Appeal Court Sacks MC Oluomo As NURTW President
Tamarauemi Ebimini
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has sacked Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, as President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
A 3-member panel of justices led by Hamma Barka affirmed the March 11, 2024, judgment of the National Industrial Court, which affirmed Tajudeen Baruwa as the union’s president.
Najeem Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, and some other persons who claimed to be the union’s leaders had filed an appeal to challenge the industrial court’s decision to recognise Baruwa as president.
However, in the judgment delivered on November 8, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and awarded N100,000 against the appellants.
“This appeal is devoid of merit, and the same is hereby dismissed,” the judge ruled.
“I affirm the judgment of the trial court delivered on the 11th day of March 2024 in respect of Suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023.
“I award the cost of N100,000 against the appellant and in favour of the respondents.”
The judgment means that the election of MC Oluomo as president of the union has been nullified.
Akinsanya was the sole candidate in the election, which took place at the union’s zonal secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun road in Osun state on November 9.
He was sworn in on November 11 while Agbede and Akeem Adeosun were respectively sworn in as Vice-President, South-West and trustee.
[11/17, 6:04 PM] Peter Awawa: Ogun LG election a sham – NNPP chieftain, Ajadi
Tamarauemi Ebimini
Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, the Southwest Chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has accused Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) of bias, delays, and voter disenfranchisement in the local government elections conducted yesterday.
Ambassador Ajadi, an advocate for political stability and good governance, described the election as a sham, emphasizing that results announced by OGSIEC could not reflect the will of the people. Speaking to journalists in Abeokuta, he accused OGSIEC of bias.
“Any numbers declared in Ogun State were fabricated,” Ajadi alleged. “No votes were counted at many polling units, and the exercise was riddled with irregularities. If OGSIEC announces any results, it is a fraudulent act that must be challenged in court.”
Ajadi recounted his personal experience at polling unit 027 in Adebimpe, where he waited until 4:15 PM without the arrival of OGSIEC officials. Similarly, his wife, Mrs. Oyindamola Ajadi, was unable to vote at polling unit 090 at Mr. Biggs in Ibafo due to the absence of electoral officers.
“The lack of organization was glaring,” Ajadi said. “How can we talk about credible elections when basic logistics were ignored? This is an affront to democracy and a betrayal of the people’s trust.”
Ambassador Ajadi revealed that NNPP agents stationed across the state reported widespread delays and harassment.
Ajadi added, “Our agents reported that at most locations, OGSIEC officials showed up as late as 2 PM with only 50 ballot papers for Councillors and 50 for Chairmen. Where are the missing ballot papers? This suggests rigging was already in motion before the process began.”
Ajadi called on the judiciary to ensure that justice is served and warned against the announcement of any manipulated results. “The good citizens of Ogun State deserve transparency and accountability. Announcing fraudulent results would amount to robbing the people in broad daylight,” he said.
[11/17, 6:10 PM] Peter Awawa: Kaigama commends Enugu govt, Gouni for launching DNA learning centre
Tamarauemi Ebimini
The prelate of the Catholic Church and Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI) Ignatius Ayau Kaigama has lauded the collaboration between the institution and the Enugu State government in developing first of it’s lind DNA learning centre for paternity and forensic analysis in the South East.
Kaigama who is also the Archbishop, Catholic Diocese of Abuja made the remark during the 12th convocation ceremony of the institution held on Saturday.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress which the institution has made in the fields of medical education with the approval of the Nursing Science programme as well as plans to introduce Pharmacy and Medical Laboratory programmes to the school.
He said: “The news about the Enugu State Government’s partnership with our University in the development of our DNA Learning Centre for paternity tests and forensic analyses is a sign that the state government recognises the incredible progress of our University in teaching and research. I am grateful to the Enugu State Government under Governor Peter Mbah for bringing its own counterpart funding for the project.
“No one can fail to see the hand of God in the University in the light of its tremendous progress within fifteen years of its existence. It is gladdening to hear that the University has 83 programmes, which are approved and fully accredited.
