An Abuja High Court has annulled a criminal summons issued on September 12 by a Wuse Magistrate Court against Senator Monday Okpebholo, accusing him of certificate forgery.

The court ruled that the summons, issued by Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar, was beyond his jurisdiction and represented an error in law.

Justice Charles Agbaza, in a ruling delivered on Friday, agreed with Okpebholo’s counsel, Andrew Emwanta, that the criminal summons and the subsequent proceedings violated the senator’s fundamental right to a fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

The judge declared that the summons was illegal, unconstitutional, and should be quashed.

Senator Okpebholo, the APC candidate and governor-elect in the Edo State governorship election held on September 21, had challenged the summons issued by Magistrate Mukhtar.

The summons had required Okpebholo to appear in court on September 20, just a day before the governorship election, in response to allegations of providing conflicting birth dates on his nomination forms submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The case, brought against Okpebholo by Honesty Aginbatse, an indigene of Edo State, claimed that Okpebholo had falsely declared his date of birth in his nomination papers, which caused confusion over his true age.

However, Emwanta argued that the action was politically motivated and intended to prevent Okpebholo from standing for election by casting doubt on his eligibility.

In response, Emwanta filed an originating summons at the FCT High Court, seeking to quash the summons and all associated proceedings.

The lawyer contended that the summons was issued in bad faith and in violation of Okpebholo’s constitutional rights.

He argued that the case was a pre-election matter, and thus the jurisdiction for handling such issues lay with the Federal High Court, not the Magistrate Court.

In support of his client’s case, Emwanta presented evidence that Okpebholo had taken various steps to rectify any discrepancies regarding his date of birth.

The senator had sworn an affidavit in March 2022 to correct the birth date listed on his WASSCE certificate, which had mistakenly recorded August 29, 1972, instead of his actual birth date, August 1, 1977. Okpebholo had also made corrections on his Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and had filed a Deed of Regularization of Personal Particulars at the Supreme Court Registry in July 2023.

Despite objections from Aginbatse, who filed a counter-affidavit urging the court to dismiss the application, and the absence of Magistrate Mukhtar from the proceedings, Justice Agbaza ruled in favor of Okpebholo.

The judge stated that the magistrate had failed to properly consider the evidence presented by Okpebholo before issuing the summons.

He cited a previous Supreme Court decision to support his ruling, confirming that the proceedings were improper and illegal.

As a result of the judgment, the court not only quashed the summons but also prohibited Magistrate Mukhtar from continuing with any further proceedings on the case.

While acknowledging the magistrate’s discretion to schedule hearings, Justice Agbaza made it clear that the case was beyond the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Court.

On Friday, members of the Nigerian Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (NICOCSO) staged a protest at the National Assembly, demanding action over the ongoing dispute between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery, along with other issues plaguing Nigeria’s oil sector.

The coalition expressed concerns that the rift between the two entities is having a negative impact on the daily lives of Nigerians, particularly in light of the country’s ongoing challenges in the oil industry.

The protesters called for immediate intervention to resolve the standoff and address broader sectoral issues.

The law firm of Deji Adeyanju & Partners has severed its legal relationship with Stephen Abuwatseye, an Abuja-based e-hailing driver, following his public apology to Alex Ikwechegh, the controversial House of Representatives member for Aba North and South, who had assaulted him.

The decision comes in the wake of a viral video that showed Ikwechegh physically assaulting Abuwatseye, a Bolt driver, during an altercation. In the footage, Ikwechegh can be heard boasting about his power, even threatening to make Abuwatseye “disappear.”

The incident sparked a widespread public outcry, with many Nigerians calling for Ikwechegh’s removal from office.

Ikwechegh, after facing public backlash, later apologized, acknowledging that his actions were not in line with the expected conduct of a public official.

However, the apology was met with mixed reactions, with some feeling it was insufficient given the severity of his behavior.

The matter escalated when Abuwatseye, despite being the victim, issued his own apology to Ikwechegh, which many viewed as an attempt to downplay the gravity of the assault.

In a video shared on Thursday, Abuwatseye expressed regret for his role in provoking Ikwechegh, stating: “I want to apologize to him for whatever I must have said or done to provoke him to that level of anger.”

Abuwatseye’s apology quickly garnered criticism, as many felt it undermined efforts to hold Ikwechegh accountable for his actions.

The situation became even more contentious when Abuwatseye urged Nigerians to “forgive and forget,” invoking a religious sentiment: “For there is no justice without forgiveness.”

In response to the development, Abuwatseye’s legal team, led by Deji Adeyanju & Partners, issued a statement announcing their withdrawal from the case.

The law firm explained that Abuwatseye’s recent actions, including the apology, compromised their ethical standards.

“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to withdraw our legal representation in order to protect our professional integrity and maintain the highest ethical standard in the legal profession,” the statement read.

The firm, however, expressed good wishes for Abuwatseye, while reaffirming its commitment to fighting for the rights of marginalized individuals.

“We wish Mr. Stephen Abuwatseye the very best, while we assure the general public of our continuous commitment towards protecting the rights of the oppressed and indigent members of society,” the statement concluded.

In the meantime, Ikwechegh faces legal charges, including abuse of office, assault, and threats to life.

He was granted bail by a Chief Magistrate Court in Kuje, Abuja, but the case is still ongoing, with the next court date scheduled for November 8.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has opened up about his time in prison and the pivotal role his late wife, Stella, played in securing his release during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 250-bed Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin, the Edo State capital, Obasanjo, now 87, fondly recalled how his wife worked tirelessly on his behalf.

He was arrested and jailed by the Abacha government in 1995, accused of being involved in an alleged coup plot, though he consistently maintained his innocence.

After Abacha’s death, Obasanjo was released by the regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who later became president.

“My late wife went everywhere to ensure that I came out of prison alive. She was in Vatican City, France, and other parts of the world. No amount of honour would be too much for the role she played. I had it all coming out of prison.”

Obasanjo expressed deep gratitude for his wife’s unrelenting efforts, adding, “We were planning for her 68th birthday anniversary but never had it before she died. It was very painful for me in particular and for all of us in my family.”

Reflecting on his wife’s passing, which occurred during his second term as president, Obasanjo noted how much he valued the contributions she made to his public life.

“I had a woman who made tremendous contributions to my achievements in public life,” he said.

The former president also took the opportunity to thank the government and people of Edo State for honouring his late wife with the naming of the hospital, noting that her sacrifices would never be forgotten.

Obasanjo praised the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki for its achievements, particularly the completion of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital.

He described the facility as “first-class treatment for any ailment,” commending Obaseki for “starting well and finishing well. With this kind of edifice, I can say that the governor started well and is finishing well.”

In his remarks, Obasanjo also reflected on his past relationship with former Governor John Oyegun, who had worked closely with him during his tenure as president.

“I have worked in the past with the likes of John Oyegun. He was a fantastic permanent secretary,” Obasanjo said, recalling some of their shared experiences. He also expressed his admiration for the current governor.

“More grace to the elbows of the governor. With this hospital, you’re assured of first-class treatment for any ailment.”