Connect with us

News

Where Rule Of Law Is Trampled Upon, Anarchy Reigns Supreme, Obi Replies Tinubu

Published

on

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25, 2023 election and first petitioner in the ongoing case at the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, Peter Obi, has in his response to the legal team of President Bola Tinubu, declared that anarchy only reigns where the rule of law is trampled upon.

Obi said this through his legal team in response to the written address by Tinubu’s lawyers who had argued that an interpretation of the law requiring 25 percent of the total lawful votes cast 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory could lead to anarchy.

Advertisement

According to Obi’s media team, in a release on Friday, the LP candidate through his legal team has given a principled response to the threat of Anarchy from the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the 2nd and 3rd Respondents in the petition, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shetimma, “that if the Court interprets the Electoral Act section 134 against them it might lead to breakdown of law and order.”

The release read in part, “Recall that Tinubu’s legal team, led by Wole Olanipekun, had in their final address to the court threatened that, “Any other interpretation different from theirs will lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy and alteration of the very intention of the legislature.”

READ ALSO: Reps Reject Call For Suspension Of New Fuel Price Of N617

Advertisement

However, “Peter Obi’s lawyers led by Dr Livy Uzoukwu and Onyechi Ikpeazu disagreed saying instead that what will lead to anarchy is where the rule of law is trampled upon or truncated, that in such situations anarchy reigns supreme!”

According to Obi, “A sentence in the 2nd-3rd Respondents’ address alarmed the Petitioners and millions of Nigerians. The 2nd-3rd Respondents went too low and abandoned discretion when they claimed as follows: “Our submission is that the Petitioners are inviting anarchy by their ventilation of this issue of non-transmission of results electronically, by INEC.”

“Obi’s legal team noted that they found Tinubu’s outburst as “a cheap, misguided, and destructive blackmail clearly intended to target the country’s judicialism and constitutionalism. It also aims at cannibalizing our democracy.

Advertisement

“The legal team also noted that the careless and absurd statements of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents intend to raise the issue of insecurity if the Petitioners were to emulate the bad example of the 2nd-3rd Respondents but remarked that such will never happen because of the petitioner’s discipline and peaceful disposition and believe in the rule of law.

READ ALSO: Hotel Staff Returns Misplaced $70,000 To Customer

“Still underscoring the pointlessness and the supererogatory of the Respondent’s threat, Obi’s legal team wondered, ‘When has it become offensive for Petitioners to canvass a ground prescribed for the challenge of an election in section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act 2022?

Advertisement

“The legal eggheads attributed the needless flare-up and effusion of the Respondents to desperation taken too far which can be extremely dangerous.

“Let the 2nd-3rd Respondents know that where the rule of law is trampled upon or truncated, anarchy reigns supreme.”

The Electoral Court is expected to enter judgement in the matter soon.

Advertisement

Advertisement
Comments

News

SERAP, NGE Drag Niger Gov, NBC To Court Over Radio Station Closure Threat

Published

on

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigerian Guild of Editors have filed a lawsuit against Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, and the National Broadcasting Commission over what they described as “the ongoing intimidation” of Badeggi FM Radio, Minna, and the threat to shut down the station.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, accusing NBC of failing to stand in defence of the local station.

Advertisement

Recall that Bago ordered the closure and the revocation of the licence of Badeggi Radio 90.1 FM in Minna over alleged public incitement.

However, in suit number FHC/L/CS/1587/2025, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP and NGE are seeking to determine “whether by Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the legal duty to protect Badeggi FM from the ongoing intimidation from the governor.”

READ ALSO:Falana Slams South-West Governors, Criticises Makinde’s N63bn Renovation

Advertisement

They are also seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Niger state governor and NBC from further harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to shut down Badeggi FM radio, revoke its licence and profile the station’s owner.”

The groups argued, “The ongoing intimidation and threat by Mr Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its licence, further threat to demolish the station’s premises and profile its owner is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”

They described allegations of inciting violence against the station and its owner as “vague, unfounded and unsubstantiated and apparently made to silence the radio station.”

Advertisement

The suit, filed on behalf of SERAP and NGE by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part, “The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and information – in its individual and collective aspects – in a democratic society.

READ ALSO:Falana Slams Government Over Failure To Prosecute Suspected Killers In Benue

Intimidating, harassing and silencing critical or dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national security concerns is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

Advertisement

“The ongoing intimidation and harassment of Badeggi FM and its owner is capable of discouraging participation of the press in debates over matters of legitimate public concern ahead of the 2027 general elections.”

SERAP and NGE are therefore asking the court for the following reliefs, “A declaration that by the combined provisions of Section 22 Nigerian Constitution and section 2(1)(t) of the National Broadcasting Act, the NBC is obligated by law to protect Badeggi FM station and other broadcasting outlets in Nigeria from undue interference from unauthorised persons or entity.

