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Tag: Supreme Court

  • PDP S’Court Judgement: Sheriff disowns social media account, says ‘I did not congratulate Makarfi’

    …Says party now in the hands of looters

    Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has disowned a social media account on Twitter where he purportedly congratulated Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the authentic party chairman following the Supreme Court judgement on Wednesday.

    Sheriff also noted that that the party has now been handed over to those he described as treasury looters.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Supreme Court on Wednesday sacked Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff who had hitherto held sway as the party’s chairman. The court reinstated Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the authentic and recognised chairman.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that as part of efforts to start a national reconciliation process to bring aggrieved members of the party who had either defected to other parties or distanced themselves from the former ruling party, the spokesperson for the Makarfi-led committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, had on Thursday said it was offering Sheriff and his group “amnesty”, adding that nobody would be punished for the loss which the party had suffered since the beginning of the crisis. He, however, warned that the party would not condone further negative actions by Sheriff and his group.

    But Sheriff, who spoke through the spokesperson for the National Working Committee sacked by the Supreme Court, Mr. Bernard Mikko, said it was wrong for the Makarfi-led caretaker committee to have said the PDP would grant him and members of his former executive committee “amnesty”.

    Others in Sheriff’s camp include the party’s former National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo; Sheriff’s deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, and some members of the National Assembly.

    The Sheriff-led faction also had the support of some state chapters of the party and some governors.

    Mikko, in a message sent to our correspondent, described Adeyeye’s statement as reckless, saying that “amnesty” ought to be given to those who had committed offence against the party.

    He said that Sheriff and his group did not occupy the national secretariat of the party illegally, adding that the party belonged to all.

    He said, “I take exception to the reckless statement credited to Prince Dayo Adeyeye, suggesting that amnesty has been granted to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, his National Working Committee and supporters. Amnesty is a reprieve for those who have committed offence under our statute.”

    According to Mikko, Sheriff and his camp were forced to vacate the party’s national secretariat by the police.

    He said, “However, the office was officially reopened for us after we presented the Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, to the Inspector- General of Police.

    “I am, therefore, concerned about the future of our party in the hands of some of those who are known to have pending criminal cases, bordering (on) fraud, treasury looting and dishonesty, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    “The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in our land and we await the copy of the full judgment delivered on July 12, 2017.

    “No one owns the party and those making unguarded and reckless statements in the public domain should realise that the solution to the problem of Nigeria is beyond any political association. Unacceptable and unjustifiable means cannot lead to a justifiable and acceptable end.”

    On the alleged congratulatory message to Makarfi and his group, Mikko described “the alleged congratulatory message credited to an imaginary Twitter handle of Sheriff” as a fraud.

    He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Sheriff does not have or own a Twitter account and could not have tweeted any message.

    “We, therefore, view the said message as fake and mischievous and should be regarded as that of evil doers.

    “We further warn all mischief-makers to desist from trying to exploit the huge political capital of Senator Sheriff for selfish gains.”

    In its reaction, the Makarfi-led committee said it would no longer allow Sheriff and his group to distract it, adding that it would henceforth devote its time to building the party.

    It also said its time would be spent constructively criticising the APC-led Federal Government.

    Adeyeye also said the PDP no longer had factions.

    He said, “I will no longer engage them. Supreme Court is the final arbiter and it has pronounced that there is no faction in the PDP.

    “We have done the right thing by offering our hands of fellowship to them. We won’t engage them any longer because we are now one.”

  • Supreme Court Judgement: We’ll reconcile with Sheriff, other aggrieved members – Makarfi

    Supreme Court Judgement: We’ll reconcile with Sheriff, other aggrieved members – Makarfi

    Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, National Caretaker Committee, People Democratic Party (PDP), said the committee was opened to reconciliation that would strengthen the party.

    Makarfi gave the assurance while addressing members and supporters of the party after the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership crisis delivered in favour of the committee on Wednesday.

    He described the judgment as “no victor, no vanquished’’ and said, “we must be open to reconciliation, but there’s a caveat.

    “Reconciliation does not mean we take what belongs to people and give it to you. It must be based on equity, equality and values.

    “With this caveat, we should be prepared and willing to reconcile with everybody.

    “Anybody that can meet these criteria, we should be willing and open to reconciliation with such a person, no matter who they are.”

    He urged Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and his group to join hand with him to move the PDP forward.

