Supreme court dismisses appeal against Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy – Newstrends
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Supreme court dismisses appeal against Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy

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Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa

Supreme court dismisses appeal against Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal filed by Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, against the candidacy of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In the lead Judgement delivered by Justice Lawal Garba, the apex court dismissed Agboola Ajayi’s appeal on the ground that it was filed out of time and that he lacked the right to file the lawsuit being from another party.

The court added that the matter is an internal affair of the defendant’s party.

The apex court held that the appellants lacked the locus standi to pursue the case, rendering the appeal unsustainable.

The apex court further affirmed that the case was statute-barred, upholding the decisions of the lower courts.

The judgment emphasised that the cause of action arose on May 20, 2024, when the nomination forms were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while the appellants filed their suit at the Federal High Court on June 7, 2024, well beyond the 14-day limit prescribed by law.

Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, with the court ordering Agboola Ajayi to pay the ₦2 million in costs to each of the four respondents.

Ajayi had sought to nullify the election of Deputy Governor, Olayide Adelami, over allegations of discrepancies in his name change, as well as challenging the legitimacy of Aiyedatiwa and the APC in the case.

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Ajayi’s argument centred on the claim that Adelami, who previously had “Jackson” as his middle name while in secondary school, had changed it to “Owolabi” without proper documentation.

However, the Supreme Court found no legal basis to disqualify the deputy governor on these grounds, emphasizing that name changes, when properly documented, do not constitute electoral fraud or disqualification.

Ajayi filed the case at the Federal High Court, Abuja on 7th June 2024, challenging the nomination of Aiyedatiwa on the technical ground of alleged non-qualification of his Deputy. Upon the petition of the defendants, the case was transferred to the Akure judicial division of the Court by the Chief Judge.

The Federal High Court dismissed the case in the judgment delivered by Justice T.B. Adegoke on December 2, 2024. The trial Court relied on the case of APC v Obaseki to hold that since the plaintiff (Agboola) made criminal allegations of forgery, perjury and impersonation against the Deputy Governor, he should have commenced the suit by way of writ of summons.

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Agboola Ajayi appealed against it to the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, through a Notice of Appeal filed on December 13, 2024.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Honourable Justices Oyebisi Omoleye, Hadiza Shagari and Fadawu Umaru, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and upheld the findings and decisions of the Federal High Court with an award of N500,000:00 costs against the appellant

Ajayi had sought to nullify Aiyedatiwa’s victory, accusing the Deputy Governor, Olayide Adelami of forgery, False identity, Falsification of Documents

 

Supreme court dismisses appeal against Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy

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Omokri : How Tinubu’s political mastery started with Abiola, says El-Rufai, Obi’s forces can’t stop him

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Abacha, Tinubu and Abiola

Omokri : How Tinubu’s political mastery started with Abiola, says El-Rufai, Obi’s forces can’t stop him

Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has credited President Bola Tinubu with playing a key role in the victory of the late Chief MKO Abiola during the annulled 1993 presidential election.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Omokri argued that Tinubu’s influence and political acumen stretch far beyond recent elections, noting that opposition figures such as former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi lack the momentum to challenge Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.

“The recent seismic political realignments in Nigeria in favour of President Bola Tinubu should not surprise students of history,” Omokri wrote.

“Historical context is required to understand President Bola Tinubu. He did not start winning almost impossible-to-win elections in 2023. He is a veteran of such odds stacked against you elections.”

Omokri emphasized Tinubu’s pivotal role in Abiola’s 1993 campaign:”Many people forget or do not even know that then-Senator Bola Tinubu was Chief MKO Abiola’s right-hand man, helping him strategise and win the famed June 12, 1993 election upset.”

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He continued, “For roles requiring trust, with perhaps the exception of his son, Kola, and his late wife, Kudirat, there was nobody Chief Abiola looked to politically above then-Senator Tinubu. Even his political foe, Alhaji Sule Lamido, recently and grudgingly admitted it during an interview.”

Omokri described Tinubu as a uniquely skilled politician:”Hate him or love him, President Bola Tinubu is the best politician in Nigeria. He understands human nature, anticipates betrayal before it happens, and plans ahead for it.

“He also forgives easily, where there is repentance, and is able to work on the basis of no permanent enemy or friend but permanent interests.”

