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Jitters, Edo Dep Gov, SSG Storm Tribunal, Hearing In Four Petitions Continues

Published

5 years ago

January 19, 2021

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, Thursday, stormed the venue of Edo governorship election petitions tribunal at the state’s High Court complex on Sapele Road, Benin.

Shaibu and Ogie were at the tribunal’s sitting from 9 a.m., with the deputy governor, a respondent in one of the four remaining petitions, frequently moving out of and into the courtroom to answer or make calls.

Edo deputy governor eventually left the venue of the tribunal’s sitting at 12:43 p.m., before the 1p.m. break, while Ogie, a lawyer, and Shaibu, a former students’ union leader, did not return to the venue on resumption from break at 2:30 p.m.

There was continuation of hearing yesterday in the petitions from Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel; Action Peoples Party (APP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), while hearing would continue today (Wednesday) in the petition by the governorship candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Tracy Agol.

Justice Yunusa Musa, who led two other judges (Justices Suleiman Yahaya Abubakar and Olufunmilayo Stanley), adjourned till today (Wednesday) for continuation of hearing in the petitions.

ADP and its governorship candidate, in the petition with reference number: EPT/ED/GOV/01/2020, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Godwin Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as respondents, prayed the tribunal to disqualify Obaseki over his controversial University of Ibadan’s (UI’s) controversial certificate and nullify the votes cast for him, thereby ordering INEC to conduct a fresh election involving all other qualified governorship candidates, excluding PDP and Obaseki.

Agol prayed for an order to compel INEC to conduct fresh election involving all the qualified candidates, excluding PDP and Obaseki.

APP and APM also sought the nullification of the September 19 re-election of Obaseki and his deputy/running mate, while calling for fresh election by INEC, but to exclude PDP, Obaseki and Shaibu, in view of the call for their disqualification over alleged forgery of their certificates.

APP, in the petition against Obaseki, PDP and INEC as respondents, with reference number: EPT/ED/GOV/02/2020, claimed that it was unlawfully excluded.

APM filed a petition with reference number: EPT/ED/GOV/04/2020, with INEC, PDP, Obaseki and Shaibu as respondents, while alleging irregularities during the September 19 governorship election and that Obaseki and Shaibu were not qualified to contest the poll.

On December 11 last year, the tribunal dismissed in a unanimous ruling, the petition by Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship candidate, Ukonga Onaivi, against Obaseki, PDP and INEC, for failing to file pre-hearing notice.

Penultimate Saturday at the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, the UI’s forgery and perjury suit against Obaseki by APC and one of its chieftains, Williams Edobor, was dismissed, with the plaintiffs accused of not being able to prove the criminal allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

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JUST IN: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail

Published

45 minutes ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

After backlash for granting a presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death in 2020 for the killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, President Bola Tinubu has revoked the pardon and reversed her sentence to 12 years.

This was revealed in an official gazette released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.

According to the gazette, Sanda, who had already spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, got the new approved term on compassionate grounds.

Details later…

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JUST IN: Tinubu Bows To Pressure, Reviews Pardon For Kidnapping, Drug-related Offences

Published

1 hour ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of the presidential pardon granted to at least 175 persons at the National Council of State meeting on October 9, 2025, following nationwide outrage over the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious offences.

In a statement on Wednesday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said, “Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc., were deleted from the list.”

Onanuga added, “Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.”

Details shortly…

News

JUST IN: Senate Clears Oluyede As Chief Of Defence Staff

Published

2 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Chief of Defence Staff-designate, General Olufemi Oluyede, as it began the screening of the newly appointed service chiefs at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

Oluyede was confirmed barely an hour after he and other nominees arrived at the complex amid tight security.

Welcoming the nominees to the chamber, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the screening as a constitutional duty aimed at ensuring that only the most competent and patriotic officers are entrusted with safeguarding the nation.

Akpabio said, “Distinguished colleagues, it is with great pleasure that I welcome our newly appointed Service Chiefs to the hallowed chamber of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On behalf of the entire Senate, “I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointments and commend you for the years of dedicated service you have rendered to our great nation.”

He further explained that the exercise was part of the Senate’s oversight responsibility to guarantee discipline and professionalism within the armed forces, adding that the chamber looked forward to a constructive interaction that would strengthen Nigeria’s security system.

The Senate President added, “Today’s exercise is in keeping with our constitutional duty to provide oversight and ensure that only the most competent, patriotic, and disciplined officers are entrusted with the task of safeguarding our national security and territorial integrity.”

Leading the delegation, Oluyede arrived at the National Assembly complex around 10 a.m. alongside other senior officers. The nominees are being screened by the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Akpabio, before formal confirmation.

Their appearance follows a letter from President Tinubu, which was read during Tuesday’s plenary, urging the Red Chamber to give “expeditious consideration” to the nominations.

The President listed the nominees as General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Waheedi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye (Chief of Defence Intelligence).

The screening comes just a week after Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the new service chiefs at the Presidential Villa — his first official engagement with the military hierarchy following last week’s sweeping shake-up in the armed forces.

According to the Presidency, the appointments form part of the administration’s broader efforts to strengthen the national security architecture and improve coordination among the military and intelligence agencies.

Tinubu had also lauded the outgoing service chiefs for their “patriotic service and leadership” and urged their successors to justify the confidence reposed in them by upholding professionalism, unity, and vigilance within the Armed Forces.