Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has suspended foreign trips for top officials of his administration for the rest of the year, with exceptions for emergencies.

The governor has also directed the Head of Service, Mr. Leye Aina, to prepare a memo that would state the relationship between the Commissioners and the Special Advisers to ensure efficiency in the governance process.

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Speaking during a meeting held with members of the State Executive Council which deliberated on 2024 budget proposals from the ministries, departments, and agencies as a prelude to the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework to the State House of Assembly, Adeleke declared that excessive spending on recurrent and overhead expenses must be avoided.

While urging cabinet members to make personal sacrifices, the governor explained that all members of the administration must demonstrate readiness to sacrifice in the face of the state’s harsh financial situation.

He, however, called for due diligence on the budget preparation process, reading out key policy directives on the governance of the state.

A statement by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, obtained in Osogbo on Monday, quoting Adeleke further read in parts, “Foreign trips for top officials for the rest of the year are hereby suspended unless there is a direct emergency to be authorised by the Governor.

“We must sustain the momentum of our service delivery by avoiding excessive spending on recurrent and overheads.

“Our needs from office to accommodation are much, but our resources are limited. So we have to devise a coping mechanism pending the time our funding situation will improve.

“While memos by Special Advisers must pass through the Permanent Secretary to the Commissioners, the Commissioners must ensure fair play and an accommodating spirit.”

Former majority leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has won his case against the New Nigeria People’s Party candidate, Salisu Yushau Abdullahi, as Member Representing Doguwa/Tudunwada Federal Constituency.

Delivering judgement on Monday in a petition filed by the NNPP House of Representatives candidate against the reelection of Doguwa, the leading judge, Justice L.B. Owolabi, said the petitioner failed to prove his petition within legal reasonable doubt, and as such, he threw it away.

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Justice Owolabi said all three grounds relied upon by the petitioner of corrupt practises allegedly perpetrated by Alhassan Doguwa, non-compliance with electoral law, and failure to have the needed lawful votes to win the election are baseless and could not be accepted as reasons to cancel the election.

On violence during elections, all the petitioner’s 21 witnesses testified that there was no violence during the elections, as against the testimony of the petitioner.

The court, in a unanimous decision, therefore, agreed that all 32 witnesses brought about by the petitioner could not concurrently give enough evidence that would truncate the election.

The presiding judge said while delivering judgement that he wondered how all the witnesses of the petitioner arrived at their various polling units at the same time and witnessed over-voting at all the units but could not recognise their results sheets. As such, he said their evidence could not stand.

“The petitioner in whole has failed to make any case capable of truncating the election of Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and as such, he is hereby returned duly elected by a majority of votes”.

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal by the former senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Smart Adeyemi challenging the result of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in the state.

In a unanimous judgment by a three-member panel of justices, which was read by Justice Emmanuel Agim on Monday, the apex court held that the appeal lacked merit.

“On the whole, this whole appeal fails for lack of merit,” he said.

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Adeyemi had challenged the primary that produced Ahmed Usman Ododo as the party’s standard bearer for the November 11 governorship election.

However, the panel held that Adeyemi failed to show that the judgment of the court that was based on concurrent findings of fact by both the high court and the Court of Appeal was perverse.

The panel awarded the sum of N1 million each to the APC and Ododo.

Adeyemi’s suit with numbers: FHC/ABJ/CS/556/2023 asking the Federal High Court to declare APC’s primary that produced Usman Ododo as the candidate as illegal, unlawful and invalid for the November governorship election maintaining that the primary did not hold as provided in the law, was on July 12 dismissed by Justice James Omotosho.

Justice Omotosho had noted that the suit made an allegation of forgery of results of the primary which was criminal and ought to be proved beyond reasonable doubt, adding that failure to discharge the burden of proof by producing the forged results or the original, “is fatal to the case of the applicant”.

The Court of Appeal also agreed with the verdict and dismissed the appeal.

The supreme court has reserved judgment in the appeals filed by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu.

A seven-member panel of the apex court reserved judgment after parties in the appeals adopted their respective briefs of arguments on Monday.

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ABUBAKAR’S APPEAL;

Abubakar and the PDP had filed a petition challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

However, the presidential election petition tribunal in its judgment on September 6, held that Abubakar failed to prove all the averments in his petition.

Aggrieved, the PDP candidate filed an appeal before the apex court on September 18.

In the 35 grounds notice of appeal, the appellants submitted that the tribunal’s findings were laden with “grave errors and gross misrepresentation” which resulted in a miscarriage of justice.

In a separate application, Abubakar is appealing the court to grant him leave to file fresh evidence against Tinubu.

Abubakar had alleged that Tinubu’s academic records were fraught with discrepancies and forgeries.

