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Enugu Guber: Tribunal Orders Substituted Service On REC Over BVAS Machines
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu State, on Saturday, ordered substituted service of a subpoena issued on the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu.
The tribunal had earlier issued a subpoena ordering the Enugu REC to bring before the court the BVAS machines used for the March 18 governorship election.
The subpoena was issued following an application made by Labour Party, LP, and its candidate, Barr Chijioke Edeoga.
The party is challenging the election of Barr Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
When the case came up on Saturday, the petitioners’ counsels led by Valerie Azinge, SAN, who appeared with Chief Alexander Ejesieme, SAN, among others, drew the attention of the tribunal to the subpoena issued on the Enugu REC and inquired as to whether or not the he was in court.
READ ALSO: Election: Tribunal Refuses To Grant LP Application To Bring BVAS To Court
At this point, Azinge asked the court to allow Ejesieme to take over the procceding.
Ejesieme asked the counsel to the 1st respondent, INEC, whether the subpoena witness was in court.
In response, the INEC counsel, Hyacinth Okoli, said: “unfortunately, the subpoena was not served on the REC as stated and as required by law. The law is so specific about subpoena service.”
Citing Order 20 Rule 23 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009 which provides that a subpoena shall be served personally unless the court orders that same be served by substituted means in extreme cases, he said: “the REC was ordered to be served with the subpoena and he is always in the office. My submission is that whom the subpoena was served on is not the REC but one Grace Onuoha a legal officer with INEC.”
Going further, Okoli said: “I urge my Lords to set aside the service of the subpoena served on Grace Onuoha. There is no evidence that the REC evaded service and the tribunal didn’t make an order for substituted service on Grace Onuoha.
READ ALSO: Abiodun’s Kinsmen Testify Against Him At Ogun Tribunal
“The said subpoena has been returned to the tribunal in company of a letter and an affidavit. We urge the honourable tribunal to set aside the service of the subpoena on Grace Onuoha.”
Similarly, Chief Alex Iziyon, SAN, counsel to the respondents held same position.
In a counter aurgment, the petitioners’ lawyer, Ejesieme, told the tribunal that the letter and the affidavit returning the subpoena was served on him a few seconds ago.
Replying on points of law, Ejesieme said, “I will be relying on the same Order 20 Rule 23 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009 and I urge my Lords to make an order for a substituted service on Grace Onuoha.
“Also, I will be relying on a similar order made by this tribunal in EPT/003 where the tribunal gave a similar order that the subpoena be served on the counsel.”
Objecting to the oral application made by Ejesieme, the INEC counsel, Okoli said, “My Lords, there is no affidavit before the tribunal to attest that the bailiff made any attempt to serve the subpoena on the REC before serving it on Grace Onuoha.
READ ALSO: Peter Obi Decries Fake Media Reports Targeted To Discredit Him
“I urge my Lords to discountance the application made by the learned silk to the court. In EPT/003, there was an affidavit before the court made an order for a substituted service on the governor of Enugu state. There was affidavit of non-service, but in the instant case, there is no affidavit of non-service.
“Section 47 of the First Schedule of the Elected Act 2022 as amended provided that no motion shall be moved after pre-trial stage except on extreme cases. I urge my Lords to refuse the application for substituted service.”
Responding also, Iziyon told the tribunal that the application is not grantable under the law.
He said, “An oral application at this stage of the procceding is not accepted. The application should be made in writing and not orally”.
Responding to the above objections on the application for a substituted service, Ejesieme said, “I refer my Lords to Order 5 Rule (5) (b).
“By that provision, there is no need for any affidavit. This return was just made a few minutes ago.
“It was filed on the 14th day of July 2023. If it was served on me yesterday, I would have taken my position. There is an extreme condition giving the circumstances that we found ourselves in.”
“Paragraph 47 of the Electoral Act is inapplicable in this case. I refer my Lords to the case of Akeredolu V Abraham & anor where the Supreme Court interpreted the provisions of Order 20 Rule 23 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009. I urge my Lords to grant our application,” he argued.
In its ruling, the tribunal, chaired by Justice K. M. Akano held that the circumstances surrounding the return of the subpoena and the fact that the petitioners have just tomorrow, Sunday, which is the 16th day of July, 2023, to conclude their case, warrants the granting of the application.
It granted the order for substituted service and ordered that the subpoena be served on Grace Onuoha who is a legal officer in the Enugu office of INEC.
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The Oyo State Government has announced scheduled dates for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination and Common Entrance Examination across the state.
The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olayiwola Olusegun, in a statement on Saturday, informed the general public, especially parents, guardians, and students in Junior Secondary Schools across the state, that the ministry will conduct BECE between Monday, July 7, and Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
He added that the examination would commence daily at 9:30 am at the respective schools of the candidates.
READ ALSO:Man Falls From 26-storey Cocoa House In Oyo
Meanwhile, the 2025 screening/placement exercise, also known as the Common Entrance Examination into Junior Secondary Schools, will come up on Thursday, 17 July 2025.
