A Miami woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fraudulently obtaining over $1 million in pandemic-related loans using the stolen identities of more than 10 individuals and then using those funds for personal expenses, including chartering a private jet and renting a luxury apartment.

Danielle Miller, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.

Miller was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount that will be determined at a later date. In March 2023, Miller pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

“Ms. Miller isn’t an influencer, she is a convicted felon. She stole the identities of innocent people to steal over $1.2 million in pandemic-relief loans that should have gone to people in need.

In a quest for fleeting social media stardom, Ms. Miller relied on fraud to fund a lavish lifestyle of private jets, luxury apartments and other accoutrements of wealth.

Today’s sentencing should make it crystal clear that curating a high-society social media presence on the backs of hardworking taxpayers is a path to prison, not fleeting fame,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

“Danielle Miller stole critical financial support from the hands of people who needed it during one of the most turbulent economic periods in recent history. While other Americans worried about how to keep food on the table, Miller spent her ill-gotten gains on hotels and luxury goods, heartlessly flaunting this fraudulent lifestyle on social media.

Today’s sentence is the result of a collaborative team of investigators committed to uncovering fraud and ensuring taxpayer dollars are going where they should and not into the hands of scammers like Miller,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England.

“Danielle Miller engaged in a scheme targeted at the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, as well as five other state workforce agencies, to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related unemployment benefits in the names of identity theft victims.

Miller also utilized stolen identities to fraudulently apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

Miller’s schemes sought to secure more than $1 million in stolen benefits set aside by the federal government to assist Americans struggling with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard these critical benefit programs for those who need it,” said Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

From in or around July 2020 through May 2021, Miller devised and executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related relief loans funded by the federal government – including Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as well as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and related unemployment benefits.

To execute the scheme, Miller used the personal identifying information of more than 10 individuals and used fake business names to apply for and receive more than $1 million in government benefits.

Additionally, Miller possessed counterfeit driver’s licenses in the victims’ names but bearing Miller’s photograph. In August 2020, Miller used a counterfeit driver’s license in the name of a Massachusetts victim to arrange a Gulfstream private jet charter flight from Florida to California, where she stayed at a luxury hotel under the same victim’s name.

In a separate instance, Miller used the identity of another victim to rent a luxury apartment in Florida.

Miller maintained an active social media presence via her Instagram account, which had more than 34,000 followers.

There, Miller posted her extravagant use of the fraud proceeds and stolen identities, publicizing her purchasing of luxury goods and renting of luxury accommodations.

Posts to this account included a post showing Miller at luxury hotels in California where transactions were made using the bank account in one of the victim’s names.

Bauchi State Government has reiterated its commitment to squarely addressing issues of climate change in the state in order to keep the citizens safe and secure.

The assertion was made by the Commissioner, Ministry of Housing and Environment, Rt Hon Danlami Ahmed Kawule during a One-Day Worksop and Panel Discussion on Climate Change held at Whitehill Luxury Hotel and Apartment, Bauchi on Thursday.

He stressed that the Government is committed to improving the issues of environment through the various policies and programmes in the past 4 years thereby ensuring that people live in secure and safe environment.

According to him, “The Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir is a digital Governor, he is always following the global happenings and taking corrective measures to mitigate environmental issues.”

The Commissioner urged the participants to discuss well and extensively the current trend in the climate change atmosphere in order to come out with more ways of intervening in climate change.

Earlier, the Director General of Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Dr Ibrahim Kabir stated that the impact of climate change cannot be overemphasised because according to him, the effects are now here close to us.

According to him, “Before now, when we talk about climate change, we use foreign countries as examples but now, we have it with us, we can see it, we can feel it. It is a reality, we don’t have to go far away.

“The trees are gone, the green areas are turning brown, dried and gone. As it is now, there is no difference between the Northern and Southern zones of the state. Desertification is gradually getting worse. We must stand up and act swiftly to save the environment.”

Ibrahim Kabir stressed that, “We need to put our heads together on how to get out of the situation. That is the reason we are here. Let us talk, discuss, and come out with resolutions to tackle the issue.”

