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Presidential Election: Legal Practitioner and Social Critic, Inibehe Effiong Urges LP, PDP not to panic over INEC’s objections

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A legal practitioner and social critic, Inibehe Effiong has urged people not to panic over objections to admissibility of documents by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at the ongoing hearings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, saying
it is a distraction, while claiming that the objected documents by the INEC were duly certified, adding that the Court will act on them.

In a post via his verified Twitter handle on Thursday, the legal expert claimed that “the Electoral Commission’s neutrality is a mirage, especially in electoral litigations”.

He alleged that the INEC had basically aligned its defence strategy with the other Respondents, including the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Effiong said, “People should not panic over objections to admissibility of documents by INEC at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. I’m not surprised by INEC’s roguish and embarrassing attitude. These are public documents duly certified. The Court will act on them. It is a distraction.

“Ordinarily, INEC being the maker of the documents which they’ve certified, that is Form EC8 series (polling unit & collation results), they’re not supposed to object to their admissibility.

“I’ve always said that INEC’s neutrality is a mirage, especially in electoral litigations.

“The documents have been admitted, though the Respondents will state the grounds for their objections in their final addresses.

“Typically, the tribunal will look into the documents and act on them.

“As long as the documents have been duly certified, there’s no cause for alarm.

“INEC has basically aligned their defence strategy with the other Respondents (Tinubu, APC and Shettima). They’re working in sync as they always do.”

At the resumed hearing of the petition filed by Atiku and the PDP challenging the election of President Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, counsel to the petitioners, Mr Chris Uche, SAN, said that the team had prepared a second schedule of documents to be tendered.

Some documents the petitioners tendered in evidence through Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, were certified true copies of Form EC8A downloaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from its Result Viewing Portal (IREV).

The Form EC8A was for eight local government areas of Bayelsa, 23 local government areas of Kaduna State, 20 local government areas of Ogun and of 23 local government areas of Kogi.

Form EC8As are sheets used for collection of results at the polling units level.

But counsel to INEC, Mr Kemi Pinhero, SAN, objected to the admissibility of all documents relating to Kogi except for those of five Local Government Areas, namely, Olamaboro, Ofu, Omala, Okehi and Ajaokuta.

He said this was because the five local governments whose documents he did not oppose were specifically pleaded in the petitioners’ pleadings.

Pinhero also objected to the admissibility of the documents relating to the BVAS except for Kogi, Rivers and Sokoto states.

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‎‎JUST IN: Former Power Minister Mamman Convicted of N33.8bn Fraud‎‎

Justice James Omotosho held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, finding Mamman guilty of illegally diverting public funds linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.

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[File photo] : former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman

A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on a 12‑count charge of fraud and money laundering involving about ₦33.8 billion. ‎‎

Mamman, who served in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, was found complicit in the illegal diversion of public funds totalling about ₦33.8 billion.

The court found that he made a cash payment of $655,700 (equivalent to ₦200 million) for landed property in Abuja, without recourse to a financial institution.

Justice James Omotosho held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, finding Mamman guilty of illegally diverting public funds linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.‎‎

The court also found that Mamman used the funds for personal gain, including paying $655,700 (about ₦200 million) in cash for landed property in Abuja—beyond the legal limit—and acquiring luxury assets in Nigeria and abroad. ‎‎

Justice Omotosho described the prosecution’s evidence as “overwhelming,” saying Mamman failed to offer any credible defence, while the EFCC presented 17 witnesses and 43 exhibits to support the case. ‎‎

The court noted that most of the funds were siphoned through Bureau de Change operators (BDCs), who converted the money into foreign currencies and handed it over to the defendant.

“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant.

“The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case,” Justice Omotosho held.

Meanwhile, the judge has adjourned the matter to a later date for sentencing. ‎‎‎

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Kogi Commissioner confirms release of remaining abducted orphanage victims

The operation, carried out in the Agbaja Forest axis of Lokoja Local Government Area, resulted in the safe recovery of five boys, two girls, and two adult females.

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Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo has confirmed the safe return of all those kidnapped from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage in Lokoja.

Gunmen stormed the orphanage on April 26 and abducted 23 children, including the proprietor’s wife. Following intervention by security operatives, 15 victims were rescued on April 27.

In a statement Commissioner Fanwo said that the remaining nine victims regained freedom during a rescue operation conducted in the early hours of yesterday.

He described the development as a breakthrough against criminal elements operating within the state and a relief to affected families.

According to him, troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army led the coordinated search-and-rescue mission with support from other security agencies.

The operation, carried out in the Agbaja Forest axis of Lokoja Local Government Area, resulted in the safe recovery of five boys, two girls, and two adult females.

Fanwo said the remaining nine victims regained freedom during a rescue operation conducted in the early hours of Wednesday.

He described the development as a breakthrough against criminal elements operating within the state and a relief to affected families.

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FCCPC, NAFDAC sign consumer protection MoU

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja.

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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have signed a partnership agreement aimed at improving consumer experiences and ensuring value for money.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja.

The Executive Vice-Chairman of FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, described the partnership as a deliberate step towards strengthening collaboration in the interest of Nigerian consumers, particularly in areas where product safety and consumer protection intersect and require coordinated action.

In her remarks, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the MoU as a step in the right direction.

“We have had similar arrangements in the past, but this represents an improved version of the partnership,” she said.

She commended the FCCPC leadership for its commitment to protecting Nigerian consumers and reaffirmed NAFDAC’s dedication to fully implementing the provisions of the agreement.

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