The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Christian Anieke announced that 26 students bagged first class honours out of 546 students who took their final examinations in various programmes
On the DNA Learning Centre, Anieke said that the Enugu State Government under Governor Peter Mbah, having noted the progress and uniqueness of the centre, is collaborating with the university for the expansion of its facilities for paternity tests and forensic analyses.
He pledged that, “By this time next year, this main campus of our university will have become the centre of all kinds of paternity tests in the Southeast of Nigeria.
“By this time next year, our main campus will have become ready to supply all data that can help security officers fish out criminals in Enugu State through forensic analyses of crime scenes.
“By this time next year, our DNA Learning Centre will have been expanded to become one of the biggest science cities in Nigeria, offering all sorts of research services to our state, Nigeria and Africa.
“In addition, our DNA Learning Center (DNALC) has developed the first Al compliant website and a DNALC Nigeria mobile App for any science or research training institution in Nigeria.”
[11/17, 6:13 PM] Peter Awawa: Ondo guber: PDP, APC bought votes for N3000, N10000
Tamarauemi Ebimini
The Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD-West Africa), through its Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), has said that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) bought votes from the electorates for as low as N3000 and N5000 respectively during the Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State.
Prof. Victor Adetula, Lead, CDD-EAC Observation Mission Ondo 2024; and Dr. Dauda Garuba, Director, CDD-West Africa, said this in CDD’s EAC preliminary statement on the conduct of the 2024 Ondo State governorship election, presented by Ms Oluseyi Awojulugbe, a member of the CDD-EAC.
The report also said that the election recorded lower incidents of disinformation and information manipulation, also referred to as fake new compared to the recently concluded off-cycle September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
“CDD-EAC notes a lot of instances of vote buying. In Okitipupa LGA, Ward 09, Unit 003 (Irowa, Ilutitun 3), voters were solicited for their votes, with APC allegedly offering ₦10,000 per voter and PDP ₦3,000. In Odigbo LGA, Ward 01, Unit 001 (Oja Baale, Agbabu), reports of vote-buying were noted, with APC allegedly offering ₦10,000 and PDP ₦5,000 per voter.
“Our observers also noted that some party agents started transferring money to voters to circumvent having to hold cash. In Ese-Odo, Ward 07, Unit 013 (Tari Ama Zion Ugo Community, Arogbo Ward 2), Vote-buying was observed at this polling unit, with PDP offering ₦3,000 and APC offering ₦5,000 to voters.
“CDD observers watching the process in Ward 5, PU 001, located at St Johns Primary School, Iba Akoko South East spotted APC leaders writing down the names of those who voted for their candidate. Subsequently, a card was given to them and they were instructed to converge at an agreed location where cash would be disbursed to them.
“In Ward 005, PU 001, St Barnabas Primary School, Ifon, CDD-EAC observers saw policemen arguing over money shared by a party stalwart. The policemen reportedly frowned that about 10 of them were given N100,000 while only one official from another branch of the armed services allegedly got N15,000,” the report said.
The CDD-EAC said that the vote buying incidents and behaviour of party agents sparked multiple conflicts during the voting process, listing Idanre LGA, Ward 06, PU 004 (Methodist High School), where APC agents were accused of strategically monitoring voters’ choices, a move initially defended by security officials but later curtailed after protests.
The report, however, commended the prompt arrival of electoral officials at polling units (PUs), with 99% of CDD-EAC observers reporting that the INEC officials were at their stations before 8:30am.
it Observers also reported cases of rowdiness in the polling environment with some youths disagreeing in some cases about the initiative by poll officials to allow elderly voters to cast their ballots first, leading to the disruption of the process, despite the intervention of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Post Office Premises, Akungba Akoko, Akoko South West.
On disinformation and information manipulation, the report said that the numbers of false narratives, claims and counter claims in the Ondo State governorship election have been relatively low, compared to other recent polls.
