Politics
Court Dismisses Application To Stop Tinubu’s Certificate Forgery Suit
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
An application by a factional group in the Action Alliance to stop the certificate forgery suit instituted against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was on Monday dismissed by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The bid by the group loyal to Tinubu and led by Adekunle Omo-Aje was rejected by the court from being joined as an interested party to defend Tinubu in the certificate forgery suit brought against him by the AA party.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling on the joinder application of Omo-Aje and his faction, threw out the request on the grounds that conditions precedent for such joinder to be granted were not placed before the court.
Amongst others, Justice Egwuatu held that Omo-Aje did not establish his claim as National Chairman of the AA and also did not disclose how his interest would be jeopardised if not joined as defendant in the suit.
Justice Egwuatu, while dismissing the joinder request, held that the group remains meddlesome interloper and busy body until their interests likely to be affected are clearly established.
In the ruling, Justice Egwuatu said that both Adekunle Omo-Aje and Ambassador Suleiman Abdumalik who filed the joinder application on behalf of their faction failed to satisfy the conditions on why they should be joined.
Besides, the Judge held that they also failed to make out a case in any form, to sway the court to join them.
The factional group had in the joinder application sought for dismissal of the suit against the APC and Tinubu on the ground that they (as officers of the party) did not authorise the suit to be filed in the name or on behalf of the party.
The Judge thereafter ordered the plaintiff (AA) to open its case of certificate forgery allegations against Tinubu on Friday November 4, 2022.
Justice Egwuatu specifically ordered that witnesses in the suit must be brought before the court to enable it determine the suit within time stipulated by law.
The Action Alliance Party in the suit is seeking disqualification of Tinubu from the 2023 election on alleged certificate forgery.
The party had, on June 21, asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from including the name of the All Progressives Congress in the ballot of the 2023 presidential election.
READ ALSO: Court Fixes Hearing For N50m Suit Qgainst AGF, Finance Minister Over Alleged Salary Seizure
The party in the Writ of Summon marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/954/2022, predicated its request on the claim that both the APC and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, are not qualified to participate in the 2023 presidential election on alleged forgery committed by Tinubu in 1999.
The suit filed on behalf of the plaintiff by its lawyer, Mr Upkai Ukairo, claimed that Tinubu forged his University of Chicago certificate he submitted in 1999 in aid of his qualification for the 1999 governorship election in Lagos State, which was won by Tinubu.
The suit, dated and filed on June 21, had the Independent National Electoral Commission, the APC and Senator Bola Tinubu as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.
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Politics
El-Rufai Hits Back At ONSA, Kaduna, Insists Agencies Paying Bandits
Published
2 hours agoon
September 1, 2025By
Editor
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday rebutted the statements from the Office of the National Security Adviser and Kaduna State Government that accused him of politicising national security.
He maintained his previous accusation that the agencies turn security into a political tool and are complicit in payments to bandits.
In a lengthy response posted on his social media accounts, El-Rufai said the ONSA and Kaduna government were deflecting from the “core issues” he raised in a Channels Television interview.
He levelled fresh allegations that state actors have been involved in “greasing the palms” of non-state armed groups in Kaduna and neighbouring states.
The statement read, “As usual, the combined voices of the Government of Kaduna State (KDSG) and ONSA, instead of responding to the core issues I raised, seek to deflect responsibility by alleging that exposing them amounts to politicising security.
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“As a person whose three siblings served in the Nigerian Army and the Air Force, with one of them rising to the rank of general, I will also continue to appreciate the immense work that continues to be done by gallant officers of the military and security agencies.
“It is a well-known fact to discerning Nigerians that the face of the politicisation of national security for politically intended purposes resides, for the first time in our recent history, in the ONSA under its present leadership.
“If the ONSA thinks Nigerians are not following its unclear and incompetent management of terrorism and banditry in Northern Nigeria and beyond, in collaboration with a certain senator, also from the North, then it is high time it carried out an in-depth evaluation and review of its actions.”
El-Rufai asked a string of pointed questions, urging authorities to explain what he described as the mechanics of alleged payments to bandits: who delivers the money, how much is handed over, and whether middlemen skim funds before delivery.
He also challenged officials to account for recent purchases of prime real estate in Abuja, which he suggested could be linked to illicit flows.
