Soludo Offers Scholarship To Nkechinyere Umeh, Student With Highest UTME Score

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July 11, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has awarded a scholarship to the student of Deeper Life Secondary School, Nkechinyere Umeh, who emerged with the highest score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

Before now, there had been controversy over the student with highest UTME Score.

Mmesoma Ejikeme, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, forged her UTME score from 249 to 364 before the Joint Admission Matriculation Board, JAMB, disclosed that she had forged her result.

This led to to series of accusations and counter accusations before Mmesoma confessed to have altered her result.

Applauding Nkechinyere for her remarkable performance, Governor Soludo said the gesture followed the recent JAMB declaration of Umeh from Anambra State as the highest scorer with a cumulative mark of 360 in the examination.

The governor congratulated the remarkable student for doing the State proud with her exceptional performance.

This was contained in a statement issued by Mr Christian Aburime, Soludo’s Press Secretary on Tuesday.

The statement reads:

“Following the recent JAMB declaration of Miss Nkechinyere Umeh from Anambra State as the highest scorer with a cumulative mark of 360 in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has congratulated the remarkable student on doing the state proud with her exceptional performance.

“In further celebration of Umeh’s feat, Soludo announced a well-deserved scholarship for her to study any course of her choice at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra state.

“The scholarship will not only serve as a token of the State Government’s appreciation for her hard work but also provide her with the opportunity to pursue her dreams and contribute to the development of the state in the future.”

While wishing Umeh continued success in her future academic pursuits, Soludo also encouraged other young ndi Anambra students within the state and across the country.

He urged them to take inspiration from Umeh’s outstanding performance and take advantage of the improved conducive learning environment in the State to strive for excellence.

“I Am In Constant Touch With Gov. Akeredolu” – Ondo Acting Gov Aiyedatiwa

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Ayodele Oni

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July 11, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Acting Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has again clarified that some desperate political gladiators are behind rumoured crisis among members of the State Executive Council.

Aiyedatiwa, in a statement on Tuesday, maintained that he has been in constant touch with his ailing boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who is currently recovering from an undisclosed ailment.

The Acting Governor stated that “You are well aware of the message of Mr Governor to the people of Ondo State in which he thanked the people of Ondo State and other critical stakeholders for their support and loyalty to the State Government.

“Mr Governor appreciates your prayers and good wishes for himself and the State, across board. He is in high spirit, recuperating and being expected back in office to continue with his laudable service to the State, as soon as he is certified medically fit by his Doctors.

“I have been in touch with him, the latest being on Sunday, 9th July, 2023, when he expressed appreciation to me and other State Executive Council Members for holding the fort while he is away.

“I like to also join Mr Governor to express our profound appreciation to you all for your unending show of love, solidarity and prayers for the number one citizen of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, who is always leading from the front and making life more meaningful to our people.”

He explained that there have been orchestrated plans “to fan the embers of discord, tarnish the hard earned reputations of individuals in government circles and distract government attention in order to take political advantage in any manner to please their own selfish political whims and caprices.

“I like to urge the general public, to as usual, ignore these unfortunate lies and subterfuge as the antics of desperate political gladiators across political divides.

“We assure you that we will not allow this to derail the focus and developmental policies of our administration which Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has consistently pursued in the last six and a half years.

“Although, some of the commentators expressed genuine concerns as stakeholders based on the provisions of the Constitution, such constructive expressions are noted by the government. This is not to say that we have been hitherto oblivious of the dictates of the law.”

Akpabio Constitutes Senate Committees; Again Orji Kalu, Osita Izunaso Missing From Headship

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The Source

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July 11, 2023

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By Gideon Njoku

Names of, at least three prominent ranking Senators from the South-east were conspicuously missing in the list of Senate Special Committee Chairmen and Deputies announced by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday.

Prominent among the appointees are Senator Solomon Adeola who was appointed Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations and Senator Ali Ndume as his Vice Chairman in expectation of, perhaps, a receipt of a Supplementary Application Bill.

Surprisingly, the name of the immediate past Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, as well as ranking Senators from the South-east were missing on the list. Aside from Kalu, the names of Senators Osita Izunaso and Ezenwa Onyewuchi were also missing on the Chairmanship and Deputy list.

The Senate Selection Committee was mainly made up of Presiding and Principal Officers of the Senate.

