, MBF Spokesman Luka Binniyat denounced inflammatory threats from individuals claiming to represent Northern interests in response to the killings.

Recalled that the victims, were allegedly armed hunters, traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano when they were attacked by a mob that accused them of being kidnappers.

“The MBF strongly condemns the unlawful killing of any Nigerian citizen, including those who lost their lives in Uromi,” the statement read. “However, we categorically reject any attempt to use this tragic incident as a pretext to unleash violence against Southerners residing in Northern Nigeria.”

The forum assured that the Middle Belt would not become a battleground for reprisals, emphasizing that it remains a safe haven for all law-abiding Nigerians. It urged community leaders and youths to remain vigilant and prevent any attempts to instigate violence, calling for anyone with such intentions to be handed over to authorities.

The MBF also reaffirmed its commitment to justice for all victims of violence across Nigeria. The statement highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Middle Belt communities, citing persistent attacks by armed herdsmen with little government intervention.

” We hope that the swift response to the Uromi killings would serve as a precedent for broader action against criminal elements terrorizing the region.

“Thousands of our people remain in captivity, and vast portions of our land are still under the control of violent outlaws—primarily Fulani militants,” the statement noted.

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“Justice must be served across the board.”

The MBF concluded by reiterating its support for the ongoing investigation into the Uromi incident and calling for a fair and decisive crackdown on all forms of criminality across the country.

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Sokoto Lawmakers Rates Gov. Aliyu High On Project Without Loan

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BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.

Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.

“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.

This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.

Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.

Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.

Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.

A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.

The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.

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“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”

He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.

Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.

“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.

“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.

“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.

The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.

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