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For challenging Tinubu, Shettima’s nominations, court fines Udeze-led AA N1m

Published

2 years ago

January 24, 2023

Kenneth Udeze

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, awarded a N1 million fine against the expelled National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Kenneth Udeze, for instituting a suit in the name of the party against Sen. Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and his vice deputy, Kashim Shettima.

Delivering judgment, Justice Binta Nyako, held that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the case, having not been the authentic party vested with the power to file the matter.

Justice Nyako further held that the suit was instituted by a busybody just to waste the judicial time of the court.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Udeze, through his lawyer, Kalu Kalu Agu, had, in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1256/22, sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, Tinubu and Shettima as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

He had filed the suit in the name of AA as plaintiff in the matter.

In the suit, he sought a declaration that the nomination of Shettima by Tinubu as his vice presidential candidate is void arising from the express provision of Section 35 of the Electoral Act, 2022 in that Shettima allowed himself to be nominated in more than one constituency for the 2023 elections.

He averred that having been nominated as senatorial candidate for the Borno Central District, his subsequent nomination as vice presidential candidate of the APC contravened the law.

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He had sought an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Tinubu and Shettima from holding out themselves as presidential and vice presidential candidates for the Feb. 25 election.

He also sought an order of perpetual injunction, restraining INEC from listing their names as presidential and vice presidential candidates in the final list of candidates in the said election.

Besides, he sought an order, restraining the electoral umpire from placing the APC on the ballot for the said poll.

But the defendants urged the court to dismiss the suit for being statute barred, having failed to file within 14 days of the nomination.

They argued that the suit was non-justiciable as the plaintiff lacked the locus to challenge the nomination of the candidates, which bordered on the internal affairs of the party.

They asked the court to dismiss the suit.

Besides, the Dr Adekunle Omo-Aje leadership of AA, in a motion on notice filed by their counsel, Oba Maduabuchi, SAN, had prayed the court for a joinder and the court, on Nov. 22, 2022, granted the order joining them as necessary parties to the suit.

In the amended originating summons filed by Udeze’s lawyer, AA, Omo-Aje, Amb. Suleiman Abdulrasheed, were joined as 5th, 6th and 7th defendants respectively.

The Omo-Aje leadership of the party, in their preliminary objection, also urged the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the action was purported to have been commenced by AA.

They argued that by the constitution of AA, only the mational legal adviser on the instructions of the national chairman of the party could institute an action for the party.

They further argued that neither the national chairman nor the national legal adviser instructed that the instant suit be instituted.

They said the suit was incompetent, praying the court to dismiss it

Justice Nyako agreed with the Omo-Aje leadership of the party that the suit did not emanate from the authentic party’s executives.

She held that Udeze-led AA, as “a busybody who goes to different courts filing cases to waste the time of the court,” lacked the legal right to institute the matter.

She, therefore, dismissed the suit for lack of locus standi.

The judge, who condemned Udeze’s lawyer, Agu, for failing to properly guide his client, gave a consequential order of N1 million fine against the duo.

She directed that the money should be paid into the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.

NAN reports that Justice Nyako had, on Jan. 10, awarded a fine of N1 million against Udeze for parading himself as national chairman of AA.

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Leadership dispute: NURTW cautions AGF, IGP against aiding Baruwa

Published

2 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Leadership dispute: NURTW cautions AGF, IGP against aiding Baruwa

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has urged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to resist efforts to drag them into the leadership dispute in the union.

Reacting to a recent letter by lawyer to Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, calling on the AGF and the IGP to help enforce a judgment, the NURTW claimed that the said judgment was allegedly obtained by misleading the court.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, a National Officer of the NURTW and immediate past National Financial Secretary, Comrade Uwem James said it was prejudicial of the court for Baruwa to seek to enforce a judgment when cases relating to the dispute over the union’s leadership were still pending in court.

James claimed that Baruwa’s tenure, in which he (James) served as National Financial Secretary) lapsed in August 2023, adding that Baruwa was only seeking to come back through the back door by allegedly concocting a case in which he claimed to have got a favourable judgment.

James, who gave a background to the whole leadership dispute in the union, accused the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) of wrongly taking side with Baruwa without seeking to understand the root of the dispute.

He said cases relating to the question of the union’s leadership were still pending before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja, adding that applications are still before those courts that yet to be determined.

James added: “Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, in defiance of the order of injunction that parties maintain status guo ante belum and the application to restrain him pending in courts, both in Lagos and Abuja, still went ahead to declare himself President at a place in Lafia on 23rd, August 2023 despite all the suits against him.

“As at then, he showed very clear disregard for the rule of law, court order and pending litigations; and now he wants to enforce court orders in his favour, forgetting that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

“We are constrained to bring this matter to the public domain in order to clarify some misconceptions among members of the public due to Alh. Baruwa’s outcry of victimization.

“We know as a common order that ‘it is one who is cheated that cries to the court of public justice for redress,’ but the reverse seems to be the case here, where Alh. Baruwa is the one who had heated but seems to be crying the loudest.

“Be it noted that the two cases filed against Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa are pending before the National Industrial Court cill date.

“It will therefore prejudice us and the path of justice should Alhaji Ibikunle Baruwa be assisted in any way to enforce any court judgment that we believe he fraudulently obtained by challenging the wrong parties on divergent issues, while cases bordering on his election and constitution of the union, which were first raised and filed in court by us are still pending and yet to be determined.

“Moreso, it will render our cases useless and may lead to chaos, with the possibility of breakdown of law and order in the union and society at large,” he said.

James prayed the court, where the cases are pending, particularly the one marked: NICN/UY/27/2023 between Comrade Uwem James & six others vs. NURTW, Tajudeen Baruwa & two others, “to expedite action for a speedy trial and determination of the case, which we believe, will bring a final settlement on this matter.”

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Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

Published

5 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Jami’u Abiola

Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Jami’u Abiola, son of the late MKO Abiola, as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters.

Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), announced the appointment, which takes effect on November 14, 2024.

Akume’s statement, issued by Mr. Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations, highlighted that the appointment aligns with the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended.

Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

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Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

Published

5 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

Some hoodlums in Adamawa State have reportedly beaten a policeman, Ibrahim Maizabuwa, to death.

Two persons, Ezekiel Kefas and Stephen Zabadi from Wamsa Suwa Ward in Lamurde LGA of the state, have been arrested in connection with the murder.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that the suspects were arrested on November 19, 2024 after the deceased’s son, Danlami Ibrahim Maizabuwa, reported the incident to the police.

According to him, investigations revealed that the police officer was killed and buried in the community.

The deceased was said to have visited his friend, Ezekiel Kefas, in the community.

The police command’s spokesman said during interrogation, Kefas claimed that the officer was killed by a group of thugs after he destroyed property and assaulted people in his (Kefas’) house.