Mauritanians began voting on Saturday to decide whether to re-elect President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani as head of the vast desert state, considered an oasis of stability in the volatile Sahel.
Around 1.9 million registered voters are set to choose between seven candidates vying to lead the West African nation, which has largely withstood a tide of jihadism in the region and is set to become a gas producer.
Justice E.D. Onwu of the Enugu South Magistrate Court has sentenced Hon. Bright Ngene, the Labour Party candidate for Enugu South Urban state Constituency, to seven years’ imprisonment amidst accusations of judicial bias and political interference.
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The case dates back to 2017 when Ngene and two others were charged by the Enugu Police Command in connection with a community fund worth N15 million.
After Ngene’s victory in the March 2023 elections, defeating his PDP rival who contested the outcome, the government allegedly revived the case related to the community fund.
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Ngene, maintaining his innocence, alleged a conspiracy involving the state’s executive and judicial arms to derail his political career.
He claimed that the Chief Judge of Enugu State, along with other officials, colluded to ignore a pending petition before the National Judicial Council seeking intervention in his case.
Despite being elected and briefly serving in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Ngene’s tenure was cut short by a court petition from his PDP opponent, leading to re-run elections in disputed polling units.
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However, subsequent attempts at re-election were repeatedly disrupted.
During Thursday court proceedings, Ngene’s defense team, comprising C.J.S Okereke, Benjamin C. Nwobodo, and Fraben Awgu, protested vehemently against the magistrate’s refusal to adjourn the case for further preparation.
They accused Justice Onwu of bias and filed motions to transfer the case to another court due to perceived compromised neutrality.
“This court is biased. We have filed an application that the matter should be transferred to another court. Let another court see this matter because this court is compromised.”
Accusing Justice Onwu of compromising in the case, Okereke said that they petitioned National Judicial Council, that they were not happy with Onwu handling the matter.
“After his disposition, Onwu, became unbearable, we saw counter and conflicting orders, we wrote the Chief Judge of Enugu State for direction as to which court we are going to hear this matter, there was no reply. We wrote again and there was no reply and we were constrained to go to the highest disciplinary body of the bench, the NJC on June 7 and we got acknowledgment that the matter is being looked into.” Okereke said.
“I don’t know why this court still wants to hear the matter,” he lamented saying that there was a gang plan to commit his client to prison so that he would not participate in the rerun election to maintain his position at the Enugu State House of Assembly where he had been representing Enugu South Urban Constituency before the Court of Appeal annulled the election and called for a rerun in eight polling booths.
Community members from Akwuke, Ngene’s constituency, also staged protests condemning what they viewed as unjust judicial proceedings.
They brandished placards with various inscriptions such as “His Worship E D Ownu is grossly lawless and rascal in presiding the case”, “E D Ownu how much were you paid?” among other inscriptions
Despite petitions to the National Judicial Council and public outcry, including accusations of judicial misconduct, Justice Onwu proceeded to convict Ngene on Friday, sentencing him to seven years’ imprisonment.
Iran’s presidential election is moving to a run-off after no candidate secured a majority, according to the Interior Ministry.
After counting over 24.5 million votes, the results are as follows:
– Pezeshkian: 10.4 million votes
– Jalili: 9.5 million votes
– Ghalibaf: 3.4 million votes
– Pourmohammadi: 206,397 votes
The run-off between Pezeshkian and Jalili is scheduled for July 5, following the inconclusive results of the initial poll.
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Gunmen killed two policemen and injured another in a brazen attack on their checkpoint in Aba.
The incident occurred at Opobo junction along Ikot Ekpene road, Ogbor Hill, sparking widespread panic among street traders, motorists, and shop owners who fled for safety.
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This tragic event comes less than a month after unidentified gunmen attacked a military checkpoint at Obikabia junction, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers and the destruction of their patrol vans.
Following the attack in Aba, several patrol teams swiftly mobilized to the area, prompting residents to evacuate the vicinity.
The Abia state Police spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, has not responded to inquiries sent to her at the time of this report.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has initiated a series of nationwide stakeholder engagements to discuss the construction of sections of the Renewed Hope Legacy Road Infrastructure projects.
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This initiative follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a national road network aimed at enhancing trade and agriculture across Nigeria, in line with strategic economic recovery plans.
According to a statement by Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Umahi will engage stakeholders on June 29th and 30th in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
In Akwa Ibom, discussions will focus on Sections 3B and 4 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. In Cross River, the focus will be on Section 3A of the same highway and a 92 km segment of the Calabar-South East-North Central-Apo Abuja Superhighway.
Key participants will include state governors, legislative committees on works, relevant ministers, royal fathers, and technocrats.
These projects, once completed, will significantly enhance national connectivity.
