Kogi guber: Ododo wins at Tribunal

KOGI STATE GOVERNOR, AHMAD USMAN ODODO

The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, Monday, authenticated the election that declared Usman Ododo as the governor of Kogi State. In a unanimous judgment by a three-member panel of Justices of the Tribunal, it held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations contained in their petition in accordance with the law. The Social Democratic Party(SPD) annd it’s candidate, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka was challenging Ododo’s election on the ground that it was conducted in gross violation of the electoral law of rigging and vote-buying. Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN); Alex Iziyon (SAN) and Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), who appeared for INEC, Ododo and APC respectively argued that the petitioners did not list the name of the witness in their proof of evidence and that the witness statement on oath was not front-loaded alongside the petition. They also contended that the petitioners served the reports of the witness’ analysis on them 20 minutes before the commencement of the proceedings. But Okutepa insisted that the forensic expert was listed on Page 56 of the petition as item 10, adding that his statement was also front-loaded.

Murdered Students: Kogi varsity announces three-day mourning

Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in Kogi has initiated a three-day mourning period following the tragic loss of two students to kidnappers. Registrar Olufunke Hudson conveyed this somber announcement in a statement released on Sunday. The victims, identified as James Michael-Anajuwe and Musa Hussein, were both first-year students studying Information Technology and Software Engineering, respectively. They were among the group of students abducted on May 9 while preparing for their upcoming examinations scheduled to commence on May 13. Thanks to the concerted efforts of security operatives and local hunters, twenty-one students have been successfully rescued from captivity. Ms Hudson said, “It is with deep shock and pain that the management of CUSTECH is mourning our beloved slain students. Consequently, all activities in the university are to be held low-key from May 27 to May 29 in memory of our departed students.” The registrar said the university management shared in the grief of the families and colleagues of the deceased students. She urged the parents, other family members, guardians, friends and well-wishers of the deceased students to take solace in God. According to her, the state government is intensifying efforts to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining students from their abductors. “Governor Usman Ododo is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the students are released safely. We, therefore, urge everyone to remain calm and maintain the peace the state is enjoying,” said the statement.

Many Killed As Gunmen Invade Kogi Community

Suspected Fulani gunmen, early Friday morning, invaded Agojeju-Odo, a community in Omala Local Government Council in Kogi East Senatorial District, killing scores. The marauders who are fully armed surrounded the community and opened fire, killing and burning houses. A community leader, who escaped by the whiskers, but pleaded to remain anonymous, spoke with our correspondent, saying they were caught unawares. He revealed that 27 corpses have been recovered as of the time of filing this report, while some local vigilante men have moved into the bush looking for missing persons. He explained that rumour has been rife in the past three weeks of the possible invasion which was brought to the attention of the recently appointed Local Government Council Caretaker Chairman, Mark Edibo, but they were assured of safety and protection. He said: “There was a misunderstanding between a young man in Agojeju-Odo with a Fulani herder on his farm after cattles ate up his yam tubers which resulted in a fight; the caretaker chairman intervened. “Since then, the herders vowed that they will mobilize and get back and there has been apprehension,” the source said. Speaking with Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, he confirmed the attack, but said the Commissioner of Police immediately drafted the tactical squad to the scene to restore normalcy. According to him, the tactical squad which comprises Mobile Police, Soldiers and Vigilante men were drafted after a distress call and they are currently on ground. The Police Spokesman could not confirm the figure of dead persons, while he promised to get back after speaking with the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Omala Local Government Council. “As for the figure of dead persons, I can’t confirm now. I will call you after I have spoken with the DPO in charge of Omala, but I know that so many people sustained gunshot injuries,” he said.

Kogi: Supreme Court sets aside Appeal court’s ruling on inspection order

The Supreme Court has dismissed the Court of Appeal ruling which set aside the inspection Order granted the Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by the Governorship election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja. The Governorship election petition Tribunal had, on November 25, 2023, granted an Exparte Order, allowing the SDP and its candidate in the 11th November, 2023 Governorship election to carry out forensic examination of all the Bimordal Voters Accreditation system (BVAS) used in the Governorship election, among other sundry reliefs. A three-man panel of justices of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice J.O.K. Oyewole, sets aside the inspection order, on the grounds that it has gone outside the province of the Electoral Act. The Court of Appeal ordered that, while inspection is allowed under the Electoral Act, it must be jointly carried out with the respondent and the scope of the inspection should be within the strict limit allowed under the Electoral Act. However, the Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, on Thursday, allowed the appeal of the Appellants, saying that the order of inspection made by the trial tribunal were within its power. The Court also held that the Respondents were duly served.

