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Drama as witnesses fail to testify in favour of LP, disappear from court

Published

2 years ago

July 26, 2023

Drama as witnesses fail to testify in favour of LP, disappear from court

A minor drama occurred on Tuesday at the Umuahia, Abia State Election Petition Tribunal when the final ten witnesses who were supposed to testify against Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu, who represents the Obingwa-West state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly (ABHA), declined to appear in court.

The petitioner and the candidate of the Labour Party LP, Mrs. Victoria Onwubiko, had filed a suit challenging the victory of Hon. Erondu Jnr in the 2023 general polls. During their last sitting, Mrs Onwubiko’s lead counsel had informed the court that they would bring more witnesses to testify on Tuesday and subsequently close their case.

However, during the proceedings on Tuesday, the lead counsel to the petitioner, Barrister Raymond Nkannebe, surprised the court by requesting an adjournment to a later date. He explained that the witnesses they had expected in court earlier had disappeared from the court premises.

The tribunal chairman, Hon. Justice Kutigi, expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, stating that time was of the essence. He revealed that the tribunal was handling 15 other cases with limited time to conclude.

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Hon Kutigi warned that such behavior would no longer be tolerated and advised the petitioner to close their case if their witnesses were not forthcoming to avoid unnecessary delays.

The court eventually adjourned the hearing to August 3, 2023, to give the petitioner an opportunity to bring their witnesses to court and close their case.

On July 14, 2023, seven out of the ten witnesses called by Mrs Onwubiko to testify against Hon Erondu Jnr had absconded without giving their testimony.

During cross-examination, one of the witnesses initially alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) register was not used, and the Biomidal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) used in the state constituency election was malfunctioning.

However, he later reversed his statement and admitted that the INEC voter register was used, and BVAS functioned properly, as he himself had voted using the system.

Another witness also confessed during cross-examination that there was no mutilation or alteration of exhibits, especially Form EC 8A, which was the result sheet, as he had earlier alleged.

Mrs. Onwubiko’s suit (EPT/HA/11/2023; Mrs. Victoria Dibunma Onwubiko Vs Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr) alleged that Hon. Erondu Jnr was wrongly declared the winner of the Obingwa-West state constituency election. She sought the court’s declaration of herself as the rightful winner.

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Lagos taskforce arrests 52 suspects in Island clean-up operation

Published

3 minutes ago

April 26, 2025

Trends Admin

Lagos taskforce arrests 52 suspects in Island clean-up operation

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Taskforce has apprehended 52 individuals during a late-night clean-up aimed at tackling crime on Lagos Island.

Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, announced the arrests in a statement shared on Saturday via X.

According to Wahab, the enforcement exercise began at around 12:35 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025, and covered several key locations, including Lekki, Ikoyi, Falomo Bridge, Eko Hotel, and Ligali Ayorinde.

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Wahab said, “Complaints and distressed calls suggest that some of these streets are populated at night by unscrupulous elements—miscreants, street urchins, pickpockets, and other suspected criminals—denying innocent Lagosians of their hard-earned valuables and belongings.”

He revealed that 52 suspects—51 males and one female—were arrested during the operation. He added that order was restored in all the areas visited.

“The operation today on the Island was part of a series of enforcement and clean-up exercises slated for at least twice a week to gradually rid the area of criminal elements,” Wahab explained.

He further assured residents that the suspects would be prosecuted to ensure a safer Lagos.
“The operation today on the Island was part of a series of enforcement and clean-up exercises slated for at least twice a week to gradually rid the area of criminal elements.”

Lagos taskforce arrests 52 suspects in Island clean-up operation

metro

JAMB candidates die in Oyo road crash

Published

7 minutes ago

April 26, 2025

Trends Admin

JAMB candidates die in Oyo road crash

Several candidates traveling to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have sadly lost their lives in a road accident on the Oyo-Ogbomoso highway in Oyo State.

According to reports shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), the tragic incident was caused by a suspected brake failure. While the exact number of casualties and the identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed, it was confirmed that they were en route to their exam centers when the accident happened.

News of the crash quickly spread across social media, with many users taking to the comment sections to share their condolences and express their grief.

See some reactions below:

@Plug08066: “May the gentleness of the souls departed rest in peace. This is the reason why we need to elect a person who loves education and health so much but you’ll rather vote for your tribesman because of tribalism and end up regretting it in the long run.”

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@omoiyaonikoko1: “The jamb registra needs to resign man has been bringing policy that make jamb applicant to through hell for God sake what’s wrong with the good old ways of writing jamb??now soul are gone all in the name of writing jamb exam..Goods.. May their soul continue to rest in peace.”

@EsievDarneal: “Everything is wrong with this country you fix exams as early as 6am. Is it, not better student go to the respective school they apply for to write their entrance exam if you pass you get admission.”

@Kickflowdown: “I don’t understand JAMB, I thought candidates choose areas where they write like states and LGA? Has it changed to buying JAMB form and being sent to Zamfara like NYSC? it’s room for racketeering to pay for favorable centres. Everything is business at the expense of lives.”

@comrade_lekan1: “Last year, I wrote an article against JAMB on two factors. Placing students in a centre too far from their residence. Fixing exam for as early as 6:30 am. There is insecurity everywhere and I wonder why JAMB is subjecting these teenagers to so much rigours. Jamb needs to be sued.”

JAMB candidates die in Oyo road crash

metro

Missing student found safe after disappearing en route to JAMB exam

Published

14 minutes ago

April 26, 2025

Trends Admin

Esther Oluwafayofubmi Oladele

Missing student found safe after disappearing en route to JAMB exam

A student reported to have gone missing on her way to write the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has been found.

On Friday, news surfaced that a female UTME candidate went missing during her commute from the Epe area of Lagos to Ajah.

One Johnson, a Twitter user who identified as a relative of the UTME candidate, had said the girl had sent a panicky message disclosing she had boarded “the wrong car”.

The missing UTME candidate was identified as Esther Oluwafayofubmi Oladele.

She was said to have been commuting on Thursday ahead of her exam scheduled for 9 am on Friday.

Johnson said Esther had texted one of her siblings, saying, “I’m scared. I think I entered the wrong car. My eyes are itchy and I feel sleepy.”

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Calling on netizens for help in spreading the word, he said the matter was reported at Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah.

“They said they will start an investigation, which includes sharing the information with other stations and also airing it,” he said.

“They told us not to rely solely on them, we’re asked to continue looking everywhere else for her.”

TheCable had contacted both JAMB and police sources in Lagos, but none had responded to enquiries as of this report.

In a follow-up post on Saturday, Johnson disclosed that the missing girl has returned home.

Details on what transpired has yet to be disclosed.