At the court session on Monday, Chris Uche, counsel to Abubakar and the PDP, submitted that the issue involving Tinubu’s certificate is a “weighty, grave and constitutional” one, which the supreme court should admit as fresh evidence against President Tinubu.

Uche said the supreme court “has a duty” to look into the new evidence submitted and reach a decision by avoiding the issue of technicality.

Asked why the court should put aside constitutional provisions and entertain the fresh evidence, Uche said the supreme court is not bound by the timeline on electoral dispute when it come to issues of national interest.

“The 180 days having elapsed, cannot tie the hands of my lords,” Uche said.

Uche prayed the court to allow the application as well as the substantive appeal.

However, Tinubu through his counsel, Wole Olanipekun, prayed the court to dismiss the application and appeal.

“The court of appeal is a tribunal. The First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2022 as well as section 285 (13) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is very clear,” Olanipekun said.

“They merely went on a fishing expedition in the US. The evidence they are seeking to tender is not at large. It cannot be compartmentalised in any way.

“Even Alice in Wonderland knew where she was going. At least she was told where she was going.

“My lords, this is an application that we believe is in Wonderland. It has no merit.

“The courts are bound by the law. The law is to be interpreted as it is and not as it ought to be,” Tinubu’s lawyer argued.

JUDGMENT IN OBI’S APPEAL RESERVED;

The apex court also reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), against the election of Tinubu.

At the court session on Monday, all parties in the suit adopted their briefs of argument.

Livy Uzoukwu, counsel to the appellants, prayed the court to allow the appeal while the respondents’ counsel prayed the court to dismiss it.

Obi and his party had filed a petition challenging the outcome of the February 25 poll.

Some of the issues raised against Tinubu included his failure to secure 25 percent of votes cast in the federal capital territory (FCT), and his forfeiture of $460,000 in the US.

They also challenged the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically.

However, a five-member panel of the presidential tribunal led by Haruna Tsammani, had on September 6, dismissed Obi’s petition.

Obi then filed a 73-page notice of appeal premised on 51 grounds.

In the notice of appeal, Obi and his party insisted that the tribunal erred in its findings that Tinubu won the election by the majority of lawful votes cast.

They also faulted the panel for striking out several paragraphs in their petitions.

The appellants said the panel was wrong to have held that they failed to prove their allegation of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

Consequently, they are praying the supreme court to “set aside the perverse judgment of the court below” and “grant the reliefs sought in the petition either in the main or in the alternative”.

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the appeal filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) challenging the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) affirming President Bola Tinubu’s victory.

Justice Inyang Okoro, leading six other apex court justices, dismissed the appeal, saying that hearing it would amount to “a waste of the precious time of the court’’.

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In the appeal, the APM prayed the court to hold that the PEPC misconceived the material facts before it when it struck out its undefended petition against Mr Tinubu’s victory.

The party asked the court to hold that the withdrawal of Kabiru Masari from the race, by operation of law, amounted to automatic withdrawal and invalidation of Mr Tinubu’s candidature as the APC presidential candidate.

Mr. Masari was named the running mate of Mr Tinubu before Vice President Kashim Shetima replaced him.

The APM said in its brief of argument by its counsel, Chukwuma-Machukwu-Ume, SAN, that the PEPC wrongly struck out its petition.

The party prayed the court to set aside the lower court’s decision as being misconceived.

The PEPC had dismissed APM’s petition based on pre-hearing motions filed by INEC, APC and Mr Shettima.

According to the APM, the grounds upon which its petition was predicated was that Mr Tinubu was not qualified to contest in line with Section 134(1)(a) of the Electoral Act, 2022, at the time of the presidential election.

Mr Machukwu-Ume told the court that the PEPC misconceived his client’s material facts and case and wrongly progressed to determine issues not contemplated by the appellant’s petition and erroneously dismissed the petition.

However, efforts by Mr Machukwu-Ume to move the appeal were rejected by the panel on the grounds that moving it would amount to wasting the court’s precious time.

Justice Okoro, the presiding justice, insisted that the appeal be withdrawn since the issue had been decided.

“You are not asking us to make your candidate the president if your appeal succeeds.

“You just want to state the law and go home without benefit. We have other appeals that are substantial, and withdrawing this appeal will help reduce the workload on us.

“We have read the appeal and are unanimous that it is a non-issue, having been pronounced upon by this court,’’ Mr Okoro said.

Mr Machukwu-Ume, though reluctant, accepted and withdrew the appeal on behalf of his client, the APM.

All the respondents did not oppose the withdrawal or ask for cost.