    Makarfi also called on members of the party not to discriminate among members who belonged to different factions before the court’s judgment.

    “We should continue as friends, knowing that there are things we can do together; there may be things we may not be able to do together.

    “We are willing to do everything on the foundation that I had mentioned.

    “I urge them to come forward, join hands with us and let’s see how we can move PDP forward,’’ he said.

    Makarfi commended PDP members and the judiciary for the fair judgement, saying PDP never lost faith in the judiciary.

    “This victory is not just for PDP, it’s for democracy. This affirms the powers of political parties, the powers of the convention of all political parties.

    “The battle we fought was not a battle for PDP alone. It was a battle for democracy; it was a battle for supremacy of party men and women to decide their destiny.

    “It is a battle to do away with dictatorship in political parties and this will never repeat itself,” he said.

    He promised that the committee within the next few days would begin consultation and come up with a programme of meetings between it and expanded PDP caucus.

    “These meetings will include Expanded Caucus, Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee so that we can take far-reaching decisions on how to take the party forward.”

    On his part, Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, said that the court verdict had placed PDP on good stand to return to power in 2019.

    Fayose said that PDP would make maximum use of the judgment to reposition the party, adding that the forum would not fight Sheriff and his loyalists.

    “We will not fight them. We should just come back together so that we can celebrate 2019 together.”

    He assured the Makarfi-led leadership of corporation of the governors, saying “where we need to speak we will speak, where we need to spend money we will spend.”

    Also speaking, the Deputy President of Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, described the judgment as a collective victory for the entire party faithful and the nation’s democracy.

    “I am happy that the Supreme Court has brought this protracted leadership tussle to an end today.

    “There is no victor and there is no vanquished, but a collective victory for our party and the nation’s democracy.

    “No democracy can prosper in the absence of a virile opposition or under the extreme hardship Nigerians have faced over the past two years. Citizens deserve a viable alternative,” Ekweremadu said.

    He called on PDP leadership and elders to immediately initiate an all-inclusive peace, reconciliation and rebuilding process in the party.

    The lawmaker said that it was important to reunite everybody under the “big umbrella and reinvigorate the biggest party in Africa to bounce back to the rescue of the suffering masses of Nigeria, come 2019”.

     

    NAN

  • PDP crisis: Fayose, Wike, Bode George, others storm S/Court

    PDP crisis: Fayose, Wike, Bode George, others storm S/Court

    The Supreme Court will soon today deliver a judgment on the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) since it lost in the 2015 presidential election.

    The legal dispute is between the Ali Modu Sheriff faction affirmed by the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal, and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Ahmed Makarfi, who was sacked by the appeal court.

    ‎The appeal to be decided by a five-man panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, was filed by the Makarfi faction.

    Some of the party’s big wigs, mostly those loyal to the Makarfi faction, are already at the Supreme Court ‎waiting for the judgment of the apex court.

    Among those on the Makarfi’s side, who are already seated at the Supreme Court are Governors of Ekiti and Rivers states, Ayodele Fayose and Nyesom Wike,‎ a former Vice-Chairman of the party (South West), Chief Bode George, and the present occupant of the position in the faction, Chief Eddy Olafeso.

    Also in court are a former National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, a former Governor of Kano State and former Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau,

    Others include, Ben Obi, founder of African Independent Television, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Dayo Adeyeye, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, and Tom Ikimi.

    The only notable personality on Ali Modu Sheriff’s side, yet in court,is the Deputy National Chairman of the faction, Cairo Ojugo.

  • PDP crisis: Panic in Makarfi, Sheriff’s camps as S’Court delivers judgement today

    There is palpable tension in the camps of the two faction (Makarfi and Sheriff) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as they await the judgement of the Supreme Court over its lingering leadership crisis today (Wednesday) in Abuja.

    While the camp of the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, said it was expecting the apex court to deliver what it called justice, the camp of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said it would not speak on what might be the outcome of the case.

    Rather, it said it would wait for the judgment to be delivered before making its position known.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the apex court’s five-man bench, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, had, on Monday, May 23, adjourned for judgment after the adoption of addresses by both parties.

    Justice Onnoghen, who reserved judgment after the hearing, is leading the five-man panel hearing the case.

    Other justices on the panel are Justices Tanko Muhammad, Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Kayode Ariwoola and Dattijo Muhammad.