“A declaration that the failure and/or neglect of the NBC to protect and defend the independence of the radio station against arbitrary executive interference constitutes a breach of its statutory duty to ensure fair, independent, and lawful broadcasting practices in Nigeria.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:NGE Reacts As Govt Closes Radio Station In Niger

A declaration that the ongoing intimidation and threat issued by Mr Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its operational licence and further threat to demolish the station’s premises is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.

“A declaration that the threat issued by the Bago to strip Badeggi FM radio station of its operational licence encroaches upon the statutory powers of the NBC as provided for under section 2 of the National Broadcasting Commission Act.

Advertisement

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the governor and NBC, its agents and privies from harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to revoke the operating licence of Badeggi FM station or any other broadcasting outlet in Niger State.”

It was said that no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Radio Station Suspends GM For Criticising Ebonyi Gov

Published

on

A privately-owned radio station in Ebonyi State, Legacy FM (The Sound of Now), has suspended its acting General Manager, Mr Godfrey Chikwere.

His suspension, it was gathered, followed his alleged persistent “negative” projection of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, and his policies during radio broadcasts and on social media.

Advertisement

Announcing his suspension on Saturday, the management of Legacy FM claimed the ousted official acted in a manner contrary to the station’s code of conduct.

It said, “The management of Legacy FM 95.1, The Sound of Now, hereby suspends the acting General Manager, Godfrey Chikwere, with immediate effect, till further notice.

READ ALSO:Drama As Ebonyi Politician Declares Self ADC National VC South-East

Advertisement

This is due to unruly behaviour and disobedience to the code of conduct guiding the Legacy FM.

“With such effect, he is hereby directed to hand over all the company property in his position to the next senior officer.”

The PUNCH gathered that the radio personality, in a post on his Facebook page on Friday, called on the governor to be stringent in his handling of state matters.

Advertisement

He alleged that public perception of the governor’s administration was being cajoled, while also claiming Nwifuru’s administration was marred by poor communication, underperformance by his appointees, and lack of clear-cut policy direction.

Chikwere also advised the governor to “step on toes” to achieve results, adding that the current state of affairs weakened his support base.

READ ALSO:Panic As Armed Robbers Kill 2 In Ebonyi

Advertisement

Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Monday Uzor, criticised the suspended radio staff member over what he described as undue criticisms of his boss’ administration.

In a statement on Friday, Uzor described the criticisms as baseless and unfounded, accusing the former of ingratitude for attacking the governor despite what the state government had done for them.

He said, “It is regrettable that despite the radio station thriving only on government support, the supposed helmsman dedicates a greater percentage of the station’s airtime to attack and run down the government whose support has kept his medium afloat.

Advertisement

“For the avoidance of doubt, the governor gifted the medium a brand new Changan SUV, donated a brand new transformer that powers the station, constructed the road leading to the broadcasting house.

READ ALSO:NBA Slams Niger Gov Over Shutting Down Of Radio Station

But rather than give at least balanced coverage of government activities, it has been turned into a slaughter house of the governor’s genuine development efforts and goodwill, what a way to be ungrateful to good deeds.”

Advertisement

On his part, the state Commissioner for Information in Ebonyi State, Ikeuwa Omebeh, also condemned Chikwere’s criticisms of Nwifuru, describing them as “derogatory and inciting.”

In a statement on Saturday, the commissioner accused him of “overstepping his bounds.”

He said his remarks against the governor were unacceptable and an affront to the collective identity of all the people of the state.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

News

Lagos Orders Mandatory Inspection Of All E-hailing Vehicles

Published

on

The Lagos State Government has ordered a comprehensive inspection of all vehicles operated by licensed e-hailing platforms in the state, citing safety risks and poor service delivery.

In a statement on Sunday titled “LASG to Roll Out Inspection Schedule for E-Hailing Operators”, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the move is aimed at improving safety, service quality, and regulatory compliance across the sector.

Advertisement

He added that the ministry had observed “the deplorable condition of some vehicles operated by drivers under licensed e-hailing platforms within the state, necessitating a comprehensive audit of all vehicles in use,” warning that “any vehicle found unsuitable will not be allowed to operate on Lagos roads.”

READ ALSO:

Osiyemi also raised concerns over inadequate databases among some operators, saying this hindered the tracking of crimes committed through their services.

Advertisement

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Olawale Musa, said the use of vehicles not registered with the state “will no longer be tolerated,” stressing that such practices “pose significant security risks.”

He added that all drivers must be certified by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute and urged residents to avoid offline bookings to maintain safety and accountability.

The meeting at the Ministry of Transportation, Alausa, Ikeja, was attended by representatives from Uber, Bolt, Lagride, Laurie, Vas Acquico, InDrive, Folti Tech, and EDryv, who presented updates on safety upgrades, including panic buttons and enhanced driver verification systems.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending