23032019 - Osun Gov Poll: Court nullifies APC’s victory

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44 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 23, 2019 Tony Elemelu Foundation unveils 2019 entrepreneurs Tony Elumelu, Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation, speaking at the unveiling of the 2019 TEF EntrepreneursThe Tony Elumelu Foundation, on Friday, unveiled finalists of its 2019 entrepreneurs drawn from 54 African countries. The event which took place in Abuja had in attendance the Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, wives of Governors of Kogi and Nasarawa States, the founder, Tony Elemule among others. More than 3,000 applicants were selected for the 2019 cohort of the Foundation’s flagship Entrepreneurship Programme. According to the foundation, the applicants were selected from the 216,000 submitted applications representing 58% male, 42% female. Some of the parameters used in selecting shortlisted applicants included feasibility, market opportunity, scalability, leadership skill and viability of the idea. Founder of TEF, Tony Elumelu stressed the importance of private sector in the development of Africa’s economy. He noted that the small and medium scale enterprises were main drivers of the economic transformation. “No one but us will develop our continent. The private sector has a key role to play in doing this. It is not the big businesses that make the difference, but the SMEs are known for creating jobs, alleviating poverty, helping to bridge inequality gaps and who ensuring that our women were more economically involved.” “It is in this realisation that the TEF decided that entrepreneurship is the most catalytic way of making little contributions to humanity.” He said that the selected finalists are 3,050 young African men and women from 54 African countries. Tony Elumelu and First Lady, Aisha Buhari by Mrs. Vivian Elumelu, HRM. King of Okpoma Kingdom, Brass (right), incoming CEO of TEF, Ifeyinya Ugochukwu (left) and Israeli Ambassador, Shrimp Shosham (left) and others. Unizik undergraduate found dead with pants, eyes removed By Vincent Ujumadu, Awka A FEMALE undergraduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State was yesterday found dead with her eyes and underwear removed. Her corpse was found at the Commissioners’ quarters along the road leading to the university’s main campus. It was gathered that the body of the 300- level student of the university, whose name was given as Pauline, was dropped by an unknown car on the roadside of the commissioners quarters”. The cause of her death could not be ascertained at press time, but the corpse had been taken away by the police. The state Police Public Two apprentices arraigned for stealing employer’s N160m By Onozure Dania The Police yesterday ar raigned two electronic business apprentices, Micheal Kingsley 27 and Fabian Okoye 22, before a Lagos Magistrates Court sitting in Igbosere, for allegedly defrauding their employer of N160million. The defendants, whose residential addresses were not given, are facing a fourcount charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, and stealing, preferred against them by the police. The Prosecutor, Inspector Ingobo Emby, told the court that the defendants conspired amongst themselves and committed the alleged offences sometime in 2017, at 27, Olaoye Street, in Ikotun, area of Lagos. Emby said that Kingsley and Okoye, who were apprentices in the electronics company of the complainant, one Mr Anayo Onyeka, sold some electronics worth N160 million and remitted the money into their personal accounts. The Prosecutor said, “The defendants also engaged in electronic cards related fraud by using access devices like Credit and Debit financial cards to obtain cash credit and Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Haruna Mohammed confirmed the incident, saying that investigation was ongoing to ascertain circumstances surrounding the act A resident of the area said: “She was found dead without her underwear and two eyes at a junction before Demonstration Primary and Secondary School, Commissioners quarters, Awka close to GRA Phase 3 Agu Awka, which is a suburb of the state capital. “This incident is among many deaths being recorded among students of the university in recent times. My advice to these girls is that they should be mindful of the kind of men they go out with. They should be mindful of these flashycars carrying men in town because all that glitters is not gold.”. goods from the complainants business associates”. According to Emby the offences committed are contrary to Sections 33, 287 (9b), and punishable under Sections 325 and 411of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The duo, however, denied the allegations against them.
