Updated: Court dismisses PDP suit seeking Tinubu, Shettima’s disqualification – Newstrends
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Updated: Court dismisses PDP suit seeking Tinubu, Shettima’s disqualification

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Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday dismissed a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, his running mate.

The PDP had, in the suit filed on 28 July 2022, challenged the validity of the Tinubu/Shettima ticket for the 2023 presidential election.

The nation’s main opposition camp argued that Shettima’s nomination as the running mate of Tinubu was in breach of the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84{1)}(2)} of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended), claiming that the former Governor of Borno State had double nominations.

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It claimed that as of the time Shettima was nominated as a vice presidential candidate, he had not resigned nor withdrawn his nomination as candidate for the Borno Central senatorial poll.

The party argued further that Shettima’s nomination as a vice-presidential candidate, as well as the candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial seat, contravened the law.

The PDP, in an appeal, marked: CA/ABJ/CV/108/2023, had asked the appellate court to reverse the 13 January judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja which dismissed its suit on the grounds that the PDP lacked the legal basis to have instituted the suit.

While the PDP was the appellant, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, Messrs Tinubu and Shettima were respondents in the appeal.

The PDP, which sought an order disqualifying the APC, Tinubu and Shettima from contesting the presidential election scheduled for 25 February, asked the court for an order nullifying their candidacy.

It further asked the court for an order compelling INEC to remove their names from its list of nominated or sponsored candidates eligible to contest the election.

However, a three-member panel headed by Justice James Abundaga, said on Friday in an unanimous judgment, that the PDP failed to establish that it had a legal basis (locus standi) to institute the case.

The defendants, in their preliminary objection, urged the court to dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.

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It’s illegal to declare suspects wanted, Falana tackles DHQ

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It’s illegal to declare suspects wanted, Falana tackles DHQ

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has faulted the declaration of eight persons wanted by the Defence Headquarters over the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community of Delta State.

He said it was illegal to do so without obtaining a court order.

He stated this in a statement released on Thursday and warned the military against bungling the case of the slain soldiers.

Falana said, “The authorities of the armed forces should be made to realise that the military cannot arrest, detain, investigate and charge civilian suspects with any offence whatsoever.”

“We have also read the eight people alleged to be involved in the cruel murder of the soldiers have been declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters. It is trite law that the police and security agencies lack the power to declare any suspect wanted without a court order,” he stated.

He cited the rulings of judges in a number of cases including Benedit Peters v Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to buttress his point.

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Third Mainland Bridge will be reopened in seven days – Minister

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Third Mainland Bridge will be reopened in seven days – Minister

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi,
says the Third Mainland Bridge will be reopened in seven days time.
He announced this on Thursday during an inspection of the bridge along with members of the Senate Committee on Works.
“In seven days Nigerians will be able to ply this road,” he said.
Umahi also said the Federal Government planned to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) on the bridge and under it to reduce illegal sand mining around the area.
Currently, he said the lane marking was being done, adding, “When the lane marking is over, we will open the bridge but formally it will be commissioned by Mr. President when he is going to flag off the coastal road.”

The Federal Government on January 9, this year closed the 11.8km bridge in Lagos for a three-month comprehensive rehabilitation.

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Fresh grid collapse plunges Nigeria into nationwide blackout

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Fresh grid collapse plunges Nigeria into nationwide blackout

The electricity grid collapsed on Thursday, plunging the country into blackout, the second time in three months in 2024.

Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) showed the grid collapsed at about 4pm on Thursday, dropping from 2,984 megawatts (MW) to zero within an hour.

All the 21 plants connected to the grid stopped operations by 5pm.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), in a statement on Thursday, said the current power outage was due to a system failure from the national grid.

“The system collapsed at about 16:28 hours today 28 March 2024, causing the outage currently being experienced across our franchise area,” AEDC said.

“We appeal for your understanding as all stakeholders are working hard to restore normal supply.”

In a notice to its customers, the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) said the system collapse resulted in a loss of power supply across its network.

“We are currently working with our partners as we hope for speedy restoration of the grid. We will keep you updated as soon as the power supply is restored. Kindly bear with us,” EKEDC said.

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