The Supreme Court has affirmed the Victory of Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the March 18 governorship election in Kaduna state.
The Apex Court upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja which set aside the decision of the Kaduna governorship election tribunal sacking Sani and declaring the governorship election in the state as inconclusive.
Delivering the Lead Judgement, Justice Tijani Abubakar dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.
More Details later
The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Nasir Idris of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Governor of Kebbi State.
The Apex Court upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja dismissing the appel filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aminu Bande challenging the victory of at the March 18 governorship election.
Delivering the Lead Judgement, Justice Abba Aji dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit
More Details later
The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Dauda Lawal as the duly elected Governor of Zamfara state.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, who delivered the lead judgment, criticized the Court of Appeal’s earlier decision, describing it as “perverse.”
Justice Agim emphasized that the allegations of over-voting failed to stand as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not provide essential documents such as the voter register, polling unit officer report, and eyewitness testimony.
The judge highlighted that BVAS machines alone could not establish electoral malpractices, and the petitioner, Mr Matawalle, did not provide sufficient evidence to support his claims.
“The court is of the view that the tribunal was right. The judgment of the Court of Appeal was perverse because the petitioner failed woefully to prove his allegations,” declared Justice Agim.
The Supreme court has upheld the election of the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as the governor of the state.
The five-man panel of the court lead by John Inyang Okoro, held that the 165, 616 votes complied with the provisions of Section 71 of the Electoral Act have been signed and stamped by the election agents.
The court held that the All Progressive Congress (APC) and it’s flagbearer, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, failed to prove that the votes were unlawful.
Therefore, the court ordered that the signed and stamped 165, 616 votes be returned to the appallant.
With the verdict, the court thereby set aside the judgement of the lower court and declared that the Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf won the 2023 governorship election in Kano State with the majority votes.
The Independent National Electronic Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Yusuf as the winner of the March 18, 2023 election, saying he garnered 1,019,602 votes to defeat Gawuna who got 890,705 of the votes cast.
Consequently, the APC headed the Tribunal, citing alleged electoral malpractice.
The Tribunal in its ruling nullified Yusuf’s election, adding that over 160,000 ballot papers “were not signed or stamped by INEC”.
The three-man panel of the Tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay sacked Yusuf on September 20, 2023, after deducting 165,663 of his votes.
Yusuf’s votes were subsequently reduced to 853,939 while Ganuwa’s 890,705 votes were not affected.
Not satisfied, Yusuf proceeded to the Appeal court which held that it can be seen that the Tribunal acted in the overall interest of justice when it allowed APC’s tendering of documents during trial.
The court held that INEC released documents to the APC piecemeal in order to defeat the petition of the petitioner.
The judgement further posited
the the Petitioner’s insistence that APC ought to have joined its candidate, Ganuwa, as a party at the Tribunal proceedings, was not backed by the 1999 Constitution.
It maintained that a candidate is entitled to be represented by his political party during litigation, adding that every political party shall maintain the register of its voters.
The court said the appellant to his own detriment did not submit his NNPP membership registrar or even tendered his statement on oath regarding his membership of the party.
The court added that the name of Abba is not the NNPP membership registrar.
“As rightfully found, Yusuf Abba was not a member of the NNPP at the time he was purportedly sponsored by his party and he was not qualified to contest the March Governorship Election,” the court while affirming the judgment of the Tribunal.
“If you claim to be a member of a political party, is it not logical for you to say so by yourself and not by proxy?
“Even though membership of a political party is an internal affair, a political party cannot be permitted to circumvent or breach the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
“The Tribunal was wrong not to have disqualified the appellant.
“Therefore the failure of the appellant and the NNPP to comply with the 1999 Constitution is fatal to their election.
“All issues in this appeal are dismissed and the judgment of the Tribunal is affirmed,” the court held.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident in Tudun Biri village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The erroneous bombing, reported to be a drone strike by the Nigerian Army, resulted in devastating consequences, claiming the lives of 87 individuals and leaving 70 others injured, according to the Kaduna State Government.
In a heartfelt statement shared via her official handle on Friday, Mrs. Tinubu conveyed her profound sadness and extended her sympathies to the affected families, Governor Uba Sani, and the entire populace of Kaduna State.
