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Ondo: Court Dismisses Deputy Governor’s Suit Against Impeachment

October 10, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

A High Court, sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital has declined jurisdiction in the case filed by the Deputy Governor of the State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, seeking to stop his impeachment by the State House of Assembly.

The Court, on Tuesday, struck out the suit “to avoid conflicting verdict between Ondo High Court and Federal High Court.”

The embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa had earlier got an injunction from the Federal High Court, Abuja to restrain the State House of Assembly from impeaching him.

In its ruling delivered by Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay, the Court declined jurisdiction to avoid conflicting verdict between Ondo High Court and Abuja Federal High Court.

The Judge ruled that it was a gross abuse of Court process to engage in “forum shopping, by instituting same case in Akure and Abuja High Court.”

It will be recalled that Aiyedatiwa had approached the Court in a suit delineated AK/348/2023 filed on September 25, 2023, to stop the House of Assembly from impeaching him.

Why There Is Discrepancy In My SSCE Certificate – Atiku

Ayodele Oni

October 10, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has admitted that there is a discrepancy in his Senior School Certificate Examination, (SSCE), Certificate.

According to him, the certificate has Sadiq Abubakar as his name which he later changed through a sworn court affidavit.

Atiku offered the clarification through Dele Momodu, one of his aides, on Tuesday in a post on his social media platform, X.

The clarification, Momodu said, became necessary following allegations of forgery against his Principal by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC).

He stated that “Some members of the APC had questioned the name ”Sadiq Abubakar” in Atiku’s WAEC certificate as against his other credentials.

However, Momodu said he forwarded the accusations to the former Vice President, who also provided an answer for the discrepancy.

Momodu wrote, ”The APC busybodies have been bombarding me with allegations of forgery against my Principal, ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR (GCON), which I immediately forwarded to him, and here is his copious response:

‘Yes, I used Sadiq Abubakar to sit for my WAEC and after passing my exams, I went to swear an affidavit to say I am the same person as ATIKU Abubakar. I went to ABU as Atiku Abubakar and passed my Exams as Atiku Abubakar.

“Interviewed as Atiku Abubakar by the Federal Civil Service Commission and hired into the Customs Service as Atiku Abubakar. So where is forgery there?”

NECO Releases SSSE Results, 12,000 Involved In Malpractices

Ayodele Oni

October 10, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The National Examination Council (NECO) said on Tuesday that over 12,000 students were involved in various forms of malpractices during the last examination, just as it announced release of the results of the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE).

The examination was conducted between July and August this year with 737,308 candidates representing 61.60 percent, recording credits and above in five subjects.

NECO disclosed that 1,296,985 candidates, comprising 616,398 males and 580,587 females, sat for the examination.

The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the examination body, Prof. Danlami Wushishi, announced the results at the organisation’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.

He disclosed that 1,013,611 candidates recorded credit and above irrespective of English and Mathematics with 1,543 being Special Needs candidates.

Wushishi stated that 12,030 candidates were involved in various forms of malpractices as against 13,594 cases recorded in the 2022 examination.

The Registrar further said that in line with the resolve of the Council to identify and sanction erring schools and supervisors, 93 schools were found to have been involved in “whole school (mass) cheating”, stressing that they will be invited to the council for discussion after which appropriate sanctions would be applied.

Wushishi also said that 52 supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to “poor supervision, aiding and abetting during examination.

“By this release, candidates can now access their results on NECO website.”

Timi Frank Calls On ECOWAS To Remove President Tinubu As Chairman; Asks NASS To Intervene

Akinwale Kasali

October 10, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

Timi Frank, Activist and former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has stated that the position of President Bola Tinubu as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is no longer tenable following his alleged lack of legitimacy as President of Nigeria.

Frank stated that it is the duty of the National Assembly, NASS, to defend Constitution of the Country following the fact that Tinubu has lost its legitimacy following discovery that he forged the Chicago State University, CSU, certificate he filed with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to contest the 2023 Presidential election.

In a Statement, the Bayelsa State born Social Commentator, said, “If ECOWAS must remain relevant and retain its credibility and respect among member states, especially in dealing with military junta now spreading fast like a pandemic across the sub-Region it must act fast to protect its integrity.”

He equally called on past and present Presidents of member states of ECOWAS to prevail on the sub-Regional body to do the right thing by appointing another chairman in acting capacity pending ratification during the next Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

Frank stated that failure to act timeously would put the Regional body in a lame- duck position where all decisions reached during the tenure of Tinubu would not be respected and therefore null and void.

