The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from prosecuting the suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, over his declaration of Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as governor in the March 18 poll.

Justice Donatus Okorowo gave the order after Michael Aondoaka, SAN, counsel to Ms Dahiru, moved the ex-parte motion to the effect.

In the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/935/2023, the APC candidate in the poll sued INEC, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and another as respondents.

Mr Aondoaka, while moving the motion on Monday, argued that until the election petition tribunal decides his client’s fate per section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the prosecution of Mr Yunusa-Ari cannot be valid.

He said the decision of INEC to file an action against any person involved in Ms Dahiru’s April 15 declaration as winner of the supplementary poll in the state when the tribunal was yet to determine the petition of his client would deprive her of section 285(6) of the law which gives 180 days within which the petition filed on May 6 should be dispensed with.

The senior lawyer informed the court that though a similar suit was filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo, where a judicial review of INEC’s action was sought, the sister court ordered Ms Dahiru to approach a tribunal with her suit, having been an election-related matter.

Mr Andoaka said an undertaking had been signed to prove to the court that the present suit was not frivolous.He said in the undertaking, they were ready to face any cost should the court find the case to be frivolous.

After listening to Mr Andoaka, Justice Okorowo ordered the parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

The judge, who adjourned the matter until July 18 for a hearing, ordered the respondents to show cause while the reliefs sought by Ms Dahiru should not be granted.

A former president of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Samuel Nzekwe, has advised President Bola Tinubu against appointing sycophants as ministers to prevent his administration from failing.

In an interview on Monday in Ota, Ogun State, Mr Nzekwe said the advice became necessary for Mr Tinubu to select the best hands to help him move the country forward.

The former ANAN president urged Mr Tinubu to select serious-minded people with the country’s interests at heart.

“Not having capable ministers to assist in discharging the necessary responsibilities means that this administration has failed,” he said.

Mr Nzekwe appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the president in appointing ministers, as selecting good hands across the six geopolitical zones was not easy.

He stressed the need for the president to appoint detribalised persons who share the same set goals with him.

Mr Nzekwe commended Mr Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy and unifying the exchange rate.

Governor Nasiru Idris of Kebbi has relieved his Special Adviser on Youths, Babangida Sarki, of his appointment sequel to an inappropriate post he made on his WhatsApp status.

This is contained in a statement by the governor’s chief press secretary, Ahmed Idris, on Monday in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

“The governor, who was enraged by the obnoxious development, said the aide trampled on the moral and social ethos of the Kebbi society, which is largely Islamic.

“Mr Idris promised that his administration would not condone any of such acts that denigrate the morality and integrity of the people of the state,” the governor’s spokesman said.

He added that the governor had cautioned all public officers in the state against making such indecent postings on their social media handles and other public fora.

The State Security Service has freed Senator Abdulaziz Yari after three days in custody for disrespecting President Bola Tinubu.

He was asked to go home around 12:00 a.m. Sunday, a source familiar said, adding that it was unclear whether or not the lawmaker would be returning to Yellow House soon for further questioning.

Mr Yari, 55, was arrested on Thursday over claims he shunned a series of calls from Mr Tinubu last month.

The Nigerian leader was trying to get the Zamfara West senator on the phone to pressure him to stand down his ambition to be Senate President.

Mr Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, lost his fierce contest for the office to Mr Tinubu’s candidate Godswill Akpabio last month in a 63-46 result.

But he has been seeking to overturn the outcome, with his allies alleging non-compliance with Senate standing rules during the leadership vote.

Mr Yari’s conduct, sources said, has infuriated the president, prompting the SSS to move against him.

The national intelligence office also raised corruption claims against Mr Yari when he was held, including charges that he received funds from Godwin Emefiele, the ousted central bank governor, another political adversary of Mr Tinubu’s who has been in detention since June 10.

Mr Yari admitted transactions from Mr Emefiele-led central bank but said they were all legitimate proceeds.

A federal court granted his plea for an order restraining all federal law enforcement agencies, including the SSS, from arresting him last month.

A spokesman for the SSS has been evasive with questions about the service’s steps against Mr Yari.

Gov. Mohammed Bago of Niger has advised the people of Kagara Emirate to be more security conscious by restricting their own movements and cooperating with security operatives.