According to him, the exercise will commence by 7 am at the designated screening centers for the Screening/Placement Exercise.
He enjoined students to go to the designated examination centres with their writing materials.
The commissioner, therefore, directed principals to make proper and adequate arrangements for the monitoring of the examination throughout the period.
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He said, “Ministry officials and members of the Oyo State Examination Ethics committee will be moving round to monitor the exercise and ensure that the integrity of the examination is not compromised.
“The students and pupils are enjoined in their own interest to avoid all forms of examination malpractices, and members of the public are strictly warned against loitering at these schools and designated screening centres.”
He stressed that the entrance examination is strictly for the eligible candidates.
News
Osun Monarchs Donate Air-conditioners, Computers To Support NUJ’s E-Library Project
Published
6 hours agoon
July 5, 2025By
Editor
Traditional rulers in Osun state have put their weight behind the project of E-Library, embarked upon by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, OSBC Chapel, with the donations of Air-conditioners Computer systems.
The announcements were made during an inspection tour of the E-Library, named after the Olowu of Kuta Kingdom, Oba Hameed Adekunle Oyelude Makama Tegbosun, at Ile-Awiye, Oke Baale, Osogbo; where Oba Makama announced the donation of four Air-conditioners, in continuation of his support as the Life Patron of the chapel.

Chapel chairman, Comrade Lateef Agboola in rapt attention to instructions from Olowu of Kuta Kingdom, Oba Hameed Adekunle Oyelude Makama Tegbosun during the inspection tour.
In his royal message, the Eburu of Iba, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, Oba (Prof) Adekunle Okunoye Adeogun also pledged the donation of Six units of Computers, as his own way of supporting the noble cause, in solidarity with his royal colleague.
READ ALSO: NUJ OSBC Chapel Holds Ancestors Day In Grand Style
Other monarchs on the entourage of the Olowu of Kuta, including Oba Ismaila Gbadamosi Fabunmi (Olaa of Ajagunlase); Oba, (Dr.) Kazeem Adio Orioye (Onigege of Igege) both in Olaoluwa Local Government Area of the state, Oba (Dr.) Alamu Moshood Oparonke (Onisara of Feesu Kingdom) in Iwo Local Government Area, Oba Musibau Adebayo Akinloye (Oori of Oloori) and Oba Femi Idowu (Olaota of Ilota) both in Ayedire Local Government, as well as Oba Adekunle Omolola (Oniraan of Iran) in Ayedire Local Government, and Oba Waliulah Azeez Alabi (Olu of Lahan) in Olaoluwa Local Government Area, all pledged to support the project in solidarity with Oba Tegbosun.
Other eminent personalities and groups on the entourage of the Olowu of Kuta included Chief Ogundeji Eleuibon; the Big Brothers Club of Osun; Responsible Ladies Group, Nigeria Youth Council leadership, Online Media Owners Association, YMLF Osun as well as the Olowu-in-Coincil, among others. They also pledged their support to complete the E-Library project.

Olowu of Kuta Kingdom, Oba Hameed Adekunle Oyelude Makama Tegbosun in group photograph with Responsible Ladies Group.
In their separate remarks, the Board Chairman of OSBC, Engr. Mayowa Olosho, and the Director-General/Permanent Secretary of the media conglomerate, Mrs Jolaade Igbaroola, appreciated the royal fathers, eminent personalities and groups for deeming it fit to support the project, which many believe is first of its kind in the history of NUJ.
READ ALSO: Kuta Monarch Endorses 2024 NUJ OSBC Chapel’s Pen Week, Pledges To Attend Ancestors Day
Earlier, the chairman of NUJ, OSBC Chapel, Comrade Lateef Agboola, had explained that the vision of his predecessors to start the project many years ago, was to make the chapel a hub of information and reservoir of knowledge.
He added that, when completed, the E-Library will serve not only the members of the union, but also other people who might need necessary information to back up their research works.
He, therefore, pledged the resolve of his administration to make the library functional before the end of July 2025.
News
Burna Boy Turns 34, Reveals Plans To Start A Family
Published
9 hours agoon
July 5, 2025By
Editor
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Burna Boy, celebrated his 34th birthday in style, and the festivities took an intimate turn when he shared his thoughts on starting a family.
According to the singer, he’s now considering having kids, citing his advancing age as a reason to settle down.
Burna Boy revealed that a conversation with oil magnate Jowizaza sparked this newfound desire.
READ ALSO:
“Na so Jowizaza follow me talk the last time, I come dey think about my life. Omo, I don dey old oh, I for begin born pikins,” he said in pidgin.
This marks a shift from his previous stance on having children. Last year, Burna Boy stated that he wasn’t ready for kids, citing his busy schedule and inability to give them the attention they deserve. He had mentioned that he would consider having children when he’s settled or married.
As Burna Boy embarks on this new chapter, fans are eager to see what’s next for the ‘Tatata’ hitmaker. Will he find love and start a family soon? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain, Burna Boy’s life is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
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