The workshop which was collaboration between University of Sheffield, UK, LO-ACT, BASEPA, ACReSAL, Bauchi Project Office, has as theme: ‘Low Carbon Action in Ordinary Cities’ while the topic was Urban Innovation for Climate Change: Experiences in Bauchi.

A man identified as Alhaji Kamal has alleged that a medical doctor (name withheld) based in Jos, Plateau State, hassted his wife’s kidney during a surgical operation without his consent or that of the family.

Addressing newsmen, Kamal, who is a Jos-based businessman, narrated that the incident occurred in 2018 when his wife, Kehinde Kamal, approached a hospital along Yanhanu at Nasarawa Gwom area of Jos North local area of the state as a result of stomach pain.

According to him, his wife was diagnosed with appendicitis and was therefore recommended for a surgical operation, which was eventually carried out and adjudged by the hospital to be successful.

Sometimes, in January 2018, my wife Kehinde Kamal complained of pains around her abdomen and was taken to a private hospital along Yanshanu-Nasarawa of Jos North Local Government Area.

She was diagnosed as suffering from an appendix and needed to be operated upon.

“We paid for the full cost of the operation, drugs, and other expenses as directed by the doctor, and the operation was consequently carried out.

“Shortly after the operation, she started complaining of severe pains. We managed the pains for years while visiting the same doctor, but all of a sudden, just a few days ago, towards the end of August, the pains got extreme, and we had to go to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), where it was confirmed that one of her kidneys had been removed by some doctors.

“We later visited a specialist in a private hospital in Jos, and it was confirmed that my wife had her kidney removed. What I want is justice. I want the world to know that this is the predicament that my wife is passing through,” Alhaji Kamal alleged.

Alhaji Kamal said the case has been reported to the Nasarawa Gwom Division of the Plateau State Police Command, while the spokesman, Plateau Command DSP Alfred Alabo, could not be reached.

Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has signed a development loan agreement worth 30 million dollars with Uganda to finance the African country’s heart institute project.

The deal was inked between the CEO of the SFD, Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad and Ugandan Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija, in Uganda’s capital Kampala.

Ugandan Minister of Health Ruth Aceng and several other officials attended the signing ceremony, local media reported.

According to reports, the agreement aims to bolster Uganda’s healthcare sector and provide support for its third five-year National Development Plan, which stipulates the country’s medium-term strategic direction, development and priorities.

It would also implement strategies, with the goal of enhancing productivity and social well-being, the report added.

The Heart Institute project was initiated in line with the plan, encompassing establishing medical facilities, introducing cutting-edge medical and technical equipment, holding medical training, and expanding the capacity of cardiac disease prevention and treatment.

The project is expected to benefit more than 62,400 individuals, create job opportunities within the medical sector, and boost the local economy.

Aman has been accused on Thursday of murdering his 100-year-old grandmother with an axe as she sat in a wheelchair.He went on a trial in the northern German city of Hamburg on a charge of homicide.

“He could not cope with looking after her,’’ the prosecuting lawyer told the court.

The prosecuting lawyer described how the accused, a 37-year-old German born in Estonia, attacked the woman in her Hamburg home in the early hours of March 6.

The woman, who suffered from dementia, received at least 16 blows to her head and neck as she attempted to defend herself.

According to the prosecution, she fell to the ground and broke her shoulder.She died as a result of spinal injuries.

The accused phoned the emergency services himself to say that he had killed his grandmother, who was dead when police arrived.

The man gave himself up without resistance.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his happiness with the ruling of the Presidential Elections Petition Court confirming the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Vice President Kashim Shettima in the February 25 presidential election.

The former President, in a statement, issued by his former spokesperson Garba Shehu on Wednesday night said the PEPC has “written history” by spurning intimidation and all manner of prejudice to deliver justice according to the law.

“If anybody has won today it is the democracy and the people,” adding “with the verdict of the Supreme Court, the election period is over and it is time to put the heat and dust behind us.

“From here, the new APC administration led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should get the support of everyone in order to deliver the promises it made to the people.”

The former President also voiced his appreciation to all citizens for maintaining peace throughout this period and prayed for continued progress and development under the APC government.