Mr Bago gave the advice when he paid Sallah homage to the Emir of Kagara, Ahmed Garba Gunna ll, at his palace in Kagara as he rounded off his emirate tour.

This is contained in a statement by his chief press secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, and made available to newsmen in Minna on Sunday.

Mr Bago noted that the emirate had been affected by banditry attacks and that restricting their own movement would help the security operatives in combating the menace.

According to him,

“A lot of our rural dwellers do a lot of occupation in the hinterland and you find them gathering for weddings and on market days which is not very good for this situation as it affects security surveillance and operation.

“So we are encouraging them to restrict their movements unless it is very necessary they should remain within their enclaves so that bushes can also be cleared.”

The governor also said that his administration would ensure the construction of a dual carriageway in Kagara, in line with his urban renewal policy and also ensure the reconstruction of Minna/Tegina road.

He encouraged farmers to take advantage of the fertilizers government would provide at subsidised rate, to engage in farming.

Mr Bago also called on the citizens to support his administration to succeed.

The governor urged the people of the emirate and others to continue to live in peace and tolerate one another, irrespective of their affiliations, for development to thrive.

Earlier, the Emir, Mr Gunna, appreciated the governor for his efforts so far in ensuring that the people of the emirate enjoyed relative peace.

“This made us and others observe durbar during the Eid celebration,” he said.

The emir also disclosed that each of the traditional title holders in the emirate had acquired at least one hectare of land to engage in agricultural activities, following the strategies evolved by the present administration to promote national policy on food security.

The statement stated that the high point of the visit was the conferment of the traditional title of Gorozon Kagara on the governor and the presentation of instruments of power to him.

Twelve others were also conferred with traditional titles.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has announced Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) as the majority leader of the 10th Senate.

Mr Bamidele is a ranking senator representing Ekiti Central and chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters in the 9th National Assembly.

Mr Bamidele, who is the Founder, Principal Attorney & Head of Chambers at the Law Office of Opeyemi Bamidele & Associates, is a New York Attorney, Member of the 7th House of Representatives and three-term Member of the Lagos State Cabinet between 2000 and 2011 when he served as Honourable Commissioner in different ministries and under two Governors.

He served as the senior legislative aide to then-Senator Bola Tinubu in 1992.

Mr Bamidele graduated with honours in 1986 from the University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, with a Bachelor of Arts degree and, subsequently, from the University of Benin, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree with honours, in 1990.

After his call to the Nigerian Bar, Mr Bamidele launched a full-time legal career in 1992.

He obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from the Franklin Pierce Law Centre at the University of New Hampshire Law School, Concord, New Hampshire, U.S.

He specialised in Intellectual Property Law, with a bias in International Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law, including the Licensing of International Transfer of Technology.

Governor Peter Mbah has vowed to end water scarcity in the Enugu metropolis and other towns in 154 days.

During a courtesy call by members of the civil society organisation, Network of Water Rights Initiative (NEWARI) at the Government House in Enugu, Mr Mbah expressed his determination to fulfil his campaign promise of delivering safe and clean water to every household in Enugu within 180 days of assuming office.

According to the governor, in the 21st century, it is unacceptable for Enugu residents to be deprived of access to running water.

Mr Mbah stated,

“Enugu should not be one of the states facing water challenges, considering the abundance of available water sources. We have 154 days remaining to ensure water flows into every home. We are fully aware of the problems and have conducted a thorough assessment to address them.”

The governor further revealed that apart from focusing on the water supply in the Enugu metropolis, his administration is actively collaborating with local government chairpersons to implement water schemes in Nsukka, other towns, and rural areas using different water sources, stressing that the aim is to provide residents with easy access to water within a five-minute distance and establish a reliable system capable of supplying water every day of the year, without interruptions.

Mr Mbah emphasised that his administration is not solely concentrating on the Ninth Mile Water Scheme but is also working on improving the Orji River Water Scheme.

Governor Dikko Radda has gifted N278 million to Katsina pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

This was disclosed in a press statement on Monday in Katsina by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Malam Ibrahim Kaula.

According to him, Katsina’s Amirul Hajj and former state assembly speaker, Tasiu Musa-Maigari, disclosed this in Makkah on Sunday when he visited the pilgrims.

Mr Musa-Maigari further revealed that Mr Radda also urged the pilgrims to pray for the end of insecurity in Katsina.