Those on the list include Senators Godswill Akpabio, Barau Jibrin, Opeyemi Bamidele, Ali Ndume, Dave Umahi and Lola Ashiru.

They also include Senators Simon Mwadkwon, Oyewumi Olarere, Darlington Nwokeocha and Rufai Hanga.

The Senate President also named Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the other Special Committees of the Senate.

Senator Titus Zam was named as the Chairman Senate Committee on Rules and Business. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele is his Vice Chairman, while Senator Sunday Karimi is the Chairman, Committee on Senate Services with Senator Williams Jonah as Vice Chairman.

Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has Senator Okechukwu Ezea as Chairman and Khalid Mustapha as Vice chairman.

There are, also, Senator Ahmed Wadada as Chairman Senate Committee in Public Accounts and Senator Onyeka Peter Nwebonyi as Vice chairman.

Senator Shehu Umar is the Chairman Committee on National Security and Intelligence with Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong as Vice Chairman.

The Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance has Senator Garba Musa Maidoki as its chairman and Senator Ede Dafinone as Vice Chairman.

The Committee on Media and Public Affairs is manned by Senator Adaramodu Adeyemi Raphael as Chairman while Senator Salisu Shuaibu Afolabi is Vice Chairman.

Nigeria Imports Palm Oil Worth N50bn In 12 months

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James Orji

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July 11, 2023

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Nigeria imported palm oil worth N50 billion from Malaysia and other countries last year, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has said.

The NBS made the revelation in its quarterly Foreign Trade in Statistics report, noting that there is growing demand for palm oil in the country.

Apart from Malaysia, other countries that supplied the commodity to the country include Indonesia, Singapore, China, India, and West Africa Cote d’Ivoire, the bureau said.

Nigeria used to be one of the biggest exporters of palm oil, and Malaysia, now the world’s biggest supplier, according to records was believed to have purchased its first palm oil seedling from Nigeria.

According to the NBS, close to $100 million will be spent this year to meet the country’s growing demand for palm oil, adding that the current import bill stands at N28 billion in six, approximately N50 billion per year.

Palm oil falls under the nation’s foreign exchange restrictions by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yet the appetite for the commodity has continued to grow.

Global production of palm oil has been growing in the four decades, with Malaysia and Indonesia representing 85 percent of the entire supply chain.

The growing demand for the commodity, according to experts is because of its numerous which include: Edible Oil, Bio-Diesel, Lubricants, Cosmetics, and other applications – household cooking, food and beverages, oleo Chemicals, personal care, animal feed, and bio-fuel.

Not a few Nigerians insist that the Bola Tinubu government should make the production of palm oil a priority as part of its agricultural revolution policy, citing the country’s arable and fertile land.

President Tinubu Makes Fresh Appointments; Place Holder, Masari Included; SE Loses Out

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Ayodele Oni

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July 11, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has increased the number of his Aides with the appointment of 20 new ones.

Of the 20 new appointees, none came from the South-east geopolitical zone. His Vice Presidential Place Holder, Ibrahim Masari, was rewarded with the position of Senior Special Assistant, Political Matters.

The new set of appointments is the third major one by Tinubu since his inauguration on 29 May.

Following are the newly appointed Aides of the President

Dr. Adekunle Tinubu – Personal Physician to President Tinubu

Tunde Rahman – Senior Special Assistant (Media)

Damilotun Aderemi – Senior Special Assistant (Private Secretary)

Ibrahim Masari – Senior Special Assistant (Political Matters)

Toyin Subair – Senior Special Assistant (Domestic)

Abdulaziz Abdulaziz – Senior Special Assistant (Print Media)

Demola Oshodi – Senior Special Assistant (Protocol)

Tope Ajayi – Senior Special Assistant (Media & Public Affairs)

Yetunde Sekoni – Senior Special Assistant

Motunrayo Jinadu – Senior Special Assistant

Segun Dada – Special Assistant (Social Media)

Paul Adekanye – Special Assistant (Logistics)

Friday Soton – Special Assistant (Housekeeping)

Mrs. Shitta-Bey Akande – Special Assistant (Catering)

Nosa Asemota – Special Assistant (Visual Communication), Personal Photographer

Kamal Yusuf – Personal Assistant (Special Duties)

Wale Fadairo – Personal Assistant (General Duties)

Sunday Moses – Personal Assistant (Videography)

Taiwo Okanlawon – Personal Assistant (State Photographer)

O’tega Ogra – Senior Special Assistant (Digital/New Media)

Ecobank: Otudeko Playing ‘Smart Alec’ With N13bn Debt

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James Orji

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July 11, 2023

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Ecobank Nigeria Limited, ENL, has accused businessman Oba Otudeko of divert funds that should have been used to pay N13 billion owed the bank to buying shares in First Bank.