Mr Buhari also sent warm congratulations to the President, the Vice President and the APC on the victory in court, expressing his best wishes to them in fulfilling the people’s aspirations.

The number of Tunisian immigrants who reached Italian coasts illegally has dropped by 20 per cent from the beginning of this year until Aug. 31.

The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDS) said from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, 2023, some 9,283 illegal immigrants of Tunisian nationality arrived at Italian shores, compared to 11,172 immigrants during the same period of 2022.

Thousands of illegal immigrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean every year.

Tunisia is one of the main points of access to Europe through irregular channels.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says the presidential election petition tribunal’s judgment is a testimony to Nigerians’ fate in President Bola Tinubu’s government.

“Remember, in this battle for the survival of the nation, in this grand symphony of democracy, your voice, your vote is the note that cannot be silenced, but even in this our moment of triumph, we are not going to be tampered, we will work for the unity of this nation,” said the Nigerian vice-president.

“Democracy, as you all know, is not a destination but a journey, and it takes our resolve, our intent, our commitment to be the custodians of the will of the people.”

Mr Shettima made the assertion while speaking to journalists shortly after the five-member panel of justices of the tribunal led by Justice Haruna Tsammani delivered judgment affirming Mr Tinubu’s election as president.

“My principal, President Bola Tinubu, is eternally indebted to the Nigerian people and to the leadership of the party who have been here since 9:00 a.m. Our energetic chairman and national secretary of the party, members of the national assembly, ministers, they have all been here,” added the vice-president.

“One cannot adequately convey our debt of gratitude to the Nigerian people. My principal will issue a formal statement, but we felt compelled to talk to you, having spent nearly 14 to 15 hours in this chambers. There is dignity of every person that we need to honour and cherish. We want to thank you; the journey is just beginning, and we want to call on Nigerians, let us unite.”

The vice-president explained that what “binds us together supersedes whatever divides us, let us unite as a people and face our common challenges,” adding that the “trajectory of global growth is facing Africa and Nigeria, the greatest black nation on earth, will make or mar that trajectory.”

President Bola Tinubu’s government says it has attracted a $3 billion investment pledge from Indian investors to boost the steel industry in Nigeria.

Abdullahi Haruna, spokesman for the steel development minister, Shauib Audu, announced this on Wednesday.

The president made the commitment during the Nigeria-India economic roundtable in India.

“In a historic move that promises to bolster Nigeria’s steel industry, President Tinubu has successfully attracted a monumental $3 billion investment pledge from Indian investors. This achievement was met with applause and commendation from the minister,” the statement explained.

It added, “Jindal Steel and Power Limited, one of India’s foremost private steel producers, made this momentous commitment to invest $3 billion in iron ore processing and steel development in Nigeria. The announcement came after extensive discussions between the president and the leadership of Jindal Steel and Power Limited on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in New Delhi, India.”

The minister said the development was a game-changer that would revitalise and transform the nation’s steel industry. Mr Audu lauded Mr Tinubu for his efforts in attracting investment for Nigeria’s steel sector.

“Furthermore, this news comes on a day when the presidential tribunal upheld the election of the president. As the country eagerly anticipates the positive impact of this massive investment, it marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic development,” said Mr Audu.

Atiku Abubakar has made known his intention to appeal the judgement of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, which on Wednesday struck out his petitions against President Bola Tinubu, according to court filings seen by Peoples Gazette.

Mr Abubakar, who contested the February 25 polls under the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asked the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago for an expedited issuance of the order of rights to discovery of Mr Tinubu’s Chicago State University records so that he could use them to file his appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria within the next 21 days, according to filing first obtained by The Gazette.

“At the outset, Abubakar must inform this Court that the Nigerian Court of Appeals reportedly issued a ruling today (September 6, 2023), finding in favour of Tinubu and against Abubakar. Abubakar now has 21 days—until September 27, 2023—to file his appeal of that ruling to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which Applicant intends to do,” the Nigerian politician told the U.S. court in a September 6, 2023, filing.

“Time is therefore of the essence and Abubakar respectfully asks this Court for an expedited ruling and order, so that if this Court grants the discovery requested, Abubakar can receive the documents and take the Rule 30(b)(6) deposition of CSU before September 27,” his lawyers, led by Angela Liu, said.