He called on the leadership of the military junta in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger Republic not to have any dealings, discussion or negotiation with the Tinubu-led ECOWAS until the President is removed as its chairman.

He urged the authorities of ECOWAS not to be deceived by the appointment and secondment of broadcast journalist and Channels Television reporter, Mrs Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe, to serve as Communications Advisor to the ECOWAS Commission President, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, in Abuja.

“This is a Greek gift, therefore, the Commission should beware,” he said.

He insisted that Tinubu’s administration in one breathe persecutes the media with recent NBC’s last warning letter to ARISE Television and on the other hand, it bribes them with generous appointments and paid advertisements as recently corroborated by Ex-Governor Nyesom Wike who is the minister of FCT.

He called on the National Assembly to defend the nation’s constitution, democracy and rule of law by urgently commencing impeachment proceedings against Tinubu over gross violation of the constitution.

The Peace Ambassador insisted that the National Assembly cannot afford to stay aloof while the nation is crumbling under illegalities and breach of the constitution committed by Tinubu as contained in the sworn deposition by the CSU authorities.

He said: “The National Assembly, like Nero, cannot afford to fiddle while Rome (Nigeria) burns, otherwise they would become guilty of conspiracy of silence and willing accomplices to the unraveling of democracy in Nigeria.

“A breach of the Constitution by a sitting President is an impeachable offence. We are calling on the National Assembly, the Senate and House of Representatives, to wake up and defend the Constitution.

“This is the time for them to uphold the law and constitution of the land. This is the time they must display patriotism irrespective of party affiliation by urgently commencing impeachment proceedings against the President.

“This is not all about party membership. It’s all about sustaining our democracy and ensuring peace, security and development of the country.

“Nigerians expect them to exercise their constitutional powers to do the right thing if they are truly the elected representatives of the people.

“Otherwise, Tinubu’s stay in office will continue to bring national disgrace and embarrassment to Nigerians both home and abroad and equally chase away foreign investors from doing business in Nigeria because no foreign investor will come to Nigeria to invest while it remains under a President tainted with legitimacy.“

He insisted that the President’s forgery saga is already making life difficult and creating hard times for Nigerians abroad who are seeking for jobs as their certificates are now being subjected to thorough scrutiny to ensure they are not fake.

The political activist also called on the Supreme Court to handle the Presidential election petition appeal before it with the fear of God and national interest in order to safeguard the nation’s democracy.

He said: “We believe that the Supreme Court must not be biased and must do everything to protect our democracy. The world is watching to see if they will uphold the principles of true justice in the manner they will handle this case of

perjury or lying under oath by Tinubu.”

According to him, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, recently said the judiciary does not base its decisions on sentiment or public opinion in deciding cases but on the constitution.

“Several vitriolic attacks are regularly heaped on the judiciary; it is, however, crystal clear that public opinions, no matter how serious or weighty it might be, cannot override or supersede the constitution of the country which we apply in deciding each case,” the CJN said after swearing in 23 newly-appointed judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Frank added: “We now have a clear case of breach of the Constitution by a President who submitted a forged certificate to INEC contrary to Section 137 (1)(j) of the Constitution which stipulates that: ‘A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if – he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.’

“We expect the CJN and other Supreme Court Justices to courageously uphold the constitution by ensuring that a confirmed lawbreaker is not retained as the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

November 11: APC Heads To Appeal Court Over Sylva’s Disqualification

Ayodele Oni

October 10, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is not yet over as it plans to challenge the disqualification of its Bayelsa Governorship Candidate, Timipre Sylva, from the November 11 poll.

Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a judgement delivered on Monday, disqualified Sylva from contesting in the Governorship Election.

Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as Governor of Bayelsa, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended, if allowed to contest again.

Mr Perry Tukuwei, the Director, Media and Publicity APC Bayelsa Gubernatorial Campaign Council, made the position of the party known in a statement on Tuesday in Yenagoa.

He declared that “The party has briefed its lawyers to appeal the judgement, and it is confident that the Court of Appeal will overturn the judgement of the Federal High Court.

“This reassurance is in reaction to a judgement which has the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate written all over it by a Federal High Court in Abuja in an already failed bid to dash the hopes of Bayelsa people, to have their preferred candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, as the next helmsman at Creek Haven by Feb. 14, 2024.

“Sections 29 and 84 of the 2022 Electoral Act state that only persons who contested primaries of a political party that has the locus standi to file a pre-election matter to challenge the qualification of the party’s candidate in any election.

