Court fixes November 16 to hear perjury case against Governor Obaseki

 

The hearing on the case of perjury instituted against the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and one other would begin on November 16.

The date was fixed by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, November 5, following an application by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN).

 APC accused Governor Obaseki of lying about the academic credentials he presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Edo governorship election.

Justice Mohammed reminded parties that the suit was filed on July 14, adding that being a pre-election case, it has a life span of 180 days, which would end in January 2021, urging the lawyers to cooperate with the court so that the case can be determined before the expiry date.

Governor Godwin Obaseki jubilating with his supporters after winning the Edo governorship election.

The plaintiffs claimed in their writ of summons that Obaseki forged his university certificate which he presented to the INEC to aid his qualification for the governorship election.

They also claimed there were discrepancies in the subject Obaseki claimed he passed in his West African Examination Council (WAEC) exam and in his testimonial.

The plaintiffs want the court to declare that Obaseki’s claim in his INEC form EC9 at column C, sworn to on June 29, 2020, at the FCT High Court registry, to the effect that he obtained from the University of Ibadan in 1979, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Studies, is false and contrary to section 31 (5) and (6) of the electoral act, 2010.

Previous reports indicated that after many litigations from some opposition parties in Edo, especially the Action Democratic Party (ADP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) admitted that there was an error in the certificate of Obaseki.

It was reported that the PDP said there was actually a mistake in Obaseki’s admission and graduation years. The party explained that the governor erroneously filled in 1976 as the year of graduation, which was originally the year of his admission into the University of Ibadan.

Conference of Speakers gets new chairman, executive members

 

The Speaker of the Bauchi state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Suleiman has been elected as the new chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria.

The election of Suleiman followed the constitutional end of the tenure of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, whose executive committee was elected at a meeting of the conference held in Lagos in August 2018.

Our source gathers that the constitution of the conference stipulates a two-year term of office for its elected leadership which rotates between the north and the southern part of Nigeria.

At a meeting held at Reiz Continental Hotel in Abuja on Thursday, November 6, Hon. Obasa formally handed over to Suleiman, who is now saddled with leading the conference for the next two years.

Conference of Speakers elects new chairman, executive members. Photo credit: Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria

Some executive member of the Conference of Speakers and the immediate past chairman, Obasa. Photo credit: Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria

Other members of the committee include:

1. Deputy Chairman (Speaker Delta), Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori

2. Treasurer (Speaker Kogi) Rt Hon Matthew Kolawole

3. Financial Secretary (Speaker Enugu) Rt Hon Edward Ubosi

4. Vice-Chair, North West (Speaker Katsina) Rt Hon Tasiu Musa Maigari

5. Vice-Chair, North East (Speaker Gombe) Rt Hon Sadiq Ibrahim Abubakar

6. Vice-Chair, North Central (Speaker Plateau) Rt Hon Abok Nuhu Ayuba

7. Vice-Chair, South West (Speaker Ogun) Rt Hon Olakunle Oluomo

8. Vice-Chair, South East (Speaker Ebonyi) Rt Hon Nwifuru Francis

9. Vice-Chair, South-South (Speaker Akwa Ibom) Rt Hon Aniekan Bassey

Immediate past chairman Obasa with other members of the association. Photo credit: Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria

Speaker Obasa's tenure saw a push for financial autonomy for state legislatures and judiciary as well as cooperation with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to achieve this.

Recall that President Buhari, on Friday, May 22, signed Executive Order 10 for the implementation of the financial autonomy after a committee report concerning the issue was handed over to him.

Reacting to the approval through a statement on Saturday, May 23. .Hon Obasa described the gesture as one that will make the legislature independent and proactive as a major arm of government.

Obasa said:

"This is the best gift the President, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, has given the legislative arms of state governments at this Sallah. And coming at the end of the Ramadan, it means God truly answered the prayers of the member state legislatures through the President."

CJN Muhammad swears in 8 Supreme Court judges

 

Eight Supreme Court judges were today Friday, November 6, sworn in by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, increasing the number from 12 to 20.

Among the newly sworn-in judges are Lawal Garba (northwest), Helen Ogunwumiju (southwest), Abdu Aboki (northwest), and M. M. Saulawa (northwest).

Most of the new Supreme Court judges sworn-in by CJN Muhammad are from northern and southern Nigeria (Photo: The Guardian)

Others are Adamu Jauro (northeast), Samuel Oseji (south-south), Tijani Abubakar (northeast) and Emmanuel Agim (south-south).

Meanwhile, CJN on Monday, May 4, directed all heads of courts to abide by previous circulars shutting down courts to hear only urgent, essential and time-bound matters.

He said this would be pending the outcome of a committee set up to come up with recommendations on how to leverage on technology and hold the business of courts even during the COVID-19 period.

The circular dated May 4, with Ref. No. NJC/CIR/HOC/II/658 was issued to all heads of court in the federal and state judiciaries.

It is titled: Re: Implementation Guidelines For The Containment of COVID-19 Issued by The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

“Strategic measures and Guidance must be provided for Courts where physical hearings must be held and they must do so sparingly and in line with appropriate regulations and guidelines issued by the NJC, and the health protocols approved by the NCDC."

In another related news.Justlce Mojlsola Dada of the Ikeja high court is delivering judgment in a murder and stealing case between the State of Lagos v Olalekan Hameed.

The court session which began at 11am is holding online via a video app

Rohi - Hill Polytechnic plans higher

 Since education is all about cycle of teaching and learning in an environment of research for perpetual development of the society through an instrument for self reliance, social re- construction and economic development, hence the need for inovative educational knowledge which will be used to re- engineer the next generation of Nigerian Leaders who will definitely come from the present crop of our youths.

Rev. Dr. David Taoheed Salami. President Rohi-Hill Polytechnic, and International Director. World Evangelization Mission Ministry. (WEMM) made the comments during the official  site inspection of the ROHI- Hill Polytechnic permanent site. at Afon Aboto Asa Local Govt. area by the Directorae of Science and Technology Kwara State. 

The cleric noted that growth of the global economy is such that requires high standard of education to fill the growing gap of the necessity for development of both humans and materials, consequently the roles of religious cannot be under estimated in the quest for valuable contributions to the world's economic growth. 

"My organization the World Evangelization Mission Ministry (WEMM) and Resurrection Assembly Worldwide ( RAW), has carried out necessary studies required for the establishment of a private polytechnic that would be funded by the group". Which l know will definitely contribute to the development of Kwara State. Nigeria and also make indelible impact in global growth.

Rev.Dr. Salami however stated that knowledge is power, while regulated  knowledge leads to generation of refined power that useful in the application for management, administration and leadership . This according to him, the reason why society depends on the products of institutions of higher learning most expecially the polytechnics and university as problem solving pot of hope.

He finally charge the federal government to do the needful by upgrading it's tertiaries institutions to the international standard.

Earlier Mrs. C O. Olaosebikan. Director Directorate of Science and Technology Kwara State who led the team lauds the visions of the Polytechnic president and the governing council on the projects.