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Tag: Tribunal

  • Ekiti Election Petitions Tribunal delivers judgment today

    Ekiti Election Petitions Tribunal delivers judgment today

    The Ekiti Election Petitions Tribunal on the June 18 governorship election will deliver judgment today Thursday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Secretary to the Tribunal, Umar Abubakar, made this known on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti.

    Abubakar said: “The Election Petitions Tribunal in charge of the Ekiti State Governorship  election will on Thursday the 29th of December, deliver judgment in the petition filled by Chief Segun Oni, challenging the victory of Gov. Biodun Oyebanji.

    “The judgment will hold at the Tribunal venue, located within the Ekiti State High Court, Ado- Ekiti by 9.00 a.m.

    “All concerned authorities are to take note.”

    The petitioner, Chief Segun Oni, also a former Governor and candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had challenged the election victory of Oyebanji of APC.

    Oni had also claimed in his petition that Oyebanji’s election was characterised with irregularities.

    He had argued that it was wrong for the Mai Mala Buni-led APC leadership to have supervised the primary election process that led to Oyebanji’s emergence as the APC candidate.

    After weeks of arguments and counter arguments, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had adjourned until Nov. 23 for the adoption of final written addresses by the parties.

    Kpochi urged the counsel to exchange their written addresses and replies, within the time-frame.

    The chairman of the three-member panel had reserved judgment, after all parties had adopted their final written addresses at the last sitting.

  • INEC produces blurred copies of Adeleke’s WAEC/GCE certificates before Tribunal

    INEC produces blurred copies of Adeleke’s WAEC/GCE certificates before Tribunal

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, produced Form CF001, containing WAEC-GCE certificate and Secondary School Testimonial of Gov. Ademola Adeleke before the Osun Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Osogbo.

    This was in compliance with the order of Justice Tertsea Kume, the Tribunal Chairman, on Nov. 25.

    Newsmen reports that Kume had ordered the National Chairman of INEC to produce Form CF001, after INEC in Osogbo office said the documents were not in it’s custody, but with its Headquarters in Abuja.

    Lead Counsel to INEC, Prof. Paul Ananaba, informed the court that the order given had been complied with and that the documents had been brought from Abuja by Mrs Joan Arabs, a Deputy Director.

    Arabs, thereafter, presented the documents to the court, which was admitted and afirmed that the documents had been produced in compliance to the order.

    However, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, Counsel to the petitioners (APC and Gboyega Oyetola), after going through the two pages documents, told the tribunal that the documents produced by INEC (Form CF001) were not legible and could not be used to prosecute their case.

    Fagbemi pointed out that they paid N305,000 for the documents and that the first document, West African Examination Council (WAEC) – General Certificate of Examination (GCE), does not have anything/result details on it and that only the signature at the bottom was legible.

    He also said that the second document, School Testimonial, obtained from Ede Muslim Grammar School by Adeleke, does not have the address or location of the school on it.

    Fagbemi told the court that the documents could not be used or managed by them, saying that they were not clear and legible.

    The petitioners’ counsel urged the tribunal to take note of their objections to the documents produced by INEC.

    Kume upheld the objection of the petitioners and ruled that the respondent (INEC) had not fully complied with the tribunal’s order to produce Form CF001, saying that the documents produced were not legible.

    The tribunal chairman then, ordered that INEC should produce a clearer and readable copies of the documents.

    INEC counsel, thereafter, asked the tribunal to allow it snap the documents in their custody in Abuja and forward same, so that the hearing could go on.

    Kume then granted the request and gave a break of one hour 30 minutes for INEC to get the documents.

    As the hearing continued after the break, Ananaba said INEC Abuja had made the screenshot of the copy of the documents, which he printed and presented to the tribunal.

    Kume, however, said that the copies were not better than what the INEC Deputy Director brought.

    After the arguments and submissions from the petitioners and respondents’ counsel, they agreed that the original file containing the Form CF001, in INEC custody in Abuja, be brought to before the tribunal next week.

    The tribunal chairman said it was unfortunate that the respondent (INEC) could brought uncleared and blurred copies of the documents requested by the petitioner.