“Hence the suit filed by one Chief Demesuoyefa Kolomo, who is not a member of the APC and didn’t contest our party’s governorship primaries do not have the locus standi to sue in the matter.

“Section 285 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution enjoins any aggrieved party to file election matter within 14 days of the occurrence of the event, but this case was filed on the 13th of June 2023, whereas INEC published the names of the governorship candidates for Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi on May 12.

’’Thus, the case was filed outside the constitutional prescribed 14 days, thereby making the case statute barred.

“It is surprising to the party and Bayelsa people that the court ignored the fact that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to sue and went ahead to give judgement in their favour.”

According to him, the suit was contrary to a directive by the Supreme Court that all pre-election matters be heard in the state where party primaries were held.

“To perfect their sinister act, the case was filed in Abuja. Is Abuja Bayelsa?

“Subsequently, the Bayelsa APC can smell the coffee and sinister move by Governor Douye Diri to go through the back door, which is his usual practice having realized that our governorship candidate is coasting home to victory already following unrivalled acceptance across the state.

“Our dear people of Bayelsa, fear not! This clandestine strategy by the PDP should not deter the resolve to elect Sylva as the next Governor of Bayelsa, we will win.”

Nigerians Groan As Price Of Cooking Gas Skyrockets To N1,200 Per KG

Akinwale Kasali

October 10, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

In a space of three weeks, the price of Cooking Gas has soared from N850-N1,200 per kilogram. This development has generated concerns for Nigerians who are lamenting and groaning over the hike in the commodity.

There are also fears and concerns that the product may continue to skyrocket if not addressed earnestly by the Federal Government, as scarcity of the product looms in certain areas in the country.

Before Monday 9th October 2023, some areas in Lagos State were still selling the product at the rate of N1,000 to N1,050, but the sudden increase in the product by Monday sent jittery and fear into the spine of consumers who lamented the non affordability of the product and how it is having a toll on their lifestyle and feeding.

It was gathered that the hike in the price of the product is as a result of its scarcity.

Findings also revealed that at Retail Stations and Gas Stations, cooking gas is sold for N12,000, with a kg sold for N1,150 and N1,200 in Lagos outskirts like Mowe, Ibafo and Magboro, among others, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.

Mustapha Ilori, an entrepreneur who has a family of four stated that the price of cooking gas is killing as he has resolved to be using firewood to make meals for his family.

“How much am I making from my small business that I will be buying a KG a cooking gas for N1,200, it is killing, the Federal Government needs to look into this issue and address it holistically before it gets out of hand”.

Ifeoma Onyewuchi, a trader said that it is frustrating the way things have turned out in this country, stressing that since the hike in the price of cooking gas, she has been wondering how she would sustain her family.

“I don’t know where we are going in this country, a bottle of Kerosene is sold for N800, funny enough, if you purchase the kerosene to cook with your stove, before you know it, it will dry off.

“Gas is N1,200, how can we afford it. We are told to stop using firewood to cook that it is harmful to our health, what kind of country is this.

“Charcoal price has also skyrocketed, what do they expect us to use to cook, aren’t we going to die of hunger “, she queried.

It would be recalled that when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy during is inaugural speech, the prices of cooking gas dropped to N600-N650 per KG.

Few weeks later, the prices began to skyrocket till this exorbitant rate that isn’t at the reach of the masses leading to this outcry.

Meanwhile, vendors attributed the hike in cooking gas to the high cost of transportation occasioned by the high cost of diesel.

The hike in the price of cooking gas is nationwide, prompting the Kano State Secretary of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers of Nigeria, LIPGAR), Muhammad Omede, to air his view on this development, stressing that poor road network also attributes to the hike in price of the commodity.

Omede also blamed “the difficulties usually encountered by transporters due to poor road network, especially the Lagos-Kano road as a major cause of the hike.

Muritala Babatunde Balogun, CEO Zainny Weighing Solutions said that the scarcity in the product is basically as a result of the Russia-Ukraine War, as Russia who is the highest exporter of Gas all over the world has ceased from selling and distributing Gas to other countries leading to the scarcity the nation is experiencing at the moment.

The scarcity of the product is also said to be as a result of the weak Naira, limited bulk storage and scattered terminals among other factors has led to this present situation.

