Headline

Tribunal Admits Evidence On Alleged Discrepancies In Deputy Speaker, Kalu’s Credentials

Published

3 years ago

July 20, 2023

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal 4, sitting in Umuahia, on Thursday, admitted in evidence documents alleging that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu, have discrepancies in his credentials.

The documents were tendered by the Labour Party Candidate in the February 25 National Assembly poll in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia, Chief Frank Chinasa.

Chinasa also testified as a star witness before the Hon. Justice Samson Gang-led three-member panel.

Some of the documents tendered by Chinasa’s Lead Counsel, Yunus Usman (SAN), included Kalu’s birth certificate, West African School Certificate, first-degree certificate issued by the University of Calabar and NYSC Certificate, among others.

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Usman argued that while some of the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the documents deposed to bore Osisiogu Benjamin Okezie, others bore Kalu Benjamin Okezie and Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu, respectively.

After his submission, the tribunal admitted all nine documents and marked them as exhibits.

However, Mr Kelvin Nwufo (SAN), Counsel for Kalu, objected to the admissibility of the documents as exhibits but said he would give reasons for his objection in his final written address.

Also, Counsels for APC and INEC, Mr Vigilus Nwankwo, and Ogochukwu Onyekwulije, respectively, objected to the admissibility of the documents.

They promised to adduce their reasons for their objections in their final written addresses.

The tribunal also admitted in evidence, the result of the election, which the petitioners alleged was manipulated by INEC in favour of Kalu and APC.

Chinasa alleged that INEC awarded him 6,898 votes and 10,020 votes to Kalu.

He also tendered a copy of his protest letter to INEC, alleging manipulation of the election result, which was also admitted as an exhibit.

Responding under cross-examination, Chinasa said that he was not aware of the harmonisation of Kalu’s names.

He also denied knowledge of a High Court judgment confirming the said harmonisation.

He further told the tribunal that he did not obtain the CTCs of the documents tendered “individually” but “summarily”.

The matter was later adjourned to Saturday, when Kalu is expected to give his defence and face cross-examination.

In another development, the tribunal admitted in evidence, the deposition by the Action Alliance (AA) Candidate in the election, Mr Ifeanyi Igbokwe, that his party’s name and logo were excluded from the ballot.

A CTC of the party’s protest letter to INEC on the exclusion was tendered in evidence by its National Secretary, Amb. Suleiman Abdulrasheed, and admitted as exhibit.

Suleiman told the tribunal that a Federal High Court, Abuja, had in a judgment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1759/2022, delivered on November 4, 2022, ordered INEC to upload and publish Igbokwe’s name as the validly nominated AA candidate but INEC allegedly declined to do so.
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Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

2 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.