Unpaid Bills: TCN Issues 14-Day Suspension Notice to Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has taken decisive action against Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) due to non-compliance with market rules, issuing a 14-day disconnection notice.  According to TCN’s statement, ASCL has accumulated a substantial debt of N33.71 billion as of November 2023, with N30.85 billion owed for energy and capacity supplied by Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET) and N2.22 billion to service providers. Despite prior notifications and interventions by the Minister of Power to rectify the defaults, ASCL’s non-compliance remains unresolved.  TCN has demanded the settlement of outstanding invoices and the provision of bank guarantees within the specified 14-day period to avoid disconnection from the National Grid, as per Section 45 of the Market Rules. Failure to rectify these defaults within the stipulated timeframe may lead to disconnection, and if left unresolved after 30 business days, the Market Operator may terminate ASCL’s Market Participation Agreement, escalating the matter to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for further action. This action by TCN follows a hint in the NERC’s 2022 annual report regarding the potential disconnection of Ajaokuta Steel from the national grid due to its significant indebtedness of N25.06 billion.

Court Stops Police, DSS from arresting Kogi SDP spokesperson

Justice Hamza Haruna of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, has ordered the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Unuoha to stop harassing, arrest or in any way intimidating the Spokesperson of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Kogi state Mr Faruk Adejoh-Audu. Others in the restraining order are the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Kogi State Director of DSS, untill the determination of a motion on notice. Asejoh- Audu is the court, seeking the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, claiming that his life has come under serious threat from the defendants. Adejoh-Audu, a veteran journalist, activist, politician and SDP Spokesperson had gone to court after altercations between him and the Kogi State Police Commissioner, Unuoha on election matters after which the later publicly threatened the spokesman to expect some unstated consequences. The SDP Spokesperson had on November 29, 2023, accused the Police Chief of collaborating with thugs to attack the interest of his party in the recently conducted governorship election in Kogi. However, the Police Commissioner held a press conference the next day in Lokoja and gave Adejoh-Audu 24 hours ultimatum to substantiate his allegations or “be ready to face the consequences of his actions.” The SDP Spokesperson took up the challenge in a 17-paragraph reply justifying his allegations and accusing the Police Chief of resorting to self-help by threatening to ” visit unstated consequences” on him. An FCT High Court presided over by Justice Hamza.Muazu after listening to O. U. Salifu lawyer to the SDP Spokesman in an ex-parte application, granted the order restraining the Inspector General of Police, The Director-General of the DSS, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police and the State Director of DSS from arresting or interfering with the liberty of the applicant. The court has adjourned the matter to December 18, 2023, for the hearing of the Motion On Notice.

Sensitive Documents Carted As Gunmen Attack Kogi State Tribunal Secretary

 Unknown gunmen targeted Mr. David Umar Mike, the secretary of the Kogi State Governorship Election Tribunal, in an attack where sensitive petition documents linked to the recently held gubernatorial election were stolen. According to State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP William Aya on Wednesday, armed assailants robbed five political parties’ petition documents, which included materials from the Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), along with personal items belonging to Mr. Mike.  The stolen items comprised two record books and a bag. The incident unfolded near the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office around 1:20 PM on Monday while Mr. Mike and colleagues were en route to the tribunal’s location at the state High Court complex in Lokoja. Mr. Mike, along with his colleagues, reported the occurrence to the State Criminal Investigation Department on December 4th, 2023.  The police revealed that armed, hooded men in SUVs blocked Mr. Mike’s vehicle, fired shots, forcibly removed them from the car, and plundered the petition documents. “That just before the CBN at about 1320hrs, one SUV vehicle which had earlier overtaken him blocked his car with two other SUVs following behind. “All of them surrounded and blocked him as he attempted to reverse. That he saw about seven hooded men all heavily armed and dressed in black attire who shot severally into the air and dragged him and his two other colleagues out of their car, ransacked the car and made away with all the petition documents.” The State Commissioner of Police, CP Onuoha Benthrand, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Authorities have urged the public to refrain from making statements that might influence the ongoing investigation.