She specifically reached out to the community of Tudun Biri Village, profoundly affected by the calamitous airstrike.”I share in this grief with a motherly compassion that connects me to every household affected by this tragedy,” expressed Mrs. Tinubu.
She emphasized the profound loss experienced by the community and highlighted the human aspect of the lives lost – individuals who were cherished members of their community.Mrs. Tinubu urged solidarity and mutual support during this trying period, emphasizing the need to draw strength from each other.
She acknowledged the enormity of the pain felt by the families who lost their loved ones and assured them of her prayers and support.”To lose loved ones is an agony that transcends all boundaries, and in these trying times, we must draw strength from one another.
“The lives lost were more than mere statistics; they were sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers—cherished members of our tightly-knit community.“My heart breaks for each family mourning the absence of their dear ones, and my prayers are with you”, she said.
The First Lady concluded her message by calling for collective love, compassion, and support for those affected, aiming to find solace and healing through unity in the face of this heartbreaking event.
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday visited Kaduna State to sympathize with the victims and families of those affected by the recent military air strike in Tudun Biri village, Igabi Local Government Area.
His arrival at the Nigerian Air Force base, Mando was greeted by Governor Uba Sani and senior officials of the Kaduna State Government.
Initially scheduled for Wednesday, Shettima postponed his visit to Thursday to engage with the affected communities.
This condolence visit, is coming four days after the tragic airstrike that resulted in the deaths of more than 85 people and various degrees of injuries.
The unfortunate incident has drawn widespread condemnation from both local and international organizations.
Calls for investigations and the implementation of standardized procedural measures have emerged in response to the incident.
Taking responsibility for the accident, the Army, represented by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, offered apologies during his visit to the affected community.
Assurances were made to prevent any recurrence of such a devastating incident.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda of Katsina is seeking the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to develop abundant agricultural and renewable energy resources in the State.
The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Kaula Ibrahim, sought the bank’s support when he visited the Director-General, AfDB Nigeria Country Department, Mr Lamin Barrow, in Abuja.
Radda also sought AfDB’s support to develop the Northwest geo-political region of the country.
According to him, the purpose of the visit is to discuss investment and intervention support to boost job creation and enhance the livelihoods of the people of Katsina State, as well as the North West Geo-political region, which comprises seven states – Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
“We particularly need the Bank’s help to address the State’s infrastructural deficit, such as power.
”Also, we recognise the fact that renewable energy remains a critical infrastructure necessary for achieving higher economic growth in Katsina state, and across the North West geo-political region.
”That is what necessitated my visit to the Nigeria Country Office of the AfDB, to seek their support and strengthen the existing partnership,” he said.
Radda said the northwest governors unanimously agreed to collaborate with AfDB in the areas of agriculture and power which required a regional approach.
The governor also requested the bank’s support for the development of key agricultural value chains.
He listed them to include cotton, rice, wheat, and agricultural extension services that would help create jobs for the youth.
Radda thanked the AfDB management for the audience and looked forward to a cordial relationship with the bank.
In his remarks, the Director-General, AfDB Nigeria Country Department, Mr Lamin Barrow, thanked the governor for his engagement with the AfDB early in his mandate.
Barrow expressed appreciation for the governor’s visit and vision for transforming the fortunes of Katsina state.
He assured the governor of the bank’s support in the identified areas, particularly in the context of the ongoing and planned new operations.
Barrow said: “On behalf of the AfDB, I want to congratulate Dr Radda on his election as the Executive Governor of Katsina State.
”And to commend him for the clear vision he has articulated for the State during our meeting, prioritising regional approaches and interventions that will drive inclusive growth.“
Accompanying the governor was his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Jabiru Tsauri; Principal Private Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Turaji, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kaula Ibrahim, and Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Digital Media, Isah Miqdad, among others.
Police have busted a robbery syndicate in Jigawa and arrested two suspects.
A statement on Sunday by the Police spokesperson in the state, Mr Lawal Shiisu, said that the suspects were arrested in Ringim Local Government Area.
