News

Kogi election tribunal orders CBN governor to unfailingly appear on Tuesday

Published

8 months ago

April 22, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, to unfailingly appear before it on Tuesday.

The governor is to appear to give some explanations on the role of the apex bank in the Nov. 11, 2023 Off-Cycle election in Kogi

The three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, also threatened to wield the big stick on the CBN’s Director of Corporate Service.

The development occured following an application by Alex Izinyon, SAN, counsel for Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi, the 2nd respondent in the petition filed by Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.

It would be recalled that the tribunal had, on April 18, issued a subpoena to compel the CBN governor or any of its officers to attend the proceedings to give evidence in relation to allegation levelled by Gov. Ododo that the petitioners filed the petition against him outside the 21 days allowed by law.

Although the panel directed the CBN governor or its officer to appear on April 19 (Friday) to testify, no one represented the apex bank at the hearing.

Meanwhile, shortly after Paul Daudu, who appeared for the governor, led the witnesses in evidence on Monday and after they were cross examined, the lawyer told the panel that he was instructed by the leader of the team to hand over the case to him until the next adjourned date.

Izinyon then told the tribunal that those witnesses taken by Daudu were the ones they had for the day.

The senior lawyer told the panel that he was aware that the CBN management, in a letter to the tribunal, said they would not be available until Friday, April 26 pursuant to their application for subpoena.

He said though the 2nd respondent (Ododo) had planned to call his witnesses within five days, the issue of subpoena was an issue that must be dealt with before proceeding.

Izinyon, who said he expected an officer from the legal department of CBN to be at the tribunal Monday, described the letter written to the tribunal by the apex bank as “an act of contempt.”

He said subpoena, by nature, is in the name of the President and Commander-In-Chief of Armed Forces.

He said the CBN team should be at the tribunal on Tuesday to give evidence and if they failed to appear, it would be in the court record, going by the fact that the matter was time bound.

“If by tomorrow, we call our last witnesses and they (CBN officers) are not here, we urge my lord to look at our application in the interest of justice,” he said.

Aliyu Saiki, SAN, lawyer to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the 1st respondent; D.C. Demingwe, SAN, who appeared for All Progressives Congress (APC), the 3rd respondent, and Pius Akubo, SAN, who represented the petitioners, aligned with Izinyon’s application.

Akubo, however, said that since Izinyon had hinted that the 2nd respondent (Ododo) would be closing their defence on Tuesday, he urged the court to allow the 3rd respondent (APC) proceed with their defence after the governor must have called his witnesses, even if CBN officers failed to appear.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Birnin-Kudu held that the subpoena was to the CBN governor and director of Corporate Service of the bank.

According to him, it is a command in the name of the President, Commander-In-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The judge held that the act of writing to the tribunal by the apex bank that its officers “will be available on April 26 is contemptuous and condemnable.”

The panel then adjourned the matter until April 23 for the continuation of the 2nd respondent’s defence and for the CBN to show cause.

Izinyon equally informed the tribunal that they had applied for the record of proceedings to be sure that what they had “is what is in the record.”

Justice Birnin-Kudu then said that the record of proceedings was ready and would be made available to 2nd respondent’s team.

Earlier, Enesi Adavi Mohammed from Adavi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi, and Jimoh Onimisi Biodun held Okehi LGA, testified in the defence of Ododo’s election victory.

News

Just in; Chief of Staff to Kwara Gov is dead

Published

4 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Naijablitznews

Prince AbdulKadir Mahe, the Chief of Staff to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, is dead.

He passed away on Saturday morning, December 28, 2024.

He will be buried today at his home on Moro Street, Adewole Estate, Ilorin, after the Asr prayer.

The governor and others have sent their sympathies to his family and loved ones.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye confirmed the development also confirmed in a statement.

The statement said: “In total submission to the will of Allaah, we regret to announce the passing of the Chief of Staff to His Excellency, Prince AbdulKadir Mahe.

“He died this morning, December 28, 2024, as has been destined by Allaah.

“The late CoS will be buried today at his residence on Moro Street, Adewole Estate, Ilorin, after the Asr prayer.

His Excellency deeply mourns the death of Prince AbdulKadir Mahe, a perfect gentleman, community leader, urbane public servant, and a statesman.

“The governor commiserates with the Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the immediate family of Prince AbdulKadir; government establishments; and cabinet members.

“We ask for the understanding of everyone at this mournful period as the government and family mourn the quintessential public servant.

“We pray that Allaah accept his return, ease his accounts, admit him to al-jannah Firdaus, and uphold his family upon goodness

News

BLACKOUT as TCN Announces Power Outage In Abuja

Published

7 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced planned power outages in certain areas this weekend to allow for maintenance work on its transmission equipment.

According to a statement by the General Manager of Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, the exercise is aimed at ensuring better service delivery.

On Saturday, December 28, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Gwagwalada and nearby communities will experience a temporary power outage. This is to allow engineers to perform maintenance on a 60MVA transformer and related switchgear at the Gwagwalada Transmission Substation.

Similarly, on Sunday, December 29, 2024, power will be interrupted in several areas, including Wuye, EFCC, Federal Medical Centre, Coca-Cola, Idu Railway Station, Citec, and Life Camp. The outage will occur from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as engineers carry out work on another 60MVA transformer at the Kukwaba Transmission Substation.

In the statement, TCN apologized for the inconvenience caused by the outages and sought the understanding of affected customers. It emphasized the importance of the maintenance work to ensure the power equipment functions optimally. “TCN apologizes for the inconvenience this may cause, especially during the end-of-year season. However, it is important that maintenance is carried out as scheduled for optimal performance of power equipment,” the statement read.

News

BREAKING! Confusion trails free train ride, hundreds of passengers stranded(PHOTOS)

Published

7 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Naijablitznews

* As train is delayed, NRC officials demand tickets

By Emmanuel Agaji

The much publicised tree train ride for passengers travelling to different destinations along the Itakpe/ Warri route may be a hoax as officials of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) at Itakpe, Kogi State, demand e-tickets and other evidence of payment for the trip.

Naojablitznews observed that upon arrival at the train station, travellers are accosted by the train operators to show their tickets to confirm their booking for the ride.

When a passenger shows his ticket, he is allowed to move into the Departure Lounge while those who had arrived on the assumption that the train ride was free are shoved aside , told to write down their names on a sheet of paper and stay under a canopy until those who paid for the trip have been allocated seats on the train.

The Federal Government had, a few days ago announced that Nigerians will enjoy free train rides during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The government also announced that transportation by road would be subsidised up to fifty per cent. However, these promises appear to have been mere propaganda.

The situation has left many travellers confused and stranded especially as
the train which ought to take off from Itakpe at t 2 pm on Saturday has not shown up at the station as at 3.16 pm.

Hundreds of passengers are currently stranded and waiting under the scorching heat of the sun as officials continue their discriminatory admission of passengers into the Departure Lounge.

There are fears that the train may not hit the station until about 4 pm and many passengers may not have space on it because of the perceived underhand dealings by the train officials.

While the officials of the Itakpe Train Station continue to plead for understanding over the delay of the train, their emphasis has been on how to cater for those who booked online for the trip and very little or no emphasis is made to reassure those who came for the free ride announced by the Federal Government that they were at the right place.