The Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Kaduna has upheld the victory of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the valid winner of the March 9, 2019.
The tribunal chaired by Justice Ibrahim Bako dismissed the petition of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) candidate Isa Ashiru’s challenging El-Rufai’s victory.
Reading the judgement, Justice Bako said Ashiru, who is the petitioner failed to provide substantial evidences to prove his case.
Details shortly….
A total of 5,181 Nigerians lost their lives in road traffic crashes (RTC) in 2018, according to the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC).
The FRSC said in its 2018 Annual Report obtained by our reporter that Kaduna State recorded more deaths than other states during the period.
Although Kaduna State had more deaths in road crashes with a total of 597 fatalities, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja witnessed the highest number of crashes during the period.
The report, according the FRSC, was aimed providing RTC statistics comprising the casualties (persons killed and persons injured) and characteristics of occurrences for the period of January – December 2018, in Nigeria.
The report reads in part: “A total of 9,741 road traffic crashes were recorded, which resulted in an increase of 3.8% from 2017. These crashes included 2,739 fatal cases, 5,489 serious cases, 1,153 minor cases and 15,501 vehicle types. Also, 5,181 fatalities were recorded denoting an increase of 1.2% from 2017.”
The report further noted that “The FCT recorded the highest number of Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) in 2018 with 1,051 cases representing a reduction of 5% compared with the figure of 2017.
“These crashes involved 6,069 persons with 2,347 sustaining various degrees of injuries and 281 died. (This was) closely followed by Kaduna with 830 cases of RTC involving 6,804 crash victims out of which 3,300 sustained injuries while 597 died.
“Likewise, Borno, Bayelsa and Cross River States had low record of RTCs of 46, 53 and 56 cases, respectively.
“On the other hand, records in the period January to December 2018 revealed that Kaduna State was more vulnerable to fatality.
“A total of 597 fatalities were recorded in Kaduna accounting for 11.5% of the total persons who died in RTC; Jigawa followed with 301 fatalities and Niger State recorded 289 deaths while FCT and Ogun State had 281 fatalities each.
“Meanwhile, Ekiti, Taraba and Bayelsa States recorded fewer fatalities within the period having recorded 31, 26, and 14 fatalities, respectively.”
On the trend and percentage change of crashes and fatalities from 2013 to 2018, the report noted that “cumulatively, a decrease of 29.6 and 22.2 per cent was recorded in the number of crashes and fatality respectively from the periods outlined.
“However, on a year by year basis, 2014, 2015 and 2016 all recorded reduction in this regard while 2017 recorded a decrease and increase in crashes and fatalities respectively. The year under review, 2018, recorded increase of 3.8 and 1.2 per cent in crashes and fatalities respectively from (what was recorded in) 2017.”
The report added that 13,583 crashes were recorded in 2013 with 6,544 fatalities while in 2014, 10,380 accidents occurred with 5,996 fatalities representing a decrease of 23.6 and 8.4 per cent in the number of crashes and fatalities respectively compared to the trend in 2013.
Also, the year 2015 recorded 9,734 and 5,440 crashes and fatalities respectively representing 6.2 and 9.3 per cent decrease in the number of crashes and fatalities respectively compared to 2014.
In 2016, 9,694 and 5,053 crashes and fatalities respectively representing a decrease of 0.4 per cent in crashes and 7.1 per cent in the number of fatalities compared to 2015, was recorded.
Also, 2017 witnessed a slight decline in the number of incidents with 9,384 crashes 5,121 fatalities representing 3.2 per cent decrease in road crashes and 1.3 per cent increase in the number of fatalities compared to 2016.
However there was a sharp increase in the number of crashes in 2018 which is 9,741 and 5181 fatalities representing 3.8 per cent increase in crashes and 1.2 per cent increase in fatalities.
The report however blamed speed violations by motorists for the increase in crashes and fatalities in 2018, which it said “accounted for 51.7% of the total crashes reported.”
The report further revealed that Abia had 77 RTC with 39 deaths; Adamawa had 130 cases with 44 deaths; Akwa Ibom had 81 Crashes with 49 fatalities; Anambra 165 crashes with 70 deaths; Bauchi with 365 RTC and 245 deaths; Bayelsa 53 cases and 14 deaths, Benue 268 with 101 deaths; Borno with 46 cases and 55 deaths; Cross River recorded 56 accidents with 39 deaths; Delta: 124 cases resulting in 123 deaths; Ebonyi had 133 accidents with 81 deaths and Edo recoded 208 cases with 142 deaths.
