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Edo Election Tribunal Chairman Sues For Cooperation As Sitting Commences

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The chairman, Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, on Monday called for cooperation from all the stakeholders as the tribunal commenced pre-hearing sitting.

Flanked by the other two members of the panel, Justices A.B. Yusuf and A.A. Adewole, Justice Kpochi also urged counsels not to engage in unnecessary arguments that could lead to shouting, craving that the conducive atmosphere he met should be sustained.

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According to Kpochi, “I am impressed by the conducive and calm environment I am seeing and going forward, I will want this to continue, I appeal to you all that let us put our eyes on the ball so that we can have serene proceedings.

“You have SANs and very senior lawyers here, nobody is going to shout at you, please don’t also shout at us, if there are areas you feel not comfortable about, please draw our attention to it.”

READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Reasons I Brought Asue Ighodalo – Gov Obaseki

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Responding, one of the lead counsels to the PDP candidate , Asue Ighodalo, Ken Mozia, SAN, pledged their commitment to the proceedings as far as other parties would do the same.

He added: “We will do our best to represent our client, and we have admonished his supporters to be civil and not to even be in the court premises. We will do our best to cooperate with you.”

On his part, lead counsel to the governor, Oyinyechi Ikpazu, SAN, said they were ready to cooperate with the panel and other parties in the suits to ensure a smooth exercise.

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“We sue for understanding and working together. We have done cases; we have also done cases against each other so we know ourselves and we will give our maximum cooperation for this.”

READ ALSO: Edo Tribunal: Obaseki Knows Fate From January 11 Next Year

On his part, the chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Benin branch, Idemudia Osifo, while pledging cooperation from the association, however, expressed concerns about the space where the sitting took place.

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He said the room used for the sitting was too small compared to the number of people present, and Justice Kpochi said he had taken note of that.

In today’s sitting, candidate of the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo was accompanied by the state chairman of the party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi.

Asue Ighodalo is challenging the September 21, 2024 election victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

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READ ALSO: Edo Poll: CSO Expresses Concern Over Security Situation, Likely Vote Buying

Others challenging the result of the election are Accord Party (AC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Meanwhile, Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo was absent at today’s sitting, while his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was represented by the State Legal Adviser, Stephen Okoror and other chieftains of the party including the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Fran Okiye.

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There was tight security in today’s inaugural sitting which was held at the Edo State High Court Premises along Sapele Road in Benin City.

In a related development , while sitting was ongoing inside the courtroom, suspected supporters of parties clashed outside the court premises

Some people believed to be supporters of some of the parties wearing white fez caps and T-Shirts with alleged inviting inscriptions were said to have clashed with other supporters who were said to have been against such inscriptions.

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Ex-gov Ohakim, IGP, Others Win Fundamental Rights Suit

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In a judgment certified on 26th June 2025 and obtained by this reporter,

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Hon. Justice Binta Mohammed of the High Court of the Federal Capital has dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by one Lady Chinyere Lilian Amuchinwa on 4th May 2022 against six parties, including a former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Alaikum; and the Inspector-General of Police.

The judgment was certified on 26th June 2025 and obtained by newsmen

The suit stemmed from Lady Amechinwa’s claims that Dr Ikedi Ohakim and another party instigated the police to detain her at the Force Headquarters in Abuja in July 2021 over what was not stated in the suit.

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Her claim is not unconnected with some unsubstantiated allegations she had earlier levelled against Ohakim , and for which the former Governor was exonerated.

READ ALSO:Ekiti Court Remands Man Over Alleged Threat To Life

The defendants, had in their replies, said the suit was devoid of cause of action and an abuse of the process of the court, “the suit having been filed after other similar suits were being pursued elsewhere by Lady Amuchinwa against Dr Ohakim.”

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They cited the other suits as a fundamental rights suit in Imo High Court Owerri; an appeal at Owerri Division of court of appeal court; and charges filed at Federal High Court, Abuja, all of which the court noted were either dismissed or struck out against Lady Amuchinwa.

