Connect with us

News

BREAKING: S’Court affirms Fintiri as Adamawa Governor

Published

on

44 Views

The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, after dismissing the appeal of Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) laying claim to the governorship seat as the valid winner of the supplementary polls held 16 April, 2023.

Fintiri’s governorship seat was affirmed this Wednesday after a five-member Apex Court panel headed by Justice John Okoro dismissed Binani’s appeal for lacking in merit.

In a unanimous judgment, the Apex Court holds that the APC governorship candidate failed to provide credible and sufficient evidence to prove her position that she got the majority of lawful votes cast in the Adamawa Governorship polls.

On the conduct of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Ari, the Apex Court panel says his announcement of the election result while collation was ongoing was irresponsible and unlawful.

The Court says it is the Returning Officer of electoral body INEC that has the exclusive powers of declaring results of election. It further adds that the controversial REC, now at large, would have been a key witness to help the Binani appeal, but that his absence hasn’t helped.

Speaking further on the controversial declaration of the Adamawa REC, the Apex Court holds that as INEC is a creation of the Constitution, with officials assigned specific duties and roles, it’s incumbent on these officials to act within the limits of their powers and not exceed such.

Binani’s counsel, Akin Olujimi, had cited Section 149 as the basis for insisting that REC Hudu Ari had acted within the law when he declared her as validly elected. But in the view of the Court, that will only apply if it’s in compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act. It says in this instance it stressed in strong terms that the conduct of the REC was both criminal and irresponsible.

In its final analysis, the Apex Court says those saddled with the task of appointment of those conducting elections should ensure that only people of integrity and dignity are appointed. It adds that, that is the only justification people will have to embrace the outcome of elections in Nigeria.

The Apex Court therefore says “unknown quantity have no business in conducting elections” in Nigeria.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

FG Immortalizes Buhari renaming UNIMAID after him

UNIMAID will now be known as Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri.

Published

on

By

26 Views

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday announced that the University of Maiduguri would be renamed in honour of the late leader, Muhammadu Buhari.

UNIMAID will now be known as Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri.

Presiding over the FEC session, President Tinubu delivered a stirring tribute, celebrating Buhari’s life as one defined by discipline, moral fortitude, and unwavering patriotism.

He described Buhari not as a perfect man—no leader is—but as a good, decent, and honourable man.

While acknowledging that Buhari’s record, like all legacies, will be subject to debate, Tinubu insisted that the character he brought to public life, the moral force he carried, and the incorruptible standard he represented will not be forgotten.

Continue Reading

Crime

JUST IN: Court Frees 24 IPOB Members After Four Years of Detention

Published

on

33 Views

A high court in Ebonyi State has ordered the release of 24 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) after they were held in detention for four years.

The ruling on Thursday marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings involving the group.

The 24 IPOB members were discharged and acquitted by Justice I. P. Chima of Ebonyi State High Court.

It was gathered that they were among the last batch of the IPOB detainees out of the 36 held since May 4 2020.

Meanwhile, their lawyer and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, confirmed their freedom in a statement titled, “Justice Delayed, But Never Denied.”

According to him, the ruling followed the preliminary objection which highlighted the brazen violation of their fundamental rights: particularly the constitutionally guaranteed protection against double jeopardy, enshrined under Section 36(9) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Ejiofor said the sacred principle, “autrefois acquit”, stipulates that no person shall be tried again for an offence in respect of which they have previously been acquitted.

Continue Reading

News

JUST IN: NIMASA closes two terminals in Lagos over ISPS Code violations

Published

on

44 Views

Lagos State officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, have sealed off ShellPlux and TMDK terminals, situated in the Ijegun-Egba area of the state, over repeated violations of the International Ship and Port Facility Security, ISPS, Code.

The action, announced on Thursday by NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, stems from the agency’s responsibility as Nigeria’s designated authority for enforcing the ISPS Code, which was developed under the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, as part of amendments to the SOLAS Convention.

The code is designed to strengthen security protocols for ships and port facilities engaged in international commerce.

Edward stated that the shutdown followed consistent failure by the two terminals to comply with ISPS Code requirements, despite multiple formal warnings issued over time.

“This enforcement action is in line with global maritime security standards and conforms with Section 79(f) of the ISPS Code Implementation Regulations, 2014, which permits the closure of non-compliant facilities that remain in breach for more than three consecutive months,” he stated.

Commenting on the enforcement, NIMASA Director General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, noted that the agency resorted to the measure only after exhausting all other options.

“Our intervention is not punitive but necessary to protect Nigeria’s maritime assets.

As we work closely with the United States Coast Guard to improve Nigeria’s compliance status and remove existing conditions of entry for vessels, lapses like these cannot be ignored,” Mobereola said.

He emphasized that both facilities play vital roles in trade facilitation and would be reopened once they demonstrate full compliance with ISPS standards.

Mobereola also reiterated the commitment of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to ensuring the growth of a secure, efficient, and sustainable maritime environment that supports international trade.

Continue Reading

Trending