Court of Appeal upholds Saraki’s election

By Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin

Saraki

The election of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, to represent Kwara Central Senatorial District was yesterday upheld by the Court of Appeal in Ilorin.

The justices, led by Joseph Ikyegh, and supported by Oluwayemisi Williams and Ibrahim Bdliya, in a unanimous decision dismissed all the grounds brought before them by the appellant, Abdulrahaman Abdulrasak.
The court held that Saraki was duly elected during the March 28, 2015 National Assembly elections.

The Presiding Justice, in his judgment, struck out the appeal, citing non-compliance with the stipulated time for filing and incongruous with the case of David Mark as cited by the counsel to the appellant.

The appellant, who was the Peoples Democratic Party’s(PDP) candidate in the election, had challenged Saraki’s election at the lower election petition tribunal, citing irregularities during the polls but lost.

Dissatisfied with the ruling of the tribunal, AbdulRasaq took his case to the appellate court, alleging, among others, that results were collated in some centres and declared before the final announcement of the results.

Reports of experts were brought by the appellant to prove his case but such reports were declared irrelevant, as they were found to had been written almost a year to the election.

Court rules on Dokpesi’s bail request December 14

By Lemmy Ughegbe and Abosede Musari (Abuja)
 

• Being investigated over fresh charges of N8.4b fraud
THE detained founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, will have to wait till December 14, 2015 to know if the Federal High Court, Abuja Division will grant him bail.

After entertaining arguments by counsel for Dokpesi, Chief Mike Abu Ozekhome (SAN) in favour of his bail application and the arguments canvassed by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole reserved his decision for next Monday.

Dokpesi, charged alongside his business concern, DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited pleaded not guilty to all of the six counts charge bordering on money laundering and breach of Public Procurement Act.

While arguing the media chief’s bail application, Ozekhome prayed the court to consider the status of his client and release him on self-recognition or “on the most liberal term,” saying the offences against him are ordinarily bailable.

He said the accused remained a man of his standing with no reason to jump bail, submitting that he would appear on all days his trial was fixed if he was granted bail.

However, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) opposed the bail application on the ground that Dokpesi was also being investigated over alleged complicity in the diversion of other huge sums of money.

Jacobs submitted that admitting Dokpesi to bail could jeopardise on-going investigations in that regard and therefore prayed the court to refuse his bail application.

Also, Jacobs said the Federal Government was investigating a fresh allegations of N8.4billion, Dokpesi allegedly collected for airing the FIFA U17 championship which Nigeria hosted in Jan 27,2012.

Jacobs said the airing right was given to DAAR Communications by FIFA and the Federal Government was not a party to the said contract.

He urged the court to take a judicial look at the affidavit evidence of the Federal Government which indicated that no contract paper was exchanged by Dokpesi and any agent of government when the money was paid to him.

Trump plans to win ‘100 per cent’ of Black votes

Trump

DONALD Trump has seized – and maintained – the political spotlight, in part by making coarse remarks about minority groups and capitalizing on nativist fears among his core supporters. He’s called Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers, repeated stereotypes about Jews and money, and, this week, in the wake of the San Bernardino massacre, Trump ignited a national firestorm by calling for Muslims to be banned from entering the country. The more he’s alienated American ethnic groups and scandalized the political establishment, the more, it seems, the brash billionaire has pumped up his base.

But in a strange twist, Trump, the unabashedly politically incorrect Republican frontrunner, recently made an effort to be more sensitive about one of the country’s key minority constituencies.

This shift came after Trump met with a group that included prominent African-American pastors at his eponymous skyscraper headquarters in Manhattan on November 30. Three people who attended the meeting told Yahoo that Trump was told to change the way he speaks about African-Americans, a group he has regularly referred to as “the blacks.” Members of the group left Trump Tower with the impression he would choose his words more carefully going forward.

“To be honest, we informed him that he comes across as insensitive sometimes,” recounted Darrell Scott, an Ohio pastor who helped organize Trump’s meeting with the clergy. “He said, ‘ok.’ … He nodded his head. … We also told him that there are politically correct and politically incorrect terms that are being in use.”

Scott said Trump took the pastors’ words to heart. After the meeting, Trump flew down to Macon, Ga., for a rally where his speech reflected the new tone: “You know, we had a meeting today that was amazing,” Trump told his faithful. “We had the African-American pastors – so many came up to Trump Tower – it was like one of the most inspiring meetings.”

Power: Lagos adds 220MW, inaugurates advisory c’ttee

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

Lagos—At least 220 megawatts of electricity would be added to the existing 1, 000 megawatts being supplied to Lagos as part of measures to boost power supply in the state.

Meantime, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday said the government will pay the Land Use Charge, LUC of any private organization or individuals who lights up any street especially the inner city roads in the state.

He disclosed this at the inauguration of the State Advisory Committee on power supply, at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Ambode, addressing the gathering, explained that the committee which consists of representatives from the private and public organisations will assist the government to create an enabling environment to ensure 24-hour power supply in the state.

According to him, “The committee will guide in the development of roadmap for reliable power supply for the state. And foster collaboration and develop a platform for all major power stakeholders in the state.’’

Responding, Chairman of Ikeja Distribution Company, EKEDCO, Mr. Tope Sonubi said; “Tomorrow  we will be inaugurating additional 220 Mega Watts dedicated for Lagos. The power will be coming from Egbin power station.

“The problem affecting generation before was finance. But now, the investors are putting a lot of funds and the management is working effectively to ensure that power supply increase in the country,” the chairman said.

Bayelsa poll: Murray-Bruce vows to drag perpetrators of violence before ICC

By Abiodun Alade

The lawmaker representing Bayelsa East senatorial district, Ben Murray-Bruce, has vowed to drag perpetrators of violence during the Bayelsa State governorship election that led to the death of at least four people, to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, stressing that citizens have a right to vote for any candidate of their choice in any election without coercion or intimidation.

Ben Bruce

The senator elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made this known in a statement following the violence, abduction and killings that characterised the election in Bayelsa, especially in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, which led to the declaration of the poll as inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He said: “I wish to state categorically that any further killing in Bayelsa State as a result of the ongoing election wherein the law enforcement agents are watching, or the leaders of the political parties seem to have instigated such killing, I will personally ensure that they are charged for murder. If government fails to prosecute them, I will drag them before the International Criminal Court in The Hague for crimes against humanity.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatization, berated security operatives for failing to protect the electorate from attacks by political thugs and criminals.

“I have observed with dismay, the killings in Bayelsa State in the ongoing governorship election. The military and the Police have been seen to watch with indifference while thugs and criminals killed law abiding citizens who were out to perform their franchise. So far, about four people have been reported killed, many injured including Youth Corps members serving as adhoc staff to the INEC.

“Citizens have a right to vote for any candidate of their choice in any election without coercion or intimidation. And it is the responsibility of the government to protect these citizens as enshrined in our Constitution. But it is sad to note that these defenseless citizens were killed without being protected by the law enforcement agents even when they were watching,” he added.

He called on the people of the state to be vigilant and law abiding as they await a new date for the election.

“I therefore advice the good people of Bayelsa to be vigilant. Where there is any killing they must ensure that they can identify those responsible either by omission or commission. I also advise them to be law abiding.

“When a new date is set by INEC for elections to hold in Ijaw South, those affected should quietly go to their designated polling booths and cast their votes. No body should allow himself to be used to perpetrate violence in Bayelsa State. Enough is enough,” he added.