News

Prosecutors oppose dismissing Trump’s hush money case

Published

2 years ago

November 20, 2024

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/images-2024-08-18T172509.512.jpeg&description=Prosecutors oppose dismissing Trump’s hush money case', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/images-2024-08-18T172509.512.jpeg&description=Prosecutors oppose dismissing Trump’s hush money case', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

ADVERTISEMENT

Prosecutors who secured Donald Trump’s conviction over a hush money payment to a porn star opposed on Tuesday his stated hope to have the case dismissed now that he is president-elect and asked a judge to set a schedule to litigate the matter.

Trump, 78, had been scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 26, but New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan last week put all proceedings in the case on pause at the request of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.

The prosecutors said they would accept a delay but asked Merchan to set a deadline for Trump to formally seek dismissal of the case. The prosecutors suggested that they then be given until Dec. 9 to oppose Trump’s bid.

They also said consideration must be given to deferring all proceedings until after Trump finishes his four-year presidential term that begins on Jan. 20, but stopped short of explicitly endorsing that option.

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, in a statement called Bragg’s position “a total and definitive victory” for Trump.

Trump, president from 2017-2021, is hoping to enter office for a second term unencumbered by any of the four criminal cases he has faced and which some opponents had predicted would derail his 2024 candidacy to return to the White House.

The Republican Trump was convicted in May of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment his former lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump, who denies it.

It was the first time a U.S. president – former or sitting – had been convicted of or charged with a criminal offense.

The prosecutors had asked for more time to consider next steps in the case, citing the need to balance the “competing interests” between having the criminal case go forward and protecting the office of the president.

Trump pleaded not guilty in the case, which he has long portrayed as a politically motivated attempt by Bragg, a Democrat, to interfere with his campaign.

His defense lawyers urged Merchan to dismiss the case, arguing that having it loom over him while he was president would cause what they called “unconstitutional impediments” to his ability to govern.

Trump’s lawyers also argued his conviction should be vacated and the charges dismissed because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in July that presidents cannot be prosecuted over their official acts, and that evidence of their official acts cannot be used in trials over personal behavior.

Bragg’s office said that its case dealt with purely personal conduct.

Falsification of business records is punishable by up to four years in prison. Before he was elected, experts said it was unlikely – but not impossible – that Trump would face time behind bars, with punishments such as a fine or probation seen as more likely.

Trump’s victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 election made the prospect of imposing a sentence of jail or probation even more politically fraught and impractical, given that a sentence could have impeded his ability to conduct the duties of the presidency.

Trump was charged in three additional state and federal cases in 2023, one involving classified documents he kept after leaving office and two others involving his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

A Florida-based federal judge in July dismissed the documents case. The Justice Department is now evaluating how to wind down the federal election-related case. Trump also faces state criminal charges in Georgia over his bid to reverse his 2020 loss in that state, but the case remains in limbo.

As president, Trump would have no power to shut down the New York or Georgia cases because they were filed in state courts. His Justice Department may close the federal cases.

News

Wike Declares Abuja ‘Closed’ to Critics, Says Tinubu’s Projects Have Silenced Opposition((Photos)

Published

2 hours ago

July 17, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that President Bola Tinubu’s extensive infrastructure delivery in Abuja has effectively neutralised political critics, insisting that visible performance remains the strongest response to opposition.

Speaking during the commissioning of the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Wike said the scale of projects executed under the Tinubu administration had transformed governance in the FCT and provided residents with tangible evidence of government performance.

“If there are opponents of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with what you have done in their lifetime, they cannot do anything again. If they go to the people of Gbazango, the people will ask them, ‘When you were there, what did you do?’ This is what we call ‘operation show your report card.’ If you call Tinubu today, he will show you his report card on the satellite towns and on the city. Abuja is shut down. Abuja is closed,” Wike declared.

The minister made the remarks as the FCT Administration concluded its 31-day project commissioning programme, which began on June 9 and ended on July 17, 2026.

