News

SERAP Drags INEC To Court Over Uninvestigated Electoral Offences In 2023 Elections

Published

9 months ago

October 27, 2024

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a contempt lawsuit against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, for failing to investigate alleged electoral offences in the 2023 general elections.

The organisation stated that, despite a court order by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on 18 July 2024, INEC has “failed and/or refused to implement the judgement.”

This was disclosed in a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday, 27 October 2024. However, no date has been set for the hearing of the contempt suit.

According to SERAP, the judge directed the nation’s electoral commission “to pursue cases of bribery against state governors and their deputies, as well as other electoral offences committed during the 2023 general elections,” and “to seek the appointment of independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral offences, including bribery, vote-buying, conspiracy, and undue influence against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 general elections,” among others.

SERAP stated that, regarding the notice of consequences of disobedience to the court order, the INEC chairman was informed: “Take notice that unless you obey the orders contained in the judgement of 18 July 2024, made by Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2023, a copy of which is hereto attached, you will be guilty of contempt of court and liable to be committed to prison.”

SERAP warned that it was “unacceptable” for INEC to ignore or fail to abide by court orders, adding that Nigeria was being mocked for its “recurring cases of electoral bribery and violence.”

The organisation said, “It’s unacceptable to treat the court, which is the guardian of justice in this country, with disdain. A democratic state based on the rule of law cannot exist or function if INEC and its chairman routinely ignore and/or fail to abide by court orders. Despite the service of the certified true copy of the judgement on INEC and Professor Yakubu, they have failed and/or refused to obey it.

“The recurring cases of electoral bribery and violence mock Nigeria’s electoral process and participatory democracy. The latest allegations of electoral offences in Edo State show that INEC has learnt little or nothing from the well-documented problems of the 2023 general elections.”

Ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo, SERAP urged INEC to address persistent electoral offences, end the impunity of perpetrators, and ensure citizens’ right to vote and political participation.

Quoting Justice Egwuatu’s judgement, the organisation stated, “The substance of SERAP’s grievance is the violence associated with elections in Nigeria, which tends to prevent citizens from exercising their franchise, thereby obstructing credible elections and, in the long run, credible leadership.

“There is no gainsaying that electoral violence and related crimes during elections in Nigeria are a major impediment to the country’s democratic and economic development. As citizens of this country, SERAP and its members have a legal interest whose enjoyment or enforcement depends on the performance of public duty by INEC.”

SERAP added, “In requesting the performance of the public duty imposed on the electoral body, SERAP has shown a strong sense of patriotism. The Electoral Act 2022 created several electoral offences. Sections 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, and 129 are some of the provisions of the Electoral Act that specify specific electoral offences.”

“The trial of offences under the Electoral Act is conducted in a Magistrate Court or a High Court of the state where the offence is committed, or in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. See Section 145(1) of the Electoral Act. By Section 145(2) of the same Act, prosecution for the offences shall be undertaken by INEC legal officers or any legal practitioner appointed by INEC. The law, therefore, mandates INEC to perform a public duty.”

In July 2024, the Abuja Federal High Court ordered INEC to hold state governors, their deputies, and others accountable for cases of electoral violence, bribery, vote-buying, and conspiracy during the 2023 general elections.

In September 2024, SERAP urged the electoral commission to enforce the court judgment on the above subject matter.

News

LG Chairman Drags Niger Govt To Court Over Alleged Tenure Reduction

Published

1 hour ago

July 25, 2025

Editor

Alhaji Aminu Yakubu-Ladan, the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area (LGA) in Niger, has sued the state government over alleged reduction of tenure of local government chairmen and councillors.

Yakubu-Ladan, in the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, sought an order restraining the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) and its co-defendants from conducting the scheduled LGAs’ election until the expiration of their tenure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NSIEC has fixed November 1 for the conduct of the local government poll across the state.

However, the plaintiff, in the suit, named the Attorney-General of Niger State, the House of Assembly, NSIEC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Inspector-General (IG) of Police as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

The chairman is challenging the constitutionality of the Niger State Local Government Law, 2001, which seeks to reduce the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors from four years to three years.

Yakubu-Ladan, in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2025, dated July 10 but filed July 11 by his counsel, Chris Udeoyibo, sought eight questions for determination.

The chairman questions whether the state government can enforce inconsistent local government law, 2001 (as amended), which clashed with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.

“Should Niger State Local Government Law Section 29 (2) be declared unconstitutional for clashing with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022,” he said.

The plaintiff seeks a declaration that a four-year tenure for local government chairmen and councillors is constitutionally guaranteed by virtue of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022.

The suit also challenged the NSIEC’s preparation for the local government elections slated for November 1.

The plaintiff, therefore, seeks an order restraining the defendants from the elections on Nov. 1 until the expiration of a four-year tenure for chairmen and councillors.

