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Rivers LG poll: Falana writes IGP Egbetokun, seeks security for Saturday’s elections
Updated: Rivers: Falana writes IGP, seeks security for today’s LG election
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has written to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, asking him to direct the Rivers State Police Command to maintain law and order during the local government election scheduled for Saturday (October 5).
He also said a notice of appeal had been filed against the judgment stopping the conduct of the local government poll.
Falana therefore asked the IGP to warn the Rivers State Police Command against any form of misconduct by its men and officers during the election.
This is coming after a statement credited to the Rivers State Police Command saying it would comply fully with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which barred it from participating in the local government elections in the state.
Falana stated, “The implication of the statement is that the police will not maintain law and order during the election.”
He said contrary to the Rivers State Police Command’s statement and resolution, an appeal had been filed against the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on September 30, 2024 by the Justice P.O. Lifu.
He said, “Following the filing of the appeal, a motion for stay of execution pending the appeal has also been filed by our client.
“Having been served with the copies of the Notice and Motion for Stay of execution, we request you to direct the Rivers State Police Command not to take any step that frustrates the hearing and determination of the said motion for stay of execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court.
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“In other words, you are requested to direct the Rivers State Police Command to maintain law and order during the election for the following reasons:
“Since a notice of appeal has been filed together with a motion for stay of execution, parties are not permitted to take steps that may frustrate the hearing of the motion for stay of execution.”
Falana noted that by maintaining law and order during the election, “the police cannot be accused of contempt of court.”
He said in the case of Mobil Oil Nig. Limited v Assan (1995), the Supreme Court held inter alia: “Chief FRA Williams, SAN referred the court to the cases of Huang & Ors. v. Bello & Ors. supra and Rastico Nigeria Ltd. v. Societe Generale Surveillance SA supra. These are Court of Appeal decisions and were in my view rightly decided.
“What the court below was saying in both cases was that where a person is appealing against a matter in which he had suffered a defeat and asked for a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal, he would not be liable in contempt merely because he had not obeyed the order which he is appealing against or which he wants stayed pending the appeal.
“Trial and appellate courts have always had jurisdiction to grant stay of execution of judgment pending appeal.
“The exercise of the right to apply for a stay of execution by an unsuccessful litigant pending his appeal has not been treated as a disobedience to the judgment he is appealing against.”
He said, “In Suit No: PHC/2696/CS/2024 – Action Peoples Party v. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission & 2 Ors., the Rivers State High Court has directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the local government election in accordance with the judgment of the Supreme Court in Suit No: SC/CV/343/2024 – Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Ors. (2024) LPELR -62576 (SC).
“The Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, has directed the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to maintain law and order during the election in exercise of his powers under Section 215 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
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Falana said, “A few persons have openly boasted and threatened to destroy electoral materials, cause mayhem and unleash violence on the law-abiding people of Rivers State who may wish to exercise their democratic rights during the local government election.
“In view of the foregoing, we hereby urge you to direct the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in any part of Rivers State during the local government election scheduled to hold throughout the State on October 5, 2024.”
The APC had in September filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 to stop the local government elections in the state scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), lead counsel for the APC, had pushed for the court to grant the prayers sought by his client.
He argued that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had not met the necessary conditions to conduct the local government elections.
However, Taiwo Taiwo (SAN), the lawyer representing the Attorney General of Rivers State, and Falana (SAN), who is representing the RSIEC, opposed the suit.
Taiwo and Falana challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case and contended that the proper venue for the case should be the Federal High Court’s division in Rivers State, and not that of Abuja.
The senior lawyers also contended that the suit was statute-barred and should not be entertained by the court.
Updated: Rivers: Falana writes IGP, seeks security for today’s LG election
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Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
EDJEKOTA-OGOR, DELTA STATE — A schoolboy identified as Marvellous has reportedly escaped a suspected kidnapping attempt after a commercial motorcycle rider allegedly tried to lure him away by claiming that his father had sent him.
The incident occurred in Edjekota-Ogor community in Delta State, where the unidentified motorcycle rider reportedly approached the boy and attempted to gain his confidence by mentioning his father’s name.
The suspect allegedly told Marvellous that his father had instructed him to pick him up, apparently hoping to deceive the young boy into following him.
However, Marvellous reportedly became suspicious of the rider’s claim and refused to go with him, thereby foiling what could have been an abduction.
Following the incident, community leaders reportedly intervened to ensure the boy’s safety and facilitate his return to his family.
The President-General of Edjekota-Ogor community subsequently directed the community’s Secretary-General to take necessary steps to protect the boy and reunite him with his relatives.
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Acting on the directive, the Secretary-General reportedly contacted members of Marvellous’s family and successfully ensured that he was returned safely to his relieved parents.
The incident has drawn attention to the need for increased vigilance among parents, guardians and community members over the safety of children.
Parents have been urged to educate their children never to follow anyone, including familiar-looking strangers, without first confirming such arrangements directly with them.
