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Presidential Election tribunal: Garba Replaces Bulkachuwa, Resumes Hearing Today on 16 Petitions
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Justice Mohammed Garba, who replaced the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, on the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, took charge of the pre-hearing proceedings of the tribunal for the first time on Monday.
He called for the “fullest cooperation” of petitioners and their lawyers for the expeditious hearing of the pending petitions.
All the four petitions filed before the tribunal to challenge the February 23, 2019 presidential election came up on Monday, but one of them which was filed by the Coalition for Change and its candidate, Geff Ojinika, was withdrawn in the course of the proceedings, leaving three behind to be heard and determined by the five-man panel.
Justice Bulkachuwa had withdrawn from the panel on May 22, 2019 following an allegation of likelihood of bias levelled against her by the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate in the February 23, 2019 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.
The petitioners’ allegation was based on the fact that Bulkachuwa’s husband, Adamu Bulkachuwa, is a senator-elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, the party whose victory at the February 23 presidential election they are challenging at the tribunal, and her son, Aliyu Abubakar, was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the same party in Gombe State.
Garba emerged on Monday as the replacement for Bulkachuwa, who withdrew her membership of the panel about 19 days ago.
Monday’s proceedings only came about 10 days after the legal team of the petitioners wrote Bulkachuwa a letter reminding her of her promise to name her replacement promptly.
Garba, who is the presiding justice of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, now leads Justices Abdul Aboki (Abuja Division), Joseph Ikyegh (Benin Division), Samuel Oseji (Lagos Division) and Peter Ige (Abuja Division) on the panel of the tribunal.
He said, “I will like to renew the call for the fullest cooperation of parties and their respective counsel that will be appearing in the petitions before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
“We are aware of the constraint of time that has been imposed on the court by both the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act for the hearing and determination of the petitions.
“We are also aware that we have almost gone halfway of the time we have for the hearing and determination of the petitions.”
Justice Garba said the cooperation of the lawyers and their clients were needed for the panel to make the best use of the time left.
Responding, the legal team of the PDP and Atiku led by Dr Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) assured the panel that his team would “give necessary cooperation to ensure that the petition is expeditiously heard.”
Lawyers representing the respondents – the Independent National Electoral Commission, Buhari and the APC – also gave similar assurance.
INEC’s legal team was led by Mr Yunus Usman (SAN), Buhari’s by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), while Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) represented the APC.
On Monday, the Coalition for Change and its presidential candidate, Geff Ojinika, withdrew their joint petition challenging the outcome of the February 23, 2019 presidential election.
Announcing the decision, Mr Obed Agu, told the panel he was instructed by his clients to withdraw the petition.
The respondents’ lawyers did not oppose the request for the withdrawal of the petition.
The petition was subsequently dismissed by the tribunal, leaving the five-man panel with only three pending petitions filed to challenge the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC at the poll.
The remaining petitions comprised the one jointly filed by the PDP and Atiku, the Hope Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Ambrose Owuru; and the Peoples Democratic Movement with its candidate, Pastor Aminchi Habu.
The tribunal also on Monday adjourned till Tuesday (today) the hearing of a total of 16 applications filed in respect of the petition of the PDP and Atiku alone.
The Justice Garba-led panel adjourned the applications for hearing after the various parties to the petition identified what they had filed before the tribunal.
Of the 16 applications, six of them were filed by the PDP and its candidate, while the rest of the 10 were filed by the respondents.
Of the respondents’ 10 applications, seven were filed by them seeking the dismissal or striking out of the petition while the three others were either seeking the amendment of their papers and the leave to bring their applications up at the tribunal’s pre-hearing session.
The tribunal also adjourned pending applications filed in respect of the petitions by the HDP and the PDM till June 13 and June 17, respectively.
The Punch
Jude Bellingham scored a dramatic extra-time winner as England overcame an unfortunate Norway to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
Bellingham slid home the winning goal in the first half of extra time after a second Norway goal was ruled out by the VAR for an Erling Haaland foul.
Andreas Schjelderup had given Norway the lead, but Bellingham equalised with a brilliant finish — although England were fortunate the goal stood after the ball struck the Spidercam during the build-up.
England rode their luck at times but will now face either Switzerland or old rivals Argentina as they seek to reach the World Cup final for the first time since 1966.
New York Times
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has expressed relief and joy over the release of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
“It is such a big relief for all of us. Right now, I am overjoyed and can hardly say much,” the governor told Channels Television.
President Bola Tinubu has also expressed delight over the successful rescue of abducted children and teachers, commending the military, the DSS, and the Nigeria Police Force for ending their 56-day captivity.
The President said the security operation led to the arrest of eight suspected abductors while several others were neutralised, describing the outcome as a major relief for the victims, their families and the nation.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu praised the security agencies for what he described as their tireless efforts in securing the victims’ release.
He also sympathised with the children, teachers and their families over the trauma they endured during the prolonged ordeal
The President further commended the Oyo State Government for its cooperation with the Federal Government throughout the rescue operation and urged the state to strengthen security around schools to prevent similar incidents.
President Tinubu also directed emergency response agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide the rescued children and teachers with all necessary medical care and relief support as they recover from the ordeal.
The schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped by suspected bandits in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been rescued after about 56 days in captivity.
According to a statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the victims were freed through the efforts of security agencies.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga said.
He disclosed that eight members of the kidnapping gang were arrested during the rescue operation and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Onanuga said the rescue operation did not involve any exchange or concession to the kidnappers, noting that a notorious gang leader whose release had been demanded by the abductors remains in custody and is being prosecuted for his alleged crimes.
He added that security agencies would provide a full account of the operation soon.
“In the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised. There was no quid pro quo in the rescue, as one of the terrorists, a kingpin whose release was demanded by the kidnappers, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon,” he added.
In a video shared alongside the statement, a woman believed to be one of the rescued teachers was seen thanking President Bola Tinubu for securing their release. The schoolchildren were also seen eating biscuits and joining the teacher in chanting, “Thank you, sir,” at the end of her remarks.
“Hello sir, our father, we are grateful. Mr President, sir, we are grateful. We understand your commitment to our safety and we appreciate all you did for us. We could see your hand in this. Thank you very much. Every security operative tried so much, and that is why we are still alive today. We are very grateful to you. Thank you very much,” the teacher said.
