Asset declaration: Court stops INEC chairman’s removal – Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

Asset declaration: Court stops INEC chairman’s removal

Published

2 years ago

on

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on Wednesday frustrated plans to scuttle the 2023 general election by removing the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over alleged failure to declare his assets.

Apart from quashing the allegations of false assets declaration against Yakubu, the court stopped security agencies from investigating him.

Meanwhile, the coalition of United Political Parties and other socio-political organisations have hailed the judgement, describing the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

The Spokesperson for CUPP, Ikenga Ugochinyere, hailed the judgment as “a major New Year gift to Nigerians by the judiciary.”

According to him, the court verdict was “a victory for a credible, free and fair election.”

He said the plans to scuttle the 2023 general election by those who know they cannot win free and fair elections have been squashed by the judiciary.

READ ALSO:

Ugochinyere also commended the court for going ahead to bar security agencies from investigating him over his valid assets declaration.

He said, “I’m happy that the judiciary over the months has proven that they are the last hope of the common man. Since our intelligence discovery of plans to compel INEC chairman to stop the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation system in the 2023 elections, these evil politicians have not rested, they are looking for non existing faults.”

The plaintiff, Somadina Uzoabaka, had in an originating summons marked FCT/HC/GAR/CV/47/2022 filed against the Attorney-General of the Federation and Yakubu, sought among others, an order of mandatory injunction directing and compelling the INEC chairman to recuse, excuse and exclude himself and or step down as chairman, pending the investigation and consideration of the various allegations against him by the various law enforcement agencies.

The plaintiff also sought an order of the court stopping him from holding or assuming any public office for a period of ten years.

In his defence, Yakubu tendered several exhibits to show the sources of money for the purchase of the properties which, the plaintiff alleged, were illegally acquired and insisted that his assets declarations were validly done.

Delivering his judgment, Justice M. A. Hassan held that the declaration of assets by Yakubu was lawful, valid and in compliance with the law.

According to him, the INEC chairman cannot be investigated by any of the security agencies listed by the claimant that should all investigate him. The judge declined to grant any of the 14 prayers of the claimant and declared that the INEC Chairman cannot be removed over fabricated allegations of false assets declaration.

The judge, therefore, dismissed the claims of the claimant and allowed Yakubu’s counter-claim.

Ugochinyere regretted that security agencies were now being used for other responsibilities.

He said, “First, it was the CBN Governor because of the cash limit policy and now the INEC chairman. The security agencies are a disappointment; at a time the masses need their protection and help, they are busy serving the interest of evil politicians.”

The President of the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Youth Movement, Ochiagha Nnadi, said the judiciary has yet again saved the Nigerian democracy from collapse as politicians do not mind the collapse of democracy in their pursuit of power.

“Can Nigerians imagine what would have happened if in about 50 days to a general election, there is a sudden change in the leadership of the electoral commission? Many people who pose as leaders do not mean well for the country”, he said.

The national chairman of the Action Alliance, Kenneth Udeze, in his response, applauded the judge for being bold.

Udeze wondered why any person would wait until a few days before a general election to seek the removal of the INEC boss from office.

“It would have thrown the entire country into political crisis as there would be allegations and counter-allegations in an already highly charged polity. Security agencies should live up to their mandate and stop being apolitical,” he said. Eagle

Related Topics:
Advertisement

metro

BREAKING: Appeal Court stops Sanusi’s reinstatement as Kano emir

Published

6 hours ago

on

March 14, 2025

By

BREAKING: Appeal Court stops Sanusi’s reinstatement as Kano emir

 

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has stopped the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.

The court on Friday halted the enforcement of its January 10 judgment, which upheld the Kano State government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirates Council Law, pending the Supreme Court’s determination of an appeal on the same matter.

The ruling was unanimously delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Okon Abang.

It ruled that the applicant, having served as Emir for five years before his removal, had legal rights that required protection until the Supreme Court delivers a final verdict.

The appellate court had earlier set aside a June 20, 2024 ruling by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano, which nullified the Kano State government’s dissolution of five emirates in the state and the subsequent reinstatement of Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The Court of Appeal then ruled that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over the case

Dissatisfied with the ruling, an injunction request was filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi (Sarkin Dawaki Babba) against the Kano State Government, the Speaker of the State Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies.

Dan Agundi sought to restrain the respondents from enforcing the appellate court’s judgment while awaiting the apex court’s decision.

However, in its unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal agreed that the application had merit and granted the injunction.

Justice Abang stated, “The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice.”

The ruling ordered that all parties must maintain the “status quo ante bellum,” preserving the situation as it was before the Federal High Court’s judgment on June 13, 2024.

Continue Reading

metro

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

Published

14 hours ago

on

March 14, 2025

By

CSP Omolola Odutola

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

The Police Command in Ogun State has launched an investigation into the death of a 25-year-old man, Toye Dominic, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree in a forest near Alagbodagbo Village, Ijebu Igbo.

In a statement released on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and said the body was found around 4:30 p.m.

According to Odutola, a local hunter, Kareem Olawalose, came across the scene while on a hunting trip and promptly reported the discovery to the Ijebu Igbo Divisional Police Headquarters.

After spotting the body, Olawalose sought assistance from a nearby village, where he met the deceased’s elder brother, Joseph Dominic.

READ ALSO:

The brother disclosed that Toye had left for the farm earlier in the day but failed to return, prompting a search by concerned family members.

“Policemen and villagers on arrival at the scene, observed that the deceased had set aside his farm tools before proceeding further into the forest, where he was found hanging from a tree.“No suicide note was found, and family members expressed shock and disbelief over the incident,” Odutola said.

She added that officers documented the scene with photographs, and the body was taken to General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, for further examination.
Odutola assured the public that the police would carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine the events leading to the tragedy.

She also encouraged community members to stay alert and support people who might be experiencing emotional distress, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and timely intervention.

 

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

Continue Reading

metro

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

Published

14 hours ago

on

March 14, 2025

By

Former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

The Kwara State High Court has fixed April 10 and 11 for the continuation of the trial of former governor AbdulFatah Ahmed and his finance commissioner, Demola Banu, over the alleged diversion of 5.78 billion naira from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the two officials, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Testifying in court, Engineer Abdulsalam Olanrewaju, a former project manager at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), revealed that despite the state paying counterpart funds in 2014 and 2015, no contracts were awarded.

READ ALSO:

He stated that while the 2013 contractors were eventually paid after protesting delays, funds meant for subsequent projects remained unused.

During cross-examination, Olanrewaju clarified that signatories to the SUBEB account were the accountant, permanent secretary, and executive chairman of the board.

Earlier, a second witness, Dr. Musa Dasuki, emphasized that matching grants from UBEC and SUBEB are strictly meant for school infrastructure and cannot be diverted for other purposes.

 

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

Continue Reading

Trending