Osun Gov Poll: Court nullifies APC’s victory Continued from page 7 peal if the APC decided to appeal the case. "It's normal. If they decide to appeal the case, we are ready. We are testing the Nigerian judiciary and we are testing the Nigerian democracy. Meanwhile, All Progressives Congress (APC), said it had rejected the verdict and would appeal the case. The party's Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi said in a statement: "The Election Petition Tribunal verdict has declared Adeleke the winner of the 2018 governorship election in the state. According to the party, the verdict cannot stand a superior legal scrutiny. Therefore we will appeal against it." Similarly, the state Government in a statement by the Secretary to the government, Mr. Wole Oyebamiji said, "it wishes to appreciate the teeming support of the majority of the people in all things essential for mutual progress. "As it is, the administration of Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Governor, State of Osun wishes to assure the people that the judgment of the Election Tribunal has been put on appeal. "This is to further assure all the residents of the State of adequate security of lives and property as the Government of the State is still the only legitimate Government having the authority to govern the State. We assure all our people that justice will prevail at last, and the law enforcement agencies have been instructed to maintain law and order across the State. "We therefore urge all the residents of the State to go about their lawful duties without any hindrance. We thank you", the statement added. PDP hails Adeleke’s victory The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has lauded the verdict of the Osun State governorship election tribunal, which upheld the victory of its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Friday, describing the judgement as a victory for democracy and the will of the people. In a statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party described the judgment as "a clear indicator that those who set out to destroy our democracy can never triumph and that no matter how evil and injustice appear to thrive, the truth must always prevail at the end of the day. The statement further read: "Nigerians have accepted democracy as a way of life and a form of government that suits the multi-plurality of our nation. "The spontaneous jubilation that greeted this judgment is therefore a direct indication that it is in consonant with the wishes and aspiration of Nigerians across the board. "For those who have been desperate to destroy our democracy, this judgment has proved to them that their shenanigans will always come to no avail. "The PDP commends the judiciary for standing upright in the defence of democracy and for ensuring that those involved in the rapacious desecration of our democratic norms will never succeed. "This verdict, which reverberates across our nation, points to the fact that the truth will always prevail and that our party, the PDP, will recover all our stolen mandates in the 2019 general elections, particularly, the Presidential mandate, which Nigerians freely gave to our candidate, Atiku Abubakar. "Furthermore, all our candidates who have already won their elections, but whose victories are being manipulated by anti-democratic forces, must take solace in the words of the Osun election petition panel, that once valid votes have been declared and a winner emerges by majority of votes, a rerun is illegal." The party congratulated Senator Adeleke, the good people of Osun state as well as all lovers of democracy across our country "for the triumph of justice over impunity, abuse of electoral processes and unfettered political rascality." Meanwhile, Atiku has hailed the judgement, describing the judiciary as "defender of our democracy." In a tweet on his verified twitter handle, @atiku, the former Vice President wrote: "Truly, the judiciary is the last hope of the common man and the defender of our democracy. Congratulations Senator Ademola Adeleke. " Similarly, the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, while reacting to the ruling described the development as the affirmation of the supremacy of the ballot. In a statement issued by its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, the group said it received with joy the news of the declaration of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the Osun State governorship election by the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. The statement reads: "The CUPP sees the judgement of the tribunal as victory for democracy and affirmation of the supremacy of the sanctity of the ballot. "The tribunal has given hope to Nigerians with this courageous decision to sack the governor who was foisted on the people of Osun State through the barrel of gun instead of the ballot. "The rampaging electoral robbery of the Muhammadu Buhari's All Progresives Congress, APC, is beginning to crumble in their face with the determination of the judiciary to stand firm, despite monetary inducements and threats. "Today's (yesterday's) judgement has reinforced the hope of the opposition that there is still men and women on the bench who, even in the face of rampage to destroy the judiciary, can still stand firm and do the right thing. "We are hopeful that the Appeal Court and Supreme Court judges will be bold enough to send the 2019 mandate thieves out office when the time comes." It's victory for democracy — Ekweremadu The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Osun State 2018 governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on his victory at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Friday. Ekweremadu, who took to the Tribunal’s verdict on his social media handle @Iamekweremadu, noted that the constitution amendments to ensure that unlawful mandates were not enjoyed for long were paying off. He said: “I congratulate Senator Adeleke and the good people of Osun State on the restoration of their mandate. This is victory for the sanctity of the ballot box, victory