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Presidential Tribunal To Deliver Judgement Tomorrow

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The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPT) is expected to deliver its much-anticipated verdict in respect of the last presidential poll tomorrow – Wednesday.

Court of Appeal Registrar,  Umar Bangari confirmed this on Monday, adding that the proceedings will be open to live broadcast by interested television stations.

“The Court of Appeal wishes to inform the General Public that judgment in the following petitions before the Presidential Election Petition Court will be delivered on Wednesday 6th September 2023: CA/PEPC/03/2023 between Mr. Peter Gregory Obi & Anor VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 3 Ors. CA/PEPC/04/2023 between Allied Peoples Movement VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 4 Ors,” the court registrar said in a statement.

“CA/PEPC/05/2023 between Abubakar Atiku & Anor VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 2 Ors. In a bid to promote transparency and openness, these judgments will be televised live by interested Television Stations for the public to follow.”

He, however, added that: “Access to the Court premises will be strictly on accreditation. Only accredited individuals, including Counsel and representatives of Political Parties, will be granted access to the courtroom. Interested members of the public are advised to watch proceedings from their television sets. We appeal for the maximum cooperation of the general public to ensure a hitch-free exercise, please”.

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The Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), as well as their presidential candidates, had petitioned the tribunal seeking to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.

Also, judgment is expected to be delivered by election tribunals in 25 states for governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly election petitions.

The results of the polls announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are being contested in at least  25 states out of the 28 states where elections were conducted.

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National Issues

Senate Urges Tinubu to Champion LG Autonomy

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In a bid to address mounting challenges including insecurity, rural-urban migration, decaying infrastructure, and widespread unemployment, the Senate has called upon President Bola Tinubu to spearhead advocacy efforts for the full autonomy of local governments across Nigeria.

The upper chamber emphasised the urgency of the matter, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to mitigate the prevailing issues.

It urged the president to initiate a comprehensive national dialogue involving key stakeholders such as governors, state legislators, local government officials, civil society organisations, and community leaders.

The aim is to devise a strategic roadmap towards achieving full autonomy for local governments.

Lawmakers, echoing widespread sentiments, underscored the critical nature of reforming the local government system, which they described as the most abused.

They emphasised the necessity of amending the 1999 constitution to facilitate the desired independence.

Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, lamented the prevalence of caretaker committees in over 17 states, which, he argued, has led to administrative gridlock within the local government setup.

Moro stressed the imperative of launching thorough investigations into systemic abuses to ensure accountability.

Adding his voice to the discourse, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of Anambra South revealed alarming statistics regarding local government elections in his state.

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He disclosed that Anambra has not conducted such elections in the past 18 years, citing the non-implementation of the 1999 framework as a major hindrance to local government autonomy.

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National Issues

Senate approves death sentence for drug traffickers

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The Nigerian Senate has approved the death sentence as a penalty for drug traffickers in the country.

The historic decision came as the Senate passed the 2024 NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill through its third reading.

The proposal gained traction on Thursday as the Senate delved into a meticulous clause-by-clause examination of the report presented by Senator Tahir Munguno, Chairman of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters, and Drugs & Narcotics National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

During the review of the penalty provisions aimed at bolstering the agency’s operations, Senator Peter Nwebonyi, the Senate Chief Whip, proposed an amendment to elevate the punishment for drug traffickers from a life sentence to death under clause 11.

Initially met with dissenting voices, the proposal faced a moment of contention during the voting process. Despite an initial indication of disapproval, a subsequent vote favoured the adoption of the amendment, prompting a heated reaction from some lawmakers.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole was among those who voiced dissatisfaction with what he deemed a rushed consideration and passage of the amended clause.

However, the Deputy Senate President rebuffed attempts to reverse the ruling, citing procedural grounds.

In a parallel effort, the Senate also embarked on a comprehensive review of the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria.

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The move, aimed at combating bribery and corruption while safeguarding the judiciary’s independence, saw the executive bill seeking to prescribe remuneration levels for judicial office holders at both federal and state levels advance to the second reading.

While the bill garnered unanimous support, calls were made for a broader review of salaries and remuneration across various sectors in light of prevailing economic challenges.

Consequently, the bill was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for further scrutiny, with a mandate to report back within four weeks.

 

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16 Governors Back State Police Amid Security Concerns

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In response to the escalating security challenges plaguing Nigeria, no fewer than 16 state governors have thrown their weight behind the establishment of state police forces.

This development was disclosed by the National Economic Council (NEC) during its 140th meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, which took place virtually on Thursday.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, who briefed State House Correspondents after the meeting, revealed that out of the 36 states, 20 governors and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were yet to submit their positions on the matter, though he did not specify which states were among them.

The governors advocating for state police also pushed for a comprehensive review of the Nigerian Constitution to accommodate this crucial reform. Their move underscores the urgency and gravity of the security situation across the nation.

Similarly, the NEC received an abridged report from the ad-hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control. This committee, headed by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, highlighted the areas of oil leakages within the industry and identified instances of infractions.

Governor Uzodinma’s committee stressed the imperative of political will to drive the necessary changes and reforms needed to combat crude oil theft effectively.

ALSO READ  Uneasy calm in Oyo PDP as Makinde plans LG election

 

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