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Fed Govt begins trial of blogger who accused Fashola of writing PEPC’s judgments

Published

2 months ago

March 25, 2024

Babatunde Fashola

Fed Govt begins trial of blogger who accused Fashola of writing PEPC’s judgments

The Federal Government has commenced the prosecution of a man, Ibezim Chike Victor, accused of being behind some publications, claiming that the former works and housing minister authored the judgments of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that dismissed the petitions by the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Victor, who is alleged to be one of the three individuals linked to the publications, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/434/2023.

He is charged with criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation, among others.

The case, now before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, has been adjourned till April 15 for continuation of trial.

The charge reads:

*That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit an illegal Act to wit: criminal conspiracy; when you jointly agreed to publish a defamatory statement of false allegations in your online social media, the reportera.ng news, against His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, without justification, you thereby commit offence punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber-crime Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015.

*That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal Act to wit: Cyber stalking against His Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, CON, the immediate past Honourable minister for Works and Housing, false allegation through reportera. ng online news that “Nigeria Army takes siege of his Excellency Fashola’s Abuja residence, restrict movement to and fro the former Minister of Works and Housing, amidst the scare of a possible miscarriage of justice at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) and with Fashola’s rumoured involvement in drafting a controversial verdict to throw out the case of opposition parties LP and PDP.

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That the Nigeria Army has barricaded the Abuja residence of Babatunde Fashola, the immediate past Minister of Works and Housing and Tinubu stooge and close confidant.” That the hatred, ill-will, needless anxiety and criminal intimidation, is being operated by Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim with phone number 06146435568, without justification, you thereby commit offence punishable under section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015.

*That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: injurious falsehood; when you publish in your social media, through the online reportera.ng news, hate and false speeches against his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, that he drafted a controversial verdict in the case of opposition parties LP and PDP respectfully and that Nigerian Army have taken siege of his Abuja residence, restrict movement to and fro, to tarnish and injure the good image of His Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, without justification, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 393 of Penal Code law.

*That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: criminal defamation; when you, through the online reportera.ng news, published the above false defamatory statements that his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, drafted a controversial) verdict, to throw out the case of opposition parties LP and PDP and that the immediate past Minister of Works and Housing and Tinubu’s stooge and close confidant. You published the said online news on your web page X to tarnish the good reputation of His Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola as a former Governor of Lagos State and Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria before the eyes of the public without justification. You thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 392 of the Penal Code law.

Count V

That you Ibezim Chike Victor, ‘M’ with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim & Reportera.ng body corporate now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: Influencing cause of justice; when you intentional published defamatory statements against his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, and the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) with intend to influence the cause of justice that his Excellency drafted a controversial verdict of the election petition to throw out the case of opposition parties LP and PDP for the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Panel without justification. You thereby commit offence punishable under Section 182 of the Penal Code law.

*That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim & Reportera.ng body corporate now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: Inciting disturbance of public peace; when you published a defamatory statement against both his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, and the Presidential Election Petition Panel, to incite supporters of both LP and PDP parties against the Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, and Presidential Election Petition Panel without justification. You thereby commit an offence punishable under section 114 of the Penal Code law.

Fed Govt begins trial of blogger who accused Fashola of writing PEPC’s judgments

Related Topics:blogger Fashola Featured PEPC’s judgments

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Labour blocks IBEDC Osogbo office, says new electricity tariff killing

Published

1 hour ago

May 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Labour blocks IBEDC Osogbo office, says new electricity tariff killing

Members of the Organised Labour in Osun on Monday blocked the main entrance of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Business Hub, Osogbo, protesting over the recent hike in electricity tariff.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the action was a result of the joint directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), to picket offices of power distribution companies (DisCos) in their respective state capital.

The action was to protest the recent increase in electricity tariffs approved by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The union leaders locked the entrance gates of IBEDC Business Hub and other sub-offices in Osogbo, with an instruction to security personnel not to allow anyone to gain access into the offices.

Speaking to NAN during the protest, Abimbola Fasasi, TUC State Chairman, said that the protest was to make a statement and let the Federal Government know that the electricity tariff increment was unacceptable to Nigerians.

