Metro
Edo Election Tribunal: 4 PDP Witnesses Allege Over-voting In Polling Units

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the September 21 governorship election, Asue Ighodalo on Thursday called four additional witnesses to bring to ten the total witnesses they have called to continue their attempts to prove their allegation of irregularities in the election.
This number is the largest the party and the candidate have presented since the case started.
Recall that the PDP and its candidate in the election are challenging the INEC’s declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.
The four witnesses challenged the outcome of the result in some polling units in Esan North East, Oredo, Esan South East and Esan Central Local Government Areas in the state.
READ ALSO: Edo Tribunal: Ighodalo, PDP Field More Witnesses
Giving his testimony at the resumed hearing of the Petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the petitioners’ witness and PDP Esan North East Local Government Area Collation Agent, Mr. Igbarase Matthias, prayed the tribunal to admit his statement on oath which he deposed to on October 11, 2024, in support of the petitioners’ case
He claimed in his statement that there was overvoting in nine polling units relating to exhibits PCB 40- PCB 48 of Form EC25B series in his Local Government Area.
Matthias told the court that in arriving at his statement on oath, he relied on certified true copies of INEC’s Voters Register, Forms EC25B’s, EC8A’s, INEC election manual booklet, screenshots of IREV copies of Form EC8A, BIVAS accreditation Report and BiVAS Extract being CTC’s of Form EC8C, after personally examined them
He tendered IREV-certified true copies of results sheets obtained from INEC and duplicate Copies of Polling Unit Results Sheets of Form EC8A given by INEC to polling unit agents and his party agent card as documentary evidence.
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Upon cross-examination by lead counsel to the 1st Respondent (INEC), Kanu Agabi, the witness said he made his deposition on October 11, 2024, while the screenshots of INEC’s BIVAS Report he relied on his statement were certified by INEC on January 8, 2025.
He admitted that PDP Unit and Ward Agents signed the election result sheets, adding that he did not function as a unit agent or Ward agent for his party in the election.
On his part, the PDP agent for Oredo Local Government Area, Aigbe Ighodaro Lucky, told the court that there was overvoting in 66 polling units in the local government area and incorrect scores were entered by INEC for his party in favour of the APC during the election.
He said he relied on INEC documents to arrive at his statement on Oath and adopted the same as evidence in the petition.
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Ighodaro also told the Tribunal that there was no prior recording of serial numbers of sensitive materials deployed for the election locally in INEC’s form EC25B.
When cross-examined by counsel to the respondents, the witness claimed to have relied on INEC documents made available to him in the formation of his deposition, despite never participating in the signing of the documents except Form EC25C
“My Lord, I did not examine any BiVAS Machine used for the election all through the process during my work as PDP Local Government Area Collation Agent in Oredo. But I examined the documents given to me by my party”, the witness submitted.
For Adekunle Oboh, PDP Local Government Area Collation Agent in Esan Central, there were irregularities in 23 polling units in the area during the election.
He specifically told the court in his testimonies that there was no prior recording of serial numbers of sensitive materials deployed to the polling units in the area in Form EC25B.
READ ALSO: APC, PDP Trade Blames On Edo Election Tribunal Shooting
Oboh said the polling unit results sheets were signed by his party agents up to the ward level before he signed Form EC8C.
According to Wilson Ibhawa, the petitioners’ Esan South East Local Government Area Collation Agent, there was no prior recording of serial numbers and sensitive materials used in the election in Form EC25B in five polling units in his area.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi, Chairman of the Tribunal, however, admitted the documents in evidence provisionally, pending the arguments of the respondent’s counsel.
He, therefore adjourned sitting to Friday, January 24, 2025 for the continuation of the hearing.
Metro
One Injured As Truck Falls Off Lagos Bridge

A fully loaded six-tyre truck on Saturday plunged off the Oshodi Bridge in Lagos after reportedly suffering brake failure, leaving one man severely injured.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority said its operatives swiftly intervened to rescue the victim and restore traffic in the area.
According to a statement by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the truck, with registration number AKD 135 YK, was laden with toner printing materials when it lost control while descending the Oshodi-Oke bridge inward Mile 2 and fell into the terminal ditch below.
“In an exemplary display of operational precision and institutional alertness, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to public safety, emergency responsiveness, and traffic orderliness as its operatives today rescued a severely injured male victim following a ghastly accident involving a fully loaded six-tyre truck with registration number AKD 135 YK, which suffered a brake failure and plunged off the Oshodi Bridge into the terminal ditch while descending from Oshodi-Oke inward Mile 2.
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“Preliminary information gathered from the scene indicated that the ill-fated truck, reportedly laden with tonner printing materials, experienced a critical mechanical failure while descending the bridge, thereby losing control before skidding off the carriageway and tumbling into the terminal below,” Taofiq said
He added that LASTMA officers arrived at the scene within minutes to commence rescue operations and prevent secondary accidents.
He said, “Upon arrival, the officers immediately commenced rescue operations and successfully extricated a male victim who sustained grievous injuries in the accident.
“The injured man was expeditiously conveyed to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment, while the driver of the truck was apprehended and handed over to security operatives from Makinde Police Station, Oshodi, for further investigation into the cause of the brake malfunction and other contributory factors.”
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Taofiq noted that the accident could have resulted in more casualties but for the prompt and coordinated efforts of LASTMA officials who diverted traffic and cleared the wreckage.
“To forestall secondary collisions and ensure the safety of road users, LASTMA operatives swiftly cordoned off the accident scene, diverted vehicular movement, and supervised the clearance of the wreckage thereby restoring traffic normalcy within a remarkably short period,” he said.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bakare Oki, commended the operatives for their swift and professional response.
“Mr. Bakare Oki, lauded their exceptional response, diligence, and adherence to standard safety protocols during the operation.
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“He reiterated the Agency’s unrelenting vigilance in ensuring the protection of lives and property on Lagos roads, particularly during the ember months, when traffic density and accident risks are significantly heightened,” the statement stated.
According to the statement, Oki said the agency remains vigilant in protecting lives and property, especially during the ember months when road accidents are more frequent.
He noted that heavy-duty recovery vehicles and mini trucks have been strategically deployed across the five administrative divisions of Lagos, supported by over 2,700 personnel stationed at critical traffic points for quick emergency response.
“Mr. Oki further emphasized that the agency’s ongoing 24-hour traffic management operations were instituted to guarantee seamless vehicular movement across the state before, during, and after the festive season.
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“He disclosed that heavy-duty recovery vehicles and mini trucks have been strategically deployed across the five administrative divisions of Lagos, supported by over 2,700 personnel stationed at critical traffic nodes and corridors for optimal coverage and swift emergency response,” the statement said.
Oki urged motorists to maintain their vehicles regularly and adhere strictly to traffic regulations.
He reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to “proactive traffic regulation, timely rescue operations, and continuous public enlightenment to make Lagos roads safer for everyone.”
READ ALSO: Truck Crushes Vigilante Members To Death In Edo
The Oshodi area, particularly the busy Oshodi-Apapa Expressway corridor, serves as a major transport node in Lagos, linking routes from the port and mainland and regularly experiencing severe traffic gridlocks.
Heavy-duty trucks, including those laden with cargo bound for terminals and depots, are frequent contributors to the congestion.
Mechanical faults, including brake failure and tyre bursts, remain a recurring cause of road accidents across Nigeria.
According to the FRSC 2022 compendium, mechanical/vehicle-defect factors account for about 10 per cent of road crashes nationwide.
Metro
50 Arrested For Violating Environmental Sanitation Laws In Edo

