News

Kano: Attempt To Make Nigeria One Party State, Unhealthy – Northern Lawyers

Published

5 months ago

December 3, 2023

Editor

…Says A’ Court judgment a clear miscarriage of justice

About 200 lawyers from the 19 states of Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, expressed worry over the contradictory verdict of the Appeal Court judgment on the Kano State gubernatorial election, warning against the move to turn Nigeria into a one party state.

The lawyers also urged that the rule of law should be obeyed to ensure votes of every Nigerian counts during elections.

Speaking on behalf of the lawyers under the auspices of Abba Kabir Yusuf Volunteer Lawyers Forum For The 19 – Northern States And Abuja at a press conference at Arewa House, Kaduna, Chairman of the Northern Volunteer Lawyers, Yusuf Ado Ibrahim, warned that turning Nigeria into a one party state is an unhealthy, democratic practice.

Ibrahim said: “Historically, going by the antecedent of or dear country Nigeria, our past leaders like Sir Ahmadu Bello of blessed memory and others have always respected the rule of law and democracy and it is based on this that we call and appeal to our President, H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the judiciary to save our democracy and ensure the votes of the electorate as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

“This is not unconnected to the fact that the good people of Kano have voted massively in favour of H.E Abba Kabir Yusuf so as to allow him carry on the good work his predecessors have started in Kano State.”

On the need to review the Electoral Act, he said: “It is pertinent to state here that the Electoral Act needs a holistic reworking to address these anomalies of our judicial system and democracy, if we must save it. Pre-election matters must be seen to be addressed as no longer litigable issues after the winner of an election has been declared.

“The issues are too numerous to mention. But we are all seated here believing in the strong will of a free and fair judicial system. We believe honestly in the powers of true democratic system and are still optimistic in the judicial system so much so that we admit the fallibility of our justices as humans. We are hopeful that the apex Court would do the right thing devoid of any sentiments and paying able and competent attention to happenings of the just delivered judgments.

“It is our optimism that the lot of the common man in Kano State will be protected and the yearnings of our people respected. We strongly believe that the Apex Court will do justice by affirming and categorically stating that the duly elected governor of Kano State is Engr. Abba Yusuf, whose adequate votes were casted by the populist approval of the people of Kano State.

“And on this hope, we volunteer as private legal practitioner across the 19 Northern States of this country to participate in Solidarity for Governor Abba Yusuf at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, to represent the Truth in the fight to reclaim his mandate and that of the people of Kano State.

“We have all seen, for those of us that have read the Judgment, how the final closing decision of the leading Judge in this case, specifically at page 67 where 5 paragraphs were contradictory, one after another. These cannot be an oversight. If it is a mistake as they have stated, it is indeed an unforgivable one.

“We passionately and respectfully call on the Supreme Court to resist any form of external interference either from the Executive or any other body to protect the image of the judiciary and uphold the rule of law,” the group they appealed.

“We depend on a system that is clearly set to bring us to an inevitable end. Almost every judgment or decision will be replete with traces of unimaginable conclusions. Truth be told, you are no longer sure of the outcome of the courts decisions in this country even if you are a legal practitioner no matter how knowledgeable you may be.”

Also speaking, another member of the group Mr Usman Ashafa, said that the contradictory judgment of the Appeal Court leaves much to be desired.

Ashafa said the errors discovered in the CTC in five paragraphs is unforgivable in law.

News

Labour Party Crisis: Edo Deputy Gov Tackles Akpata

Published

2 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Marvellous Omobayo, has reacted to the allegation of being the sponsor of the crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of Labour Party, LP.

State Youth Leader of the LP, Ken Omusi, alongside some youths of the party had last week Thursday invaded the secretariat of the LP, Benin, declared the state executive sacked and pronounced himself as the acting state chairman of the party.

Reacting to the incident, during a press briefing last Saturday, May 11, 2024, governorship candidate of the LP, Barrister Olumide Akpata, accused the deputy governor of sponsoring the youth leader to cause crisis in the party particularly the invasion of the secretariat.

But reacting to the allegation, the deputy governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Victor Adefemi, and made to INFO DAILY, “disclaimed the spurious allegations of the Labour Party governorship candidate.”

According to the statement, the deputy governor has no place for violence and hatred in his style of politics, urging the LP , governorship candidate to go and verify.

“During the run up to the Labour Party Primaries earlier this year, he showed exemplary leadership by refusing to be part of all the violent intrigues and ‘monetary melodramas’ that led to the emergence of Olumide Akpata as LP’s governorship candidate,” the statement added.

Adefemi, while unequivocally stating that the allegations are “unfounded and baseless,” urged Akpata to “show decorum when making public statements.”

“Barrister Olumide Akpata is hereby urged to excuse the Deputy Governor from Labour Party’s crises. Omobayo has no place for violence and hatred in his style of politics, the Labour Party’s candidate should go and verify this,” the statement added.

News

PHOTOS: NECO Releases 2024 Internal Exam Timetable

Published

4 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The 2024 National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal Examinations timetable has been released, the release marked the commencement of a crucial period for secondary school students across Nigeria.

With the release of the schedule, candidates and educators alike are gearing up for the rigorous assessments ahead.

This is disclosed in a Monday post on its X platform, @Neconigeria.

The indigenous examination body disclosed that the exam begins Wednesday, June 19, 2024, and ends Friday, July 26, 2024.

Here are the photos of the NECO 2024 timetable below:

News

VIDEO: Lady Laments As Lagos Issues Demolition Notice Two Months After Property Purchase

Published

5 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

A viral video circulating on social media shows a woman lamenting the demolition notice served on her property in Lagos State allegedly just two months after moving in.

In the video that surfaced online on Monday, the yet-to-be-identified woman cried as she recounted the ordeal. A picture of a demolition notice dated May 7, 2024, was also attached to the video.

She said, “We bought that property in February, and we’ve only been there for two months. All the hard work, all the sleepless nights, everything… If you’re in Lagos, you’ll know how much property in Eti Osa costs.

“Each time my son sees me crying, he will always ask me why I am crying. How do I explain this to our son? What do I tell my children? I’m trying so hard to be strong, but this is very painful.

“I don’t wish for anybody to work so hard and face something like this. I don’t.”

The video, which was shared on X.com on Monday by Spotlight Abby, tweeting with the handle #Spotlight_Abby, has garnered reactions from netizens, with some sympathising with the couple and others criticising the decision to invest in Lagos real estate citing recent incidents of demolitions.

It also raised concerns about the need for thorough due diligence before investing in real estate in the state.

One Nneka Busy Body tweeting as #Nnekabusybody wrote, “While this is sad I’m a bit confused. With the uncertain investment landscape of Lagos and everything we see and read about, you still went and bought property in Lagos in 2024? How? Why?”

Another user tweeting anonymously as #ideniyor wrote, “She and her husband deserve it. They bought a land without lawyers and due diligence. Cry me a river. The seller landed a fast one on them.”

This is not the first time property demolitions in Lagos have sparked controversy.

PUNCH reported last week that residents of Mende Estate Villa in the Maryland area of Lagos State decried the demolition of their multimillion-naira houses in the area by the state government while seeking compensation for a new shelter.

Speaking on the incident, the state commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed that the government issued the residents of Mende Villa Estate two demolition notices in 2021 and 2023.

On Wednesday, Wahab, in a post on X.com, also hinted that illegal builders whose houses are demolished may soon be asked to pay for the demolition.

Watch video courtesy The PUNCH

𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨: 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐬 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞
A viral video circulating on social media shows a woman lamenting the demolition notice served on her… pic.twitter.com/ILHxPGgCJV
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) May 13, 2024