Others include Ekiti with 71 cases and 31 deaths; Enugu 175 cases with 100 deaths; FCT with 1051 RTC and 281 deaths; Gombe 217 cases and 65 deaths; Imo 128 cases with 72 deaths; Jigawa with 361 cases and 301 deaths; Kaduna: 830 cases with 597 deaths; Kano with 356 cases and 204 deaths; Katsina with 283 cases and 161 deaths; Kebbi with 139 cases and 50 deaths; Kogi with 332 cases and 187 deaths and Kwara which recorded 268 RTC with 200 deaths.
Others are Lagos: 356 cases with 100 deaths; Nasarawa with 485 cases and 202 deaths; Niger with 475 cases and 289 deaths; Ogun with 539 cases and 281 deaths; Ondo with 449 cases and 233 deaths; Osun with 233 cases and 146 deaths; Oyo 401 cases with 239 fatalities; Plateau with 246 cases 85 fatalities; Rivers with 134 RTC and 59 fatalities; Sokoto with 114 cases and 60 fatalities; Taraba: 126 RTC with 26 deaths; Yobe: 147 crashes with 117 fatalities and Zamfara with 128 crashes resulting in 93 deaths.
The Kaduna State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will on Monday, Sept 9, rule on the petition challenging the re-election of Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna state.
The Tribunal Secretary, Mrs Hafsat Suleiman, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Kaduna.
Suleiman said the Tribunal concluded its sitting on Aug. 19 and has fixed Monday, Sept. 9, to pass its verdict on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The PDP and its governorship candidate in the March 9 poll, Alhaji Isah Ashiru, had petitioned the Tribunal asking it to nullify El-Rufai’s election.
The petitioners in their final written address, asked the Tribunal to cancel a total of 515, 951 votes which it contended were unlawfully added to the total votes cast during the March 9 poll.
The petitioners had called 135 witnesses out of the 685 they assembled to prove alleged massive rigging, ballot stuffing and other irregularities during the poll as contained in their petition.
The petitioners had accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of adding 391,741 votes to El-Rufai of APC and 124, 210 unlawful votes to the PDP, through wrong or double entry on the result sheets.
They also contended that declaring El-Rufai winner by INEC was illegal as he did not score majority of lawful votes.
The PDP through its legal team led by Mr. Emmanuel C. Ukala (SAN), said deducting 391,741 votes from 1,045,427 scored by El-Rufai and 124,210 from Ashiru’s 814, 168 votes will give victory to PDP and Ashiru, its candidate in the poll.
The counsel had argued that after the deduction of the alleged unlawful votes, Ashiru will be left with 689,958 lawful votes, while El-Rufai will have 653,686 votes.
Ukala argued that all parties to the petition are bound to argue their cases on the basis of whether or not the petitioners had assembled credible evidence to sustain their petition, as formulated by the Tribunal.
According to him, “only the 2nd respondent premised his argument on the issues formulated by this honorable tribunal.
“The 1st and 3rd respondents went on their own forays.
“It is, therefore, our submission that the argument of the 1st and 3rd respondents should go to ‘no issue’, having not addressed the issue which was binding to all parties, “ Ukala argued.
The petitioners counsel further said that based on the issues formulated by the tribunal, the issue has been narrowed down to the credibility of evidence.
“Based on this simplification of the issue, it is our humble submission that when the evidence led by both sides are placed on the imaginary scales of justice, what is obvious is that the weight of evidence of the petitioners will overwhelmingly weigh in favour of the petitioners as against the respondents, “ he said.
“First, the petitioners called 135 witnesses. All respondents put together, 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents, called a total of five witnesses.
“What is obvious is that there were so many areas covered by the petitioners that were not addressed by the respondents.”
Ukala further pointed out that the quality of the petitioners’ evidence was more qualitative than that of the respondents, with polling unit agents who actually saw what happened on the election day testifying.
However, in its final written address and reply to points raised by the petitioners, Counsel to APC, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) said: “our final written address before the tribunal is that the petitioners have not been able to establish their claim before the court.
“There are certain allegations that were made which were criminal.
“The petitioners also complain that certain votes were illegally recorded for the 2nd and 3rd respondents, but unfortunately no evidences were made to prove those points.
“So, we urge the Tribunal to dismiss the petition as the petitioners have failed to live up to the standard expected of them in proving their petition.”
Similarly, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, counsel to El-Rufai, the 2nd respondent in the petition, asked the tribunal “to invoke its majestic powers to dismiss the petition as lacking in merit.