The former speaker later announced the donation of 300 riyals (the equivalent of N60,000) by the governor to each pilgrim as a feeding allowance.

The executive secretary of the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Suleiman Kuki, expressed satisfaction with the responsible and decent conduct of the State pilgrims during the annual exercise.

In the entourage of the Amirul Hajj were former Deputy Governors Abdullahi Garba-Faskari, Abdullahi Garba Aminci, and the chairman of the board, Magajin Garin Katsina.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says his government will create out of the present Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism a separate ministry for Culture and Tourism.

The governor’s chief press secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Ibadan, the state capital.

Mr Makinde said the new ministry would help his government focus on tourism as a key sector driving the state’s economy.

“The Ministry of Information will be headed by one commissioner, while another commissioner will head the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

“This will bring the number of ministries in the state to 18, as against the 17 that existed during my first tenure,” Mr Makinde said.

He explained that the decision was likely to set tongues wagging as to why the government was adding more to its financial obligations.

“But, after due consideration, we believe that the benefits of these adjustments far outweigh the costs, and Oyo State will be better for it.

“With this, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism will be better able to oversee the Tourism Board and extract the value trapped in the agency.

“On the other hand, the Commissioner for Information will focus on communicating the activities of government to the people through the various channels we have made available,” the governor said.

Mr Makinde further disclosed that he would put his cabinet in place in the next two weeks.

“Names of the other commissioner-nominees will soon be sent to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.”

He charged all residents of Oyo state to keep praying for the state and the entire country, saying he believed that Nigerians would overcome the trying times.

The federal government has resumed the payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to 12,337 poor and vulnerable households through digital means in Ondo.

Tosin Olupona, head of the CCT office in Ondo, disclosed this in an interview on Monday in Akure.

The CCT programme is part of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP).

According to Ms Olupona, the backlog has been lodged on each of the beneficiaries’ new debit card accounts that will be accessed through payment agents in their communities.

She revealed that the benefiting families were from 15 local government areas out of the 18 local governments in the state.

Ms Olopona attributed the delay in payment to operational issues, adding that the backlog payment was from six to 20 months, depending on when the beneficiary joined the scheme.

“We are here because we have just commenced payment of backlogs of stipends of our beneficiaries; this is victory at last because you can see that everyone is happy, collecting their money,” the CCT official stated.

“We have a backlog of between six months and 20 months, and they have been agitating to collect their money and we have been moving from one local government to another to pay them.”

She stressed that the delay resulted from an operational issue which “is not our fault.”

“I think it affected four states that are having this operational issue, but it has been resolved now, so, that’s why we are paying them,” she said.

Dozens of Zamfara residents, on Monday, staged a protest at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, accusing the agency of being complicit in the handling of the alleged N70 billion corruption case of former state governor, Bello Matawalle.

The protesters, who held placards with inscriptions such as “Is Matawale above the law?” asked that the EFCC re-open its corruption probe against the former governor.

Nasiru Doka, the protesters’ leader stated that the citizens of the state are currently being hurt by Mr Matawalle’s past corruption.

“We the voice of the voiceless call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawale, for the alleged misappropriation of public funds,” Mr Doka said while reading out the protest letter they submitted to the EFCC.

“This call comes amid growing concerns about corruption in Nigeria and the need for accountability in public offices.

“Bello Mohammed Matawale was the governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.

During his tenure, there were allegations of mismanagement of public funds and resources.

“We urge The EFCC to investigate the matter and bring those responsible for the mismanagement of public funds to justice,” he added.

The Gazette reported in May how the EFCC revealed it was investigating Mr Matawalle over the theft of more than N70 billion.

The EFCC explained that Mr Matawale was yet to be arrested and prosecuted for his alleged criminal acts because he enjoys immunity from prosecution as a state chief executive.

President Bola Tinubu has left France for London on a private visit.

State owned broadcasting station, Nigerian Television Authority, reported on Saturday.

Dele Alake, the president’s official spokesman, was yet to issue a statement on the details of the fresh trip as of the time of filing this report.

“President Tinubu, who was initially scheduled to be back in Abuja on Saturday, will now proceed to London, United Kingdom, for a short private visit,” NTA reported.

LMr Tinubu had attended a two-day economic summit hosted by the French government.

