News
Group cries out, accuses Otti’s camp of attempt to present fake documents to tribunal
A sociopolitical organisation in Abia State, Abia Renaissance Movement, (ARM), has accused Alex Otti and the Labour Party (LP) in the state of planning to mislead the Abia State Election Petition Tribunal with fabricated letters purported to have been written to INEC as a covering note for its membership register it claimed it submitted to the Commission.
The group made the allegation in a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Ukachukwu Chinonso and the Secretary-General, Comrade Maria Nwokoma and made available to newsmen in Umuahia.
It said it predicated its suspicion on the declarations of Counsel to Alex Otti and the Labour Party during the proceedings of August 11 2023 in the matter brought by PDP’s Chief Okey Ahiwe challenging Otti’s declaration as winner of the March 18 2023 governorship election in Abia State.
The group’s statement is part reads:
“We wish to bring to the notice of INEC, security agencies, and members of the public, plans by Labour Party (LP) in Abia State to deliberately mislead the Abia State Election Petition Tribunal in the case brought against LP by PDP’s Chief Okey Ahiwe, by presenting fabricated documents at the tribunal.
“At the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, August 11, 2023, Mr Alex Otti and Labour Party’s lawyers showed a letter purportedly written by LP to INEC and a payment receipt, to one of the witnesses who admitted signing it but which, on a closer look, had no name, date or even signature.
“This is upon the fact that the said documents did not emanate from INEC headquarters in Abuja as it ought to be but from INEC office in Abia State whose staff, we believe could either be compromised or intimidated.
“As clearly stated in court by the subpoenaed staff from INEC Headquarters, Abuja, Barr Hadizat Abubakar, all INEC documents relevant to the matter must be authenticated by the records department of the electoral body and certified by INEC Headquarters, Abuja.
“It is important to state at this point that Barr Abubakar presented an authority letter from INEC headquarters as being officially detailed to represent it at the hearing with the necessary documents required. She went further to inform the court that Abia State Labour Party did not submit its membership register to INEC 30 days before its purported primary election as required by law.
“Jolted by this development, agents of Abia State Labour Party are suspected to be shopping for a pliant senior staff of INEC in Abuja to give a stamp of authenticity to a letter, which they hope to backdate, and present same in court as the letter purportedly submitted with their party membership register to INEC.
“Our intelligence report has it that the pliant INEC staff they intend using to perpetrate this judicial malevolence is also from Abia State and has been reportedly promised to be installed Governor after Alex Otti. Plans have therefore been concluded to subpoena him to appear and give testimony at the tribunal where all the fabricated documents will be presented as having emanated from INEC Headquarters, Abuja.
“Our suspicion grows even stronger when lawyers to Alex Otti, during last Thursday’s hearing, asked Barr Hadizat Abubakar if she was aware of some letters written to INEC by the Labour Party submitting their membership register to which she responded that Abia State Labour Party did not submit such a register. The lawyers then said they were going to present letters written to INEC Chairman in respect of the register.
“This ploy is to make it look like the Staff of the Commission’s headquarters who has closed her testimony, saying that Labour Party did not submit their membership register, was not aware that the party wrote the Chairman directly. Based on the foregoing, we urge INEC, security agents, relevant judicial officers and members of the public to be alert to such machinations and manipulations.
“We call on INEC to call its staff to order and ensure that none of them allows him/herself to be used to derail justice. On our part, we shall remain vigilant and ensure that should such shenanigan be entertained, all those involved shall be petitioned to relevant security agencies for diligent prosecution. And we shall do everything within our powers to ensure that none of them escapes the long arms of the law.”
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.
-
News4 weeks agoBREAKING: Makinde, Turaki, lose! *S’Court affirms Wike’s PDP leadership
-
News2 weeks agoTinubu to African leaders: Copy Nigeria, produce your way out of poverty
-
Features4 weeks agoJim Nwobodo: The Sun shines, thrills, at ‘The Vanguard Awards’
-
News6 days agoBREAKING: US-Nigeria troops slaughter 175 ISWAP fighters
-
News2 weeks agoWhy we pegged presidential ticket forms at N60million – NDC
-
Columns3 days agoDear General Gowon: That apology you’re running from is your nemesis
-
News2 weeks agoGowon on civil war: My book is to put records straight, remove falsehood
-
News2 weeks agoBREAKING! Coast brightens for Obi, as NDC zones presidency to South