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Court Nullifies Ogun PDP Primaries, Says Election Not In Accordance With Electoral Act, Factional Candidates Divided

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2 years ago

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Tuesday, nullified all primaries conducted by the various factions of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

The presiding judge, Justice O. O. Oguntoyibo, called for a rerun of the primaries within 14 days.

The court declared that all the primaries conducted by the PDP in the state were not in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Justice Oguntoyinbo stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognizing Ladi Adebutu as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.

The party on May 25 conducted the primary election which produced Adebutu as the governorship candidate.

A former governorship aspirant, Jimi Lawal, had approached the court to challenge the delegates list used during the primary by the Sikirulahi Ogundele-led party executives at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in the state capital.

Three members of Lawal’s group, Taiwo Idris, Kehinde Akala, and Ayinde Monsuri, had dragged the party, Adebutu, and INEC to court challenging the authenticity of the delegates lists used for the conduct of the primaries.

The plaintiffs contended that those on the list used by the electoral panel for the primaries were not democratically elected at the ward, local government, and state congresses, hence the panel “cannot unilaterally or arbitrarily impose” the list on the party.

The plaintiffs, in their originating summons, had prayed the court among others, to nullify or set aside the state congress/indirect primary election, held by the first defendant (the PDP) on May 25, 2022 “to choose the candidate which the first defendant intends to nominate/sponsor at the 2023 governorship election in Ogun State based on the list of delegates who were not democratically elected at the ward congress.”

They also sought an order directing INEC “to disregard and/or refrain from giving effect to the results of the alleged 1st defendant’s indirect primary election held on May 25, 2022, based on the list of ad-hoc delegates who were not elected at the ward congresses constituted by the 1st defendant for that purpose.”

Reacting to the judgment the counsel for the plaintiffs, Thaddeus Idenyi, said, “The court was specific that they have to use the list that has been certified by INEC because after the primary, those lists were submitted to INEC as parts of its report of covering those ward congresses held, so the court has now said is the list which must be considered in the conduct of the fresh primaries.”

Counsel for a factional governorship candidate of the party, Segun Showunmi, Monday Mahwah, while speaking after the judgment, said he was in the court to represent Showunmi after he was joined as the fourth defendant in the suit.

In his reaction, Adebutu’s media aide, Afolabi Orekoya, said the party and his principal were not disturbed over the judgment, saying the court contradicted itself on the same matter.

He said, “The judgments are three; the one filed by Seriki, the one filed by Jimi Lawal, and one other. One said we should include other groups. The other authenticated Sikirulahi Ogundele-led executives.

“The judgment is funny because we have won this same case which was filed by Jimi Lawal in Abuja. So, for the same court giving another judgment, it is funny.”

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BIG STORY

Court Sentence FCMB Branch Manager To 121 Years In Prison For Embezzling N112million From Customer’s Account In Anambra

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52 mins ago

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May 4, 2024

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One of FCMB’s employees was sentenced to prison for fraud and embezzlement, which was the worst shock of the year for the prestigious financial organisation in Nigeria.

Mr. Nwachukwu Placidus, the bank manager at First City Monument Bank FCMB, Onitsha, Anambra State, was sentenced to 121 years in prison by Justice S. Odili at the Anambra State High Court in Onitsha, Anambra State, for embezzling N112 million from a customer’s fixed deposit account.

A former manager of the First City Monument Bank branch in Onitsha was found guilty and sentenced to 121 years in prison for stealing N112,100,000 in fixed deposit money from a customer for personal use.

The honourable justices delivered the verdict that resulted in this outcome. This is tantamount to a breach of trust by the former manager which has attracted a huge jail term.

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BIG STORY

Lagos Government Intensifies Effort To Arrest Dolphin Underbridge Illegal Landlord

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1 hour ago

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May 4, 2024

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The Lagos State Government has launched a manhunt for the individual who gave the apartments to tenants under the Ikoyi bridge after 36 illegal residents of the Dolphin underbridge bridge were apprehended.

It further revealed that during the clearance operation, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), the ministry’s enforcement unit, arrested no fewer than 36 renters.

Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for the environment and water resources, revealed this on Friday at a briefing for reporters regarding the government’s actions through the ministry during the previous year.

He said: “Just about 24 hours ago, the operatives carried out an operation that unearthed a major illegal housing settlement constructed under the Dolphin Bridge Ikoyi.

“An unbelievable 80 rooms partitioned 10×10 and 10×12 and a container used for different illegal activities was also discovered.

“All the structures have been dismantled and a total of 36 miscreants who lived under the were arrested while efforts are being intensified to arrest the ring leaders who rented out the underbridge apartments which also add electricity supply,” it added.

The state government had earlier dislodged tenants under Dolphins Estate Bridge, who paid N250, 000 annually to yet to be identified landlords.

The tenants, who were dislodged in the process were discovered during an enforcement exercise by officials of the state government during demolition of illegal structures.

He added that the enforcement team of Lagos State’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources had successfully removed all structures, including a container utilised for various illegal activities, from beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

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BIG STORY

Olubadan: New Twist As Ladoja, Kingmakers Disagree On Settlement Terms

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16 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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The enthronement of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, took a new turn yesterday when the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, the former governor of Oyo State, and other kingmakers couldn’t agree on the terms of settlement that would have made the enthronement process easier.

While entertaining Mogajis in Ibadanland led by Chief Asimiyu Ariori in his Bodija residence, Ladoja indicated his willingness to drop the lawsuit he had brought against Olubadan-in-Council members, provided that both sides agreed to sign the settlement conditions as they were written.

He said: “Myself and other members of Olubadan-in-Council have been sitting together and talking. We have accepted to withdrawal the case.

“I heard that they have started signing the agreement. After all of them have signed, I will also sign my own aspect, and the next day, we will file for withdrawal of the case from court.

However, other members of Olubadan-in-Council who are defendants in the suit have argued that there is no need for signing of any terms of settlement paper, as they have already abided by the 1957 declaration.

A meeting held yesterday at Olubadan palace, Oja’ba was attended by Osi Balogun, Oba Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe; Asipa Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; Asipa Balogun, Kola Adegbola; Ekerin Balogun, Oba John Isioye-Dada and Ekaarun Olubadan, Oba Adebayo Akande.

The Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja; Osi Olubadan, Oba Eddy Oyewole; Otun Balogun Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade Salaudeen and Ekaarun Balogun, Oba Abiodun Azeeez were absent.

Oba Adebimpe, speaking on behalf of other members of the council in attendance at the meeting, said event had overtaken the terms of reference as contained in the agreement paper, hence no need to sign it.

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