The filing came as part of his response to Mr Tinubu’s claim that the discovery from Chicago State University (CSU) was too late to be useful in the case challenging his election victory in Nigeria.

The submission marked the first indication that Mr Abubakar would appeal the judgement, which came on Wednesday night (Nigerian time) by a panel of five appellate justices.

But Mr Abubakar was hopeful that the documents would prove useful at the nation’s Supreme Court, where his appeal must be filed within 21 days from when the tribunal gave its ruling.

Mr Abubakar’s attorneys, however, noted that the “Nigerian Court of Appeals’ decision in no way changes this Court’s analysis underSection 1782.”

Section 1782 is the statute that allows the release of documents and evidence domiciled in the U.S. for use in a foreign proceeding.

Hollywood actor, Al Pacino, 83, and girlfriend Noor Alfallah, 29, have separated just months after welcoming their first child together, Daily Mail reports.

Alfallah, who gave birth to their son, Roman Alfallah Pacino, in June, also filed for custody.

Alfallah, according to the report, petitioned for full custody of their son with “reasonable visitation” rights to Al Pacino.

The duo were first romantically linked in 2022, they, however, made their relationship public in April 2023.

45-year-old man identified as Rex Kondwani, has hanged himself in Thyolo District in Malawi, after his wife gave a church K12,000 which they earned from gardening work. 

Masambanjati police officer in-charge, senior superintendent, George Kaleso, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, said the incident happened at Muwalo village, Traditional Authority Changata in the district.

Kaleso said the couple was engaged to do gardening piecework and was paid K12,000 which was kept by the wife.

“Yesterday, when Mr. Kondwani asked for his share, the wife told him she had donated the money to their local church,” he said.

This led to an argument between the couple. The man was later found hanging from the roof of the church where the money was donated.

Suicide cases have been on the rise in Malawi with 256 cases recorded in the fist half of this year.

A 100-level student of the Federal University of Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Atanda Modupe Deborah, has been found d£ad two days after she went missing.

It was gathered that the student of Nursing Department, stream A, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, went missing after she went to study in the class on Monday night, September 4, 2023.

Her roommates declared her missing when she did not return from the night reading. 

Her body was found buried in a shallow grave behind her faculty with her eyes plucked out on Wednesday, September 6.

Reacting to this incident in a statement on Wednesday evening, the Registrar of the University, Mufutau Ibrahim, ordered all students to vacate the campuses. 

The university management stated further that the armed security personnel have been quickly deployed for patrol, surveillance and security purposes, and that several arrests have been made.

“The University Management has received a report on the case of Ms Modupe Deborah Atanda who was reported missing as at Wednesday, 6th September 2023; and Management is saddened at the current turn of events,” the statement read. 

“It is pertinent to promptly inform the entire University community that immediate steps have been taken in this regard, as all National Security Personnel have been drafted to handle the situation. As a matter of fact, several arrests have been made of suspects.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Lagos State has scored President Bola Tinubu 98 per cent in providing the right leadership in his first 100 days in office.

Femi Olaniyi, the Lagos State SDP chairman, gave the score in an interview on Wednesday in Lagos.

“We can see all measures and initiatives by Tinubu to bring Nigeria on track,” said Mr Olaniyi, a former Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) chairman in Lagos.

“He has accomplished a lot and has scored up to 98 per cent out of 100 per cent in my grading,” Olaniyi.”

Mr Tinubu, sworn in as Nigeria’s president on May 29, marked his 100 days in office on Tuesday.Mr Olaniyi, the zonal secretary of SDP South-West, told journalists that the president had initiated various reforms and initiatives to turn the country around.

The SDP chairman, however, advised all Mr Tinubu’s cabinet members to move with speed to further brighten the hope of Nigerians in the administration through people-oriented policies.

“I only pray each of the ministers and other members of the cabinet discharge their duties accordingly and make the President and Nigerians proud.

“The ministers in various ministries must work hard to turn around the nation,” he said.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) says at least 35,000 people have been killed since the inception of the insurgency in the North-East in 2009 to August 2023.

