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Alleged Perjury: Court Grants Request For Tinubu’s Trial

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A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted permission to a civil rights organization under the aegis of Incorporated Trustees of Center for Reform and Public Advocacy to apply for order of mandamus that will compel the Inspector General of Police to prosecute the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over alleged perjury.

Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the leave while delivering ruling in an ex-parte application argued by the lawyer to the group, Ugo Nwofor.

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The ex-parte application was filed by the organisation following the alleged refusal of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to effect the arrest and prosecution of Tinubu for supplying false information on oath in respect of his educational qualifications.

READ ALSO: 2023: Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket A Sign Of War, Prophet Iginla Warns

Nwofor while moving the application informed Justice Ekwo that is predicated on the rule of the Federal High Court to first obtain permission of the Court before proceeding with a suit seeking order to compel the police chief to carry out his constitutional duties.

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Justice Ekwo in a brief ruling held that the ex-parte application was meritorious and subsequently granted it.

The Judge fixed November 1 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

The main suit dated and filed on July 4 by the group has the Nigerian Police Force and the Inspector General of Police as 1st and 2nd respondents respectfully.

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The CSO said that the suit against the police was necessitated by his refusal to take action on its petition against Tinubu over an offence it claimed the presidential candidate was indicted by the Lagos State House of Assembly in 1999.

The applicant maintained that by Sections 214 and 215, of the constitution and Section 4 of the Nigerian Police Act, 2020, the Police have the statutory responsibility to “prevent, detect and investigate criminal allegations whether brought to their notice by individuals, person or persons, corporate bodies, institutions etc”.

Consequently, the applicant in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1058/2022, is asking the court for, “An order of mandamus compelling the respondents to comply with Sections 31 and 32 of the Police Act and Section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2015 in respect of alleged crime laid out in complaint of the applicant encapsulated in the letter of June 16, 2022 received by the respondents on the same date and titled: Demand for Criminal Prosecution of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu under Sections 191,192 and 463 of the Criminal Code Act, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 Consequent upon the Findings of the Lagos State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee, 1999”.

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The applicant claimed that by Section 31 of the Nigerian Police Act, the respondents are duty bound to investigate alleged crime brought to them and report their findings to the Attorney General of the Federation or of a state, as the case may be, for legal advice.

The applicant added that by Section 32(1) of the Police Act, “A suspect or defendant alleged or charged with committing offence established by an Act of the National Assembly or under any other laws shall be arrested, investigated and tried or dealt with according to the provisions of this Act, except otherwise provided under this Act”.

READ ALSO: CSO Drags IGP To Court Over Tinubu’s Alleged Perjury

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Applicant claimed it has the legal competence to invoke the jurisdiction of the court to compel the respondents to discharge their legal, Constitutional and public duties in line with the law.

It lamented that its two letters dated June 16 and 27 to the respondents wherein it demanded the prosecution of Tinubu over alleged perjury have until now been ignored, adding that respondents also “have not notified the applicant of any action taken on the said letter”.

According to the applicant, following a letter by late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, in 1999, the Lagos State House of Assembly had set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the alleged act of perjury wherein the Committee had in its report on page 13 stated that, “However, on the question of providing false information on oath (sections 191 and 197) we are satisfied that the statement of the governor’s educational qualification which he has admitted were incorrect were not intended…”

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The applicant in its petition to the IGP claimed that Tinubu lied on oath in his form CF 001 he submitted to INEC in aid of his qualification for the governorship election in Lagos State in 1999.

The applicant further claimed that Tinubu “forged all the educational certificates he listed in his INEC Form CF 001 which he admitted he did not posses in annexure C”.

”For purpose of clarity, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the said INEC Form deposed on oath that he attended Government College, Ibadan and University of Chicago, USA when in actual fact he did not.

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“On the strength of the above, we respectfully demand that you initiate the criminal proceedings of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu consequent upon the express findings of the Lagos State House of Assembly as captured above.”

PUNCH

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Crisis Rocks Sokoto APC As Defunct CPC Bloc Alleges Marginalisation

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A fresh crisis is rocking the Sokoto State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) have accused the party of sidelining them in appointments and decision-making.

Speaking at a CPC reunion meeting held on Saturday at Sokoto Guest Inn, the group’s leader, Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Gusau, alleged that despite forming a large segment of APC members in the state, they have been systematically marginalised.

