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BREAKING: There Will Never Be a Live Broadcast of Election Petition Proceedings – Tinubu, Shettima Boast

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The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, have urged the Presidential Election Petition Court to dismiss the application by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party for a live broadcast of proceedings, while arguing that the relief sought by the applicants are not such that the court could grant it.

Both Tinubu and Shettima said “With much respect to the petitioners, the motion is an abuse of the processes of this honourable court,” .

Besides describing the application as frivolous, they said the court is not a soapbox, stadium or theatre where the public should be entertained.

Through their team of lawyers, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, they both wondered why a petitioner would file an application to distract the court and waste its precious time, while stating, in the counter affidavit, that the application relates to policy formulation of the court, which is outside the PEPC’s jurisdiction as constituted.

Olanipekun stated that: “The application also touches on the powers and jurisdiction invested in the President of the Court of Appeal by the Constitution, over which this honourable court as presently constituted cannot entertain.

“The application touches on the administrative functions, which are exclusively reserved for the President of the Court of Appeal.

“The application is aimed at dissipating the precious judicial time of this honourable court.

“The said application does not have any bearing with the petition filed by the petitioners before this honourable court.

“It is in the interest of justice for this honourable court to dismiss the said application filed by the petitioners,” they said.

In an attached written address, the respondents faulted the applicants’ reference to the fact that virtual proceedings were allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They argued that Atiku and his party failed to draw the court’s attention to the fact that practice directions were made by the respective courts for the exercise.

“Another angle to this very curious application is the invitation it extends to the court to make an order that it cannot supervise.

“The position of the law remains, and we do submit that the court, like nature, does not make an order in vain, or an order which is incapable of enforcement,” the respondents stated.

More so, they stated that “At the very best, this application is academic, very otiose, very unnecessary, very time-wasting, most unusual and most unexpected, particularly, from a set of petitioners, who should be praying for the expeditious trial of their petition.

“Petitioners have brought their application under Section 36(3) of the Constitution which provides that the proceedings of a court/tribunal shall be held in public.

“The word ‘public’ as applied under Section 36(3) of the Constitution has been defined in a plethora of judicial authorities to mean a place where members of the public have unhindered access, and the court itself, sitting behind open doors, not in the camera.

“Even in situations where a class action is presented, the particular people constituting the class being represented by the plaintiffs or petitioners are always defined in the originating process.

“Here, in this application, the public at whose behest this application has been presented is not defined, not known, not discernable.

“Beyond all these, it is our submission that the court of law must and should always remain what it is, what it should be and what it is expected to be: a serene, disciplined, hallowed, tranquil, honourable and decorous institution and place.

“It is not a rostrum or a soapbox. It is not also a stadium or theatre. It is not an arena for ‘public’ entertainment.

“With much respect to the petitioners, the motion is an abuse of the processes of this honourable court.”

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Tunji Disu Takes Over from Egbetokun as Nigeria’s new IGP

Before his elevation, Disu was the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Annex, Lagos.

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• IGP Tunji Disu

Tunji Disu, has been appointed as Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

Before his elevation, Disu was the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Annex, Lagos.

He took over from the former IGP, Kayode Egbetokun.

Over the course of his career, he has held several sensitive and strategic roles within the Nigeria Police Force, including leadership positions in the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), anti-kidnapping units and state criminal investigation departments.

Below are five notable facts about the new police chief:

1. A people-centred approach during the EndSARS protests.

During the 2020 EndSARS protests, Disu, then Commander of the Lagos State Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS), distinguished himself with a people-focused policing strategy.

Under his leadership, RRS ambulances were deployed to provide medical assistance to injured protesters. His engagement style helped rebuild trust between law enforcement and civilians, with residents willingly sharing intelligence, confident of confidentiality.Security experts later cited the RRS under Disu as a benchmark for professional, community-oriented policing.

Security experts later cited the RRS under Disu as a benchmark for professional, community-oriented policing.

2. Central role in the arrest of kidnap kingpin Evans

Disu was a key figure in the operation that led to the arrest of notorious kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.

The suspect was apprehended at his Magodo residence in Lagos, marking one of the most significant breakthroughs in Nigeria’s fight against organised kidnapping and violent crime.

3. Decisive crackdown on violent cultism in Rivers State

As Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Disu led decisive operations against violent cult groups destabilising communities.

4. Cross-border recovery of stolen iPhones

In another high-profile operation, Disu led investigations following the burglary of a major iPhone store in South Africa.Intelligence reports traced the stolen devices to Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos.

His swift and coordinated response led to their recovery and return, drawing commendation from South African authorities.The operation contributed to Lagos State’s recognition in 2016 by Security Watch Africa as one of Africa’s safest states, while the RRS emerged as the best anti-crime police unit in West Africa.