Peter Obi and his Labour Party (LP) on Friday closed their petition before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Obi and LP are complainants in the petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, challenging the election which brought Mr Tinubu to power on May 29.

Respondents in the petition are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and All Progressives Congress (APC).

The petitioners were given 21 days to prove their case against the respondents before the court.

They told the court that they would call 50 witnesses to prove their case, but as they were closing on Friday, they called only 13 witnesses.

Earlier, Counsel to the petitioners, Livy Uzoukwu SAN, informed the court that their 12th witness, Yunusa Tanko, was in court to be cross examined by the respondents.

Counsel to the respondents are Kemi Pinhero SAN for INEC, Wole Olanipakun SAN for Messrs Tinubu and Shettima, while Lateef Fagbemi SAN represented APC.

The 12th witness (PW12) was Yunusa Tanko, member of LP Situation Room, who testified and some documents were tendered through him.

Being cross examined by INEC, the witness told the court that the results given to them were mutilated and not readable.

When asked by Mr Olanipekun how many party agents his party had during the election, he said over 130,000 while there were 176,974 polling units through the federation.

Mr Tanko was also asked what he wanted the court to do with the 12 states where LP won and what would happen to Atiku Abubakar, who was declared 2nd.

He said that he was challenging the entire results of the election because after four months of the election, the results are still being downloaded from the IreV.

When asked by Mr Fagbemi on why he did not provide the number of unlawful votes, he claimed that their expert had already given evidence on the number of disputed votes.

The respondents tendered through the witness judgments of the Federal High Court, with FHC/ABJ/1454/2022, delivered on January 23, 2023, concerning LP vs INEC.

Tendered also was a SC/CV/501/2023, Supreme Court judgement delivered on May 26, 2023, between PDP and INEC with three others.

The petitioners objected to the admissibility of the documents and reserved their reason in their final written addresses.

The court however admitted and marked the documents as exhibits.

Peter Yari, PW 13 , an adhoc staff of INEC, also gave his evidence.

Counsel for the petitioners, Mr Uzoukwu after the testimony of PW13, informed the court that they are closing their case.

The respondents prayed the court to give them till next week to go home and celebrate the Sallah with their families and come back by July 3 to open their case.

The five-member panel presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned until July 3, for the respondents to open their case.

The Ebonyi government has ordered former Governor David Umahi’s commissioners two weeks to quit their state-owned residential quarters in Abakaliki.

The notice is contained in a statement signed by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Grace Umezurike, on Thursday night. Ms Umezurike, in the statement, said the measure is in line with Governor Francis Nwifuru’s directives.

“All residents of the commissioners’ quarters are hereby requested to vacate their premises. This is to facilitate the entry of the new commissioners into the quarters. We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the statement said.

The statement urged the affected persons to comply accordingly.

In apparent anticipation of the measure, Mr Umahi had approved specified amounts of money for the commissioners to build or get new apartments.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the student loan bill into law.

Mr Sanwo-Olu gave the commendation on Thursday at the 26th convocation and 40th anniversary of the Lagos State University (LASU).

Mr Tinubu, on Monday, June 12, signed the bill into law, establishing a Nigerian Education Loan Fund, from which interest-free loans would be given to poor students.

The president said the bill would provide opportunities for children of people experiencing poverty to realise their dreams of acquiring tertiary education.

The governor, therefore, urged all Nigerians, especially the intended beneficiaries, to embrace the opportunity in good faith.

According to him, the Lagos government is focused on assisting students in government tertiary institutions within the state to discover their talents, harness their potential and refocus toward excellence, entrepreneurship and self-sustenance.

“As a government, we are not unaware that university operations are service-oriented, and as such, the need to continually improve on quality benchmarks is a continuum,” explained Mr Sanwo-Olu.

“Very importantly, we are also not unaware that sustaining an effective university that can compete favourably on a global stage requires huge financial investments.”

The Lagos governor added that while “we are committed to the aspirations of the founding fathers of the institution, we are resolved to surpass the gains of yesterday by setting a new narrative” for the institution.

He stated,

“In line with this commitment, our administration has ensured that most of the legacy projects it initiated on the institution’s campus have either been completed or are near completion.”

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the projects included the university’s main library, the faculty of education annexe, the faculty of management sciences building, the Lagos State University technology hub and the “ultra-modern” hostel facilities.