Delivering judgment on the suit Justice Mohammed held that: “From the unchallenged and uncontroverted evidence in this suit, it is established that the Applicant/Respondent, has commenced a multiplicity of action involving the same set of fact and the same persons therefore constituting an abuse of the judicial process. Therefore this issue is resolved in favour of the 1st 3rd and 4th Applicant/respondent as well as the 5th Respondents/Applicants.”

READ ALSO:Lawyer Asks Court To Void EFCC, NSCDC Acts

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In conclusion the preliminary objection of the 1st 3rd 4th and 5th Respondents/Applicant succeeded accordingly, the suit filed by the Applicant/Respondent for Enforcement of Fundamental Right on 4/5/22 is hereby dismissed.

“The Applicant has failed to establish a cause of action against the 6th Respondent as nothing remotely connects him to the suit of the Applicant, his name is accordingly struck out from the suit.

“There will be no need to consider and determine the Applicant suit the preliminary objections to the suit having succeeded and the suit dismissed”, the Court ordered.

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Constitution Amendment: South-East Demands Rotational Presidency, Legislative Seats For Women

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The people of the South-East have demanded a constitution that allows for the rotation of the presidency and grants full autonomy to Local Governments in the country.

They requested the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on Review of the 1999 Constitution, organised by the Senate on Friday in Enugu.

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Speaking during the exercise, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State noted that the concept of a rotational presidency was paramount to the Southeast.

The governor said the state believed that adopting a rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones, this would provide every region, including the Southeast, a fair chance at the nation’s highest office.

\Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, added that the idea would foster a greater sense of belonging and national unity.

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Similarly, the governorship should rotate among senatorial zones, and legislative seats should be allocated among constituencies, ensuring broader representation and participation at all levels of governance.

To further enhance inclusivity, particularly for women, we propose legislative seats. We advocate for one additional Senate seat per state for women and two additional House of Representatives seats per state.

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“As a state, we advocate for three additional assembly seats per state for women.

“This measure will significantly boost gender parity and ensure active participation of women in governance and in decision-making processes,” Mbah said.

The governor also called for the institutionalisation of Local Government Councils as a truly autonomous form of government team.

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According to him, the current practice where state governors meant for local governments and appoint caretaker committees instead of elected representatives and hinder grassroots development.

We urge the committee to reinforce section1999 constitution to ensure the democratic existence of local governments, allowing them to directly access their funds from the national consolidated account,” Mbah said.

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The governor equally called for legislative powers, enhancements, and fiscal reforms that would devolve more powers and resources to the states.

He stressed that the current concentration of power at the centre, a legacy of the military rule, had stifled the growth and development of sub-national entities.

A true federal system requires that states are autonomous entities with sufficient powers and resources to positively impact the lives of their citizens,” he concluded.

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On his part, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State called for the creation of an additional state in the Southeast to bring them on par with other geopolitical zones of the country.

Nwifuru, represented by the Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Mr Moses Odunwa, also called a for women’s inclusiveness and reserved political seats for women.

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If a particular seat has been designated for women, all the parties will feature women candidates to fill in the space,” he said.

The public hearing was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, NGOs, and civil society organisations.
(VANGUARD)

 

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Nigerian Guild Of Editors Suspends Editor Over Breach Of Confidentiality

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The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has suspended veteran journalist and editor, Mr. Steve Osuji, from the professional body for a period of one year over what it described as a serious breach of journalistic ethics.

According to a letter dated July 4, 2025, and signed by the Guild’s President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the suspension takes immediate effect and stems from Osuji’s violation of an off-the-record agreement during the Guild’s 25th Biennial National Convention held in Enugu on June 27.

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The Guild stated that Osuji disclosed confidential information from a presentation made by the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi—information which had been shared with Guild members under a strict non-disclosure understanding.

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Citing Article 4 of the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists concerning privilege and non-disclosure, the Guild emphasized that its members are bound to uphold confidentiality agreements and protect sources who offer information off the record or in the background.

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During the investigation into your actions, you were given an opportunity to defend yourself. However, instead of acknowledging your mistake, you threatened the Guild with further publications,” the letter read.

While noting that Osuji reserves the right to appeal the decision, the Guild reiterated its commitment to upholding ethical standards in journalism and warned that it would not tolerate any breach of its code.

The disciplinary action was approved by the Standing Committee of the Guild, whose membership includes leading editors from across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

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