Breaking: Again, INEC rejects documents tendered by Obi, LP

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June 2, 2023

Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party on Friday, produced additional certified copies of results of the election from six states of the federation, to support his claim that he won February 25 presidential election.

Obi and his party tendered the results, which were obtained from 134 Local Government Areas, LGAs, in evidence before the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja.

Though, the electoral umpire had since the beginning of the hearing disputed the admissibility of various documents brought to the Presidential Election Petition Court by the petitioners as exhibits to prove their case.

However, during today’s proceedings, counsel for INEC, Kemi Pinhero, SAN, told the court that the electoral body objected to the tendering of the election result sheets because the petitioners went beyond the areas where the election was being disputed.

He said those local government areas improperly brought into the proceedings of the court are strange to the petition and cannot stand in the face of the law.

While interjecting, the chairman of the five-man panel, Justice Harunna Tsammani, held that it was unacceptable for the lawyer to give reasons for their objection after the commission had indicated that it would advance reasons at the address stage of proceedings.

Subsequently, Peter Afoba, SAN, who conducted the proceedings for Obi and LP tendered before the PEPC, additional exhibits to back up their petition against Tinubu which were admitted and marked as Exhibits PB 16 to PB 21.

The exhibits, which were admitted in evidence by the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led panel, consisted of certified true copies of results of the presidential election from six states of the federation – Adamawa, Bayelsa, Oyo, Edo, Lagos and Akwa Ibom states.

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The petitioners also tendered evidence before the court, including the result from Bida Local Government Area in Niger State, which was admitted as Exhibit PE 24.

Earlier on Thursday, he had tendered the results of the election from select local government areas in Rivers, Niger, Benue, Cross River, Osun, and Ekiti but did not tender that of Bida LGA in Niger.

As in the case of INEC, other respondents objected to the admissibility of the document and said they would equally reserve their reasons for objecting until the final address stage of the petition.

The court thereafter admitted results from 21 LGAs in Adamawa State and marked them as Exhibits PH 1 to PH 21. It also admitted the results of the presidential election from eight LGAs in Bayelsa State and marked them as Exhibits PJ1 to PJ 8.

Results from 31 LGAs in Oyo that the court admitted as exhibits were marked PK 1 – PK 31, while results from 18 LGAs in Edo State were marked as Exhibits PL1- PL 18.

Further tendered were results from 20 LGAs in Lagos State, which were admitted as Exhibits PM 1 – PM 20, and results from 31 LGAs in Akwa Ibom State, accepted in evidence as Exhibits PN 1–PN 31.

The panel adjourned to Monday, May 5, for a further hearing in the matter.

Court: PDP Chairman Ayu Iyorchia Suspension Still Stands

By

Queen Madu

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June 2, 2023

A Benue State High Court has upheld the suspension of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu.

Ayu was in March suspended by his Nyorov council ward exco over failure to pay dues, abruptly ending his reign as the PDP National Chairman.

The ward exco had also accused Ayu of anti-party activities after which they passed a vote of no confidence on him.

While reading their resolution at the time, the secretary of the party in Igyorov ward, Vanger Dooyum, said Ayu’s anti-party activities – alongside his allies – contributed to PDP’s loss in his ward and local government in the governorship election.

They also alleged that the PDP chieftain did not vote during the governorship and state assembly elections held on the 18th of March, 2023.

According to them, most of Ayu’s closest allies worked for the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) which resulted in the abysmal performance of the PDP in Igyorov Ward.

Twelve out of the seventeen exco members signed the documents endorsing his suspension.

(Journalist101)

Governor of Abia State Make More Appointments

By

Queen Madu

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June 2, 2023

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti has appointed another 22 persons to add to the list of the initial appointments made few days ago.

In a press statement release by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko on the June 1st 2023, the 22 persons were appointed into different positions.

Mr Michael Akpara was appointed as Special Adviser on Finance, Mr Uwanna Ikechukwu as Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters, Professor Uche Eme Uche as Special Adviser on Education, Professor Joel F. Ogbonna as Special Adviser on Petroleum and Energy and Dr. Clifford C. Agbaeze as Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture.