“On June 2, 2023, at about 1930hrs, a team of Policemen led by Divisional Police Officer Ringim Division, acting on credible intelligence were notified about some specialised armed robbers.
“They had perfected their evil plans to move out for notorious operation along Wudil and Garko Road in Kano state.
“The team of Policemen and local vigilantes swung into action and arrested one Hamza Abdullahi, 22, (aka Chumo) of Wangara Fulani settlement, Ringim area.
“Also arrested was one Hassan Ya’u aged 25 of Tsoma Fulani settlement in Ajingi area of Kano state, in possession of one locally made fabricated revolver Pistol and two motorcycles.”
Shiisu added that the suspects had confessed to blocking Dundubus-Gamoji Road on May 6, during which they abandoned two motorcycles on sighting policemen.
According to him, the suspects also confessed to participating in armed robbery operations along Gujungu-Miga Road, Kiyawa-Shuwarin Road, and Fanisau-Kano Road, all in Jigawa.
He said that the two suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Ekot, appreciated the people of the state for their support and urged them to continue providing useful information to tackle criminal elements.
*Corpses given mass burial – FRSC
Eighteen passengers were killed in an auto crash at the weekend at Zakirai town on Kano-Ringim Road in Gabasawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
Twelve other persons were also injured in the crash while five escaped unhurt, FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, has said.
Some of the corpses were given mass burial at the accident scene, while others were handed over to their relatives.
Abdullahi confirmed in a statement issued by the sector’s spokesman, Mr. Abdullahi Labaran that the accident involved two commercial vehicles.
“We received a call about the accident at about 8:35 p.m. on Friday and dispatched our personnel to the scene to rescue the victims,” Abdullahi said.
He blamed the accident on excessive speeding, dangerous driving and overloading which led to a head-on collision and the bursting into flames of one of the vehicles.
“The accident involved a total of 35 passengers in two buses, out of which 18 were burnt beyond recognition while 12 others sustained serious injuries,’’ he said.
Ibrahim said the injured victims were taken to Murtala Mohammed General Hospital, Kano.
He advised motorists to avoid over speeding, overloading, wrongful overtaking, dangerous driving and any infraction that could lead to road crashes.
The sector commander expressed regret at the magnitude of avoidable road crashes recorded in Kano State in the past week.
During a visit to the crash scene on Saturday, he warned motorists, particularly intercity and inter-state drivers to desist from overloading, excessive speeding, wrongful overtaking and other traffic violations.
Abdullahi assured that the FRSC would intensify public enlightenment and undertake stringent patrol interventions, including operation of mobile courts to stem the rising tide of intercity auto crashes.
The Zamfara Hajj Commission has airlifted 2,500 out of the 3,100 intending pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia in six flights.
The Secretary of the commission, Alhaji Anas Shuaibu, confirmed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Gusau, after releasing six flights to Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto.
Shuaibu said the commission had secured Visas for all the 3,100 state intending pilgrims, adding that the remaining pilgrims will soon be airlift to the holy land for the exercise.
He also said that the state government had sensitised the pilgrims on what was expected of them during the pilgrimage.
The secretary further explained that each flight consisted of Hajj officials from the state, medical personnel, scholars and other stakeholders, and each pilgrim had been vaccinated while females were tested for pregnancy before their departure.
According to him, Federal Government agencies, including NDLEA, Immigration and Customs, have also educated the pilgrims on dangers attached to carrying prohibited items.
He however disclosed that only one woman had been sent back to Nigeria based on Passport issue, but she had returned to Madinah for the exercise after resolving her challenge.
He urged the intending pilgrims to fear Allah in all their dealings while in the holy land and beyond.
Shuaibu explained that the state government had put everything in place to ensure safety, comfort and welfare of the pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in which decent accommodation was secured in Madinah and Makkah.
He therefore called on the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state and the country by avoiding any act that could tarnish their image and that of the nation.
Shuaibu said their current challenge was the hike in petroleum price as they had to transport the pilgrims from Gusau to Sokoto because of the absence of an airport in the state.
The scribe commended the efforts of the state government along with security agencies, first aid groups, individuals and other organisations for their support and cooperation towards ensuring a successful Hajj operation.
The six flights were recorded on Thursday.