The seven-member panel consequently dismissed the appeal after the appellant withdrew it. (NAN)

The United States chapter of All Progressives Congress on Sunday night warned the National Democratic Coalition from going ahead with its planned press conference on the controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s Chicago State University academic certificate, saying the school has already confirmed its authenticity.

The warning is coming two days after the Publicity Secretary of NADECO USA, David Adenekan, announced that the group will hold a world press conference on Monday at 9:45 a.m. inside Chicago City Hall.

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Adenekan further explained that the purpose was to provide journalists and the international community an opportunity to ask questions that would properly investigate and shed more light on the alleged CSU certificate forgery of the President.

Reacting via a statement on Sunday night, the Chairman of APC USA, Prof Tai Balofin, condemned the move, which he described as a smokescreen to vilify the president.

While arguing that Tinubu’s alma mater has settled the matter, Balofin added that it was also wrong of NADECO USA, which he labelled a phony group, to be seen discussing a matter that is already in court.

He said, “The allegation surrounding President Tinubu’s educational certificate from Chicago State University has been addressed, with CSU confirming the certificate’s authenticity. It is crucial to note that this matter is already in the hands of the appropriate authorities, specifically the courts, where due process and legal procedures will be followed.

“We therefore urge the supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and those of Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, to wait for the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling.

“Furthermore, we would like to clarify that the group organising this World Press Conference under the banner of NADECO USA is not the original NADECO that President Tinubu was a part of during the Abacha era. We urge the public not to be misled by these attempts to distort history. Premature and unfounded allegations not only do a disservice to the public but also risk diverting attention from pressing issues that truly deserve scrutiny.

“In conclusion, the leadership of APC USA stands firmly against any attempts to undermine the reputation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and, by extension, Nigeria. We believe in the strength of the democratic processes and the judicial system to address any legitimate concerns.

“We remain committed to democratic principles, and we encourage this group hiding under NADECO USA to engage in constructive dialogue and allow the legal system to take its course in addressing any genuine concerns.”

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has slammed claims of an assassination attempt on his life.

Reports surfaced Sunday that Bello escaped an assassination attempt on his way to an official engagement in Abuja.

According to a statement by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, the attack occurred around 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 22.

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“The attackers dressed in military uniforms waylaid the governor’s convoy and started shooting sporadically at his vehicle and other vehicles in the convoy. It took the swift intervention of the security personnel attached to the governor to foil the satanic plans of the unknown soldiers.”

Debunking the claim in a Facebook Live on Sunday, Bello denied such an attempt on his life, saying, ‘Misguided elements will take this out of context. You are not doing me any favour by putting fake news out there, saying Governor Yahaya Belo escaped assassination when there was nothing of that nature.

‘There was a minor fracas between the military and the police attached to my convoy. It was resolved within five minutes.”

President Bola Tinubu and his antagonists, Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi and the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, will resume the battle for the presidency, today, at the Supreme Court as Tinubu’s aides and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, expect favourable ruling at the apex court.

Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate in the February 26 poll; Obi of the Labour Party, LP; and the APM, filed separate appeals at the apex court seeking to nullify the election of President Tinubu.

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The Supreme Court communicated the hearing date through notices sent to all the parties, last Thursday.

Apart from faulting the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, which affirmed Tinubu’s election, Atiku also filed for permission to tender a copy of Tinubu’s academic records released by the Chicago State University, CSU, USA, which he said showed that Tinubu submitted a forged CSU certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The former vice president is also seeking to get a Washington, D.C. court to order the FBI to release documents on President Tinubu’s $460,000 forfeiture case.

Anglican Bishop of Ihiala Diocese in Anambra State, Rt Reverend Israel Okoye has cautioned Judges against abusing their oath of office, advising them to always avoid situations that would make masses criticize their judgments.

The Bishop, who spoke while presenting his charge at the synod of the Diocese at Saint Stephen’s Diocesan Church Centre Ihiala, said courts were established to enable the people seek justice and warned against politicizing the judiciary and scandalizing the Judges.

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“Nigerian Judges should avoid things capable of making the masses to frequently either reject or criticize their judgements publicly. Judges should always abide by the oath they took,” he said..

He also urged those in leadership positions to desist from the manipulation and intimidation of the populace, reminding them of the need to always make policies that would improve the living standards of the people.

He lamented the high rate of oil theft in Nigeria which, he said, is badly affecting the economy and called on the federal government to find a way of dealing with the situation.

Specifically, the Anglican prelate made a strong case for the revamping of the nation’s refineries for optimum results.

He commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for all his giant strides in the state, especially the free education policy of his administration which would enable indigent people to acquire sound education.

The Dean, Church of Nigeria; His Grace, Blessing Enyindah who led other Bishops to the synod, commended the Diocese for its efforts and growth, describing synods as important for the growth of the Church.