JUST IN: APC tackles Kano govt over alleged N10m bribe for judge – Newstrends
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JUST IN: APC tackles Kano govt over alleged N10m bribe for judge

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1 year ago

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Justice Flora Azinge

JUST IN: APC tackles Kano govt over alleged N10m bribe for judge

The All Progressives Congress has described as embarrassing the immediate reaction of the New Nigeria People’s Party government in Kano State to the N10m bribery allegation of election tribunal judge.

Chairman of the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, Justice Flora Azinge, had alleged that N10m bribe was offered to her legal team.

The APC said this in a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesman for Gawuna-Gari Campaign Council, Malam Muhammad Garba.

Justice Azinge had raised the alarm that some senior lawyers were attempting to bribe judges in her team.

She expressed concern that this was the second time a judge was complaining about how some lawyers prosecuting election matters before her tried to corrupt the system.

She stated in the open court on Tuesday that, “money is flying”, adding that “it’s being rumoured that a staff collected N10 million.”

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The Kano State government immediately released a report saying some “strong forces who are well-known for their corrupt attitude are working tirelessly to scuttle the hard-earned mandate of the people of Kano State”.

The Kano State government statement signed by State Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, further said the NNPP government viewed the incident as a test for the present administration to ensure that the case was thoroughly investigated and the culprits prosecuted.

“The anti-corruption agencies are equally expected to swing into action, especially when this type of allegation was made in open court by a respected judge,” he said.

But reacting, Garba, who is the immediate past Commissioner for Information and a Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, said the Kano government’s statement was a subtle attempt to denigrate the APC and the court.

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He said, “Kano State Government is pre-empting the possible unrevealing of the actual bribe giver by the tribunal and therefore wanted to malign the judge. “The made-up story, which is contained in a statement issued by the state commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, further indicated that the government is trying to vilify the tribunal before the judgment so that it draws sympathy from unsuspecting public in the event it is defeated.

“With an apparent sign of victory on its side, the APC has not and will never offer any bribe to anyone involved in the case considering that it has presented facts and figures to prosecute the matter before the tribunal.”

Garba observed that while the APC had presented all its witnesses during the proceedings of the tribunal, the NNPP government had failed to present any to defend its case.

According to him, the action of the Kano State government was nothing but gimmick and an attempt to disparage the APC.

APC tackles Kano govt over alleged N10m bribe for judge

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Court strikes out Bobrisky’s fundamental rights suit against EFCC

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10 hours ago

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November 29, 2024

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Popular Nigerian cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky

Court strikes out Bobrisky’s fundamental rights suit against EFCC

Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has dismissed a fundamental rights suit instituted against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju (a.k.a Bobrisky) alleging breach of his rights by the Commission and seeking  N200million damages.

 In a judgment delivered on Thursday, November 28, 2024, Justice Owoeye held that Bobrisky’s claims of encroachment of his rights lacked merit with no credible evidence to justify the reliefs he sought from the court.

One of the reliefs sought was an “ an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents” from harassing, declaring him wanted,  arresting or detaining him “whether by themselves, their officers, servants, agents…”.

In another relief, Bobrisky prayed the court to award the sum of N200million against the EFCC as damages he allegedly suffered from the activities of the Commission regarding his arrest and trial.

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After evaluating all the reliefs he sought,   Justice Owoeye ruled that   “having evaluated the evidence placed before this Court by the Applicant, it is evident that the Applicant has failed to provide credible evidence to justify the award of the declaratory and injunctive reliefs sought by him”.

The judge further stated that,  “in the final analysis,  I hold the claims of violation of fundamental rights against the 1st and 2nd Respondents were not made out of the affidavit evidence placed before this Court.  The claim of the Applicant against the 1st to the 2nd Respondents hereby lacks merit and is liable to be dismissed. It is accordingly dismissed”.  The judge also refused to award any damage against the EFCC.

Bobrisky had dragged both the EFCC and the National Assembly before the court and all the reliefs he sought were thrown out.  He was originally arrested by the EFCC on April 4, 2024 by the Commission for Naira abuse. His arrest eventually led to his six months  conviction  by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on April 12, 2024.

 

Court strikes out Bobrisky’s fundamental rights suit against EFCC

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Police arrest 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers, recover 5 Israeli rifles, others

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10 hours ago

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November 29, 2024

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Police arrest 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers, recover 5 Israeli rifles, others

Operatives of the Nigerian Police have arrested 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers during a major operation in Zamfara State.

A statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects were arrested on 18th November, 2024, with several arms recovered from them.

The statement reads : “The Nigeria Police Force in its unyielding resolution and unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, continues to work tirelessly to prevent and combat all forms of crime and criminality.

These relentless efforts are paying off, as the Force has successfully made the arrest of five (5) suspects involved in trans-border gun running. The suspects identified as Adamu Noma ‘m’, Matthew Audu ‘m’, Andrew Poyi ‘m’, Aminu Sani ‘m’, and Aminu Talha ‘m’ were apprehended by the operatives of the FID-IRT on the 18th of November, 2024 in Zamfara State.

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Upon arrest and conducted search, 10 locally fabricated Ak-47 rifles, 5 Isreali Ak-47 rifles, 1 revolver pistol, 1 pump action rifle, 20 rounds of Ak-47 ammunition, and 1 welding machine for fabrication of rifles were recovered from the suspect.

These feats, and several more recorded by police operatives across the country are indications of the steadfastness and commitment of the current police leadership to decimate and subdue criminal activities and insecurity in general in the country.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD., NPM., has re-echoed his directive to operatives of the Force, particularly, tactical units, to mop up every illegal arms and ammunition, and see to the total dismantling of local manufacturers of illicit arms and ammunition and dangerous weapons by all means. ”

 

Police arrest 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers, recover 5 Israeli rifles, others

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Army releases investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo

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10 hours ago

on

November 29, 2024

By

Fisayo Soyombo

Army releases investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo

The Nigerian Army has released investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo.

According to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), this development followed an intense media campaign advocating for his release.

In a social media post on Friday, FIJ revealed that the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had detained its founder, Fisayo Soyombo, for three days.

“The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has been detaining our founder, Fisayo Soyombo, for three days. Journalism is not a crime,” FIJ wrote.

In its response, the Nigerian Army, through the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, stated that Soyombo was arrested at an illegal bunkering site.

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Confirming Soyombo’s release on Friday evening, FIJ in a post via X said: “We can confirm that our founder @fisayosoyombo has now been released by @HQNigerianArmy, following the intense media campaign you all mounted.

“FIJ acknowledges the Nigerian Army’s deliberate mischaracterisation to suggest an involvement in “illegal oil bunkering”. FIJ will also address this statement appropriately.

“Our immediate concern is regarding the safety of ‘Fisayo Soyombo in view of extensive information sharing with the Army on his fieldwork during the period of his detention. We are assessing the situation and hoping that his safety will not be jeopardised after release.”

 

Army releases investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo

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