“The FG must reverse its decision on electricity tariff increment. We don’t want it at this time.

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“The government has to develop and improve on electricity generation and supply.

“How many megawatts is Nigeria generating? They are just pumping money into power without results and they want to heap the expenses on Nigerians.

“We are saying NO to electricity increment and additional burden on Nigerians and that is why we are here today picketing IBEDC offices,” he said.

Fasasi said he expected the labour action to yield results in the next two to three weeks, adding that if there is no reversal, labour will shut down the Nigerian economy with a total strike.

Also speaking, Christopher Arapasopo, NLC State Chairman, told NAN that the position of labour is that the recent increase in the electricity tariff by the NERC should be reversed.

“You will recall that on April 3, NERC announced an increase in electricity tariff, and this is killing Nigerians and Nigerian workers say No to this.

“We ought to enjoy power supply for at least 20 hours, but I can not recollect the last time power was supplied to us for eight hours.

“Recently we had the issue of fuel scarcity and again we are battling with hike in electricity tariff. The Federal Government has to do the needful.

“The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the labour unions met on April 30, to take a stand against the electricity hike and that there should be picketing of DisCos today.

“We hope that the FG and DisCos will do the needful and reverse the tariff, but if they failed, the CWC will give directive on further steps to take.” he added.

Labour blocks IBEDC Osogbo office, says new electricity tariff killing

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Activist, students arrested for protesting tuition fee hike in UI

Published

1 hour ago

May 13, 2024

Trends Admin

University of Ibadan

Activist, students arrested for protesting tuition fee hike in UI

Security personnel at the University of Ibadan apprehended three individuals, including an activist, during a protest against the rise in school fees.

The detained students are Aduwo Ayodele and Nice Linus, alongside activist Femi Adeyeye. Their arrest on Monday morning stemmed from objections to the recent tuition fee increase.

According to Sahara Reporters, they were being held at the university’s security post.

Attempts to contact the school administration for comments were unsuccessful.

In April, the UI Students’ Union Executive Council, led by Samuel Samson Tobiloba, criticized the 750% tuition hike for new students.

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The council urged an immediate reversal of the increment and sought a meeting with the university management to address the issue. The student union’s stance was prompted by the updated fees displayed on the students’ portal, ranging from N133,500 to N372,500 depending on the courses.

“We note with concern that this increment represents about 450% to 750% of the previous bundle fee which ranged from about N20,000 to N30,000,” the students’ body said, noting that it was not in support of the increment.

It, however, advised fresh students to exercise patience and not rush to pay the new fee.

It condemned the “increment in strong terms, and requested that this proposed increment be reverted to the status quo”.

“We are also requesting for a meeting with the University Management towards resolving this issue,” it said.

Activist, students arrested for protesting tuition fee hike in UI

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Production begins in new A’Ibom oil well, says NNPC

Published

1 hour ago

May 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Production begins in new A’Ibom oil well, says NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Exploration and Production Limited (NNPC E&P Ltd.) and Natural Oilfield Services Ltd. (NOSL) have announced the successful commencement of oil production at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13 in Akwa Ibom State.

The NNPC E&P Ltd. is an NNPC Ltd’s flagship upstream subsidiary, while NOSL is a subsidiary of Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO).

Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd., made this known in a statement on Sunday. Soneye said the production, which commenced on May 6 with 6,000 barrels of oil would ramp up to 40,000 barrels per day by May 27, 2024.

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“The first oil flow from OML 13 is a historic milestone in the partnership between NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL.

“It highlights their dedication to driving growth and development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which remains a vital component of the nation’s economy,” he said.

Soneye said the achievement did not only signify the culmination of rigorous planning and execution by the teams involved, but also represented a new era of economic empowerment and development opportunities for the host communities.

Furthermore, for Nigeria, the first oil from OML 13 holds some significance as it contributes to the country’s efforts to increase its oil production capacity, which is crucial for meeting domestic energy needs and driving economic growth.

The NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL partnership is also committed to operating in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and beneficial to the local communities.