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Gusau recalled that after the 2025 general elections, former President Muhammadu Buhari promised CPC loyalists ministerial slots, federal board chairmanships, and special assistant positions—commitments that, according to him, were never fulfilled.

READ ALSO:Group Demands Edo APC Secretary Resignation Over Alleged Marginalision

We played a crucial role in the formation and success of APC, yet our contributions have been ignored. If these grievances are not addressed, we may be left with no choice but to seek alternative political platforms ahead of 2027,” Gusau declared.

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The development has heightened internal tensions in the Sokoto APC, raising fears of a possible implosion as the 2027 elections approach.

Analysts say the crisis mirrors similar complaints from CPC loyalists across northern states, who feel increasingly alienated under the dominance of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence.

READ ALSO:EFCC Releases Former Sokoto Gov Tambuwal

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In Sokoto, the situation is further complicated by the ongoing supremacy battle between Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Senator Ibrahim Lamido, a rivalry that has split the party into two factions.

Political observers warn that if left unresolved, the crisis could cost the APC its stronghold in the North-West. Stakeholders are now urging the party’s national chairman, Dr. Nentawe Yildwata, to intervene and reconcile aggrieved members.

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US Desperate To Remove You, Cleric Warns Tinubu

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The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu again regarding the vice president, Kashim Shettima, and his 2027 second-term ambition, while also stating that America is “desperate to remove” the president.

Primate Ayodele, in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, warned Tinubu not to drop Shettima as his running mate, noting that even if the VP offends the president, he should settle it for his own good.

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He explained that an attempt to bring another person on board would be a “huge minus” and would “destroy his chances and bring unnecessary enemies to him.”

“Dropping Shettima will cause trouble for you; those who want him out are your enemies who don’t want you to succeed. Anything that Shettima might have done, forget it, and let’s move the country forward,” the cleric advised.

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He continued; “If you remove Shettima, it’s a minus for you; don’t remove him if you still want to maintain your chances. There are things you need to settle between yourself and Shettima, settle with him and let him remain; if not, it will be a serious minus to your government.”

The cleric stated that Shettima is harmless to Tinubu, but that the president will still face challenges in the north, predicting that “the Emirs will gang up against you.”

He urged the president to “do extra work” because the “election won’t come by easily.”

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Primate Ayodele further revealed that America won’t support President Tinubu’s second-term ambition and will “do everything to see him removed from power.”

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He urged the president to avoid “self-inflicted problems by solving the issues of hunger and security.”

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“Also, make sure you sort out the issue of international communities, like I said, America isn’t your friend. America is desperate to remove you; they will do everything to see you out of power.”

He stated that there are people who can defeat Tinubu, and although none have openly shown interest yet, with the current situation on the ground, they will defeat the president if they contest.

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I am not in support of anyone. If anyone comes out to contest and can defeat you, I will tell you, but I have not seen it yet. However, you need to work very hard because if the person comes out with the situation on the ground, you will have issues.”

He concluded by reiterating that the true problems are not personnel, but the nation’s challenges.

Shettima isn’t your problem, but hunger in the country and other factors. If you don’t fix them, removing anybody from your government or adding anyone will not do you any good. You should also work on security, you can win terrorists, they are within Nigeria.”

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I’m Not Ready To Go Into The Gutters With Anyone – Makinde

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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, said he is not ready to “go low with anyone who decides to go into the gutters.”

He made this statement while addressing journalists shortly after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the Peoples Democratic Party, held in Lagos.

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He said, “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.

READ ALSO:Makinde, Wife Installed As Aare Omoluabi, Yeye Aare Omoluabi Of Akure Kingdom

I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching.”

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The governor added that despite challenges, recent elections had shown that the PDP remained a formidable force.

“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second. It is an indication to us that if we continue to work hard, we can reclaim the confidence of Nigerians,” he said.

When asked about discussions on zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South, Makinde said the party was not yet at that stage.

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READ ALSO:2027: Makinde For President Posters Flood Kano

We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat.

“Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again,” he said.

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Dignitaries at the meeting include the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s National Zoning Committee and Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri; Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, Peter Mba of Enugu State, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai; former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Bode George; and Monsurat Sunmonu.

Others were 12 of the 17 PDP National Assembly members and key stakeholders of the party from across the southern states.

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