The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for the 2024 Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, opened their case at the election petition tribunal on Friday, presenting key documents to back their claims of electoral malpractice.

Ighodalo accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of declaring All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpehbolo, as the winner despite alleged irregularities and noncompliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.

During the hearing, lead counsel for the petitioners, Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, submitted Certified True Copies (CTCs) of essential electoral documents, including the Form EC8E (INEC’s final declaration result sheet), Form EC8D (local government area results), and numerous CTCs from various electoral forms used during the election across the state’s wards and polling units.

Counsel for INEC, Okpehbolo, and the APC raised objections regarding the admissibility of the documents, promising to present their reasons for these objections during the final address phase.

However, Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led Tribunal provisionally admitted the documents as exhibits.

The hearing is set to continue, with the petitioners expected to submit additional evidence in support of their claims.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has criticized the N800 billion allocated to the ministry in the 2025 budget, stating that the amount is insufficient to address Nigeria’s extensive road infrastructure needs.

Speaking at a budget defense session on Friday with the House Committee on Works, Umahi called for an increase in the ministry’s budget to ensure the completion of ongoing projects and the initiation of new ones across the country.

Umahi emphasized that the current allocation would not be enough to tackle the country’s road challenges, urging the committee to consider higher funding.

He also highlighted the importance of borrowing to fund infrastructure, stating that such investments would stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and help the country overcome its recession.

In response, Committee Chairman Akin Alabi pledged to invite the Minister of Finance and the Head of the Budget Office for further clarification on the allocation’s adequacy.

Two individuals, Olufunsho Dayo Chevy and Uwem Udo Nya, have been ordered to pay a fine of N10 million to the Federal Government following their conviction for oil theft.

Each convict was instructed to deposit N5 million into the government’s account.

The conviction, involving the two defendants, a vessel named MT New Angel, and a company, Edi Eurolink Distribution, was achieved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Uyo Zonal Command.

According to EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the convicts were apprehended by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory and transferred to the EFCC on July 30, 2024.

They pleaded guilty to the charges in court.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Calabar sentenced them on a one-count charge of theft and unlicensed dealing in petroleum products.

Babajimi Benson, the representative for Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State, has rejected claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tax reforms are designed to foster regional divisions between Nigeria’s North and South.

In an interview on Friday, Benson emphasized that the reforms aim to drive equitable economic growth and modernize Nigeria’s outdated tax laws.

Benson critiqued Nigeria’s current tax system, which he said was based on legislation from the 1930s and burdened with inefficiencies and inequities.

He argued that the proposed reforms would benefit the entire country, not just specific regions, as some critics have suggested.

Among the key provisions of the new tax policy, Benson highlighted the removal of Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax for civil servants earning minimum wage.

He also pointed out that the reforms address a long-standing issue with the centralization of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, which has disproportionately benefited major cities like Lagos, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The new system ensures VAT revenues are allocated based on consumption and production in each state, promoting a fairer revenue-sharing model.

Benson noted that the reforms would incentivize state governments to foster business-friendly environments, leading to stronger local economies and higher tax revenues.

He also praised the alignment of the reforms with global tax practices, particularly in eliminating double taxation for foreign companies outsourcing jobs to Nigeria, which could attract significant foreign investment.

To ensure fairness across states, Benson highlighted the introduction of a ₦300 billion stabilization fund to assist states struggling to meet revenue targets.

He called on Nigerians to support the reforms and avoid politicizing the policy.

A Federal High Court in Lagos has issued a ruling barring the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from arresting drivers or imposing penalties for vehicles with faded number plates.

Justice Akintayo Aluko delivered the decision on Friday, after hearing a suit filed by legal practitioner Chinwike Chamberlain Ezebube against the FRSC.

In his suit, Ezebube argued that the FRSC, as the sole body responsible for designing and producing vehicle number plates in Nigeria, should be held accountable for the poor quality and durability of the plates.

He further contended that the FRSC should not penalize or arrest drivers for having faded plates caused by substandard production.

Ezebube sought a court order to prevent the FRSC from declaring driving with a faded number plate an offense, imposing fines, or taking punitive action against drivers.

He also requested that the FRSC be ordered to replace faded plates at no additional cost to vehicle owners.

In response, the FRSC’s legal team requested the court dismiss the suit.

However, the court ruled that while the FRSC cannot criminalize the use of faded number plates or impose fines, drivers have a responsibility to request a replacement from the FRSC upon payment of the appropriate fees.

It further restrained FRSC from penalizing drivers for faded number plates and directing the commission to replace the plates upon payment of the necessary fees.