The Environmental Taskforce on Saturday arrested no fewer than 50 persons in Benin for violating environmental sanitation laws in Edo State.
The suspects were arrested in Egor Local Government Area of the state as the new Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Mr Saidi Akintayo, led a monitoring operation across the city.
The operation covered strategic areas such as Third East Circular Road Junction, Sapele Road, Ekiosa Market, Siloko Road, Ugbowo, and New Benin Market, amongst others.
Akintayo said the exercise aimed at ensuring compliance with the monthly environmental sanitation directive of the Edo State Government.
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The commandant, who led his management team, said the exercise also aligned with the corps’ renewed drive to support federal and state efforts toward maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy environment for residents.
“A clean environment is a healthy environment. It is our collective duty as citizens to ensure that our surroundings are kept clean at all times,” he said.
“The corps will continue to support government efforts by enforcing compliance and sensitising the public on the importance of environmental hygiene.”
During the exercise, residents and traders were seen sweeping drains, clearing refuse, and cleaning up their premises, a development that the NSCDC boss described as “encouraging.”
READ ALSO:Reps To Probe Edo, Delta Communal Crisis
The commandant’s team later visited the local government secretariat, where he was received by the Executive Chairman, Osaro Eribo.
At the secretariat, the 50 suspected offenders were arraigned before a mobile court.
The commandant lauded the synergy among local authorities, the environmental task force, and security agencies, describing it as crucial to sustaining the gains of the exercise.
He reiterated the NSCDC’s readiness to enforce environmental laws, support public health initiatives, and maintain peace and order across Edo.
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“Our presence underscores the Corps’ unwavering commitment to protecting lives, property, and the environment,” he said.
“We will continue to stand with the government to ensure Edo remains clean and safe for all.”
In a similar development, the Chairman of Oredo Local Government, Mr Gabriel Idusere, who joined the monitoring exercise, commended residents for their cooperation.
He, however, acknowledged public complaints about the delay in refuse evacuation.
Idusere assured that the council had put in place measures for prompt waste collection, particularly in markets and densely populated areas.
Metro
Police Arrest Lovers, Others For Murder, Robbery In Sokoto

The Police in Sokoto State have arrested two lovers who allegedly conspired to kill a young man, Ali Salisu, in Gidan Kacha village, Gada Local Government Area of the state.
The police said the deceased, a resident of Darnawa village, was lured to his death by his girlfriend, Rukayya Amadu, who allegedly plotted with another lover, Hamisu Ibrahim, to rob and murder him.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the tragic incident occurred on October 4, 2025, when Rukayya invited the victim to a secluded area in Dabagi bush for a private meeting.
“Unknown to him, Rukayya had arranged with Hamisu to set a deadly trap. When the victim arrived, Hamisu ambushed him, tied a rope around his neck, and strangled him to death before fleeing with his red Kasea motorcycle.”
READ ALSO:Why We Arrested Sowore – Police
It said further investigation led to the arrest of two additional suspects, Lawali Abdullahi and Ibrahim Abdullahi, who received the stolen motorcycle in Sokoto without verifying its ownership.
The police, however, confirmed that all four suspects have been arrested and are in custody and would soon face prosecution for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, armed robbery, and receiving stolen property.
Police arraign man for wife’s murder in Enugu
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Musa, commended the police investigators for their swift action, describing the case as “a reminder that crime, no matter how carefully concealed, cannot go unpunished.”
The police boss described the case as both tragic and instructive, saying it shows how misplaced trust and deceit can lead to unimaginable loss.
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“We call on citizens to exercise caution in personal relationships and to avoid secluded areas, especially at night,” the CP Musa said in the statement.
The police also warned buyers and traders to always confirm ownership documents before purchasing valuable items such as motorcycles, vehicles, or electronics.
“Receiving stolen property is a serious offense. Ignorance will not absolve anyone from criminal liability.”
The Command further urged members of the public to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station, assuring them that all information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
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