According to Omokri, Tinubu’s strength lies in his personal approach to politics:”But perhaps his biggest selling point is his relationship building abilities. The man knows how to reach out and touch people at the point of their need instead of waiting to get them by appealing to their greed, like his opponents.”

Looking ahead to the next general election, Omokri expressed confidence in Tinubu’s political future:”As long as God spares his life, I do not see anyone who can stop his reelection in 2027. Certainly not Nasir el-Rufai, who could not deliver his state to the APC when he was in office, how much more now that he is an out of office has been.”

He concluded with sharp criticism of Obi’s political approach:”And neither can Peter Obi, who has been exposed as an Islam-hating ‘Yes Daddy’ opportunistic politician.”

Omokri : How Tinubu’s political mastery started with Abiola, says El-Rufai, Obi’s forces can’t stop him

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US indicts Oladapo Fadugba over $690,000 scam, false citizenship

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US indicts Oladapo Fadugba over $690,000 scam, false citizenship

Oladapo Fadugba, a Nigerian-born United States citizen, faces 27 years in jail for his alleged involvement in a $690,000 wire fraud operation and making false representations to earn US citizenship.

Chronicle NG gathered this in a statement by the US Attorney for the District of Florida, Gregory Kehoe, obtained on Wednesday.

According to Kehoe, Fadugba was charged with various counts, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false claims throughout his naturalisation process.

According to Kehoe, between October 2020 and July 2023, the suspect allegedly stole $690,000 in money from the US Department of Veterans Affairs that was intended for reimbursement to a large local healthcare provider.

It was also stated that Fadugba utilised another person’s identity to arrange transfers to various bank accounts under his control.

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The statement read, “According to the indictment, beginning on October 30, 2020, and ending no later than July 11, 2023, Fadugba had more than $690,000 of Department of Veterans Affairs funds, intended for reimbursement to a large local healthcare provider, transferred to his personal bank accounts.

“Fadugba then wrote cheques to himself or to businesses associated with him, which were subsequently transferred to other bank accounts under his control. It is alleged that he used the identification of another individual to carry out these transfers.”

In addition, Fadugba is accused of lying under oath during his US naturalisation proceedings by falsely claiming that he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested.

According to Kehoe, if the defendant is convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum term of 27 years in federal prison and a forfeiture of $400,000, which represents proceeds from the alleged offences.

“The indictment further alleges that Fadugba, a naturalised US citizen from Nigeria, made a false statement under oath during his naturalisation proceedings by claiming he had not committed any offence or crime for which he had not been arrested.

“If convicted on all charges, Fadugba faces up to 27 years in federal prison. The indictment also includes a notice that the United States is seeking a forfeiture order of $400,000, which reflects the approximate proceeds of the criminal conduct charged,” the statement added.

Kehoe concluded by mentioning that “an indictment is merely a formal accusation of criminal conduct, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”

US indicts Oladapo Fadugba over $690,000 scam, false citizenship

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Groom cancels wedding, marries another lady same date, venue

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Groom cancels wedding, marries another lady same date, venue

The solemnisation of holy matrimony between a groom, Henry James, and Miss Afiniki Ibrahim was reportedly called off few days to the occasion.

The wedding scheduled to have been held on the 12th of April, 2025, in Saminaka, Lere Local Government of Kaduna State, was called off after the bride was discovered to be pregnant.

Our correspondent gathered that the bride was discovered pregnant after a series of tests were conducted by the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA).

It was gathered that the doctrine of the church stipulates that every couple is mandated to carry out several tests by the church medical team in a bid to ascertain their compatibility and to ascertain if the ”bed has been defiled”.

A source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity revealed that Miss Afiniki was discovered pregnant after the tests were carried out.

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However, the groom-to-be distanced himself from the pregnancy, saying he did not have any knowledge of her throughout their courtship.

The discovery prompted Henry to call off the wedding.

In a dramatic twist, it was gathered that the secretary asked the disgruntled groom to marry Miss Godiya, a member of the church who had once rejected his love advances.

The secretary it was gathered, spoke to Godiya, who, in turn, expressed her readiness to marry Henry.

With her acceptance, Henry and Godiya tied the nuptials on the same date, same venue he was to marry his pregnant ex-fiancée.

Groom cancels wedding, marries another lady same date, venue

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