- Details
- Written by Laolwu Agboola
- Hits: 4167
The Kogi State National Assembly/State Assembly Election Tribunal has voided the election of Dino Melaye as the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District.
The three-man tribunal was unanimous that the election that produced Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a Senator was flawed.
Adeyemi’s lawyer, Dapo Otitoju had, while making his final submission on July 23, 2019, prayed the court to nullify the election on three grounds.
The first ground, the lawyer argued, was that INEC’s decision to collate and announce the election’s results in Lokoja despite a judgment of the Federal High Court identifying Kabba as the headquarters of the senatorial district, was a negation of the Constitution and Electoral Acts, which constitutes a substantial ground to nullify the election.
The lawyer argued that INEC’s failure to abide by the judgment of the Federal High Court, which it did not appeal, showed it had a hidden agenda.
Secondly, Otitoju argued that the presentation of the certified true copy of PVC distribution in Kogi West which revealed 48,200 excess votes in the result declared for the senatorial district was enough reason for the tribunal to nullify the election.
The lawyer prayed the tribunal to void the election on the grounds that it was held in substantial non-compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and against the wishes of the people who voted.
Lawyer to Melaye, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), who made a counter-argument, prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petitioner, and argued that the documents presented by the petitioners were “mere hearsay documents.”
He urged the court to hold that his client was validly elected.
By the judgement on Friday, Melaye is allowed, under the Electoral Act, 14 days within which to appeal the decision.
The Court of Appeal, which is the final court in national and state legislative elections cases, has 60 from the day of judgment, to determine the appeal.
He said: “The judgement is full of importation of informations that are alien to the case.
“I however commend the courage and moral strength of the chairman of the tribunal for resisting evil and standing on the path of justice.
“I have confidence in the Appeal Court to right the wrongs contained in the pronouncements of the judgement.
“I also want to tell those jubilating that their jubilation will be short-lived while appealing to my teeming supporters to remain calm as their mandate is safe and secured and cannot be taken through any mischievous means.
“However, our legal team is already working on appealing the judgment and I assure all that justice will prevail.”
- Details
- Written by Laolwu Agboola
- Hits: 1014
Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has formally declared for the November 16 governorship election.
Melaye made his intention known on Saturday at the residence of a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gen. David Jemibewon in Iyah- Gbedde, Ijumu Local Government Area during a stakeholders’ meeting, his media aide, Gideon Ayodele, said, yesterday.
It was learnt that the meeting was called by the top shots of the Kogi West PDP to know those who have interest in the governorship since aspirants from the two other senatorial districts have already signified their intentions.
The meeting reportedly gave two weeks notice to whoever wanted to contest from the zone within the party to begin intensive lobby and campaign.
Melaye was said to have disclosed that he was the most qualified candidate for the governorship seat having served at the lower chamber of the National Assembly and currently serving a second term as a senator.
As a politician with a large following in the state, he urged the party to give him their support, the aide said.
- Details
- Written by Laolwu Agboola
- Hits: 2193
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said the Federal Government should be blamed for any further disruption of academic activities in the nation’s public universities, accusing it of failing to abide by the agreement reached with the union during the last strike.
ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, who stated this at a briefing in Abuja, yesterday, spoke against the backdrop of a statement credited to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, that government has approved N25 billion Earned Academic Allowance.
Noting that the union had been on the trail of the said amount since February with no result, Ogunyemi faulted the attitude of the leader of the Federal Government negotiating team, Wale Babalakin, saying he lacked the disposition and humility needed to effectively carry out successful negotiation.
Recall that the Federal Government had, on Tuesday, announced the approval of N25 billion as Earned Academic Allowance.
Insisting that government had not shown commitment to implement the 2019 Memorandum of Action, MoA, Ogunyemi said the N25 billion was meant to be a part-payment of the Earned Academic Allowances, which should have been released between February 15 and 28, 2019, as agreed.
He said: “Since information on the amounts mentioned in the media went round, ASUU has been inundated with enquiries on the union’s perspective to the story.
“Reaching an agreement with the Federal Government has often been a frustrating journey for our union. It is often marked with protests, strikes and requires a conscious and focused engagement.
‘’The 2001 agreement, which gave birth to the 2009 agreement, was not an exemption. The exception here is the personality leading the government negotiation team.
“The current leadership of the government team clearly lacks the academic disposition and humility needed to undertake such task.
“Our members enjoy their work and hate to see any disruption in the smooth running of our universities.
“However, the level of frustration occasioned by the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards meeting the terms of the 2019 Memorandum of Action that was freely signed with our union is increasingly becoming unbearable.”
- Details
- Written by Laolwu Agboola
- Hits: 4690
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo says policy implementation was a major problem hindering Nigeria’s growth and development.
Obasanjo said this in Ibadan on Saturday at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
He said: “Our problem in this country has always been that of implementation. The 25-year Oyo State Government Agriculture Policy Framework presented is a good thing.
“We have formulated several policies in the past that suffered implementation. I hope your successor will implement it”.
Obasanjo added that technology, finance and human resources were challenges facing agricultural development.
He added, “If you go into agriculture you may not be rich like Dangote, but you will be satisfied and comfortable.
“You will be comfortable because you are close to nature. Every individual is a stakeholder in the agriculture value-chain.
”If you are not a farmer, then you must be a consumer. If you are not a farmer, you can encourage a farmer”.
- Details
- Written by Laolwu Agboola
- Hits: 1252
Detectives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office got a dose of ‘corruption fighting back’ on Wednesday, when suspected internet criminals unleashed an attack dog on them in order to resist arrest.
Suspected internet fraudsters in Ibadan who unleashed attack dog on EFCC officers
Upon receipt of intelligence reports and launch of preliminary investigations into their illegal activities, officers of the commission in the early hours of Thursday stormed the suspects’ hideout at Agara area of Ibadan.
Instead of allowing them in, after proper introduction, one of the suspects instructed the guard to release the attack dog on the operatives.
The trick, however, failed to work as it instead, made the detectives display their dexterity and professionalism.
They were able to dislodge the dangerous dog, carry out extensive search on the apartment and effect arrest of the suspects.
Again, out of desperation to conceal useful information that could help the Commission in their investigation, one of the suspects smashed his android phone with the intention to destroy the gadget and deny access to the data therein.
The attempt equally failed as the operatives took possession of the broken phone, which is currently with the forensic unit, where analysis is being carried out to obtain data from it.
Police arrest 4 suspected Boko Haram members in Edo
The second-in-command to the zonal head, Bright Igeleke, who led the operation, described the experience as part of the ‘hazards of the job’
Suspects arrested in the operation are: Paul Afolabi, Balogun Ibrahim Adebayo, Izu Ibobo Chukwunalu, Abe Tolulope, Onifade Gidion Idowu, Komolafe Tosin and Igwe Kinsley Otuu.
Similarly, operatives from the zone had earlier arrested four other suspects over their alleged involvement in cyber-related offences.
The suspects are: Adebisi Adewale Michael and Olowolayemo Olakunle Quddus, Opaaje Oluwatobi Isiah and Itowe Kelvin Olutayo.
They are now under interrogation, and are giving useful information to the operatives in the quest to unravel the extent of their illegal activities.
Information obtained from them so far reveals that they used the internet to defraud unsuspecting victims while posing online as white ladies and foreign military officers.
At the point of their arrest, a Lexus car, iPhones, other brands of phones and International Passports were recovered from them.
All the arrested suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Page 1 of 222