    He said it was agreed that sittings shall be held week days, weekends and even, public holidays, from the on set of the Tribunal’s pre-hearing.

    Kume then adjourned next hearing to Dec. 3, asking INEC to produce clean and clear copies of the original file containing Form CF001.

    He said that if INEC failed to comply with the order, it would result or compel the tribunal to invoke its power.

  • CJN issues stern warning to members of 2023 Election Petition Tribunals

    CJN issues stern warning to members of 2023 Election Petition Tribunals

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has vowed that acts of recklessness or abuse of power and public trust would not be condoned from judicial officers.

    Justice Ariwoola said this at the swearing-in of members of the 2023 Election Petition Tribunals on Monday in Abuja.

    “Your Lordships should count yourselves worthy to be so entrusted with this humongous responsibility of deciding the fate of those that would be contesting elections into various political offices in the country in 2023.

    “You are not known to possess some supernatural powers to perform wonders, I can confidently assure you that the society will certainly expect the impossible from you as members of Election Petition Tribunals.

    “Therefore, I will not condone any act of recklessness, abuse of power and public trust. This is a rare privilege and you must give a good account of yourselves’’.

    According to the CJN, “there is virtually nothing that has not been seen or heard before, but you should be ready to see and hear more, especially as you begin to adjudicate on election matters in 2023.

    “Even though I rejoice with you on this very important appointment, I still sympathise with you for the many troubles, inconveniences, verbal assaults and all sorts of uncomplimentary remarks that will be made about you by various litigants.

    “We are all human, no doubt, but you display the humanism in you by doing those extraordinary things that people would ordinarily say you cannot do.

    “That is what distinguishes those with integrity and passion for success from those with unenviable pedigree and dysfunctional moral compass’’.

    He noted that trust is a burden but judicial officers must discharge it with utmost sincerity, honesty and transparency because conscience is an open wound healed only by the truth.

    “You must rise and operate above every sentiment that might play out in the course of your adjudication in the various tribunals.

    “There is no doubt that temptations, tribulations, intimidations and even sheer blackmails may be unleashed on you; but as thoroughbred Judicial Officers, you must gird your loins to rise above them and do what will earn you accolades from your Creator, and also from the court of public opinion.

    “There is no mountain too high to scale; and there is no goal too difficult to achieve as far as you have firmly resolved to attain greater heights in life’’.

    He warned them that all eyes are on them and that they should therefore always remember that their conduct will be publicly dissected and thoroughly scrutinised.

    “Do what is right in our law books and you will have your names etched in gold. Do what is at variance with your conscience and you will get a scar that will terminally dent your ascension to greater heights in life.

    “Be guided by good conscience and enjoy the best that the Nigerian Judiciary can offer you,’’ he said.

  • Code of Conduct Tribunal set to prosecute 50 erring public officers

    Code of Conduct Tribunal set to prosecute 50 erring public officers

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) is set to arraign at least 50 public officers allegedly found to have breached their codes of office.

    Mr Atekojo Usman, Special Adviser on Media to Justice Danladi Umar, Chairman of the Tribunal, stated on Thursday in Abuja that affected officers would be arraigned for failure to honour invitations by the CCT.

    He stated that the tribunal held a session on Wednesday on six officials who had earlier failed to answer to summons sent to them.

    Only five of the six officials were present at the sitting, he added.

    “In continuation of its sittings, the CCT held its session on Oct. 19 where cases involving defendants from some ministries, departments and agencies were adjudicated upon.

    “The complete panel of the tribunal sat on Wednesday,’’ he stated.

  • CCB, Tribunal Amendment Bill passes 2nd reading at House of rep

    CCB, Tribunal Amendment Bill passes 2nd reading at House of rep

    The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Amendment Bill on Wednesday passed second reading at the House of Representatives.

    The bill, sponsored by Rep. Solomon Bob (PDP-Rivers) and six others was consolidated on Sept. 27.

    Leading the debate on the bill, Bob said that it sought to protect judicial officers and prevent  their forceful removal by the Executive.

    He said that Section 292 of the Constitution stated clearly how a head of a court can be removed from office.
    “We have seen this happen in the past in the case of former Chief Justice of the Federation, Walter Onnohgen,” he said.
    Rep. Nkem Abonta (PDP-Abuja) expressed support for the bill recommending a comprehensive amendment of the Act.

