Headlines
Appeal Court Moves Hearing on Adeleke, PDP’s Appeals to May 8
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday adjourned till May 8 the hearing of the appeals challenging a judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, which disqualified the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, from contesting the last election in the state.
There are two separate appeals filed by Adeleke and his party, both challenging the April 2, 2019 judgment of the FCT High Court.
The Justice Abubakar Yahaya-led three-man panel of the Court of Appeal adjourned the hearing following the absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s lawyer in court on Thursday.
Justice Yahaya also noted that the suit needed to be adjourned so that the later appeal filed by the PDP could be heard together with that of Adeleke which was filed much earlier.
He also noted that INEC was absent and was not represented by a lawyer.
The hearing earlier scheduled for April 25 had been adjourned till Thursday due to improper service of court processes by Adeleke.
The problem of improper service on INEC led to further adjournment of the appeal on Thursday.
Adeleke and the PDP are, by their appeals, challenging the April 2 judgment of Justice Othman Musa of the FCT High Court which nullified the nomination of Adeleke as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the September 2018 governorship election in Osun State.
Delivering judgment in the suit filed by Wahab Raheem and Adam Habeeb, the judge said Adeleke did not possess the minimum qualification of being educated up to secondary level as stipulated under Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Musa said the court’s findings showed that Adeleke was admitted into Ede Muslim High School, Ede, Osun State in 1976, while there was no record showing that he graduated as his name was not seen in the school’s register from 1980.
He added that the result Adeleke attached to his Form CF001, which he submitted to INEC was fake, as it was found to be different from the one presented to the court by the Principal of Ede Muslim High School, Ede, where he claimed to have graduated.
The Punch
Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