Children should also be taught not to rely solely on someone mentioning their parents’ names as proof of familiarity or authority.
The identity and whereabouts of the suspected motorcycle rider were not disclosed in the account of the incident.
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
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Tragedy in Benue: Four Dead, 14 Hospitalised After Consuming Suspected Poisonous Herbal Mixture
At least four persons have died, while 14 others have been hospitalised after allegedly consuming a suspected poisonous herbal mixture in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims, residents of the Igede community, reportedly bought the herbal preparations from three men during the Ihiejwo market day in Oju township last weekend.
The incident sparked panic in the community on Monday, November 2, after several residents who had consumed the preparations reportedly began developing similar symptoms.
According to eyewitness accounts, the first victim died on Tuesday morning, while the second died in the early hours of Wednesday. Two additional victims reportedly died on November 4.
Fourteen other persons were said to have been taken to different hospitals for medical attention, with some reportedly in critical condition.
The suspected herbal mixture sellers were identified as Alhaji Sule Mai Magani, Bello Mohamed and Musa Kala.
Following the incident, members of the Igede Youth Council, working with the Oju Local Government Area Township Youth leadership, reportedly apprehended the three men and handed them over to the police.
The suspects were subsequently transferred from the Oju Divisional Police Headquarters to the Benue State Police Command in Makurdi for further investigation.
President of the Igede Youth Council, Comrade John-Frank Ozzidi, called on the Benue State Government to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
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Ozzidi commended members of the community for resisting the temptation to take the law into their own hands, despite the anger generated by the deaths.
He said the decision to hand over the suspects to the police demonstrated the community’s confidence in the ability of security agencies and the government to ensure justice.
The youth leader also appealed to political officeholders from the area to monitor the investigation and ensure that the circumstances surrounding the suspected poisoning were fully established.
Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Jackson Ominyi, confirmed the incident but said he was initially unable to establish the exact number of fatalities.
He disclosed that the local government had mobilised its security and health officials to manage the situation and ensure that affected residents received medical attention.
Ominyi also said the suspected sellers had been arrested and transferred to the police headquarters in Makurdi.
Meanwhile, the incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of unregulated herbal preparations sold in local markets and the need for stronger monitoring of products consumed by members of the public.
The authorities are expected to establish the actual substances contained in the preparations and determine whether they were responsible for the deaths and illnesses.
The police investigation is also expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the sale and consumption of the suspected poisonous mixture.
Tragedy in Benue: Four Dead, 14 Hospitalised After Consuming Suspected Poisonous Herbal Mixture
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CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu
CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu
LAGOS — A fresh controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic credentials at Chicago State University (CSU) has taken an unexpected turn, following explosive claims made by a former lecturer at the institution, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse.
Pearse, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and governorship aspirant, publicly accused President Tinubu of never attending CSU, describing the Nigerian leader in harsh terms during a broadcast interview on News Central Television. Pearse claimed that as a former lecturer at CSU, he had direct knowledge of the institution’s records and served as the director of the program Tinubu reportedly attended.
However, Pearse’s allegations have sparked fierce backlash after key details of his timeline emerged, leading political analysts and presidential aides to conclude that the former lecturer effectively indicted himself.
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The Discrepancy in Timelines
During his broadcast appearance, Dr. Pearse disclosed that he served as a lecturer and program director at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990.
Official records previously confirmed by Chicago State University establish that President Bola Tinubu attended the university between 1977 and 1979, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in June 1979.
The six-year gap between Tinubu’s graduation in 1979 and Pearse’s arrival at the university in 1985 has drawn significant scrutiny. Critics point out that Pearse was not present at CSU during the years Tinubu studied there, undermining his claim of personal first-hand knowledge of student enrollments during the late 1970s.
Presidency and Allies Respond
Reacting to the allegations, aides to President Tinubu and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) cited major flaws in Pearse’s narrative.
Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, highlighted the timeline mismatch, noting that a lecturer who joined CSU six years after a student had already graduated could not authoritatively claim personal knowledge of that student’s presence on campus.
“Facts are always scary to con-artists,” Olusegun noted, emphasizing that individual faculty members do not possess administrative ownership of an entire university’s historical database across different decades.
Furthermore, APC chieftains have demanded that Pearse retract his statement or face legal action for defamation, describing the allegations as politically motivated rhetoric aimed at heating up the polity ahead of future elections.
While certificate controversies have repeatedly resurfaced in public debate, legal investigations and past disclosures by Chicago State University have maintained that President Tinubu was indeed a registered student who completed his degree at the institution in 1979.
As public debate continues over the incident, Pearse’s attempt to present himself as the ultimate authority on the matter has instead turned the spotlight back onto his own timeline, leaving him to address the glaring inconsistencies in his claims.
For further context and analysis regarding public statements and legal responses to President Tinubu’s academic record controversies, you can watch Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse’s statement on Chicago State University records, which details the allegations and political reactions surrounding the issue.
CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu
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