News
Court lifts order restraining INEC, SIEC, others over Kwara council poll
A Federal High Court in Abuja has lifted the ex-parte order it issued restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the national voters’ register to the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) to conduct local government election in Kwara State on Saturday.
Justice Peter Lifu, who issued the order on July 29, upon an ex-parte motion by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), vacated it yesterday while ruling on an application by KWASIEC.
Justice Lifu, in the ruling, upheld the argument by KWASIEC’s lawyer, Johnson Usman (SAN) that the order, being an ex-parte one, ought to be lifted after 14 days, in line with extant legal provisions.
The judge also dismissed the allegation of contempt of court made by the PDP against the Chairman of KWSIEC, Okanlawon Baba.
PDP had sought that the KWASIEC chairman be committed to prison for allegedly violating a subsisting order of the court.
In the ruling yesterday, Justice Lifu dismissed the motion for committal filed by the PDP on the grounds that the KWASIEC chairman was not served personally as required by law.
Justice Lifu held that since committal proceeding is quash criminal one, the motion commencing it must be served personally on the alleged contemnor and not through any other party or person.
The judge held that the failure of PDP to effect personal service on the alleged contemnor was fatal to its case and amounted to violation of KWASIEC chairman’s right to fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36 of the Constitution.
He said: “I have carefully and painstakingly perused the arguments for and against the motion to commit the contemnor to prison.
“Where the liberty of person is at stake, due of process of law must be carefully followed.
“In the instant case, the fundamental right of the alleged contemnor to fair hearing, as enshrined in Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was breached by not serving him personally and this makes the motion for committal to prison to be liable to dismissal and is hereby dismissed,” the judge said.
Following a motion ex-parte filed by the PDP, the court on July 29 issued an order restraining INEC from releasing the national voters register to the KWSIEC for the purpose of conducting the September 21 local government elections in Kwara State.
It equally restrained KWASIEC and the state’s Attorney General from receiving, accepting or using the national voter register or any part relating to Kwara State from the electoral body for the council’s election in Kwara State.
The PDP had, while alleging contempt, claimed that despite the pending orders of the court, KWASIEC’s chairman wrote two letters to political parties, one inviting them for peace meeting and the other requesting them to submit names and photographs of their agents for the purpose of the election.
At the conclusion of the ruling yesterday, Justice Lifu said he would return the case file to the court’s chief judge for reassignment because his court only sat on the case as a vacation court.
In the substantive case, the PDP is contending among others, that the KWASIEC was in grievous contravention, breach and violation of sections 9, 28, 29 and 106 of the Electoral Act 2022, sections 20 (1) and 21 (1) of Kwara State Local Government Electoral (Amendment) Law, 2024.
The PDP claimed that the conditions and precedents stipulated in Local Government Electoral laws in Kwara State were allegedly deliberately ignored by KWASIEC under unacceptable circumstances.
It alleged that KWASIEC had applied to INEC for the register of voters in Kwara to use the same in the conduct of the local government polls.
The party said the action was in breach and violation of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Kwara State Local Government Electoral (Amendment) Law, 2024.
Iran has carried out the execution of two individuals accused of collaborating with Israeli intelligence, according to an official statement from the country’s judiciary.
Authorities said the two men were convicted on charges of espionage linked to Mossad, and were found guilty of working with what officials described as a hostile intelligence network operating within Iran.
According to the judiciary, the suspects had been under investigation for activities considered detrimental to national security.
Their death sentences were subsequently upheld by the country’s Supreme Court prior to being enforced.
The executions were confirmed on April 20, 2026, although officials did not provide specific details regarding the exact time or location.
Iranian authorities stated that the case is part of ongoing efforts to counter and dismantle foreign intelligence operations within its borders.
There has been no independent confirmation of the allegations, and Israeli authorities have not issued any immediate response.
The incident reflects the persistent strain in relations between the two countries, with Iran frequently reporting the uncovering of alleged espionage networks tied to Israeli operatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus of the Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area in Ogun State.
President Tinubu also approved a special take-off grant of N15billion for the college.
The President’s approval was in fulfilment of the provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021, particularly with respect to the expansion of the Police Academy based in Wudil, Kano state, into multiple campuses across the country.
The intervention fund will be sourced from the TetFund 2026 allocation to finance priority infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation, and core training assets.
A high-level consultative meeting involving the Minister of Police Affairs, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspector-General of Police and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) recommended the siting of the new campus in Erinja.
The meeting considered student intake capacity, funding realities, academic quality assurance, and the long-term needs of the Nigerian Police Force, which is currently recruiting more men.
President Tinubu believes the expansion will strengthen institutional governance, modern policing education and national security.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), South West Zone, has disowned a press conference purportedly held in Ibadan on Monday, which claimed that the zone had condemned the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, declared support for Governor Makinde of Oyo State and loyalty to a Turaki-led National Working Committee.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Zonal Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Oyeniyi, described the event as the work of organised impostors who do not represent the party at any level.
“The Zonal Chairman, Engr. Deji Doherty, was away in Abuja attending the 108th meeting of the National Executive Committee of our great party and no zonal officials held any press conference. The claim of an Ibadan press conference is therefore a barefaced lie,” Oyeniyi said.
The statement said those behind the Ibadan gathering do not speak for the party, hold no mandate, and are not recognised by any organ of the PDP from ward to national level.
Oyeniyi further said the illegality of the group was very pronounced, noting that they do not even have a Zonal Vice Chairman, which is very significant for any structure claiming to speak for the PDP South West.
“These are the ones whose agenda was to destabilise the party but they failed. Looking at them, one could see that their group is now a psychiatric ward with no staff. Destabilising elements always end up as wanderers. Karma never forgets, and wickedness by default carries consequences too,” the statement read.
According to Oyeniyi, “these ones slung toboggan, and now the stones are expectedly raining on them, and their current noise and theatrics will not substitute for acceptance by party members or the public.”
The PDP South West said its loyalty to the Abdulrahman-led National Working Committee and the National Leader, His Excellency Nyesom Wike remains unalloyed and also advised the impostors to retrace their steps and rejoin the party through the proper channels, rather than constituting themselves into a nuisance, as no amount of media stunts or paid propaganda will confer any legitimacy on illegitimacy.
He urged the general public, party faithful, and the media to disregard the publication, stating that official communications of the PDP South West Zone would continue to come only through recognised party channels in the zone under the leadership of Engr. Deji Doherty.
Iran executes two men over spying for Israel
Tinubu approves N15bn take off grant for new police academy
PDP South West Disowns Ibadan Press Conference, Calls Organisers Criminal Impostors
-
News24 hours agoSSANU plans indefinite strike as April 30 renegotiation deadline approaches
-
News24 hours agoNCA demands arrest of Islamic cleric over alleged bounty on pastor
-
News17 hours agoEl-Rufai issues public alert in prison
-
News24 hours agoSERAP Asks Tinubu To Withdraw NBC’s ‘Unlawful’ Directive To Broadcasters
-
News20 hours agoTinubu reforms shift Nigeria from fragility to growth as global pressures mount(Photos)
-
News24 hours agoFCCPC warns firms over non-compliance in mergers, acquisitions, business combinations
-
News16 hours agoAisha Yesufu faults FCT teachers’ strike, wants Wike to intervene
-
News14 hours ago
PDP Holds First NEC Meeting After Police Reopen National Secretariat
You must be logged in to post a comment Login