for the rule of law, and indeed victory for democracy. “It is for reasons such as the travesty visited on the people of Osun State that the National Assembly amended the constitution in 2010 and 2018 to set a timeframes for the determination of both election petitions and pre-election matters, respectively, to ensure that unlawful mandates are not enjoyed for long. I knew it wouldn't take long and the true will of Osun people would prevail. It is indeed another Happy day for democracy". SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 23, 2019 — 45 ALLEGED KAIAMA TRAINING COMPLEX LOOTING: Call for Dokubo’s sack sparks resistance from Ex-militants, tribesmen, N’Delta groups By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South HE Office of Prof. Charles Dokubo, Special T Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Amnesty Programme has denied reports alleging he was the brain behind the looting of items meant for the empowerment of residents of communities impacted during the Niger Delta crisis to cover up fraud at the Amnesty Office. The reports were rather smear campaigns staged by persons, who the Office described as “ambitious politicians eyeing Prof. Dokubo’s office.” Describing the report as “preposterous, malicious and false,” Mr. Murphy Ganagana, PAP spokesperson, called on the people to disregard the report, adding they should rather support Dokubo’s efforts aimed at moving the Amnesty Programme to the next level than to smear the hard-earned reputation of Prof. Dokubo.. “The malicious and false reports, which followed a stage-managed protest hired by their sponsors to achieve a pre-determined goal, had alleged that the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, orchestrated the looting,” the statement lamented. He added, “We wish to state emphatically that these allegations are not only nonsensical, entirely false, preposterous, mischievous and wicked, but also a calculated attempt to smear the hard-earned reputation of Prof. Dokubo.” Ganagana added that the PAP boss, “a decent and incorruptible scholar of international repute, has within one year in office, given hope to the Niger Delta people through fresh initiatives that would reposition the Amnesty Programme to its original mandate.” Clarifying on the circumstances surrounding the looting, Ganagana said contrary to the allegation against Dokubo, “The invasion and looting of items at the Kaiama training facility occurred in the presence of security personnel including the police and the military deployed in the centre.” This happened because the security operatives “were simply overwhelmed by the numerical strength of the massive invaders,” he said. He explained, “The incident was immediately reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Kaiama, and later at the Bayelsa State police command headquarters in Yenagoa.” He stressed that the police had promptly launched intensive investigation on the incident and have some suspects in custody. “None of the suspects arrested in connection to the looting of items and vandalism of the facility, has linked any official of the Amnesty Office to the crime,” he said. While soliciting the continued support of the people, he urged them to complement Prof. Dokubo in moving the Amnesty Programme to the next level. “It is pertinent to state that Prof. Charles Dokubo will not be distracted by the evil machinations of those working to rubbish his modest achievements within a short span, but remain focused on charting a new course for the Amnesty Programme and the Niger Delta,” he said. He assured the people of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to turning around the sad narrative of the Niger Delta through the instrumentality of the Amnesty Programme. However, in the last few days, ex-militants and other groups in the region, including the Ijaw Women Connect, IWC, have faulted the call by CNDSD, describing it as “misplaced and disservice to Ijaw nation.” Ijaw women, led by Ms. Rosemary Naingha, while absolving Prof Dokubo of any blame in the scandalous looting of the vocational training centre, noted that rather than calling for the head of Dokubo, all hands should be on deck to bring the perpetrators to book. Addressing reporters in Yenagoa, Naingba, president IWC, asserted,” Rather than apportioning blames, IWC intends to collaborate with well meaning organisations and civil society groups to thoroughly investigate before holding further discussions and finally will brief the press.” “We cannot continue to cry foul while the perpetrators walk the streets freely. Calling for the sack of of Prof Charles Dokubo, the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme by our own Ijaws is a disservice to the Ijaw nation. No one throws away the child with the bath water. “We will investigate in collaboration with other Ijaw groups and stakeholders to bring the perpetrators to book and we call on all to be calm, sheathe their swords, this is the time to build and not to destroy. We must continue to be a strength to one another for the development of the Niger Delta region,” he said. Ex-militants, who are beneficiaries of the second phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme have described the appointment of Prof. Charles Dokubo as Special Assistant and Coordinator of programme, as very unique, saying that his appointment has brought sanity into the operations of the programme. In a statement by Clement Wodo, Goddy Kaduna, Dengo Benin, Olotu Wanemi, Stephen, Ebisinte and Kingsley Muturu in Benin City, Edo state, the group said that since his appointment, Prof. Dokubo has done much to repair the damaged image of the Amnesty Programme and nobody should distract from doing a good work. The group maintained that Prof. Dokubo’s leadership has brought the Amnesty Programme to a greater height, saying that the region has witnessed significant improvement in touching the lives of the people.
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23032019 - Osun Gov Poll: Court nullifies APC’s victory

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