The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has successfully kicked off the presentation of cheques for Group Life Assurance and the IGP Family Welfare Scheme to 613 beneficiaries and next-of-kins of deceased police officers for the policy years 2020/2021, 2021/2022, and 2022/2023.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, November 16th, 2023, the IGP highlighted the importance of the event, emphasizing the administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of all officers including those serving, retired, and deceased.

During his address, the IGP disclosed that the total amount involved in the two policies is Two Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy-Six Million, One Hundred and Ten Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Six Naira, Eighteen Kobo (N2,276,110,966.18k). He noted that this marks the third such event since he assumed office.

The IGP expressed condolences to the families of the deceased officers, recognizing the sacrifices made by the fallen heroes while assuring that the presentation of these cheques is a tangible way to acknowledge and support the families, providing financial relief to ease their burdens.

Acknowledging the exceptional efforts of the Force Insurance Unit and the collaborating insurance companies, the IGP commended their tireless work in ensuring the prompt settlement of claims to deserving beneficiaries.

 

Court Declares Zamfara Governorship elections Inconclusive, orders rerun.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has sacked the governor of Zamfara State, Lawal Dauda of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), following an appeal entered by former governor Bello Matawalle.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had after the March 18 governorship poll, declared Dauda Lawal as the governor-elect, saying he garnered 377,726 votes.

The incumbent governor at the time, Bello Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was said to have gotten 311,976 votes. Bello approached the Zamfara State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Sokoto, with a petition against Dauda’s election.

Matawalle’s legal team led by Akinlola Kehinde SAN, had alleged there was wrongful collation of election results, including those of Maradun LGA.

He also argued that elections were not held in several wards in the state without any reason given by INEC.But the Tribunal affirmed the election of Lawal, while dismissing Matawalle’s appeal for lacking in merit.

After losing his second term bid, Matawalle was appointed as Minister Of State, Defense, by President Bola Tinubu.

But he went on to appeal the verdict of the Tribunal, arguing that Dauda did not score the majority of lawful votes cast during the governorship poll and that the election was inconclusive.

He contended that the Tribunal erroneously struck out evidence tendered by his witnesses including several paragraphs in his petition.
But the PDP countered Matawalle, contending that he failed to prove his petition against Dauda’s election victory
On Thursday, a three-man panel of the Appeal court led by Justice Oyebisi Folayemi, declared: “It is our view that the order of the Trial tribunal striking out several paragraphs of the appellants petition was erroneous.”

On the tribunal striking out the evidence (PW1 and PW17) tendered by Matawalle as hearsay, the appellate court held that it was evidently seen from the polling units results used by INEC that the result sheets were not signed by party agents of the appellants.

More so, the appeal court held that the evidence of Matawalle’s two witnesses (LG collation agents), contrary to the Tribunal’s position, are linked to the specific aspects of the appellants case.
The appeal court maintained that in line with the Electoral Act, it shall not be necessary for a party who alleges non compliance with relevant laws, to call oral evidence if their exhibits show the same allegations.

The appeal court observed that the documents INEC relied on to declare results in Maradun LGA of Zamfara state were mutilated, and as such, the same exhibits tendered by Matawalle before the Tribunal were not hearsay evidence.

“This court resolves this issue in favour of the appellants.,” the court held.
The appeal court further held that the tribunal failed to properly evaluate the evidence brought before it and that the appellants placed credible evidence before the tribunal.
The appeal court subsequently held that the appellants successfully proved that Dauda was not duly elected, and that the INEC Results Viewing Portal cannot be used in collating results as done by the Tribunal.

“This appeal is hereby allowed.
“The March 2023 Governorship election held in Zamfara state is inconclusive and the return of Dauda is set aside.
“INEC is hereby directed to hold fresh elections in Birnin Magaji and Bukun Yum LGA,” the court held.
This judgment was adopted by Justices Cordelia Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo and Sybil Nwaka Gbagi.

Court stops Adeleke from removing the Osun CJ.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has restrained the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, from removing the State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo and Michael Obidiya, as the secretary of the state Judicial Service Commission.

Following two separate lawsuits that Ojo and Obidiya, via their attorney Oladipo Olasope, brought, the court issued the orders.

Punch reported that, Adeleke was hauled before the court by Ojo in a suit number NICN/IB/6123 filed by her attorney. Ojo also included the state accountant general, the Osun State Judicial Service Commission, and the Osun State Attorney General in the case.

In a November 15, 2023, motion ex-parte, the claimant asked the court to issue an order of interim injunction prohibiting the defendants from taking away, overturning, or terminating her appointment as Osun State’s Chief Judge and her terms of service, “including but not limited to salaries and other pecuniary benefits, pending the determination of the interlocutory application.”

As the Chief Judge of Osun State, Ojo additionally requested an order directing the fourth defendant to maintain her pay, perks, emoluments, compensation, and other rights while the interlocutory case was being decided.

Olasope, the claimant’s attorney, testified at the hearing and the court subsequently declared: “An order of interim injunction is issued restraining the Defendants by themselves or their agents or privies howsoever so-called from interfering with removing, reversing or terminating the application’s appointment and conditions of service as the Hon.

Chief Judge of Osun State, including but not limited to salaries and other pecuniary benefits pending the determination of the interlocutory application!”

“An order is herein mandatory for the 4th Defendant to continue paying the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State the salary, entitlements, emoluments, and other benefits and money the Applicant is entitled to, while the interlocutory application is being determined.”

 

Food Inflation: Kogi, Rivers, Lagos Record Highest Rate in October

The National Bureau of Statistic (NBS) on Wednesday disclosed that Kogi, Rivers and Lagos states have the highest inflation rate in October 2023.

NBS in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report stated that inflation rate in Nigeria increased to 27.33 per cent in October 2023 from 26.72per cent in September 2023.
According to NBS, the All-Items inflation rate on a Year-on-Year basis was highest in Kogi (34.20per cent), Rivers (31.44per cent), Lagos (31.23per cent).

The bureau report revealed that Borno (20.06 per cent), Jigawa (23.52per cent) and Sokoto (24.47per cent) recorded the slowest rise in Headline inflation on Year-on-Year basis.

“On a Month-on-Month basis, however, October 2023 recorded the highest increases in Yobe (3.72per cent), Jigawa (2.85 per cent), Sokoto (2.84 per cent), while Kogi (1.01 per cent), Edo (1.05 per cent) and Kwara (1.18 per cent) recorded the slowest rise on Month-on-Month inflation.

“In October 2023, Food inflation on a Year-on-Year basis was highest in Kogi (41.74 per cent), Kwara (38.48 per cent) and Lagos (37.37 per cent), while Borno (24.41 per cent), Kebbi (24.90 per cent) and Jigawa (25.10%) recorded the slowest rise in Food inflation on a Year-on-Year basis.

“On a Month-on-Month basis, however, October 2023 Food inflation was highest in Yobe (5.35 per cent), Soko-to (3.68 per cent) and Jigawa (3.45%), while Edo (0.95 per cent), Katsina (1.03 per cent) and Rivers (1.10 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in inflation on Month-on-Month basis,” according to the report.

 

Nigeria risks becoming one-party state, says Atiku.

Former presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar expressed concern about Nigeria’s democracy leaning towards a one-party system.

During a meeting with the National Executive Committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council Nigeria (IPAC), Atiku urged opposition parties to unite to safeguard democratic values.

He criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for tilting the country towards a one-party state. Atiku called on IPAC to foster unity among opposition parties to create a more potent force capable of challenging the status quo.