The commercial bank in a letter to First Bank Nigeria, FBN Holdings on Monday urged the parent company of First Bank Nigeria Limited, not to ratify the share purchase.

The letter comes on the back of last week’s “disclosure” by Barbican Capital Limited, a firm representing Otudeko that it has purchased over 4.7 billion shares in FBN Holdings. The landmark acquisition has made the business man the single largest shareholder in First Bank.

But amidst the controversy that the former First Bank Chairman is planning a comeback after he had been sacked from the commercial bank in 2021 by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Ecobank said the business mogul is trying to evade payment of debt owed it by playing the smart Alec, after revelation that Barbican Capital Limited, the firm that purchased the shares is a new company registered in March this year and is not among the legal entities covered by the apex bank judgment.

According to Ecobank, in a letter written by its legal counsel, ‘Kunle Ogunba & Associates and dated July 7, 2023, the Pan- African bank accused the chairman of Honeywell Group of playing smart Alec with his debt.

Recall that the Supreme Court had ruled that the debt should be repaid by Otudeko and his companies. Apart from this, Ecobank has also filed a bankruptcy case against the industrialist.

In the letter addressed to Nnamdi Okonkwo, the Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings, Ecobank stated that several lawsuits have been filed against Otudeko’s Honeywell Group and his other business concerns.
The bank cited the Supreme Court judgement of January 27, 2023, directing Otudeko to pay all his outstanding debt to the bank, adding that “instead of taking urgent steps” to repay the N13.5 billion loan, Otudeko is trying to divert funds from his companies, while interest on the loans is growing.

The letter reads in oart; “Please be informed that our client has instituted several lawsuits against Honeywell Group Limited, Siloam Global Services Limited, Anchorage Leisures Limited, Honeywell flour Mills Plc and Dr. Oba Otudeko at the Federal High Court, Lagos, in view of recouping the humongous indebtedness of the highlighted entities to our client.

“It is particularly noteworthy that Dr. Oba Otudeko personally guaranteed the loan leading to the humongous indebtedness of the prior-mentioned companies. Whereas, the prior-mentioned entities had initially disputed their indebtedness to our client and had consequently filed an action in court to that effect, the Supreme Court on the 27th day of January, 2023 in Appeal No. SC/CV/210/2021 delivered judgment affirming the indebtedness of the above persons to our client and further commanded that they must pay all the outstanding debts.

“Instead of taking urgent steps to repay their indebtedness in line with the mandate of the Supreme Court, it has come to our notice that Dr. Oba Otudeko (being the prime mover and alter ego of the debtor companies who personally guaranteed to repay the said debt) has taken active steps to divert his assets/funds and those of the debtor companies. This, he has done, by using a company known as Barbican Capital Limited (special purpose vehicle) which was recently and hurriedly incorporated after the judgment of the Supreme Court (specifically on the 9th day of March, 2023)…

“It is beyond doubt that the actions being taken by Dr. Oba Otudeko are targeted at diverting his assets and that of the Honeywell Group of Companies through the said Barbican Capital Limited, in order to frustrate the enforcement of the judgment of the Supreme Court against him and the Honeywell companies, towards recovering his/their undisputed indebtedness to our client.”

Warning that ratifying the shares is tantamount to aiding the diversion of the funds and assets meant for paying the humungous debt, Ecobank urged FBN Holdings to “respectfully stay/reject the approval/consent/registration/ratification” of the shares bought by Barbican Capital

Buhari’s Govt Most Corrupt- Kukah

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James Orji

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July 11, 2023

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Matthew Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has slammed former President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing corruption to thrive under his watch.

Father Kukah claimed that the country witnessed the highest level of corruption under the Buhari administration.

The catholic bishop made the assertion on Monday, in Ekiti during a lecture he delivered at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the call to bar of the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN.

The lecture was titled ‘The Future of Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria: Imperative of a New Constitutional Order’.