Other on the appointment list are; Mr. Chimereze Okigbo as Special Adviser on Internally Generated Revenue, Mr. Uche Mark Nwosu as Chief of Protocol, Mr. Uche Ukeje as Senior Special Assistant on Aba Rejuvenation, Mr. Dodoh Okafor as Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Uzor Nwachukwu as Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Anosike as Special Adviser on Planning and Strategy.

Also in the list are Mr. Uzoma Nwagba as Senior Special Assistant on Digital Economy and SME, Rev Father Christian Uche Anokwuru, PhD as Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, Mrs. Ifeoma Thomas as Special Assistant on Vulnerable Groups and Poverty Alleviation, Pastor Dike Nwankwo as Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties, Mr. Okey Kanu as Special Adviser on Strategic Communication.

Finally, he also appointed Dr. (Mrs.) Betty Emeka-Obasi as Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties, Mr. Chinedu Ekeke as Senior Special Assistant Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Chuka Ofili – Senior Special Assistant, Domestic, Hon Luke Ukara Onyeani as Senior Special Assistant on Legislative Matters, Navy Commander Macdonald Ubah (Rtd) as Special Adviser on Security, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu as Special Adviser on Trade and Commerce respectively.

All appointments are to take effect starting from 1st of June, 2023.

(Journalist101)

Nigeria Labor Congress Announces Date for Nationwide Strike

By

Queen Madu

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June 2, 2023

The Nigeria Labour Congess (NLC) has declared a nationwide strike from next Wednesday.

The union announced the industrial action on Friday, following a meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja over the fuel subsidy removal and subsequent hike in the pump price of petrol.

The NEC comprises all Presidents, General Secretaries, Treasurers of all NLC’s affiliate unions; State Chairpersons and Secretaries of the NLC State Councils, Chairperson of the NLC Youth Committee and members of the National Administrative Council (NAC).

This comes amid the fuel scarcity across the country occasioned by President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural speech in which he declared that “fuel subsidy is gone”.

The meeting between the organised Labour and the government ended in stalemate and the product sells for over N500 per litre an over 200 hundred percent increment from the former price of N198 per litre.

Details later…

(Journalist101)

BREAKING: Tinubu Confirms Gbajabiamila Chief Of Staff, Picks Buhari’s Minister As SGF

By

bvichannel1

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June 2, 2023

President Bola Tinubu has named Senator George Akume, immediate past Minister of Special Duties, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

This is contained in a statement issued by Abiodun Oladunjoye, the State House Director of Information on Friday

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Friday in Abuja announced the appointment of Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff, and Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, as Deputy Chief of Staff.

“In a meeting with Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), the President also named former Governor of Benue State and immediate past Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).”

Don’t Mind INEC Objection In Tribunal – Lawyer

By

bvichannel1

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June 2, 2023

A legal practitioner and social critic, Inibehe Effiong has urged people not to panic over objections to admissibility of documents by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at the ongoing hearings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, saying it is a distraction.

Effiong claimed that the objected documents by the INEC were duly certified, adding that the Court will act on them.

In a post via his verified Twitter handle on Thursday, the legal expert claimed that “the Electoral Commission’s neutrality is a mirage, especially in electoral litigations”.

He alleged that the INEC had basically aligned its defence strategy with the other Respondents, including the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He wrote, “People should not panic over objections to admissibility of documents by INEC at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. I’m not surprised by INEC’s roguish and embarrassing attitude. These are public documents duly certified. The Court will act on them. It is a distraction.

“Ordinarily, INEC being the maker of the documents which they’ve certified, that is Form EC8 series (polling unit & collation results), they’re not supposed to object to their admissibility.

“I’ve always said that INEC’s neutrality is a mirage, especially in electoral litigations.

“The documents have been admitted, though the Respondents will state the grounds for their objections in their final addresses.