A visit to some Cafeteria, Fast Food Joints and Eateries showed that the prices of their goods and snacks has also skyrocketed, and the reason is not far fetched according to a supervisor of one of the Fast Food Joint, is due to the price in cooking gas, purchase of foodstuffs in the markets that has increased drastically, transportation and other factors.

The president of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, NALGAM, Oladapo Olatunbosun had call on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government to be proactive in checking the price increase.

He blamed the scarcity of gas in some parts of Lagos on supply disruption, saying the vessel that was supposed to offload in the state had not done so.

“Information at our disposal reveals that Nigerians are facing hard times getting the product,” he noted.

He warned that the price of 12.5kg of cooking gas might soon hit N18,000 if the federal government failed to check the rising cost.

He said the volume marketers used to buy for N8 million is now sold for N14.5 million.

Olatunbosun said the price would continue to go up as long as marketers are buying the product at an exorbitant rate.

He said there must be concerted effort to ensure the product remains affordable to the common man.

“Go to the North and the far East and see what people are facing. In some places, they are buying at N1,300 per kg because the cost of buying at the terminal has gone up at a very high rate. As of today, terminals are selling for N14.5 million what used to be about N8 million and N8.5 million.

“The supply has also been somehow epileptic. The vessel from NLNG went to Port Harcourt twice and that is the reason why there is delay in Lagos. The vessel came back to Lagos two days ago. They just offloaded it and the quantity it brought was not that substantial. We are expecting it back in about a week.

“So, we are using this opportunity to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the new Minister of Gas, to pay attention to LPG. LPG is a product that can serve all Nigerians, both the young and the old; everybody who needs gas.

“And for the fact that the fuel subsidy removal is biting hard on people, electricity is not regularly supplied, people do not have any other means to cook than gas; it is now becoming what they cannot afford and it therefore means our forest will suffer for it.

“So, we need to look into the supply, and what is the price that is coming to the market? What prices are they selling at? What is really behind the hiked price and what role can the government play? Is it the role of intermediaries? Is it the role of the middlemen? What is actually causing the high price?

According to him, while some people blame the hike on the forex crisis, there is an element of profiteering in it.

“This is where the government has to beam its searchlight and caution all the players and also have a regular meeting with the terminal operators and off-takers on how we can protect Nigerians.

“The poor Nigerians are suffering; gas is getting out of the reach of Nigerians and it is not making life easy for anybody.

“We are not happy about that. As businessmen, we are suffering the cost of buying and the cost of doing business has also gone up. And the product is not all that available.

“So, while the government is tackling regular supply, it also needs to work on the major suppliers, the off-takers, so that a little of profiteering should be downplayed now to protect the poor Nigerians so that gas can be affordable.”

An official in the Office of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) told Daily Trust that there was little the government could do about the hike in the price of cooking gas as the sector was deregulated.

Daily Trust Newspaper disclosed that an official with the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd, NLNG, who claimed anonymity stated that the government is Rampling up domestic supply to bring down the price.

“The sector is purely deregulated. Though the suppliers are trying their best, it is a combination of a lot of factors, mostly deregulation. I know the government is working with the NLNG to see how to increase supply domestically,” he said.

Wrong Diagnosis Responsible For Mental Health Prevalence – Ondo Health Commissioner

Ayodele Oni

October 10, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Health Commissioner, Banji Ajaka, has observed that prevalence of mental health problem was due to lack of concern and mis handling by medical workers.

Ajaka stated that most cases of mental health are mis diagnosed in the African clime and giving less attention and this has continued to put pressure on the healthcare system.

The commissioner spoke in Akure on Tuesday, as part of activities to mark the World Mental Health day 2023.

Ajaka called for increased partnership for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental health issues in the country.

With a theme, “mental health is a universal human right,” Ajaka observed that mental health is an integral part of overall health and wellbeing, which allows coping with challenges of life, connect with others and thrive throughout life saying it is vital and deserved to be recognized.

On efforts by Ondo state government to give priority to mental health related issues, he stated that the state government is working to develop strategies to expand access to specialized care and provide training for health care workers in all various hospitals.

According to him, this will make mental health care accessible, available and affordable in all communities in the state.

He also hinted that the government is looking into expansion and equipping the neuro-psychiatric hospital in Akure to further care for patients with mental health related issues.

The commissioner disclosed that the present administration has approved the recruitment of medical personnel in all areas of healthcare including, mental health in facilities at the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.

He advised the people to shun drug abuse, which he said is one of the causes of mental health issues especially among the youths.