Kukah, a human rights activist and one of the most critical of the administration of Buhari, however, stated that the problem of corruption did not start with the former administration, but was more pronounced under him.

According to him, “We have seen the worst phase of corruption in Nigeria. Femi Falana, my friend here, will speak about that because he has published a series of articles talking about what happened under the Buhari administration.

“They were not the ones who caused corruption but I think in the last administration, we saw the ugliest phase of corruption whether in moral terms, financial terms, and other terms.”

The former president prides himself as a corruption fighter and had declared war against graft as a policy thrust from the inception of his administration in 2015.

In his nation wide Address to mark Nigeria’s 62nd independence last year, Buhari said his administration has made appreciable progress in combating corruption, saying it’s one the legacy he was leaving behind.

“One of the areas where we have made significant progress is in the eradication of deeply entrenched corruption that permeates all facets of our national development.

“We strengthened the institutions for tackling corruption and also cultivated international support, which aided the repatriation of huge sums of money illegally kept outside the country.

“The increasing number of prosecutions and convictions, with associated refunds of large sums of money is still ongoing,” the ex-president stated.

But not a few Nigerians will agree with Kukah that the worst cases of corruption happened under his watch.
Buhari’s critics cite the case of a former Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, who allegedly stole over N80 billion which he used in acquiring choice property in Kano and other places.

Though Idris has been charged to the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, his case has been rightly described as one of the biggest heists in the country.

Show Of Shame At Imo Airport As Air Peace Staff Members Are Beaten For Screening Airforce Commodore

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The Source

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July 11, 2023

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By Charles Igbo

But for the maturity of the Crew members of Air Peace Airline, flight operations at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, could have been disrupted on Monday, July 10, 2023.

Two members of staff of the Airline – Uneze Camilus and Mbajiogu Chimezie – suffered a humiliating raw deal in the hands of Airforce personnel for doing their job.

While Uneze was punched in the face many times, Chimezie had his medicated eye glasses which he was wearing at the time, forcefully snatched, thrown on the tarmac, and smashed, by an Airforce personnel who stomped on it.

According to shocked eye witnesses, it was a show of raw power and shame. A show of what can you do? The show of shame did not stop at the Airport. It caused, almost, a security breach at the Airport and along the road from the Airport to Owerri as all Airforce Personnel were, allegedly, ordered back to base by an “offended” senior officer.

Trouble started during boarding of the Airline’s first flight from Owerri to Abuja. The staff members responsible for screening passengers were at the tarmac doing the final screening before boarding.

Then, Air Commodore Idorenyen F Bassey arrived from the protocol lounge to board the flight. He was wearing his uniform. Mr Uneze who was screening passengers went to him to screen him. As the screening started, the Air Commodore walked away, and told Uneze that he was subjecting him to an embarrassment by daring to screen him. He went ahead and forced himself into the Aircraft without being screened.

Fearing he would lose his job if he is reported for not screening a passenger, Uneze went into the Aircraft and informed the Captain.

It was the Captain who called out the senior officer and explained to him that his rank and uniform do not exempt him from being screened.

The officer did not budge, instead, according to witnesses, his Orderly who was verbally attacking Uneze for daring to “embarrass” his boss by trying to screen him, placed a call to his colleagues.

Within minutes, six other Airforce personnel drove straight to the parked aircraft in a vehicle.

They ordered Uneze to enter the vehicle. He obeyed. According to a statement which he wrote at the Security Department of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN,where he was taken to, inside the vehicle, he was punched several times.

Air Commodore Bassey who also entered the vehicle, according to sources, said he was no longer traveling to Abuja. It took the Pilot and passengers who were afraid for the safety of Uneze, if he is driven out and taken to the Airforce Base to have him released from the vehicle, and instead, taken to the FAAN Security office.

However, while the pleadings were still on, one of the Airforce personnel identified Chimezie as one of those who embarrassed their boss. He forcefully snatched Chimezie’s medicated eye glasses, threw it on the tarmac, and stomped on it. In his statement at the FAAN Security Office, Chimezie said they did nothing wrong other than doing their job.

The ugly incident had consequences. Aside from the flight delay which it caused, the Air Commodore, allegedly, ordered the withdrawal of all the Airforce Personnel at the Airport and Owerri road. It took a call, it was alleged, to a superior officer for the personnel to return to their beats after about three hours.

The flight eventually left with the Air Commodore on board.

