News
Engr Wada/PDP wins smart card appeal against APC’s Bello
The earlier rejection of smart card report by the Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has been upturned and is now to be accepted by the the Tribunal in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The Card Reader Report has on it, report of biometric verification in the November 16, 2019 Kogi state Governorship Election.
The Tribunal had earlier rejected custody of the report in a document, marked as an important evidence after it failed to go into evidence through the consent of counsel to Engr Musa Wada prompting an appeal action.
In what seems to be a big victory for Engr Musa Wada and Peoples Democratic Party, “the Court of Appeal in No CA/ABJ/EPT/263/2020, Musa Atayi Wada and Or vs INEC and Ors has allowed the appeal of Engr Musa Atayi Wada and PDP against the rulings of Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja in which the Tribunal rejected the Smart Card Readers tendered through PW24, an INEC staff who was on subpoena to represent the Chairman of INEC.”
In the lead judgment delivered by Hon Justice M.B. Idris JCA and concurred by four other Justices of the Court the Court of Appeal held that the Tribunal was in error to have rejected the Smart Card Report without hearing the learned senior counsel to the appellants, Mr J.S.Okutepa SAN.
The court of appeal dismissed the objection by Yahaya Bello as lacking in the merit.
The Court of Appeal directed that the Smart Card Readers Report be admitted and directed that whatsoever objections to the Smart Card Readers Report be taken at the final address stage.
The five man panel was led by Hon Justice Olukayode Bada JCA.
The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja previously rejected an exhibit tendered by Engr Musa Wada and the Peoples Democratic Party which was pleaded as a card reader report in the witness statement on oath, in what was considered as an attempt to manipulate the tribunal, Counsel to Engr Musa Wada, JS OKutepa SAN took a further step by appealing against the tribunal decision.
It is recalled that the Tribunal will reconvene on 15th May, 2020 for final briefings from parties.
Erosion: Oyo to benefit from European Investment Bank intervention
Oyo State has been listed among the Twenty-three beneficiaries of the European Investment Bank’s intervention in addressing the challenges of erosion and land degradation control in Nigeria.
The intervention project is under the auspices of the European Investment Bank-assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB).
In a statement by Bukola Bakare, Director, Press & Public Relations,
Ministry of Information and Orientation,
Oyo State, said the National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP-EIB Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks made this known on Tuesday in Ibadan when he led the Federal Project Management Unit delegation on a courtesy visit to Governor Seyi Makinde in his office.
The National Project Coordinator disclosed that the courtesy visit was part of the Federal Project Management Unit team to Oyo State scoping mission to evaluate the State’s readiness as a crucial step towards disbursement and project implementation take off.
According to Engr. Yalaks, the Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated the climate Adaptation: Erosion and Watershed succeeding the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management project (Newmap) to address the issue of land degradation in a targeted subwatershed, improve livelihood, and promote Environmental resilience for sustainable development.
He added that the project is supported by the European Union and oversees by the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) with implementation by the twenty three (23) participating States including Oyo State.
Briefing the Governor on the pre requisite requirements, Yalaks commended Governor Makinde led administration for his approval and release of 500 million naira as counterpart fund and other important pre requisite requirements which secured the State as one of the 23 States for the EIB intervention.
His words, “I’m happy to announce to you that Oyo State has met 100% percent legitimate criteria to attract the funding.”
He confirmed that after conducting an assessment of the prioritized sites which are threat to lives and infrastructural development. They are therefore considered as candidate sites in line with the conditions precedence of the EIB.
Welcoming the FPMU delegation on behalf of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal highlighted some of the achievements of Engr. Seyi Makinde in demonstrating the highest level of political will to tackle environmental challenges in the state.
He expressed optimism about the project’s potential for success and assured the team of the state’s unwavering support.
“We are already on course and it is an irreversible course, we cannot go back, all the requests you have demanded from us as the state government, we will fulfil. We need to put more efforts in terms of making this partnership a workable one”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources Arch. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola commended Engr. Seyi Makinde for his leadership quality in chosen the prioritized sites in Eruwa, Igbeti, Ibadan and most especially the gully erosion site within the Ladoke Akintola University(LAUTECH) Ogbomoso which is currently a threat to infrastructural development, added that the State is ready for full project implementation take off.
Present at the visit were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Sunday Ojelabi, State Project Coordinator, Barr. Tayo Ayoade and members of the State Project Management Unit of NEWMAP.
President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday, paid a condolence visit to Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, following the passing of his mother, Hajiya Sarafa’u Umaru, who died on March 23, 2025, at the age of 93.
During the visit, Senator Lawan expressed his deep sorrow over the loss, describing Hajiya Sarafa’u as a woman of “great virtue, kindness, and wisdom,” whose life left an indelible mark on her family and community.
“It is with a heavy heart that I stand here today to commiserate with His Excellency, Governor Radda, and the entire family over the loss of their beloved matriarch.
“Hajiya Sarafa’u was a pillar of strength and devotion, and her legacy lives on through the exemplary leadership of her son, who continues to serve Katsina State with passion and humility,” Lawan said.
The former Senate President explained that his absence during the initial mourning period was due to his participation in an executive course at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in the United States.
However, he emphasized the importance of personally conveying his sympathies upon his return.
“I regret that I could not be here earlier, but I felt it necessary to come in person to offer my condolences and stand in solidarity with the Governor and the people of Katsina during this difficult time,” he added.
Amid restraint order slammed on the sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, rtd from appointing sole administrators of the 23 Local Government Council Areas, he has approved the appointment of the administrators for the council areas.
CAPITAL POST gathered that a Federal High Court sitting in Portharcourt on Tuesday restrained the Sole Administrator from appointing Council executives.
The order was issued by Justice Adam Muhammed on Tuesday in suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025 in the case filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative led by Courage Msirimovu against the Sole Administrator in his official capacity.
Ibas also approved the reconstitution of the board of agencies of State government including the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC which he dissolved upon his assumption as Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The development was contained in a Special Government Announcement issued on Wednesday morning by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.
The statement said the appointments take immediate effect.
Mr Okroiyobi Animete was appointed as administrator for Abua/Odual LG, Mr Goodluck M Iheanacho for Ahoada East LG, Mr Promise Jacob for Ahoada West LG, among others.
The statement read, “His Excellency, The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
“He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended.
“All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.”
FULL LIST OF Rivers LG administrators
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