“Typically, the tribunal will look into the documents and act on them.

“As long as the documents have been duly certified, there’s no cause for alarm.

“INEC has basically aligned their defence strategy with the other Respondents (Tinubu, APC and Shettima). They’re working in sync as they always do.”

President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the INEC had on Wednesday objected to the admission of some documents sought to be tendered in evidence by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Peter Obi, and his party tendered INEC form EC8A from six states to advance their petition challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

The presiding Justice of the five-member panel of Justices of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), Justice Haruna Tsammani admitted the INEC form EC8A from 23 local government areas of Benue state and were marked exhibit PC (1-23).

For Rivers state, the court admitted INEC form EC8A from 15 Local Government areas out of the 23 local governments Areas of the state and was marked PD (1-15)

Counsel for Obi and his party, Chief Emeka Okpoko, (SAN) who handled Thursday’s proceedings on behalf of the lead counsel, Awa Kalu (SAN) tendered INEC form EC8A for 23 local government areas of Niger state, which the court admitted in evidence and were marked as exhibit PE (1-23).

The petitioners also tendered INEC form EC8A from Osun state which challenged the election of 20 local government areas of the state, which were admitted and marked as exhibits PF (1-20).

Also for Ekiti state, the court admitted in evidence, INEC forms EC8A from 16 local governments of Ekiti state and marked them as exhibit PG (1-16).

The court admitted all the documents tendered by the petitioners, despite objections to the admissibility raised by INEC, Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, and the APC, who are first to fourth respondents in the petition.

The respondents informed the court that they will give reasons for their objection to the admissibility of the documents at the address stage.

Dangote, PH Refineries, Others Won’t Change Fuel Price – NNPCL

By

bvichannel1

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June 2, 2023

The local production of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, by Dangote Refinery, Port Harcourt Refining Company and others in Nigeria is not going to change the pump price of the commodity, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has said.

The NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, who disclosed this during an interview on Arise television in Abuja on Thursday, stressed that the notion that petrol prices would reduce once the country starts domestic production was false.

Kyari confirmed that the Dangote Refinery, which was inaugurated on May 22, 2023, by former President Muhammadu Buhari, would start pushing out products by the end of July and early August.

He also stated that the Port Harcourt Refinery would be delivered by the end of the year, adding that the facility was expected to further boost local production of petrol.

But Kyari declared that despite the volume of petrol being expected from these facilities, the cost of the commodity would not reduce, regardless of the fact that the product was produced locally.

“There is a notion that if the product is processed locally, prices will reduce. Let me make it clear that it is not going to change anything. If you produce locally, the refineries will also input the cost of production and other things and it will be sold at the current price.

“There will also be no subsidy when local production starts because there is no cash-to-back subsidy, this country no longer has the resources to continue with subsidy,” Kyari stated.

BVI Channel 1 online noted that oil business in Nigeria is not transparently carried out.Why should federal government gives oil licences to individuals. Why won’t crude be sold to local refineries at local currency – naira

Full Details of Peter Obi and Tinubu Case at the Court Today

By

Queen Madu

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June 1, 2023

At the resumption hearing of Peter Obi’s suit challenging the election of Bola Tinubu as the president of Nigeria, the Labour Party candidate and his legal team went into presentation of evidence to support their claims.

Peter Obi, and his party tendered INEC form EC8A from six states to advance their petition challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

The presiding Justice of the five-member panel of Justices of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), Justice Haruna Tsammani admitted the INEC form EC8A from 23 local government areas of Benue state and were marked exhibit PC (1-23).

WhatsApp Image 2023 03 22 at 18.48.33
For Rivers state, the court admitted INEC form EC8A from 15 Local Government areas out of the 23 local governments Areas of the state and was marked PD (1-15)

Counsel for Obi and his party, Chief Emeka Okpoko, (SAN) who handled Thursday’s proceedings on behalf of the lead counsel, Awa Kalu (SAN) tendered INEC form EC8A for 23 local government areas of Niger state, which the court admitted in evidence and were marked as exhibit PE (1-23).

