Politics

Court awards Emefiele N100m in damages For Unlawful Detention

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of an FCT High Court on Monday awarded N100 million in damages to suspended former governor of the central bank of Nigeria (CBN) against the federal government and Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for violations of his rights.

Adeniyi further restrained the federal government and it’s agents from arresting Emefiele unless an order was obtained through a competent court.

The judge held that the respondents need not incarcerate the applicant in order to carry out investigation for a long period as against the provisions of the law.

” No material placed before the court to show that the release of the applicant will in any way interfere with the investigation of allegations preferred against him.

” The first respondent as a creator of the law is constantly bind by the law.

” The remand order that was not obtained properly is considered to be a fragrant violation of the fundamental right of the applicant.

” The facts placed before the court shows that he was incarcerated beyond the period stipulated by the law with charging him to court.

He held that the agents of the government who are in charge of arrest and detention should abide by the provisions of the law.

He added otherwise, they would be liable to pay compensation to a person whose fundamental right was violated.

The judge further held that is not the length of time that determines violation of fundamental right but the illegality of the action.

The embattled Emefiele had dragged the Federal Government, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Commission before the court to enforce his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement.

Emefiele sought a declaration of the court that his continued detention by the agency of the first and second respondents since June 10, 2023 and subsequent transfer to the custody of the third and fourth respondents on October 26, 2023 without being arraigned in court is unlawful.

He said the respondents in deviance of several valid subsisting court orders for his release amounts to a grave violation of his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

He, therefore, among others sought an injunction restraining the respondents from further arresting and or further detaining him up on his release by the court without proffering a criminal charge against him.

He also sought damages of N1 billion in his favour for the violation of his fundamental rights

Politics

APC sweeps all local government council seats in Jigawa

The Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (JISIEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of all 27 local government chairmanship elections.

This was disclosed in a statement by JISIEC spokesman Habibu Yarima.

He stated that the election results were declared at the respective local government headquarters and ward collation centers across the 27 local government areas of the state.

According to him, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all 27 chairmanship elections and 281 out of 287 councillorship positions contested by 11 political parties in the local government council elections held last Saturday, October 5.”

He further noted that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won one councillorship seat in Margadu Ward, Guri Local Government, while the Accord Party secured four councillorship seats: Ajaura Ward in Taura Local Government, Kanwa Ward in Jahun Local Government, Maiaduwa Ward in Gagarawa Local Government, and Guntusu Ward in Gwaiwa Local Government.

He added, “The winner of the councillorship seat for Dubantu Ward in Hadejia Local Government was not declared due to disagreements over the result collation and the destruction of some ballot boxes.”

The Executive Chairman of JISIEC, Hon. Auwalu Muhammad Harbo, has already presented certificates of return to all the winners of the 27 local government chairman seats.

Commenting on the election outcome, the Chairman of the Jigawa State All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Aminu Sani Gumel, congratulated his party members on their overwhelming victory.

Politics

Akwa Ibom LG poll: PDP wins 30 out of 31 chairmanship positions

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 30 of the 31 local government chairmanship seats, leaving the All Progressives Congress with one seat in the October 5, 2024 election in Akwa Ibom State.

The Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) made this known on Sunday.

The commission, which released the results of the October 5 Local Government election, also indicated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won one local government area.

Following the successful conduct of the election, all is now set for elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen to be sworn in on Monday, October 7, 2024, by 8 am at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, in the State capital.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), Enobong Uwah.

The statement indicated that Governor Umo Eno would perform the function in the presence of guests.

Meanwhile, Governor Eno has announced plans to swear in the elected chairmen on Monday, October 7, 2024.

Eno, who made this known while speaking at the All Nations Christian Ministry in Eket, said it was important to immediately inaugurate the democratically-elected officials to position local government area in the state for rapid development.

“Election was concluded yesterday. Results are trickling in. We are swearing in new chairmen tomorrow by 8 am. We want to thank those who have served. They have done well.

“The window we negotiated with the Federal Government was till October, and this is October. So we need to quickly swear in those chairmen so that they will start receiving their allocations and work for their people,” he said.

Politics

Ondo guber: REC confirms receipt of BVAS, non-sensitive materials ahead of poll

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Ondo State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, has disclosed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and the non-sensitive materials have arrived in the state ahead of the November 16 governorship poll.

According to the REC, INEC is not leaving anything to chance towards ensuring that the commission conducts seamless and flawless polls in the state.

Babalola, who disclosed this during a media briefing with newsmen, maintained that security agencies are also prepared for the off-cycle governorship election and stressed that vote-buying would be tackled during the election.

The REC added that Registration Area Technical Support Staff (RATECH) will be deployed to all Registration Areas (RAs) to provide technical assistance in case of any issue with the functioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

“INEC is fully committed to conducting a credible, transparent, and inclusive election in Ondo State.

“We call on the good people of Ondo State to come out en masse on election day, exercise their franchise peacefully, and contribute to the democratic process.

“We assure you that every vote will count, and what we can do about the issue of vote buying is that we will continue to sensitise people to desist from this. So we are working assiduously to succeed in the forthcoming governorship election.”