SANs back INEC on destruction of uncollected PVCs

Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) have backed the intended withdrawal and destruction of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Chronicle NG reports that INEC is contemplating a policy to withdraw and destroy Permanent Voter Cards that remain uncollected for a decade.

This recommendation was among 208 proposals arising from the commission’s review of the 2023 general elections.

The decision resulted from the recurrent issue of unclaimed PVCs, with over six million cards still uncollected as of the 2023 elections, including many issued as long back as 2015.

Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), the former chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, stated that some of the uncollected PVCs were most likely the result of double registration.

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“They (uncollected PVCs) are taking space. My suspicion is that the owners don’t exist. It is double fraudulent registration by a lot of people.

“Just as I am sure that we are not up to 200 million, neither do I believe that we are up to 90 million registered voters when only 20 percent of that is always voting.

“There is a lot of fake information and fake facts in this country, and I’m sure this is part of it. So, let them destroy the uncollected PVCs,” he said.

Sharing the same sentiment, another SAN, Sam Erugo, said, “The PVCs have been uncollected over time, so I don’t see anything wrong in them destroying them because not collecting them means something is definitely wrong with the owners.

“Either they are dead or they are duplicates.  Now, that brings the question of whether eligible voters have voter cards or whether that will impede their right to vote or not.

“That is a different question altogether, but if they have uncollected voter cards, of course, they have a right to destroy them because that will help stop people from using them to rig elections.

“Given that they are uncollected, they are useless already, and money has been wasted already.”

SANs back INEC on destruction of uncollected PVCs

FG pays N1.1bn professional fees to Afe Babalola, other top lawyers – Report

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Justice, has paid about N1.1 billion in professional fees to renowned lawyers, including Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and 23 other legal practitioners and firms within three years.

According to a report by Saturday PUNCH, the information comes from an analysis conducted by GovSpend, a civic tech platform that monitors government expenditure.

Professional legal services typically include offering advice, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in legal cases. Lawyers may also provide assistance with transactional matters, compliance, negotiation, advocacy, lobbying, and risk management.

In July 2024, Babalola, Olanipekun, and Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, collectively received N482.7 million from the Ministry of Justice. Records show that Babalola was paid N372.9 million on July 23 for representing the Federal Government in case FHC/ABJ/SC/8962/2023. Olanipekun and Izinyon received N103.6 million and N6.2 million, respectively, on July 26 and July 29.

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The records further reveal that 17 lawyers were paid a combined sum of N359.7 million in 2022, while four lawyers received N319.3 million in 2021.

In 2022, Savannah Law Chambers received N17.4 million; Lex Habitae, N21.8 million; Rashida Mohammed & Co, N17.4 million; and Abdullahi Haruna & Co, N17.4 million. LDS Legal received N70.9 million, and King’s Chambers and Iwuanyanwu & Co each received N15.7 million. Sulaiman Salihu & Co was paid N31.4 million in two installments.

Other firms, such as Justice Solicitors & Attorneys, Pelican Legal, and Aderemi Olatubora & Co, were each paid N15.7 million, while Savannah Law Chambers received an additional N29 million. Lords and Temple Attorneys was paid N5.4 million, while Hanafi & Associates received N20.7 million.

In 2021, disbursements included N174 million to Mr. Chikwendu Madumere, N21.8 million to LDS Legal, N21.8 million to Olowolafe & Co, and N100.5 million to Sulaiman Salihu & Co in two installments.

As part of the payments, Chief Afe Babalola remitted 7.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) amounting to N31 million, while Wole Olanipekun paid N8.6 million in VAT. Additionally, both lawyers paid 10% withholding tax of N41.4 million and N11.5 million, respectively, to the Ministry of Justice.

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Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Anambra

The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi has announced the gruesome murder of Reverend Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo by unknown assailants.

Rev Fr Okonkwo, who is also a pharmacist, was shot dead in Ihiala on Boxing Day.