5. Champion judoka and decorated officer

Beyond policing, Disu is an accomplished judoka with decades of competitive experience.

At the U.S. Open Judo Championship in 2022, he won a silver medal, competing against more than 500 international athletes.He began practising judo in 1986 and has won multiple medals, including two gold medals at the National Sports Festival, as well as honours at the Nigerian Police and Armed Forces Games.

In 2021, he also clinched gold at the Nigerian Police Veterans Championship.

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DSS Fails to produce El-Rufai in court today

This, therefore, prompted the judge to adjourn the matter till April 23 for the arraignment.

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The arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged cybercrime and national security breach has been shifted to April 23 after the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to produce him in court this morning at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

During the resumed proceeding, the prosecutor, Oluwole Aladejoye informed Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the defendant was still in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission ICPC where he is under investigation for alleged misappropriation of funds.‎‎

This therefore prompted the judge to adjourn the matter till April 23 for the arraignment.

‎‎The ex-governor is facing three counts for unlawfully intercepting (or admitting to intercepting with associates) the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu’s phone communications — violating the Cybercrimes Act.

He is also accused of using technical systems to compromise public safety/national security and instilling apprehension, an action that is in breach of the Nigerian Communications Act.

‎‎The charges arise from Mallam El-Rufai’s February 13 interview on Arise News, where he claimed knowledge of intercepted phone communications of the National Security Adviser allegedly used to learn of a planned arrest attempt against him.

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Who was behind Peter Obi’s Assassination Attempt: Was it the APC or within ADC?

Odigie-Oyegun warned that the development could trigger chaos if not checked.“I am afraid that our leaders, both at the centre and in this state, are playing with fire. The consequences could be terrible, much more than any of you expect.

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Photo: John Odigie-Oyegun, and Peter Obi

Edo State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kennedy Odion, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of having masterminded yesterday’s assassination attempt on Peter Obi Gregory, however, Edo State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, attributed the violence to an internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) party.

Peter Obi paid a courtesy visit to the former Governor of Edo State, John Odigie-Oyegun- the national Chairman of ADC, when they were attacked by gunmen at Oyegun’s residence in Benin City.

Odion, said : ” We heard APC was coming to attack us. We quickly cut short the event and ended the programme at the Secretariat.

A few minutes after we ended, we heard that thugs stormed the venue. They injured three people… After they scattered the place, they came to Oyegun’s house where we were having another meeting.

All the vehicles parked outside were destroyed…”, said Odion.

On the other hand, Adegbua emphasised : “The crisis has been ongoing. Even yesterday, we had to use the police to quell the crisis… What happened was just the height of it.”

On allegations that Governor Monday Okpebholo had earlier warned Obi against visiting Edo without permission, Afegbua said: “If Peter Obi had informed the governor that he was coming, what happened today would not have happened. The governor would have provided security for him… Thank God nothing happened to Peter Obi.”

Commenting on the attack on his home, Oyegun, said: “We had a guest… the former governor of Anambra and one of the prominent leaders of the ADC, from all indications, an aspirant – former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the LP Edo 2024 governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata into the party,.

“The government here had threatened that if Obi came to Edo State without permission, his security could not be guaranteed.

He was paying a courtesy visit to me and bullets started raining all over the place… When did we degenerate to that kind of level?”

Odigie-Oyegun warned that the development could trigger chaos if not checked.“I am afraid that our leaders, both at the centre and in this state, are playing with fire. The consequences could be terrible, much more than any of you expect,” he said.

Obi said that no sooner than the leaders of the ADC party had received former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the LP Edo 2024 governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata into the party, than gunmen attacked the facility at Ogbelaka Street, Off Sokponba Road, Benin City, and the residence of the party’s National Leader, Odigie-Oyegun.

Obi, narrating his ordeal, declared: “It is time to speak up. It is time those in government act. They are not going to be there forever. What they allowed to happen in the country today will take its revenge on all of us and the country.”

Eyewitnesses said the attackers, who arrived in an unmarked Sienna bus and on a motorcycle, fired several gunshots and vandalised party property, including chairs, canopies and banners. Some members reportedly sustained injuries.

Not satisfied, the assailants reportedly proceeded to the residence of Odigie-Oyegun on Reservation Road, where more gunshots were heard and vehicles parked near the gate were riddled with bullets. A video circulating online showed damaged vehicles and a gate perforated with bullet holes.

In the video, Obi said: “This is a former governor of the state(Odigie-Oyegun). You can see what happened in front of his house where hoodlums came, shooting.Look at the gate, see the bullet holes at the gate, several cars damaged. That is where our democracy has reached.”

National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, alleged that the attackers trailed the leaders from the secretariat.

“The leadership of the ADC is under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State. Armed individuals followed us from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun and shot at the gate, destroying several vehicles,” he said.

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