Metro

BREAKING: Court Sacks Edo Council Chairman, Declares Petitioner Chairman

Published

4 years ago

March 20, 2020

Editor

A Benin High Court on Friday, March 20, sacked Victor Emuankhagbon as the elected executive chairman of Esan South- East local government area.

The removal was sequel to a petition filed by Peter Aguele against the conduct of January 24, 2018 local government primary election that produced the ousted chairman as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recall that in January 24, 2018, APC conducted primary elections to elect chairmen and councillors for the state local government elections in the state.

The elections were conducted March 3, 2018 by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission ( EDSIEC).

Peter Aguele and Victor Emuankhagbon are both members of APC in the state.

In the petition, Aguele, argued that he was duly elected as the party’s candidate through direct primary while the ousted chairman argued that he emerged the candidate on consensus.

In his judgment, the presiding judge, Daniel Okungbowa, held that the petitioner is the rightful candidate of the party for the election, having emerged through direct primary.

He, however, ordered that the respondent should stop parading himself as the chairman of the council, and that he should refund all the monies so far paid to him while in office as chairman of the council in the last two years to the treasury of the council.

He also ordered that the petitioner should be paid all the mony and entitlements due to him since 2018 as the rightful candidate and the elected chairman of the council.

Reacting to the judgment, Peter Aguele, the now declared chairman of the council commended the judiciary for being the last hope of the common man.

Aguele, however, dedicated the victory to the people of Esan South-East local government and members of APC in the state and the local government.

In his reactions, Charity Aiguobarueghian, Esq, counsel to the ousted chairman, said his client will challenged the judgment at the court of Appeal.

While commending the court for the judgment, he however noted that there was miscarriage of justice as the petitioner was unable to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt.

On his part, Nelson Irehovbude, from Dele Igbinedion chambers, commended the court for a well considered and delivered judgment.

Irehovbude, said by the virtue of the court judgment, Peter Aguele is now the substantive chairman of the council.

“The fact of the case was that the respondents claimed that there was a consensus during the local government primary election which took place on January 24, 2018.

“And we said no that the emergency of a party candidate was by direct primary election, and that direct primary election was actually conducted which produced Peter Aguele, and that he was the substantive chairman, voted for and won the local government election.

“The court declarations are in line with our petition, that the first defendant (APC) should be restrained from parading the third defendant which is Victor Emuankhagbon as the chairman elect of the council.

“And now the court has granted the restraining order, and declared Peter Aguele, as the substantive chairman of the council”, he added.

Some council chairmen who were in the court in solidarity with the sacked chairman, however, left the court disappointed and unhappy.

Metro

Auto Crash Kills One, Injures Other In Ogun

Published

3 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Editor

A yet-to-be-identified person has died and another critically injured, after a truck lost control at the Alagbon-Olorunda Bridge on the Owode-Idiroko Road in Ogun State.

The South-West Area Commander of the Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Adekunle Ajibade, revealed this in a statement on Saturday, adding that the incident was caused by speeding.

Ajibade added that the accident, which occurred on Friday, at about 4:15 pm, included a Mercedes-Benz truck with no registration number and a Bajaj motorcycle with registration number DGB 504 VK.

He said four people were injured in the crash. One person was confirmed dead, another was injured, and two others escaped unhurt.

According to the commander, the Mercedes-Benz truck lost control owing to speeding and collided with a commercial motorcycle, sending him into the river.

“The injured victim was taken to hospital before our arrival while the dead one has been claimed by his relatives for the burial rites,” he said.

Ajibade warned motorists and motorbike riders to avoid reckless driving and excessive speeding to decrease or eliminate accidents over the Yuletide season.

Metro

Arabic Student Commits Suicide In Ilorin

Published

3 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Editor

A 22-year-old Arabic student, identified as Alfa Musa, has reportedly committed suicide in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Musa, said to be a student of Sheikh Kamaldeen Arabic school, Ilorin, was found hanging in his room at Dagbenu compound in Ogidi area of Ilorin on December 7, 2023.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi, who confirmed the development, disclosed that an investigation has commenced into the incident.

According to the spokesperson of the police, the deceased student said in a suicide note, “to my mum and dad, I am sorry, I did this because God did not answer my prayers, I will rather die than commit sin, please, forgive me, I love you, bury me at home.”

Reports said one of his friends paid a visit to his residence on the day of the incident but found the door to his room locked.

“After repeated knocks on the door, there was no response, yet he was in the room, hence the door was forced open and the deceased was found hanging.

“An empty paint container which he allegedly used to hang himself was also found in his room.”

One of his neighbours in the area described the deceased, who hails from Osun State as a comfortable and devout Muslim.

DAILY POST gathered that when the incident happened, the deceased’s father was contacted but he directed that the late Musa be buried in Ilorin against the wish of the deceased as contained in the suicide note he left behind.

Metro

Katsina Governor Joins Military Operation To Rescue Abducted Civilian, Foil Bandits’ Attack

Published

13 hours ago

December 9, 2023

Editor

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, on Saturday, joined a combined team of security personnel and military troops to foil an attack on the residents of Zakka village in Safana Local Government Area.

During the joint operation, which Governor Radda witnessed, a 33-year-old man abducted by armed bandits was rescued, according to a statement by Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed.

Kaula Mohammed, who is the Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to Governor Radda, said his principal was in Safana local government on Saturday to flag off an empowerment programme sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, when he received a distress security call of a planned attack on Zakka village by terrorists.

“After the intelligence report on the planned terrorist attack was revealed to Governor Radda around 1pm, he immediately called off his involvement in the colourful empowerment programme of the Katsina House of Assembly Deputy Speaker.

“Mr Governor and a few members of his entourage then joined a combined team of security personnel, comprising men of the Nigerian Police, Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, ground troops of the Nigerian Army, and personnel of the Community Watch Corps, to engage the terrorists at Zakka Forest before the criminals advanced to the hills.

“A 33-year-old man was bravely rescued by the gallant troops after a heavy gun battle with the terrorists, which lasted almost 30 minutes. The terrorists were fortunate to escape without suffering any casualties after their callous mission was thwarted.

“After repelling the bandits, Governor Radda directed that the abducted man rescued by troops be taken to the hospital for urgent treatment, as he was shot in the leg by the bandits,” he said.

A cross-section of people in the area interviewed expressed happiness over the quick response from the governor and hoped for its sustenance.

They said the action displayed by the governor has clearly demonstrated his unwavering commitment to fighting insecurity in the state.