READ ALSO:How Atiku, El-Rufai, Amaechi Can Learn From Tinubu’s School Of Politics
“This charade by ONSA is being done gleefully at a steep cost to the finances of the country and the ethical fabric of our society.
“The constitutional, legal and patriotic duty the government owes to security is to better support our military and security agencies with more resources like personnel, equipment and technology, rather than further endangering the country by mollycoddling bandits.
“What exactly constitutes ‘negotiations with bandits’? Why is non-kinetic approach to addressing banditry and criminality equal to withdrawals of huge amounts of money from state treasuries and handing them over to bandits and terrorists?
“Which officials and their intermediaries deliver this money, and how much personal withholding tax do they apply before delivery of the funds? Who are the most prolific purchasers of prime real estate in Abuja in the last two years, and what is the source of their newfound wealth?
“These are questions many discerning citizens are demanding answers to, while officials of ONSA and KDSG are focusing on protocol, propaganda and international junkets!”
El-Rufai further questioned the effectiveness of recent negotiations with bandits, saying attacks resumed after talks.
READ ALSO:Keyamo Warns PDP Against Fielding Jonathan, Obi In 2027
“After the much-publicised negotiations with bandits in Birnin Gwari… did the bandits not kill five citizens in the same Birnin Gwari LGA last month?” he asked, also listing other local government areas where kidnappings and killings allegedly continued.
He criticised what he described as ONSA’s public displays, including the parade of “rescued victims” and the attendance of senior security officers at political events in Kaduna, as examples of politicised security messaging.
The former governor, who led Kaduna for eight years, reiterated his respect for the military and security agencies and recalled working with numerous service chiefs during his tenure.
“Our appreciation for the sacrifices made by our military and security officers is deep. That is why we speak out about those saddled with immense responsibility two years ago who seem to view security management as a persistent exercise in propaganda,” he continued.
El-Rufai also accused the Kaduna State Government of sponsoring or enabling violence against political opponents, pointing to last weekend’s disruption of an African Democratic Congress meeting in Kaduna as evidence.
He concluded by urging ONSA and Kaduna authorities to focus on solving insecurity rather than “muzzling” dissent.
Politics
2027: Jonathan’s Cousin Tackles Keyamo Over Ex-president Not Qualified Comment
Published
2 hours agoon
September 1, 2025By
Editor
A cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibaola, has criticised the Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo and human-rights scholar Prof. Chidi Odinkalu for opposing the speculation that Jonathan may run in the 2027 presidential poll.
Robert said this in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday.
Keyamo had warned the Peoples Democratic Party against handing its ticket to Jonathan, arguing that his return bid would face legal obstacles since he had already been sworn in twice as president.
READ ALSO:APC Mocks Jonathan As ADC Woos Him For 2027 Race
However, Robert said Jonathan did not welcome “unsolicited legal advice” and insisted the former president is “100% constitutionally and legally qualified to contest, if he chooses to.”
The statement read, “Dear Festus Keyamo (SAN), Chidi Odinkalu (Prof), I greet both of you. For the record, three of us are lawyers. We were all pro-democracy activists in the ’90s, and I was a better activist than both of you combined.
“Rule No. 1: Do not offer legal advice where none is solicited. GEJ (PDP) has numerous, more cerebral, more experienced SANs at his disposal who give him sound, unblemished professional legal advice.
READ ALSO:Keyamo Warns PDP Against Fielding Jonathan, Obi In 2027
“Please note: GEJ is 100% constitutionally and legally qualified to contest, if he chooses to. If he decides not to yield to the overwhelming calls to run, it will not be because he is unqualified.
“Your unsolicited legal view is not of any concern to him and will never be. Don’t waste your precious time dwelling on this. Or should I schedule a meeting so you can be properly educated on the subsisting court judgments on the matter—one of which your party, APC, was a party to?”
Robert added, “This is not a confirmation that GEJ is running, though.”
While Jonathan has not formally declared a 2027 presidential run, his rumoured return has already fuelled debate in political circles.

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, are currently meeting with the minister at his official residence in Abuja.
The meeting, which began at 8.40pm, has entered a closed-door session.
Among the top-ranking members of the party present are the National Secretary of the PDP, Sam Anyanwu; National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dan Orbih; and former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.
READ ALSO:
Others include former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Senator representing Rivers East, George Sekibo, along with other zonal and state party chairmen.
More details later…
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