Describing the exercise as unprecedented in Nigeria’s history, Wike said no President had ever commissioned and flagged off projects continuously for such a long period.

“Everything that has a beginning has an end. Today we are taking a break to refill and energise ourselves before returning before the end of the year. We thank God that from June 9 till today, everything went smoothly. There was no accident, no incident that we would regret, no fighting. Everybody came and left happily,” he said.

According to him, the successful completion of the commissioning exercise reflected the administration’s commitment to delivering development rather than making promises.

“It is unprecedented in the history of this country for a President to commission and flag off projects continuously for 28 days. When something unusual like this happens, you can see the joy on the faces of the people,” he said.

Wike noted that residents of Kubwa and Gbazango had experienced firsthand the impact of good governance through the reconstruction of a road that had long impeded movement and commercial activities.

“For them, this is the impact of positive governance. For them, government has finally come home. If you see what this road looked like before now, you will understand why the people are rejoicing,” he said.

He added that improved road infrastructure would stimulate economic activities and improve the livelihoods of traders and other business operators in the area.

“Governance is not difficult. Governance is about commitment. Governance is about making the people happy, and today the people here are happy because they have been positively impacted by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.

The minister disclosed that since Tinubu assumed office, the FCT Administration had commissioned more than 53 projects, describing the achievement as evidence of purposeful leadership.

He assured residents that the pace of infrastructure development would continue, announcing plans to commission at least 10 additional projects before the end of the year.

“We are taking a short break, but before the next round of national political activities, we will return to commission another 10 projects,” Wike said.

Responding to a request by community leaders for improved water supply, the minister directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority to urgently address the challenge.

“Go home and give your people water. That is your responsibility. You must be prepared to solve the problem,” he directed.

The Arab/Gbazango Road project marked the final commissioning in the FCT Administration’s anniversary programme, which featured the inauguration and flag-off of major road, transport, housing and public infrastructure projects across Abuja under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

News

FG Renames Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway After President Tinubu

Published

4 hours ago

July 17, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

The Federal Government has renamed the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the multi-trillion-naira infrastructure project as the fulfilment of a vision conceived by the President nearly three decades ago.

According to CityNews, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the decision on Thursday during a briefing, saying the ministry resolved to immortalise Tinubu by naming the flagship highway after him.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the signature infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration and is estimated to cost about ₦15 trillion upon completion.

Addressing journalists, Umahi said the decision followed consultations with the leadership and management of the Federal Ministry of Works.

According to him, the ministry considered the President’s longstanding commitment to the project before arriving at the decision.

“By the power conferred on me as the Honourable Minister of Works, and in consultation with the Permanent Secretary, the Minister of State, the directors and the entire staff of the ministry, we have decided to name the entire Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This is a dream that Mr President had about 27 years ago,” Umahi said.

The 750-kilometre coastal highway is designed to connect Lagos to Calabar, traversing several coastal states and providing a major transportation corridor expected to boost economic activities, tourism, trade and regional integration.

The project is regarded as one of the Tinubu administration’s flagship legacy initiatives, with sections of the highway already nearing completion.

Government officials have repeatedly argued that the road will reduce travel time, improve connectivity and unlock investment opportunities along Nigeria’s coastline.

Despite its strategic importance, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has generated widespread public debate since construction commenced in March 2024.

Critics have questioned the project’s cost, procurement process and alignment, with concerns also raised over the demolition of properties along parts of the route.

The Federal Government, however, has consistently defended the project, maintaining that all due processes were followed and insisting that the long-term economic benefits outweigh the initial challenges associated with its execution.

Estimated to cost about ₦15 trillion upon completion, the coastal highway is expected to become one of Nigeria’s largest road infrastructure projects. GeographicReference

The government believes the road will serve as a catalyst for economic development by improving access to ports, facilitating interstate commerce and attracting investments to coastal communities.