News
Abia tribunal drama: Otti’s lawyer claims hospitalisation *We saw him in court – PDP *No more delays – panel
The absence of Anayo Nwakodo, one of the lawyers of the Labour Party (LP) and Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State, over claims of ill-health stalled proceedings at the Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Saturday, as the panel was forced to adjourn to Thursday, next week, even with eyebrows being raised over the claim.
The camp of Okey Ahiwe, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), maintain that the excuse being adduced by the governor’s lawyer was a gambit to delay proceedings and mislead the tribunal by preventing witnesses called by the party from nailing the governor.
The witnesses from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who were in the state to testify on issues surrounding the document Otti submitted in lieu of his body’s discharge certificate, could not do so because Nwakodo wrote the panel to claim that he was sick and could therefore not be part of the proceedings.
The witnesses, were called in to validate the official communications of their respective organisations previously tendered and admitted as exhibits in the suit filed by Ahiwe and PDP against the declaration of Otti as winner of the March 18 2023 governorship election.
PDP is contending that INEC through a letter signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, had confirmed that LP did not submit its membership register in Abia State as required by law and that the party failed to notify the electoral body of the date fixed for its congress hence the commission did not monitor any congress it purportedly organized.
Besides, the party also claimed that the governor did not submit his NYSC discharge certificate or exemption certificate but rather presented a reference letter to INEC while filling his governorship form.
At the sitting on Saturday, the two witnesses from INEC and NYSC, said to have arrived the state on Thursday, and were asked to return for proceedings on Saturday, 5th August 2023, could not proceed with their testimonies at the Abia State High Court, Umuahia, the venue of the sitting, as a result of the new development.
Before the postponement last Thursday, a drama had ensued, when the LP lawyers made frantic efforts to delay their testimonies, after those of the PDP, told the judges that they had duly served them with a motion to present the official witnesses of fact for their oral evidence.
The Otti camp, had claimed that they could not move on the same day that they were served as they needed time to study the motion, thus pleading with the panel to grant an adjournment to enable them do so in the interest of justice.
Though the panel acceding to their request for a postponement, shifted the matter to Saturday, specifically for the motion seeking leave of court to allow the official witnesses adopt the documents they brought through their written depositions, they sprang a fresh prayer on Saturday, for the proceedings to again be shifted because Nwakodo, who is one of the lawyers representing them wrote that he suddenly took ill and that none of the other lawyers in their team, including four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, (SANs,) could cross examine the witnesses in his absence.
This new twist saw the PDP and Ahiwe’s lawyers vehemently opposing the motion, on the grounds that the witnesses came from outside the state and that the respondents were merely playing to the gallery in their bid to frustrate the case and delay the wheel of justice.
Adding that the Otti and LP, were petrified by the weight of the evidence of the official witnesses, hence the ploy to use technicalities to delay the inevitable, they prayed for the hearing to continue, adding that time was of the essence and justice must be discharged quickly.
But, the panel after listening to both parties, again adjourned the matter to Thursday, 10th August 2023 for the witnesses to be led in evidence and warned against further use of any form of delay tactics to stall proceedings, as it was working to conclude the case within the period stipulated by the Electoral Act.
Incidentally, the PDP team, alleged that shortly after the adjournment, the lawyer, who reportedly claimed to be ill and hospitalised, was spotted around the high court premises discussing with some LP members who were at the tribunal, sparking off outrage from supporters of the opposition party, which lost power in the state, in the 2023 polls, the first time since 1999.
A PDP Chieftain who spoke on the matter, while describing the attitude of the Otti camp as “aimed at delaying the inevitable sacking of the interim government in the state, by stopping the key witnesses from testifying, added: “With defeat staring them in the face, LP and her interim Governor are doing everything to compromise tribunal members and witnesses sent to validate official documents issued by INEC and NYSC. But we will make sure that justice prevails even if it means remaining perpetually vigilant.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja nullifying the timelines issued for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Alex Izinyon SAN, leading a team of lawyers of the commission in a notice of appeal dated May 25, raised nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Apart from raising the issue of jurisdiction, which it said the lower court did not determine, INEC also maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
Arguing that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant, the commission also stressed the lower court misinterpreted the provisions of the electoral act.
It said: “The high court erred in law when it held that: ‘It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
It was another day of misery in Kwara State, when daredevil terrorists reportedly stormed Yashikira Community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and as has been the case in many of the attacks, abducting scores of residents including women and children.
But, apparently to register their authority, the gunmen, who were said to have operated for hours without challenge from the security operatives, were said to have torched the palace of the Emir.
The attackers, which reportedly occurred late Sunday night were said to have announced their presence through heavy firing and after storming the palace of the monarch during the period, set it on fire before whisking away their victims, but a similar attempt at the police station in the community, was repelled.
While some of the residents, narrated how the spent hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community, another account said the villagers were caught unawares as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.
However operatives made up of the police and military personnel, were said to have launched a manhunt immediately for the immediate rescue of the victims, including throwing a cordon in the area as part of the mission.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
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