Okafor said he remained resolute in defending his reputation and ensure justice.
News
National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal: Deputy Speaker floors Labour Party
National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal: Deputy Speaker floors Labour Party
The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has dismissed a petition challenging the election of Rep. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In his ruling, Justice Samson Paul-Gang, who led the three-member panel on Tuesday, dismissed the petition by the Labour Party (LP) for lacking merit.
He urged all parties to bear the administrative cost.
The judge ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.
LP candidate, Chief Frank Chinasa, had challenged the re-election of Kalu of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Bende Federal Constituency of Abia.
Counsel to Chinasa, Mr Yunus Usman (SAN), urged the tribunal to set aside all the votes in favour of Kalu because he was not qualified for the Feb. 25 poll.
Usman contended that Kalu was not qualified because he did not possess the requisite educational requirements as provided for in Section 65(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution.
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He argued that Kalu used different names in different educational certificates, other than Kalu Benjamin Okezie, which was his current name.
The counsel also alleged that Form EC9, submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission by Kalu, bore the name “Osisiogu Benjamin Okezie”.
He said that other documents, including his birth certificate, first degree certificate, NYSC Certificate and WASC, bore the name Kalu Benjamin Okezie and Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu, respectively.
He therefore sought an order nullifying and also setting aside all the votes attributed to the first respondent by reason of non-qualification to contest for the said election.
On the other hand, Kalu’s counsel, Mr Kelvin Nwufo, asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lack of merit.
He submitted that the inconsistencies in Kalu’s names were validly harmonised through a deed of proof and Federal Government’s gazette, where the change of name was recorded.
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Dismissing the petition, the judge held that the onus of proof of alleged falsification of certificate was on the petitioner, not the respondent, which he failed to do beyond reasonable doubt.
Counsels to the parties were not willing to grant press interview.
Meanwhile, it was a mild drama in court as the Action Alliance (AA) candidate in the said election, Mr Ifeanyi Igbokwe, filed a fresh application on imposition of his name.
Igbokwe, who was personally present with his counsels, told the tribunal that he was not challenging the re-election of Kalu in the Feb. 25 poll.
‘’I heard that somebody was using my name to challenge Kalu’s victory and I have come to court to know whom the person is,’’ he said.
The tribunal however, adjourned for hearing on a later date.
Counsel to AA, Mr Daniel Anya, had in a final written address on Aug. 14, asked the tribunal to annul Kalu’s election over the exclusion of party’s name and logo from the ballot during the poll.
National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal: Deputy Speaker floors Labour Party
News
Rivers crisis may truncate Nigeria’s democracy, remember ‘Operation Wetie’ – Bode George warns
Rivers crisis may truncate Nigeria’s democracy, remember ‘Operation Wetie’ – Bode George warns
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, on Friday, has warned that the political crisis rocking Rivers State could consume the country.
He urged elders and stakeholders of the party to intervene in the crisis between members of the state House of Assembly loyal to the ex-governor Nyesome Wike and incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He also urged President Bola Tinubu not to treat with levity the threat by some lawmakers in the state to impeach Governor Fubara, insisting that the state belongs to the PDP.
He advised that nobody should sit on the fence and pretend that things were fine in the state.
He quoted Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, stating that a member of a House of Assembly would vacate his seat in the House if he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which he was elected.
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George maintained that all the PDP lawmakers who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) had automatically lost their seats.
“They are in no position to threaten Governor Fubara. So, their plot to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor is already in vain,” he said.
He also said, “Rivers people belong to PDP. Those threatening to impeach the governor are being remote-controlled by some forces. This must stop because if Rivers is set on fire today, that may end this democracy.
“We should remember ‘Operation Wetie’ which started in the defunct Western Region and eventually consumed the nation and ended the First Republic in 1966.
“All the actors in this crisis in Rivers should avoid actions likely to cause breach of peace and breakdown of law and order in our country.
“Members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of our party should be the elders in the room, act swiftly and nip this crisis in the bud before it consumes everybody.
“All the gladiators should also think of the collective interests of Nigerians. Whether we are members of PDP, APC or other parties, we should stop issuing provocative statements to increase the tension in Rivers.
“Any move that can truncate this democracy must be stopped immediately. Enough is enough”.
Rivers crisis may truncate Nigeria’s democracy, remember ‘Operation Wetie’ – Bode George warns
News
NANS kicks against tuition fee introduction in federal varsities
NANS kicks against tuition fee introduction in federal varsities
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly opposed the recent proposal by Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, to introduce tuition fees in federal universities.
Echono’s suggestion, made during an education sector conference in Abuja themed “Funding for Tertiary Education in Nigeria,” sparked widespread concern among student communities.
Pedro Obi, the President of NANS, issued a statement on Friday, condemning the proposal as a direct assault on the fundamental principle of accessible education for all Nigerians.
Obi emphasized that federal universities have historically served as pillars of hope for underprivileged students, offering them the opportunity to pursue higher education without financial constraints. Introducing tuition fees, he argued, would undermine this noble principle and create barriers that could prevent countless deserving students from accessing tertiary education.
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While acknowledging the need for sustainable funding in educational institutions, Obi asserted that burdening students and their families with tuition fees is not a viable solution. He urged the government to explore alternative funding mechanisms that would not compromise the accessibility and affordability of education.
NANS called on the federal government to reject the proposal and uphold its commitment to providing free and accessible education for all Nigerians. Obi urged stakeholders in the education sector to prioritize the welfare and future of students above all other considerations.
The statement reiterated that education is a fundamental right, not a privilege reserved for the affluent. NANS affirmed its unwavering commitment to defending this principle and ensuring equal access to quality education for every Nigerian.
NANS kicks against tuition fee introduction in federal varsities
News
Binance: Rep threatens legal action over $140m bribe allegation
Binance: Rep threatens legal action over $140m bribe allegation
A House of Representatives member. Dominic Okafor, has denied allegations of accepting a $140 million bribe from Binance, an online cryptocurrency trading platform.
Okafor, representing Aguata Federal Constituency of Anambra State, has threatened to sue Premium Times that reported the allegations.
He told journalists in Abuja of his intention to pursue legal action against the media outlet responsible for the report tarnishing his reputation.
This came after Okafor’s motion to investigate the escape of Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla from Nigerian security custody.
He asserted that the timing of the bribery allegations, shortly after moving the motion, suggested a deliberate attempt to smear his name and integrity.
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In response to the report, Okafor wrote a letter to Premium Times demanding the retraction of the report within 24 hours.
He copied the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Clerk, Inspector General of Police, EFCC, and DSS.
A Binance executive had earlier accused members of a federal government committee of corruption.
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