The suit also seeks to restrain INEC and the I-G from providing logistical support and security protection for the election.

Yakubu-Ladan argued that the state’s local government law, 2001, is inconsistent with Section 7 of the constitution and Sections 018 and 150 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The suit is yet to be assigned to a judge as of the time of the report.

News

France’s Top Court Annuls Arrest Warrant Against Syria’s Ex-president al-Assad

Published

2 hours ago

July 25, 2025

Editor

France’s highest court Friday annulled a French arrest warrant against Syria’s ex-president Bashar al-Assad — issued before his ouster — over 2013 deadly chemical attacks.

The Court of Cassation ruled there were no exceptions to presidential immunity, even for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

But its presiding judge, Christophe Soulard, added that, as Assad was no longer president after an Islamist-led group toppled him in December, “new arrest warrants can have been, or can be, issued against him” and as such the investigation into the case could continue.

Human rights advocates had hoped the court would rule that immunity did not apply because of the severity of the allegations, which would have set a major precedent in international law towards holding accused war criminals to account.

French authorities issued the warrant against Assad in November 2023 over his alleged role in the chain of command for a sarin gas attack that killed more than 1,000 people, according to US intelligence, on August 4 and 5, 2013 in Adra and Douma outside Damascus.

Assad is accused of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity in the case. Syrian authorities at the time denied involvement and blamed rebels.

– Universal jurisdiction –

The French judiciary tackled the case under the principle of universal jurisdiction, whereby a court may prosecute individuals for serious crimes committed in other countries.

An investigation — based on testimonies of survivors and military defectors, as well as photos and video footage — led to warrants for the arrest of Assad, his brother Maher who headed an elite army unit, and two generals.

Public prosecutors approved three of the warrants, but issued an appeal against the one targeting Assad, arguing he should have immunity as a head of state.

The Paris Court of Appeal in June last year however upheld it, and prosecutors again appealed.

But in December, Assad’s circumstances changed.

He and his family fled to Russia, according to Russian authorities, after he was ousted by advancing rebels.

In January, French investigating magistrates issued a second arrest warrant against Assad for suspected complicity in war crimes for a bombing in the Syrian city of Deraa in 2017 that killed a French-Syrian civilian.

– Indictment of ex-bank governor valid –

The Court of Cassation said Assad’s so called “personal immunity”, granted because of his office, meant he could not be targeted by arrest warrants until his ouster.

But it ruled that “functional immunity”, which is granted to people who perform certain functions of state, could be lifted in the case of accusations of severe crimes.

Thus it upheld the French judiciary’s indictment in another case of ex-governor of the Central Bank of Syria and former finance minister, Adib Mayaleh, for complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity over alleged funding of the Assad government during the civil war.

Headline

Fashion Designers, IT Specialists: UK Opens Door To Foreign Talents With New Visa Rules

Published

2 hours ago

July 25, 2025

Editor

The United Kingdom has expanded its Skilled Worker visa route to include more than 70 mid-level occupations, opening the door for foreign professionals such as fashion designers, technicians, and IT specialists to work in the country with salaries starting from €29,000.

This move, which took effect on July 22, 2025, is part of the government’s strategy to tackle urgent labour shortages by easing access to roles traditionally considered outside the high-skilled visa category.

The update introduces a newly expanded Temporary Shortage Occupation List (TSOL), which comes with significantly lower salary thresholds and streamlined visa processes for eligible roles across sectors such as engineering, construction, healthcare, science, finance, creative arts, and information technology.

The changes reflect a deliberate shift to address staffing gaps in industries critical to the UK economy.

Under the revised rules, salary requirements now vary based on an applicant’s visa history. While standard

thresholds still apply to newcomers, those categorized as “new entrants,” PhD holders, or individuals with continuous Skilled Worker visas prior to April 4, 2024, can qualify at lower salary levels.

For instance, a pipe fitter who previously needed to earn at least £46,000 can now be eligible with £40,400. Engineering technicians are permitted at £34,700, down from £42,500. In the creative sector, fashion designers can now qualify with £29,100, while data analysts in tech are eligible at £28,600. Laboratory technicians in science and healthcare can apply with £25,000, reduced from the standard £33,400.

This restructured visa list is seen as a direct response to economic and political pressures surrounding skills shortages. It seeks to make the UK labor market more globally competitive while addressing domestic gaps in practical, mid-level roles.

Despite these new allowances, all applicants must still meet basic eligibility requirements, including having a confirmed job offer from a licensed UK sponsor and obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship. Applications must also include proof of qualifications, salary information, and a valid job match aligned with the official occupation codes.

Although the government describes the updated list as temporary, no fixed end date has been announced.