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JUST IN: El-Rufai, Bello At The Supreme Court Ahead Naira Redesign Case

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The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and his Kogi counterpart, Yahaya Bello, have stormed the Supreme Court, joining Nigerians monitoring proceedings on a suit their states instituted against the Federal Government’s new Naira notes redesign and cashless policy.

The two governors’ arrival at about 8:30 am surprised many lawyers and Nigerians that have gathered in the courtroom to witness proceedings on the case.

Both governors, in the company of their followers and top government functionaries, just as five more states including Lagos, Niger, Kano, Ekiti, and Ondo, applied to join other states challenging the new Naira redesign, swapping, and deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

They stormed the court on Wednesday and would be locking horns in a legal battle against the central government on its naira redesigning and cashless policy

They would be challenging dozens of legal practitioners engaged by the Federal Government to force the apex court to accept its stance on the new Naira and cashless policy.
A seven-member panel led by Justice John Okoro, had on February 8 delivered ex-parte order after reviewing the application before it by the governors on the Naira redesign policy.

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MOHBAD: Police Grill Sam Larry, Lagos CP To Address Press

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The Lagos State Police Command has deepened its probe of Balogun Eletu popularly known as Sam Larry, over the ongoing investigation into circumstances leading to the death of late Singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad.

Recall that Sam Larry was detained by the police on Thursday night after he honoured the police invitation, and has since been grilled by police investigators over his disagreements with the late musician.

It was gathered that the suspect who is currently detained at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters and was yet to hire the services of a lawyer over the incident as of Saturday, is very much likely to remain in police custody until next week Monday.

According to The Punch, a security source under anonymity also revealed that police officers arrested Sam Larry at the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Thursday night following his arrival from Kenya.

“Sam Larry was arrested by policemen at the Murtala Muhammed airport last night (Thursday) after he arrived from Kenya, and he was immediately driven to the Lagos Command Headquarters in Ikeja for questioning,” the source noted.

Speaking with our correspondent in an exclusive interview, Friday night, the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin revealed that the outcome of the police investigation would determine the decision to be taken on Sam Larry.

The police spokesman further noted that he could not reveal details of the controversial socialite’s statement to the police, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa will address the press about the development soon.

Hundeyin revealed, “Sam Larry is still with us. But I’m not talking about our plans yet because he’s still under investigation, hence the outcome of our investigation will determine the lifeline of our next move.

“I’m not disclosing the content of his statement yet; the Commissioner of Police will address the press over the development soon, and when the CP addresses the press, I’d be able to talk about our investigation so far.”

SP Benjamin Hundeyin, earlier Thursday, had revealed that Sam Larry was held in police custody, and was assisting with an ongoing investigation.

The police had earlier invited Sam Larry and singer, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley for questioning over Mohbad’s demise.

The police, last week, also confirmed that pathologists have concluded the autopsy conducted on Mohbad, while the police await the result.

“Autopsy has been concluded. Awaiting results”, Hundeyin confirmed.

This development followed the exhumation of Mohbad by a combined team of the Nigeria Police Force and health officials.

The police had also arrested the nurse who reportedly injected the deceased singer prior to his demise on Tuesday, September 12.

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President Tinubu Returns To Abuja One Week After UNGA

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Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has returned to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, one week after he attended the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.

The 78th UNGA session was held from September 18 to 26.

Tinubu, during one of the sessions, voiced concerns about foreign exploitation in Africa and rising insecurity, and asked other nations to offer solutions of mutual benefit. The UNGA session was his first as Nigeria’s president.

After delivering the national statement and holding several meetings on the sidelines of the global assembly, Tinubu also rang the closing bell at the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ).

Although there was no official statement, multiple reports said the president departed New York for Paris, France for a short vacation.

Tinubu’s return to Nigeria comes amid threats by labour unions to commence an indefinite strike from October 3, if he fails to address the rising cost of living.

The president’s arrival also comes a few days before Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary on October 1.

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Tension In Ogun As Tribunal Determines Abiodun, Adebutu’s Fate

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There’s anxiety and tension in the premises of Isabo Magistrate Court, Abeokuta, the state capital as Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal is set to deliver judgement in the petition filed by Hon. Ladi Adebutu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

After three month, long sitting and conclusion of hearing, the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal reserved  judgement for today in the petition filed by PDP’s Adebutu against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adebutu is praying the tribunal headed by Hamidu Kunaza to nullify Governor Abiodun’s victory and declare him winner of March 18 Governorship election in Ogun State.

Adebutu, among things, is also seeking an order of the Tribunal to upturn the election of Governor Abiodun, alleging that the election that brought him into office for the second time, was riddled with violence, irregularities and rigging.

In the final oral and written address through his counsel, Mr Chris Uche, SAN, Hon Ladi Adebutu who is not in the country at the moment, prayed the tribunal to grant all the reliefs, including the disqualification of Abiodun as a candidate in the March 18 election.

He also asked the tribunal to sack Abiodun and declare him as winner of the poll instead, declaring that heavens would not fall if the Governor was thrown out by the Tribunal.

He alleged non-compliance by INEC with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices by the governor and his All Progressives Congress(APC) during the election even as former lawmaker claimed the process was sabotaged by thugs who allegedly deployed violence in over 99 polling units to disenfranchise over 40,000 voters.

But countering in his written address through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Governor Dapo Abiodun urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by Adebutu and his party against his victory.

Also, in their separate submissions counsels to the 1st respondent (INEC), Mr Remi Olatubora (SAN), and the APC, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), told the tribunal that the petitioners failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Counsel to INEC, Olatubora, specifically asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition for absolutely lacking in merit and being a waste of the tribunal’s precious time.

He posited that the allegations of corrupt practices, non-compliance, multiple thumb printing of ballot papers, ballot stuffing, and forgery as alleged by Adebutu and his party were not proved beyond any reasonable doubt.

He also described the testimony of the witnesses brought by the petitioners as heresy, which is not admissible in law.

Counsel for Abiodun, Chief Wole Olanipekun, (SAN) in his final address, described Adebutu’s petition as a mere academic exercise.

Olanipekun submitted that the soul of the petition was not duly signed or stamped and, therefore, lacked merit to be adopted.

He urged the Tribunal to strike it out.

“The document is not signed, not dated, no heading, no title, no identity, no signature, no stamp. The CTC has no signature,” Olanipekun alleged.

However, in his counter-argument, Counsel to Adebutu, Chris Uche, SAN, told the tribunal that all documents presented by the petitioners were obtained from INEC.

He urged the tribunal to declare Adebutu the winner of the governorship election or, in the alternative, order a rerun of the election in 99 polling units where he alleged that there were disruptions.

Counsel to APC, Tayo Oyetubo, who spoke to reporters at the time of trial, said the respondents have presented a good case, even as he expressed confidence that the verdict would be in their favour.

However, The Nation’s bid to access the Court was prevented by a security operative who stated the newspaper was not listed to cover the court matters today.

He also pulled a list, showing that the media organisation was not authorised to cover it.

It is not yet clear how the list was generated.

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