    The Acting National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Bernard Mikko, who spoke on behalf of Sheriff, told our correspondent that the crisis rocking the party would be expected to come to an end after the judgment.

    Mikko stated, “We are all eagerly waiting for the outcome of the case. We have been informed and told that the judgment will be delivered on Wednesday (today).

    “We are expecting judgment and we are expecting justice to be done.

    “It is good that the judgment will come early and allow the party to sit up and begin to work together as a true opposition political party ahead of 2019.

    “It is also noteworthy that the majority of the combatants, including the likes of Governors Ayodele Fayose and Nyesom Wike of Ekiti and Rivers states respectively, have said they will not leave the party no matter the outcome of the case.

    “In our own case, we remain members of the party irrespective of the outcome of the case. Whichever way it goes, it (the judgment) will strength our party and democracy.”

    Spokesperson for the Makarfi’s caretaker committee, Dayo Adeyeye, said he would not make any comment on the expected judgment.

    “I’m not going to speak on the expected judgment until after it must have been delivered,” he said.

    However, it was gathered that the party’s former ministers had asked members of the party to attend the court sitting in Abuja today.

    The former ministers, in a text message to some of the members of the party, which was leaked to the media, said, “Finally, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has today officially notified our great party, the PDP, of the date to deliver judgment on the suit PDP vs. Sheriff and four others.

    “Our teeming supporters and members, who are willing to attend, are hereby encouraged to do so in solidarity with the PDP. God bless the PDP! God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Makarfi faction, which has the support of the majority of the stakeholders and caucuses of the party, won the first case at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Sheriff and his team, who were dissatisfied with the outcome of the judgment, approached the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt for a review of the High Court judgment.

    The former governor of Borno State won at the appeal court, but Makarfi and his team challenged the judgment at the apex court.

    The Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday (today) will however put an end to the lingering leadership crisis that has rocked the party since 2015 when it lost control of the central government.

  • Supreme Court Win: Obaseki appreciates Buhari, Osinbajo,others

    Supreme Court Win: Obaseki appreciates Buhari, Osinbajo,others

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, on Monday, expressed profound appreciation to the president of Nigeria and the people of Edo state over the affirmation of his declaration as the state’s elected governor by the Supreme Court, noting that the apex court’s judgement “invariably validates the perfection of the triumph of the will of the people and establishes the masses as the true and ultimate power of democracy” in the state.

    The governor revealed in a statement that the validation of his victory was stronger because both the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal gave verdicts, which mirrored the Supreme Court’s judgement, and confirmed that truth indeed was immutable.

     

    He said, “These serial victories at the polls and the various courts have undoubtedly given me and the good people of Edo State joy, but it should also teach us a vital lesson that at all times, no matter the severity of the odds, we must stand on the side of fidelity, honesty and truth. It goes without saying that we have received invaluable support and guidance from a vast number of friends, supporters and well-wishers, and there are no words that can adequately convey our gratitude.”

     

    Expressing his gratitude, the governor appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for what he described as his “immovable support, wise counsel and the firm commitment to democracy and good governance”, while he also praised acting President Yemi Osinbajo, for his wisdom, encouragement, relentless support and skillful leadership.

    Meanwhile, he emphasised that the leadership of All Progressives Congress, under Chief John Odigie Oyegun, remained an uncompromising pillar, stressing that he reserved a tremendous amount of gratitude to the immediate past governor of the State, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiuomhole, for his commitment to democracy.

     

    Appreciating the judiciary for “impartial arbitration”, the governor, however, addressed the opposition party, saying, “I also hope that this verdict by the Supreme Court, which is the last and final judicial authority of the land, will give you all some closure, enable you to put an end to your quest and help you to come around and join hands with me to continue the building of our dear state.”

     

     

  • BREAKING: S’Court affirms Obaseki’s victory as Edo Governor, dismisses Ize-Iyamu’s petition

    BREAKING: S’Court affirms Obaseki’s victory as Edo Governor, dismisses Ize-Iyamu’s petition

    The Supreme Court on Monday affirmed Godwin Obaseki’s victory as the duly elected governor of Edo State.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had launched a suit against Obaseki’s victory in last year’s gubernatorial election.

    Dismissing the appeal as lacking merit, the Supreme Court promised to release reasons for its judgement on July 24.