The petitioners also tendered INEC form EC8A from Osun state which challenged the election of 20 local government areas of the state, which were admitted and marked as exhibits PF (1-20).

Also for Ekiti state, the court admitted in evidence, INEC forms EC8A from 16 local governments of Ekiti state and marked them as exhibit PG (1-16).

The court admitted all the documents tendered by the petitioners, despite objections to the admissibility raised by INEC, Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, and the APC, who are first to fourth respondents in the petition.

The respondents informed the court that they give reasons for their objection to the admissibility of the documents at the address stage.

While tendering other documents, which the court noted were not properly arranged, the court admonished Obi’s lawyer to put their house in order and to arrange the documents in sequential order to save time for the court.

Further hearing in the petition continues on Friday, June 2, 2023.

Credit: Parallel Facts

Soludo Reacts As One of His Appointees Resigns

By

bvichannel1

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June 1, 2023

Mr. Madiebo announced his resignation on Thursday, June 1, while addressing the staff of the Service in a meeting in his office in Awka, the State capital.

According to his, the reason for his resignation was based on his decision to serve just one year in Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, which, he said he also told Governor Soludo when he was appointed to head the agency.

It was gathered that additional reason for his resignation was his missing of his entitlements at the financial institutions where he was working before, while other colleagues of his have been receiving theirs.

He therefore harped on the urgent need for his resignation, in keeping of his word, as well as to pursue other dreams he has.

“Today marks the end of my tenure as the Chairman of Anambra internal Revenue Services. I have the mandate to assist in repositioning the Service; and I think we have done that. For us, it has been a rewarding time. I want to say thank you to Mr. Governor.

“I want to say a very big thank you to the Service. And, most importantly, I believe that you will continue to partner with the state, and that Anambra, and hopefully, Anambra will get to the next level,” he said.

The Head, Taxpayer Education and Enlightenment Team (TEET) in the agency, Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige confirmed the resignation, while also highlighting some of his major achievements in the agency in one year in office.

According to her, Mr. Madiebo assumed office with a mandate from the Anambra State Government to digitize the collection system of the formal, semi-formal, and Informal sectors in the State in line with the vision of Mr. Governor.

She said, “During his one year in office, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Anambra State recorded a progressive increase from an average of N1.5Bn monthly to N2.2Bn monthly and growing.

“Mr. Madiebo, a Digital Transformer and a veteran in Tax and Revenue Business in an interview said he was able to implement a digitization process (in line with Mr. Governor’s vision of all things Digital and Technology everywhere) for all the MDAs in the State to connect them centrally, as well as digitize the commercial transport sector which he said was formerly largely manual in nature.

“He increased Taxpayer enrollment by 40% and launched the deployment of multi-Agent payment services with over 4,000 Agents across the State, using POS terminals. This, he explained enabled the growth of revenue coming from that sector from about N10M to about N200M a month. The Revenue growth from the sector, he said would have been lost to illegal revenue collectors if not for the digitization. He explained that through the scheme, members of the sector were able to verify their payments, digitally, link their Data and also delink, a first of its kind in Nigeria ( thereby creating a dynamic Data set for the informal sector).

“Mr. Madiebo collaborated with Anambra Health Insurance Agency in launching the free Medical Health Insurance Services for commercial Transport Operators in the State who are enrolled and up to date with their monthly payment. The current deployment of the ‘Do it Yourself Tax Assessment and Payment Model’ ( also known as the Tax DIY) is another initiative aimed at ensuring that Ndi Anambra can file, pay and recieve receipts digitally. He provided Wi-Fi services in partnership with a consultant to have a full internet network at Revenue House and has commenced the process of spreading this initiative across the three Zonal Tax Offices in the State for greater efficiency in the Revenue management process.

“Ongoing, he ensured the provision of Solar Energy at the Revenue House to provide better services, reduce the cost of public power supply to the office, and the cost of power.

