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Ondo Poll: Court dismisses Ajayi’s forgery case against Aiyedatiwa’s deputy
The Akure Division of the Federal High Court in Ondo State on Monday dismissed a lawsuit seeking the disqualification of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in the just concluded gubernatorial poll in the state.
Agboola Ajayi, the candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had approached the court to contest the qualification of Olayide Adelami, the deputy governor-elect.
Ajayi, who finished as the second runner-up in the election, argued that there were inconsistencies in the names submitted by Mr. Adelami to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election.
Through his lawyer, M. Ndoka (SAN), the PDP candidate challenged Adelami’s eligibility to run as the deputy governorship candidate under the APC and sought the party’s disqualification from the ballot.
In the originating summons, Ajayi stated that the first defendant (Adelami) is known by several conflicting and irreconcilable names, including Adelami Owolabi Jackson and Olaide Owolabi Adelami.
In his prayers, the PDP candidate prayed the court, “That the first defendant, (Adelami) is constitutionally disqualified from contesting the election as Deputy Governorship candidate of APC.”
Also, he fought “A declaration that the APC has no validly nominated governorship and deputy governorship candidate for the 2024 election.”
He also requested an order to disqualify the defendants from participating in the election and to prevent INEC from publishing their names or allowing their participation.
In response, defense counsel Remi Olatubora (SAN) stated that Adelami’s West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate from 1974 listed him as Adelami Owolabi Jackson, while a degree certificate from Ambrose Alli University issued in 1982 shows the name Adelami Olaide Owolabi.
Olatubora argued that the plaintiffs’ issue is not with discrepancies in names but rather with the order in which the names appear.
He contended that the plaintiffs do not have the right to file the suit under Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022, as they are not members of the APC and did not participate in the primary elections that produced Adelami and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as candidates.
“The plaintiffs lack the locus standi to file the suit or seek the reliefs outlined in the originating summons. As a matter of law, the suit does not qualify as a pre-election matter, and this court lacks jurisdiction,” he stated.
In her ruling, Justice Toyin Adegoke dismissed all charges against the APC candidates.
In suit No. FHC/AK/CS/99/2024, she determined that the PDP candidate who challenged the APC’s qualifications lacked the standing to bring the case.
She ruled that Ajayi and the PDP’s case was barred by statute, having been filed outside the 14-day limit set by the Electoral Act.
Justice Adegoke also noted that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit since it was filed through originating summons instead of a Writ of Summons.
She pointed out that issues related to certificate forgery and perjury are criminal matters that necessitate evidence from the authorities that issued the certificates in question.
Bandits have killed a monarch,his wife, his son, and three other residents in a deadly night attack on Olegabulu community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
Residents said the attack happened on Thursday night when the armed men, numbering about four and arriving on two motorcycles, stormed the palace of the monarch and opened fire on him and his family members.
According to a resident who requested anonymity, the attackers entered the community without raising suspicion, reportedly exchanging greetings with locals in the native dialect before heading straight to the royal residence. Once inside, they opened fire, killing the traditional ruler, his wife, and his son on the spot.
The attackers were said to have spent about 20 minutes in the community. After the assault on the palace, they reportedly moved to a nearby compound where they killed two additional residents and left another person injured before fleeing the scene.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as coordinated and deceptive, noting that the gunmen initially blended in with residents before launching the attack.
The Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the incident, stating that five people were killed and one person sustained injuries.
He added that security operatives, including police personnel, have since visited the scene.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Benue State, DSP Udeme Edet, said she was yet to receive full details of the attack at the time of filing this report.
Proceedings in the case involving former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, were on Thursday adjourned till May 6, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, represented the prosecution, while Bello was represented by his lead counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu.
During proceedings, the prosecution informed the court of the need for more time to respond to applications filed by the defence, while Bello’s legal team urged the court to consider their submissions and move the matter forward.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, adjourned the case to May 6 to allow all parties to adequately prepare and ensure a fair hearing.
Mr Bello is currently facing charges bordering on alleged financial misappropriation during his tenure as governor, allegations he has repeatedly denied.
Nigeria is set to experience one of the highest increases in food insecurity worldwide in 2026, according to the latest Global Report on Food Crises released on April 24, 2026.
The report, compiled by agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme, raised fresh concerns over worsening hunger levels driven by insecurity, economic hardship and declining humanitarian funding.
According to FAO findings, about 4.1 million additional Nigerians could fall into acute food insecurity in 2026, placing the country among those with the largest increases globally.
Reacting to the development, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Mr Alvaro Lario, said “the crisis is becoming more prolonged and difficult to contain”.
“We are no longer seeing just temporary shocks, but persistent shocks over time,” warning that the situation is placing growing pressure on global stability.
FAO noted that about 266 million people across 47 countries face high levels of acute hunger in 2025, with conditions expected to remain severe into 2026.
In Nigeria, the situation is being worsened by continued insecurity in key farming regions, rising inflation and limited access to food.
According FAO projections, over 34 million Nigerians may experience crisis level hunger between June and August 2026, during the peak of the lean season.
The FAO Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr Hussein Gadain, said the combined impact of armed conflict, climate shocks, high food prices and cuts in global aid funding is pushing more Nigerians into hunger.
The report called for urgent and sustained intervention, warning that without immediate action, millions more could slide into emergency levels of food insecurity in the coming months.
BREAKING: Benue boils again as bandits invade palace, kill monarch ,wife, son three others
Yahaya Bello to know fate on May 6 as Court adjourns financial infractions case
Nigeria set to record largest surge in food insecurity globally in 2026-Reports
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