    On June 9, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate’s appeal at the Appeal Court in Benin City was dismissed by a five-man panel led by Justice M.B Dongban-Mensem.

    Ize-Iyamu challenged the outcome of the election, accusing Obaseki and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the process.

    The aggrieved PDP candidate claimed that the September 28 election was marked by corrupt practices, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of not complying with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2010.

    INEC, Obaseki and the APC were listed as first, second and third respondents respectively in the dismissed suit.

    He filed his suit with the appeal court after the state’s election petition tribunal upheld the results of the election in favour of Obaseki, who was sworn in on 12 November 2016.

     

  • Travel Ban: Supreme Court partially lifts embargo on Trump’s order

    Travel Ban: Supreme Court partially lifts embargo on Trump’s order

    The United States Supreme Court on Monday backed President Donald Trump’s ban on travellers from six Muslim-majority countries until it reviews it later this year.

    The court also allowed ban on all refugees with no connection to the U.S., while agreeing to hear his appeals in the closely watched legal fight.

    The court said that it would hear arguments on the legality of one of Trump’s signature policies in his first month as president in the court’s next term, which starts in October.

    According to Reuters, the court granted parts of his administration’s emergency request to put the order into effect immediately while the legal battle continues.

    Two U.S. appeals courts had upheld lower court decisions halting the ban to allow legal challenges on the basis of religious discrimination. However, the Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the President’s March 6 executive order banned the issuance of new visas to people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.

    It also sought to halt issuances of new refugee admissions from around the world for 120 days.

    The order was, however, blocked by federal judges before going into effect on March 16 as planned.

    Trump issued the order amid rising international concern about attacks carried out by Islamist militants like those in Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin and other cities.

    Trump signed the order as a replacement for a January 27 order issued a week after he became president, but it was also blocked by federal courts.

     

  • JUST IN: S’Court sacks Senator Danladi, orders him to return salaries, allowances within 90 days

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday, ordered Sen. Sani Abubakar Danladi, representing Taraba North Senatorial District, to vacate his seat and refund all salaries and allowances he received within 90 days.

    The court also declared Alhaji Shuaibu Isa Lau, as the senator representing Taraba North.

    The order was contained in the judgement of the court on the appeal filed by Lau.

    Both Danladi and Lau are members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Lau had challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal that upturned his victory during the primary elections. He claimed that he was wrongfully substituted.

    The apex court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate issued to Danladi and issue a fresh certificate of return to Lau.

    The apex court in the unanimous judgment of a five-member panel held that the appellant had the right to participate just like any other candidate in the primary election.

    The court added that if Lau felt that his right was infringed upon, he had the right to approach the court.

    “From the totality of the appeal before this court, all the issues are resolved in favour of the appellant.

    “His substitution at the primary election is null and void since the appellant scored the highest number of votes, the only option is to declare the appellant as the winner of the primary election.

    ” This court hereby orders that the appellant be issued with the certificate of return and the respondent should immediately vacate the seat.

    “He should return to the National Assembly, all salaries and allowances received as a senator within 90 days.

  • Breaking: Supreme Court declares Herman Hembe’s House of Reps seat vacant

    The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja, has declared the seat of the lawmaker representing Benue, Vandikwa/ Konshisha constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Herman Hembe vacant.
    The Court ruled Mrs. Dorathy Mato as the rightful candidate who won the All Progressive Congress (APC) party ticket for Vandikwa/ Konshisha federal constituency of Benue state.
    The court, in its ruling, ordered Hon. Hembe to return all salaries and benefits collected while in office within 90 days.

  • S’Court affirms Aidoko Ali winner of Kogi East Senatorial seat

    The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja has upheld the election of Atai Aidoko Ali (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) as the Senator representing Kogi East in the National Assembly.

    In a unanimous decision delivered today by ‎Justice Eko, the Apex court faulted and dismissed the appeal filed by Isaac Alfa challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal that had earlier declared Ali winner.

    The Justices also faulted the decision of the Federal High Court which sacked Ali from the red chambers; stressing serious anomalies which included lack of jurisdiction.

    They also warned politicians to stick to the ‎rules of their respective political parties; rather than inundate the Apex court with issues ordinarily deemed as intra-party affairs.

    Although, no cost was awarded against the Alfa as penalty for misnomer and abuse of court processes, the Justices laid to rest all litigation surrounding the election of Senator Atai Ali Aidoko.