“And to confirm that the 2nd respondent, Malam Nasiru El Rufai as duly elected as governor of Kaduna State in the March 9 election. “
Mustapha further said: “we have been able to tell the court that all the witnesses called by the petitioners failed woefully to prove the ingredient of the fact relied upon in their petition.
“The onus is on the petitioners to come with credible evidence and all the testimonies of the witnesses produced by the petitioners were demolished under cross examination.
“There is nothing that the court will see to be persuaded to give judgment in their favor, we have been able to show with the witnesses we called that the election was conducted in conformity with the provision of the electoral Act.
“We are very satisfied with the proceedings and we are very sure that justice will be done and sure that Malam Nasiru El-Rufai was duly elected by the people of Kaduna State.
“On behalf of the 2nd respondent, the final written address which was dated 2nd August, was filed on 3rd August, 2019, while the 2nd respondent filed a reply on fact of law on August 16,” Mustapha said.
On his part, Counsel to INEC, Aliyu Umar (SAN), urged the tribunal to “dismiss the petition and confirm El Rufai as duly elected Governor of Kaduna State.“
Umar drew the attention of the tribunal to the fact that the petitioners had just served him with a list of additional authorities on the day of sitting.
“And their witnesses have all confirmed during cross examination that no INEC officials connived with any other person.
“The petitioners only called 135 of the 685 witnesses the petitioners said they would call, that is short of the number they were supposed to call to prove their case.
“They are to win their case by the evidence presented not by our witnesses,” Umar said.
The Tribunal is chaired by Justice Ibrahim Bako, with Khadi Adamu Usman and Justice Jude Obiora as members.
Kaduna State Government has ordered the dismantling of all security check points on Kaduna-Abuja highway.
The directive issued on Wednesday after a meeting of the state Security Council, said that the order also covers Kaduna-Zaria and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highways.
This was contained in a statement by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.
“Citizens are to note that effective immediately, there is no authorized checkpoint on these routes, to and fro, until further notice,” the government said.
It warned that anyone found manning checkpoints along the routes would be held for conducting an illegal operation.
“Road users are strictly warned not to show compliance with any checkpoint on these routes at this time,” the government added.
“The State Security Council wishes to assure the public that the security agencies are conducting operations to rout the criminals and end the menace of banditry on these highways.”
It urged the public to report any check point found mounted to the Security Operation Centre through 09034000060 and 08170189999.
The government called on the people to remain vigilant and support security agencies with information to address the security challenges in the state.
It warned that any conduct, under whatever guise, that threatens to undermine peace and security in the state would be dealt with decisively, in accordance with the law.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has secured convictions for 23 out of the 48 suspects arrested for various internet fraud between January and August.
The Head, Kaduna Zonal office of the EFCC Zonal, Mr Mailafia Yakubu, disclosed this at a news conference in Kaduna on Wednesday.
“The Kaduna Zonal office through intelligence reports launched several sting operations on various computer related frauds which resulted in the arrest of 48 internet fraudsters in their hideouts.
“The zone secured conviction of 23 persons, while others are in various stages of investigation and prosecution,” he said.
Yakubu said the zonal office also recovered N198,727,241.5 and 48,000 US Dollars in cash and draft within the period under review.
According to him, the commission received 345 petitions, out of which 286 were considered for investigations, while 52 were forwarded to its legal and prosecution department and 56 cases are in court.
He said that the commission’s recent collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had also yielded results leading to the recovery of the sum of $314,000 and about N373, 000,000 from computer related frauds, while the sum of N373 million had been traced to various commercial banks.
“It is my pleasure to brief you on our effort to rid the society of economic and financial crimes, most especially internet fraud, popularly known as (yahoo yahoo), cyber crimes and our collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.
“Internet is the most widely used communication ever constructed; it is also use by millions of humans and machines every second of every day.
“There are good and bad things happening on the internet and among other things are on-going attempts to scam innocent people of their money or identity.
“Their modus of operandi includes clone of foreign numbers which they in turn use to create fictitious email accounts on various social media platforms: such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Skype, Google hang out and they also use the same fake email addresses to open account on foreign online dating site.
“They also use that method to open foreign bank accounts with the help of their counterparts living abroad, while they also use fake documents to perpetrate illegal activities in the cyber space.
“Few among this type of fraud include love/romance scam, contract/ company scam, Bit coin business scam, employment scam, online dating, travel scam, impersonation scam among others,” Yakubu said.
The official explained that the fraudsters also create fake Facebook pages using display pictures and names belonging to mostly foreigners in order to deceive unsuspecting victims.
“Their victims are mostly females of white nationality intimating them that they are soldiers deployed from USA to Afghanistan, Iran or any other foreign mission.