“Drug abuse is a major factor in our society today especially amongst our youths. If you are experiencing stress in your life, abusing drug isn’t the solution, get help from appropriate quarters, share good practices such as socializing, getting a good night sleep, eating healthy meals and setting daily goals.”

Ajaka called for partnership for the training of staff on mental health issues, diagnosis, treatment and prevention while appealing to individuals, groups, organisations to assist as government cannot do it alone.

Court Disqualifies Timipre Sylva From Contesting Bayelsa Governorship Election

The Source

October 10, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

There is crisis in the camps of the All Progressives Congress, APC and Timipre Sylva, the APC Governorship Candidate at the forthcoming Bayelsa Gubernatorial Election.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, has disqualified the former Governor from contesting in the polls. It stressed that Sylva had been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as Governor of the state, meaning that it would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

Justice Donatus Okorowo who delivered the judgment stated that Sylva was not qualified to run in the forthcoming November poll because he would have spent more than eight years in office as governor of the state if he wins and is sworn- in.

While citing the case of Marwa vs Nyako at the Supreme Court, Okorowo maintained that the drafters of the country’s constitution stated that nobody should be voted for as governor more than two times and that the parties to the suit agreed that Sylva was voted into office two times.

According to the Judge, the Supreme Court had also ruled in the case of Marwa vs Nyako that nobody can expand the constitution or its scope.

It held that if Sylva was allowed to contest the next election, it meant a person could contest as many times as the person wanted.

This development has led to series of debate in the political and judiciary cycle, as the judgment is being interpreted.

Sylva is set to approach the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling of the Federal High Court.

Nigeria’s Maritime Sector Fastest Growing In Africa-NIMASA DG

Tosin Olatokunbo

October 10, 2023

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, OFR has declared the country’s maritime sector as one of the fastest growing on the African continent.

The NIMASA boss, who stated this on Monday during the interactive session by the Senate Committee on Marine Transport with Chief Executive Officers of Agencies of Government in the Nation’s maritime sector, noted that the Agency has embraced collaboration and peer review exercises with other MARADs on the African continent and globally.

Jamoh said “We regularly undertake peer review exercises amongst maritime Administrations not just on the African continent, but globally. We have learnt a lot from reviews with the South African Maritime Administration SAMSA, and Maritime Port Authority of Singapore MPA. We have also provided mentorship for maritime administrations on the African continent.

Countries like Gambia, Sierra Leone and Ghana amongst others have come for mentorship on various issues such as Port and Flag State Administration and the SPOMO Act.”

Speaking earlier, Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun noted that the interactive session is to ensure that the legislature and the implementing organs of government are on the same page to ensure Nigerians enjoy benefits accruable from the blue economy.

“With the determination and commitment of the Federal Government under the able leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards reviving the economy, I believe that better days are ahead and the current difficulty will surely come to pass. It is in this regard that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy was created with the mandate of coordinating and supervising the activities and operations in the maritime sector. The creation of the Ministry is born out of the enormous opportunities that are in the marine and blue economy and the desire to fully harness them”, the Chairman said.

On his part, the Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Oron, Commodore Emmanuel Duja Effedua during his presentation acknowledged the role NIMASA played in transforming the academy to be one of the best globally.

“Today, MAN Oron has the state of the art equipment in training seafarers comparable to the best globally, commitment to funding the academy played a major role in the achievements recorded in the academy,” Effedua said.

The Senate Committee on Marine Transport is on a working visit to Lagos to Parastatals under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy Ministry.

Gowon In London, Hale and Hearty

Tosin Olatokunbo

October 10, 2023

Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former military head of state, has dismissed the rumour about his death.

The elder statesman, well respected by Nigerians was said to have died yesterday at 89 years.

But refuting the claim, the former Army General told Vanguard in an interview on Monday that he’s still alive.

Also reacting to the rumours, the Delta State Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), during the 2023 election, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi who is said to have close ties with the war hero, described the speculations as the handiwork of mischief makers.

Gbagi, a former Minister of State for Education, spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Orusi Kenneth, late on Monday.

Gbagi, disclosed that General Gowon, is alive, hale and hearty and currently in London.

Gbagi was quoted as saying, “General Gowon, is still much around with us, hale and hearty. He is not in a hurry to go anywhere.”

He further said; “I, Gbagi, just spoke with him. I hereby refute the rumour of the death of my friend, General Gowon.

“He has communicated to Nigerians that he is still much around, hale and hearty. Gowon is alive.”

Gowon was Nigeria’s Military leader from August 1, 1966 to July 29 1975.

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