Elsie Mills-Tetty, UNHCR’s head of the Adamawa office, disclosed this at a training for military personnel on human rights, humanitarian principles and civilian protection in Yola on Wednesday.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) organised the training in collaboration with UNHCR.

Ms Mills-Tetty, represented by Umar Abdullahi, assistant project officer, said this was according to the “Global Centre for Responsibility to Protect” report of August 2023.

According to her, the implication of these acts to the economic and social development of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Nigeria at large can never be overemphasised.

She added that in 2022, the NHRC reported investigating human rights complaints and assisting victims in seeking redress.

Ms Mills-Tetty said: “Cumulatively, the commission received 2.314 complaints. Adamawa had 65,456 complaints, approximately three per cent of the total complaints from the 36 states.

“The 2022 NHRC report also indicated that incidences of Insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, farmers/herders clashes and attacks by gunmen continued to increase with the attendant number of internally displaced persons who face enormous human rights violations.”

She called on the participants to take advantage of the training to boost their knowledge of human rights in their duties.

In his address, Tony Ojukwu, executive secretary, NHRC, said the training was to mainstream human rights into the counter-insurgency efforts of the Nigerian troops in the North-East.

Mr Ojukwu, represented by his special assistant, Benedict Agu, commended the Nigerian military and other law enforcement agencies for performing exceedingly well in containing insurgency.

“The insurgents live within us, and there is hardly a clearly drawn battle line between the insurgents and the civilian population,” he said.

Governor Umaru Bago of Niger has approved two trucks of 50kg bags of rice for the state’s Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chapter as palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

Mr Bago announced this during the reception to celebrate the newly constructed office of the deputy governor, Yakubu Garba, in Minna.

He disclosed that the initial N110 million approved for NLC was for their logistics to monitor the distribution process of the palliatives across the 274 wards of the state.

“Labour, we have given you work to go round and supervise the palliatives’ distribution, but for the labour union, we have not given you palliatives.

“We only gave you logistics to go round and supervise distribution; now, as a government, we will give you two trucks of 50kg for distribution,” he said.

Mr Bago added that the money was for the NLC members to effectively monitor the distribution process to ensure the palliatives get to everyone.

The governor advised the union to shelve its two-day warning strike and congratulated the deputy governor on his new office.

In his remarks, Mr Garba appreciated the governor for a cordial working relationship and pledged to discharge his responsibility for the progress and development of the state.

The Presidential Election Petition Court has struck out the testimonies of 10 of the 13 witnesses Peter Obi and the Labour Party called to defend their petition challenging the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

The tribunal ruled that the petitioner’s request for an extension of time to subpoena 10 additional witnesses was not originally part of the petition.

The court held that this was a new issue introduced into the petition, and the respondents could not respond to it again.

The court held that it was an attempt to amend the petition beyond the legally allowed 21 days.

The court dismissed all the testimonies from the witnesses and struck out all documents they tendered from the court records.

The court held that their witness statements were filed in violation of section 4 (5) (b) of the constitution and were incompetent.

Mr Obi and the Labour Party’s petition will be decided by the testimony of only three witnesses.

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the failure of the mass transit scheme in Nigeria has summoned the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, over the scheme’s failure.

Others summoned include the Minister of Trade and Investment, the Accountant-General for the Federation, and the head of service for the federation.

Rep. Victor Ogene, the committee chairman, issued the summons in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the committee invited the ministers and others to supply the requisite information about previous mass transit schemes regarding disbursement.

Mr Ogene said the committee had yet to get the document required, saying that in response to that, the agencies were invited to appear before the committee on September 11 and 12 at 11:00 a.m.

“Additionally, the clerk of this committee is to invite the managing director of the Infrastructure Bank to appear on the same day and time,” he stated.

The chairman also asked the National Association of Road Transport Owners and the Road Transport Employers of Nigeria to appear before it.

He, however, warned those concerned not to treat the invitation with levity, adding that failure to come would incur the wrath of the lawmakers, thereby invoking their legislative power.

“Let me warn that this invitation is not frivolous; this is an invitation extended to them by the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“And if, for any reason, any of them fail to honour this invitation, we shall invoke the full power of this committee as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,” he said.