“Another mode of operation is to link up with their conspirators known as pickers residing around the globe to help them in receiving their loots through their dollar accounts domiciled all over the world for onward transfer to Nigeria.
“In most cases, they buy items and send them to Nigeria and sell them cheaper to divert attention in the inflow of money into the country where their Pickers usually got 30 per cent of the loots, while 70 per cent is shared among other members.
Section 7:(1)(b) of the EFCC establishment Act, 2004 has the power to cause investigation to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income;
“Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 empowers the EFCC to cause investigate and prosecute, a Person who is being the occupier or is concerned in the management of any premises, cause or knowingly permits the premises be used for any purpose which constitutes an offence under this Act commits an offence.
“And they are liable on conviction to imprisonment or a term not more than 15 years and not less than five years without the option of a fine.
“The recently joint operations conducted by the commission had yielded tremendous success while some of the suspects arrested, prosecuted and convicted, one of the suspects linked to FBI wanted list was arrested in Kaduna.’’
Yakubu said the alarming growth of the internet and its widespread acceptance has led to increase in security threat.
“The increase of this crime in our society has become alarming and should not be overlooked.
“The impact on this type of crime can be felt on the lives, economy and international reputation of a nation, some of the impacts include monetary losses, piracy, loss of vital information, damage the nation reputation, economic data been loss due to virus attack, among others.
“The commission recognises the critical role of the press as stakeholders in the fight against corruption in the country.
“The press in Nigeria will continue to play vital role in holding government accountable as well as exposing corrupt people with corrupt tendency and also sensitising the general public on the ills of corruption,” he said.
The EFCC official appealed to stakeholders particularly the media, to continue the collaboration with the commission to succeed in the fight against corruption.
“Let me on behalf of the Acting Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, express our appreciation to the gentlemen of the press.
“We also want to appeal and advice the youths to desist from crime while advising parents to closely monitor their children.
“The general public should be mindful of the way they handle their bank details not to fall victims of internet scammers; they should endeavour to report all bogus profit making ventures to the EFCC or any anti-graft agency.
“The commission will not hesitate to prosecute anyone caught no matter how highly place,” Yakubu said.
Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state, who is the second respondent on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru at the election tribunal has closed his case on Wednesday, after calling two witnesses.
The second witness who gave evidence on Wednesday was Forensic and a Hand Writing expert, retired DSP Olufemi Ayodele.
Mr. Ayodele who adopted his written statement as evidence before the tribunal explained that only a few witnesses signed the documents of the petitioner, based on his findings.
“After analyses of the signatures on the statement of oath, it was found out that only three persons were responsible for the signing of about 624 signatures of the petitioner. One of them was solely responsible for signing 471, another person signed 144, the third person signed nine signatures,” the witness said.
Under cross-examination, Ayodele said that he is not a consultant but a professional.
However, the petitioner’s counsel, Mr. E. Y Kurah (SAN), referred him to paragraph five of his petition where the witness referred to himself as a principal consultant.
Ayodele clarified that he had referred to himself as a consultant in the document as a way of introduction but as a witness in court, he is a professional.
The petitioner’s counsel asked him whether he was paid to do the job of a Forensic Analyst and the witness answered in the affirmative but refused to disclose his professional fee.
Mr. Ayodele also said that he has no allegiance to the person who hired him, adding that his testimony was to assist the tribunal as best as he can.
When asked if he knew the theory of forensic analysis which suggests that analysts tend to favour those who hired them, the witness said that he is not aware of it.
The witness, however, agreed with the petitioner’s counsel that accidental and natural variations occur in signatures.
Barrister Kurah (SAN) tendered a document titled “Adversarial Allegiance amongst expert witnesses, which was opposed by counsel of the first, second and third respondents.
The tribunal adjourned to enable the third respondent, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to continue with its defence on Thursday.
Speaking after the proceedings, Barrister AbdulHakeem Mustapha (SAN), counsel to the second respondent, noted that what matters most is the quality of witnesses and not the number.
The Justice Ibrahim Bako-led Kaduna State Governorship Election Tribunal has adjourned sitting to Tuesday, July 23 to enable the second respondent bring more witnesses at the hearing of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Isa Ashiru, challenging the March 9 election.
The second respondent, who opened his defence on Friday, was able to arraign just one witness before moving for adjournment.
Earlier, Malam Hussaini Barmo who was a member of the Election Planning and Monitoring Directorate of Kaduna State Chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC), adopted his deposition as evidence before the tribunal.