“The Chairman has also proposed several important bills to be passed to the Anambra State House of Assembly in a bid to ensure an efficient anf forward looking Service ; Some of the bills are : Autonomy of the Revenue Board, bill for Harmonized rates for taxes and levies, Consumption tax, Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duties, etc.

“The on going comprehensive digital deployment of the services of AiRS is aimed at ending the activities of Revenue touts , reducing Revenue leakages and leading to a Data driven service able to help Mr. Governor’s vision for growth in Revenue and positive social impact.

“He assured that the Service was poised to grow Revenue to N48Bn in line with the Budget for the current year and a minimum of N70Bn for the year 2024 and appealed to “Ndi Anambra” to cooperate with the government by ensuring that taxes and levies were paid promptly, explaining that the funds government utilized to develop the State were from taxes and levies paid by citizens.”

Soludo reacts…

Reacting to the resignation, Governor Soludo said he had received Madiebo’s notice of resignation.

Soludo, who spoke through his Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, also debunked the speculation that the former AIRS Chairman resigned due to clash of responsibilities in the Service.

“He has resigned, and there is no issue with his resignation. Such argument never existed. It is a rumour. Everything was cordial. He has decided to resign. And the Governor has accepted his resignation. So, there is no issue or any such argument as is being claimed and propagated by some people,” Aburime said.

Daily Times Insisted CBN Devalued Naira

By

bvichannel1

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June 1, 2023

Daily Trust, has replied the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the cover page story of Thursday, June 1, 2023.

Recall that the media outlet had reported how the apex bank devalued the Naira to N631 to the dollar from N461.6 it sold at the Importers and Exporters (I&E) window the previous day.

Some bank customers had told this paper that they applied and that their request was fully granted at N631 as against N461.6.

However, after the story went viral, the apex bank via its official Twitter handle, posted a rebuttal statement to the story, describing it as fake.

Part of the statement by CBN reads, “We wish to state categorically that this news report, which in the imagination of the newspaper is exclusive, is replete with outright FALSEHOODS and destabilising innuendos, reflecting potentially willful ignorance of the said medium as to the workings of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market”.

But while responding in a statement, Daily Trust said it had evidence of those who bought the dollar at the reported rate, and challenged the CBN to provide any facts to the contrary.

“In our newspaper and across our digital platforms today, we have reported that yesterday, the 31st May 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold dollars to bidders at the Importers and Exporters (I&E) window at the rate of N631 per $1.

“The story contains three facts and one interpretation: that the CBN sold dollars to banks on behalf of their customers at the said rate on the said window yesterday; that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had spoken of his government’s resolve to unify Nigeria’s exchange rate markets; and he met with CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele on assumption of office Tuesday. All of these are facts and we stand by them.

“Only a policy change by the government through the CBN can reasonably explain the wide difference of N169.4 between the two rates in just a single day. And only the CBN has the power to do that overnight, regardless by what name it is called.

“From the foregoing, therefore, we wish to reiterate that we stand by the facts of our story. We have evidence of those who bought the dollar at the reported rate, and we challenge the CBN to provide any facts to the contrary.

“Finally, we wish to reiterate that we are not a fake news platform, as the CBN knows only too well. Some of the finest and most impactful public interest journalism in Nigeria of the past 25 years has been done by us.

“Our Editor is the current Editor of the Year in Nigerian journalism. Our reporter won the Investigative Reporter of the Year only last December. And even in just the past month, we received laurels for our distinguished and dignified journalism.

“Moreover, we have trained and exported professional talents of various kinds to leading organizations in Nigeria and beyond, including many within the CBN itself today. Above all, our fierce pursuit and reporting of the truth on behalf of the public is a fact that bears repeated testimony in words, deeds and hearts of millions of Nigerians.

“We do not know if the CBN has its own reasons for denying the story. Certainly, we cannot understand why the CBN will make such a grossly crude accusation against one of Nigeria’s most respected news platforms of the past quarter-century. But we do know that we stand by our story,” the statement read.

Source: Daily Times