The Abuja Investment Company Limited and the National Union of Road Transport Workers had earlier appeared before the committee.

They both suggested how to stop the recurring failure of the scheme.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday warned motorists plying the Lagos-Badagry expressway against overloading and speeding during the ember months.

Williams Manga, Badagry unit commander, FRSC, gave the warning at a sensitisation programme organised for table water truck drivers.

Mr Manga attributed major road crashes to speed limit violations and overloading, urging drivers to respect the obligation of human life by obeying traffic rules.

“Do not overload your water trucks with goods and passengers; it is dangerous,” he advised.

Mr Manga appealed to “pure water” truck drivers to undergo the proper process of acquiring genuine driver’s licences to avoid being arrested on the roads.

He urged the drivers to avoid using expired or fairly used tyres on their vehicles because it could lead to road crashes.

The Lagos State Chapter of the Labour Party has urged the judges sitting at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja to deliver judgment with utmost fairness as they set to deliver judgment today, Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

It said that it was an enormous responsibility for the judges and they should deliver justice in the interest of all Nigerians who have entrusted them with their destinies to decide on the true outcome of the February 25, 2023, presidential election, adding that they (judges) should not bow to pressure or intimidation from any external bodies.

The spokesperson for the party, Olubunmi Odusanya, stated in a statement issued on Tuesday evening that the party also celebrated the victories of their candidates for the National Assembly, Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and Wande George, whose elections into the Oshodi-Isolo II and Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituencies respectively, were upheld by a National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Ikeja, Lagos.

Odusanya commended the judges, saying it was a symbol that “Nigeria, can still be salvaged with the right people in the right institutions of the state.’’

The statement partly read,

“In view of the above, we at the Labour Party Lagos State urge the Judges at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT in Abuja to toe the line of their colleagues in Lagos as they set to deliver judgement on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

“This is an enormous responsibility in their hands and we urge them to deliver justice in the interest of Nigeria, not self. We want the Tribunal Judges to realise that the destinies of over two hundred million are in their hands. This is the time to put Nigeria in her rightful place in the committee of nations.

“A position denied the Country by the acts of misgovernance and maladministration inflicted on us by brigandage and charlatans posing as leaders in the time past. We urge the Judges not to succumb to any form of pressure or intimidation from any quarter.

“Nigeria is bigger than all of us and our allegiance should be to the nation, not self. The time to take back Nigeria is now.

In like manner, we implore all Labour Party members and supporters and indeed all ObiDients to remain optimistic that our Principal, Peter Obi will be given his clear mandate as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria tomorrow September 6 2023.

This will be a definitive move to take back our Country and steer it back on the right track of greatness. It is the only leadership that will birth a New Nigeria.

“Furthermore, Labour Party Lagos State received with rude shock and sadness the judgements delivered by the National and State Assembly Petition petition Tribunal wherein in our sitting House of Representatives Member for Ojo Federal Constituency was sacked and the plea of our Lagos Central Senatorial candidate’s were thrown out based on matters we feel are pre-election issues.

We thank God that the Tribunal is not the final court of arbitration in these matters. Labour Party will appeal the said judgements.

“We, at Labour Party are also in solidarity with our indefatigable and ebullient Governorship candidate of Lagos state, Architect Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, whose victory at the Tribunal the Party expects when judgement is delivered in the petition.

We reiterate our hope, trust and confidence in the Nigerian Judiciary for a truly strong democracy that will usher in the new Nigeria we all hope for and desire. May God help us to do right.”

Ahead of Wednesday’s (today) presidential petition judgement delivery, heavy security presence had been observed at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, dark spots and some other flash points in Abuja on Tuesday.

The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, assisted by other members of the panel-Justices Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Moses Ugo, and Abba Mohammed will deliver the judgment.

Meanwhile, the expectations of the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, and President Tinubu, which remained higher as they anticipated the verdict.

In light of this, a number of armed riot policemen, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security operatives in plainclothes had been deployed at strategic locations in the Federal Capital Territory in a bid to prevent a breach of law and order that might arise after the judgment.