Cross examining the witness, counsel of APC, the third respondent, Barrister Sharafa Yusuf, asked him to confirm the results from Kubau local government, which Barmo did.
The witness also confirmed that the results were for voting points where the number of voters exceeded 750.
Malam Barmo also told the tribunal that results from each of such voting points were added to the mother polling units before the aggregate votes were recorded in the forms EC8E.
Also cross examining the witness, counsel to the petitioner, Barrister Hassan El Yakub asked Barmo whether he was an agent of APC during the last election and he answered in the negative.
The witness however said that APC had agents in every ward throughout the state “but I was not one of them.”
Barmo further said that he got the information on pages 15 to 56 of his deposition “from party agents across polling units, wards and local governments of the state. ”
Barmo also said that he didn’t visit any polling unit, adding “the only polling unit that I went to was the one where I voted at Sardauna Crescent in Kaduna North local government.”
Counsel to Governor Nasir El Rufai who is the second respondent, AbdulHakeem Mustapha (SAN), moved a motion for adjournment to enable him arraign more witnesses, which the tribunal granted.
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has appointed Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, the immediate past Commissioner for Planning and Budget, as Chief of Staff.
This was contained in a statement by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner-Designate, Internal Security and Home Affairs, on Friday in Kaduna.
The statement said the governor also appointed seven other officials, including new heads of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
According to the statement, Bala Yunusa will serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Legislative, Hamza Abubakar as Executive Secretary, SPHCDA and Ben Kure, Special Adviser, Political Matters.
Others are Dr Omano Edigheji, Special Adviser, Research and Documentation and Maimuna Abubakar Zakari, Executive Secretary, SEMA.
The governor also appointed Dr Habiba Ibrahim Mohammed as Special Assistant, Geographic Information Service and Jamilu Albani, Director-General, Interfaith Matters.
Abdullahi, the new chief of staff, was appointed Commissioner for Planning and Budget in 2015 and served in that capacity throughout the first term of Gov. El-Rufai.
He had served as a Policy Adviser in the Executive Office of United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon in New York and was a member of the Secretary General’s core team that designed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In 2018, Muhammad was appointed as a member of the World Bank’s Advisory Council on Citizen Engagement.
Justice Muktar Hussein of the Court of Appeal Kaduna, on Thursday adjourned hearing in the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking for the recount of votes cast in the March 9 Governorship election in Kaduna State.
The Justice Hussein-led five-man panel in the appeal, while adjourning the matter to July 3, said it was sequel to the complain by the second respondent in the appeal.
The second respondent, Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai told the Appeal Court that he was only served with the notice of the appeal on Wednesday, June 26.
Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) who represented the 1st respondent, the All Progressives Congress (APC), told newsmen shortly after the adjournment that El-Rufai sought for the adjournment to allow him file his response.
“The appeal by the PDP and Isah Ashiru came up this morning with respect to the interlocutory appeal.
“The parties were represented by counsel in court.
“It was believed the Governor who is a party in the appeal has been served before now, but counsel to the Governor informed the court that he was served just yesterday, Wednesday.
“To give him benefit of the doubt and to ensure that all processes are in, the court allowed them to file their reply to the Appeals. The matter was adjourned to July 3rd,” Bawa said.
Also, Mr Dike Udenna, Counsel to the Appellant said: ” the matter came up this morning for hearing of the petitioners’ appeal for recounts of ballot papers used for the governorship elections in Kaduna State.
” Unfortunately, the lawyers to the second respondents (El-Rufai) told the court that he became aware of the Appeal yesterday, Wednesday.
“Even though the records of the court shows that he has been served since 21st June, 2019.
“For the benefit of the doubt, the court adjourned till 3rd July to allow the party file his reply.
“I believe that the Appeal Court being the superior court of record will do justice to the matter.”
The state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had on May 28, struck out the petitioners motion seeking for recount of votes cast in the governorship elections in the state, for lack of merit.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Bako, who ruled on the motion, said the tribunal had a timeline of only 180 days within which to complete its assignment.
Bako had said that the Tribunal would not accommodate the motion seeking for the recount of votes.
He had also refused the application for amendment of the motion seeking to narrow the votes recount exercise to only 12 local government areas.
The PDP and Ashiru had asked the Tribunal to order for a vote recount in 12 LGs mostly won by the APC.
The pettitioners had asked that votes for Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Zaria, Sabon Gari, Makarfi, Kudan, Kubau, Soba and Ikara local government areas be recounted.
The petitioners, dissatisfied with the ruling, headed to the Appeal Court to challenge the position of the Tribunal.