The incident took place at 08:35am. The flight number was P47151.

Edo Health Facilities In Shambles – NMA, Bemoans Members’ Sufferings

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Ayodele Oni

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July 11, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

The Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) assessed the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki as regards to state of health facilities and welfare of doctors in the employment of the state government and concluded that the administration is a failure.

The State Chairman of the association, Dr. (Mrs) Udoka Imoisili, spoke in Benin, at the opening ceremony of the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Resident Doctors under the Edo State Government Employment (ARD EDGE).

She commended the doctors for being able to organize their AGM despite harsh working conditions they operate.

Imoisili identified some the challenges confronting doctors under the state employ to include “The nonpayment of hazard allowance for almost a year now, the minimum wage not paid to only doctors in the state, and the disappearing residency programme.”

Others are “the refusal to ensure palliatives despite going to work everyday in the face of fuel subsidy removal, the crappy and miserable working conditions, little or no impress to run the hospitals” among others.

“His Excellency, the Governor, has refused us an audience for almost a year now despite these enormous challenges. We have written several letters requesting a courtesy visit, we have begged and lobbied with all channels humanly possible to table these challenges bedeviling our members, but to no avail.

“You cannot claim to be solving a problem for a people you are not in touch with. There is a serious disconnect between the leadership and the led.

“Most of our hospitals across the state is nauseating. There are no restrooms, dilapidated buildings, ragged furniture and fittings, no light source and devoid of water, the environment, only fit for poultry.”

According to her, their suggestion that state hospitals should be given some level of autonomy so that whatever they generate is plunged back into the system has been ignored.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Samuel Alli who was the Chairman of the occasion said that the Governor is doing his best for the health sector, and pleaded to be given a few months to interact with the Government to resolve the issues raised by the NMA.

It’s Unconstitutional For NASS Members To Fix Salaries – Obasanjo; Afe Babalola Faults Constitution Of Election Tribunals

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Ayodele Oni

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July 10, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said it is unconstitutional for National Assembly Members to fix their salary.

The two-term civilian President pointed out that it is the sole responsibility of the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, (RMFAC) to fix salaries and wages of public office holders.

A report monitored on Channels Television stated that the former President said this on Monday while delivering a speech at the 60th anniversary celebration of legal icon Aare Afe Babalola’s call to the Bar held in Ado Ekiti.

He described the self-determination of lawmakers’ emoluments as immoral and unconstitutional, decrying that those who should uphold the constitution are “the ones who undermine it”.

According to Obasanjo, salary allocation for elected officials is the responsibility of the (RMFAC), which he said the lawmakers had jettisoned to fix salaries for themselves.

“Under Paragraph 32(a-e) of Part I to the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the commission is saddled with determining the remuneration appropriate for political officeholders, including legislators, among other functions.

“The point in Nigeria which I have seen and which I can attest to is most of the people who are supposed to be operationalising or managing and seeing the constitution and democracy move forward, they are actually the ones who undermine the constitution.

“All elected people, by our constitution, their emolument is supposed to be fixed by the revenue mobilisation commission, but our lawmakers set that aside and they make laws and put any emolument for themselves.

“Even if that is constitutional, it is not moral and, of course, it is neither constitutional nor moral.”

He also complained that so many other aspects of the Nigerian Constitution such as the Federal Character were “absolutely ignored”, saying that the Federal Character Commission barely carried out its function.

The former President said that when the constitution is “continually breached like that”, the country’s democracy becomes one where anything goes.

The former Nigerian Leader commended Aare Babalola for his contributions to the development of the country, saying that he had made things he met in life better than he met them.

“You have met this world at a point, you have met your community at a point, you have met your family at a point and what you have done is that what you have met, you have made it better than what you have found.”

The Legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, in his remarks faulted the constitution of Election Petition Tribunals saying sitting Judges should not preside.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said Judges who preside over Election Tribunals should be separated from regular Court Judges to avoid the halt of cases unrelated to elections.

He suggested that Retired Judges and respectable SANs should preside.

“I have about three cases myself in respect of matters arising from the University.”

“For the past four years, these cases have been on. We have some judges here, the headquarters won’t be able to sit for many months because they are handling what they call election petitions.

“Election petitions should not be handled by sitting judges, they should be decided only by the committee set up consisting of senior advocates and retired judges in that case regular courts would not close down.”