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The planned routes include the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway (1,000 km), linking Sokoto to Badagry, passing through seven states; the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway (700 km), traversing eight states; and the Calabar-South East-North Central-Apo Abuja Superhighway (477 km), connecting Calabar to Abuja through multiple states.
The consultations aim to highlight the potential benefits of these projects for local communities, particularly in terms of industrialization, tourism, and agriculture.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has suspended the Village Head of Garin Majidadi, Mohammed Majidadi, and the Councillor for Kumo East Ward, Abdullahi Panda, due to their alleged involvement in the theft of a community transformer.
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The announcement, made by Ismaila Misili, Director General of Press Affairs, followed their arrest and arraignment by the state police on charges of conspiring to steal and sell the transformer in Garin Majidadi.
The suspensions are intended to prevent any interference with the ongoing legal proceedings.
Governor Yahaya reiterated his commitment to the rule of law, expressing confidence that justice would be served against all those involved in the theft.
Rev. Fr. Mikah Suleiman, the Parish Priest of St. Raymond Catholic Church in Damba, Gusau, Zamfara State, has made a desperate plea for help after being abducted from the church rectory in Gusau on June 22.
In a viral distressing video, Father Suleiman appeals for assistance, fearing for his life in captivity.
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He describes being held under threat of death, emphasizing that his captors have warned him that they do not keep hostages for long and are capable of killing swiftly if their demands, likely ransom, are not met promptly.
“I am begging for help to be released from this place,” Father Suleiman implores in the video.
“They have tied me up and left me alone here. Please save my life in the name of God.”
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The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has responded to a viral video claiming they are distributing free prepaid meters to customers.
The video, made by One Mazi Okechukwu Cyril Nwuche, a lecturer and Anambra State Chairman of the South East Electricity Consumers Association, suggested that EEDC was offering free meters.
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In a statement, Emeka Ezeh, EEDC’s head of corporate communications, refuted the claims, calling them misleading and aimed at creating confusion.
Ezeh clarified that while EEDC supports meter applications, customers must follow the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, which requires payment for meters with reimbursement through energy credits.
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Ezeh urged customers to apply for meters via the EEDC website or at district offices.
He noted that those in bulk-billed areas must opt for debulking to receive individual meters.
Ezeh also mentioned that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is working on a program to address the metering gap, details of which will be shared later.
He emphasized the importance of obtaining accurate information through official EEDC channels and cautioned against misinformation.
The Lagos Court of Appeal has upheld the five-year prison sentence of Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, known as Baba Ijesha, for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
This decision affirms a previous ruling by the Lagos State High Court.
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The appellate panel, led by Justice Folashade Ojo, with Justices Abdullahi Bayero and Paul Bassi concurring, found Baba Ijesha guilty on two counts related to indecently touching and sexually assaulting the minor.
Originally, the Lagos State Government charged him with several offenses, including attempted sexual assault by penetration.
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In July 2022, the trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (now retired), sentenced him to five years for sexual assault, stating that the offenses occurred between 2013 and 2014.
Baba Ijesha’s defense argued that he had merely acted in a scripted scene, but the appellate court dismissed this claim.
Justice Ojo emphasized that the evidence presented, including a confession and an eyewitness account from Damilola Adekoya (PW1), corroborated the charges.
The court noted that these interactions were not theatrical performances but real incidents.
The judgment confirmed that on April 19, 2021, Baba Ijesha committed sexual assault against the victim, who was 15 at the time, as supported by her testimony and the evidence from the proceedings.
The court maintained that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt regarding the events of that day.
As a result, the court set aside some previous convictions but upheld the sentences for the offenses that occurred on April 19, 2021, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Prof. Leonard C. Anigbo, the Director of the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) program at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), has described the program as a strategic initiative aimed at expanding access to high-quality tertiary education.
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In an interview with the Daily Gazette on Friday, the professor of educational management and evaluation noted that the program was carefully designed to meet the educational aspirations of working professionals and other interested individuals.
“Our ODL program offers a robust and flexible learning model, ensuring that students can attain their academic qualifications without the constraints associated with traditional face-to-face, on-campus education,” Prof. Anigbo stated.
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“Prospective students are exempted from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, streamlining the admission process. The program offers a cost-effective tuition structure with the added flexibility of per-semester payment options.”
Prof. Anigbo also addressed the issue of NYSC eligibility, stating that graduates are eligible for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program or may opt for an exemption if preferred.
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He explained that the curriculum is delivered entirely online, allowing students to study from any location at their convenience.
“Our graduates will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from ESUT, a credential recognized both nationally and internationally,” he added.
For further inquiries or assistance regarding the admission process, please contact the ESUT ODL Centre at 08063543596 or 08032642325 or visit our official website at [odl.esut.edu.ng/application/purchase] to apply.