    He said that the tribunal was being run like an entrepreneur centre saying that process of appointment and removal should be clearly spelt out.

    In his ruling, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila referred the bill to the Committee on Anti-Corruption for further legislative actions.

  • Osun 2022: Tribunal grants Oyetola, APC access to election’s materials

    Osun 2022: Tribunal grants Oyetola, APC access to election’s materials

    The Osun Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, on Monday, granted permission to Gov. Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) permission to inspect materials used for the July 16, governorship poll.

    The tribunal also granted the plaintiffs’ request to electronically scan the voters’ register used for the election, as well as the election ballot papers.

    Justice Tertsea Kume, the chairman of the tribunal, while granting the two applications (motion exparte) by the plaintiffs, ordered that Osun governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, be summoned through ‘substitution of service of notice’.

    Kume said that the notice of summon should be pasted on the notice board of the tribunal.

    Earlier, Chief Yomi Aliyu (SAN), the counsel to APC/Oyetola, while speaking on the two applications, said that every effort made by the court bailiff to serve Adeleke the notice of summon, failed.

    He said the bailiff went to his house at Aisu , Ede, but that the security guards turned the bailiff away after a call was made to someone in the house that directed them not collect the summon notice.

    He said that the bailiff explained (in an affidavit presented) that his security was threatened when he went to serve Adeleke the summon notice at his home.

    Aliyu prayed the tribunal to substitute the notice of service by pasting it on the notice board of the court.

    Oyetola and APC are plaintiffs in the suit challenging the victory of Adeleke at the governorship election.

    Oyetola and APC however, joining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as respondents in the suit.

  • Osun Poll: Oyetola lines up 50 lawyers, may head for tribunal

    Osun Poll: Oyetola lines up 50 lawyers, may head for tribunal

    There are indications that Osun State Governor,  Gboyega Oyetola may be heading to the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the July 16 governorship election result in the state.

    About  50 lawyers, including senior advocates, have been penciled down to challenge the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party’s  (PDP) candidate, Ademola Adeleke, in the election.

    Kunle Adegoke who is a member of the governor’s legal team hinted during an interview with pressmen on Tuesday concerning the Osun guber poll.

    Meanwhile, in its swift reaction, governor-elect Ademola Adegoke and its party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have warned the Independent National Electoral Commission not to allow the All Progressives Congress to tamper with election materials.

    The governor’s legal team has been sifting through the election results in preparation for taking serious legal action against the declaration of Adeleke as the governor-elect by the INEC.

    Recall that INEC declared Adeleke governor-elect after polling 403,371 votes against APC’s 375,027 to emerge winner of the poll after a close contest.

    According to the electoral body, Adeleke won in 17 local governments while Oyetola finished first in 13 LGAs in Osun state.

    After his opponent was declared the winner, the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismaila Omipidan, told his supporters to remain calm, noting that he would respond after studying the results.

    He said, “Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has taken cognizance of the results of the governorship election in the state as announced by INEC on Sunday.

    “He, however, noted that the party would be responding appropriately after studying the results and consulting with critical stakeholders of the party.”

    But a member of Oyetola’s legal team, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), told newsmen on Tuesday that they were still reviewing the results declared by INEC.

    He said, “We are still reviewing documents and the legal team is working. In an election of this nature, the documents will be so many; so it is important to look at them critically before we make a decision and that is exactly what we are working on right now.

    “Dr. Biodun Layonu (SAN), is the leader of the team. The legal team is not complete yet because there are so many others that will still come in.

    “In the meantime, the two members of the legal team we can reveal are Dr. Biodum Layonu and Kunle Adegoke. Others that may come in are people we may not know but as soon as we are ready to move, we will notify the press.

    “The membership can’t be determined as many lawyers are interested in joining the team. You know election petition is a special case. So, we allow as many lawyers that are interested to come in. We may run into 50 or more members.”

    Commenting on moves by the governor to contest the poll outcome at the election petition tribunal, the Media Adviser to the APC chairman in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, said whatever position was taken by Oyetola on the outcome of the election would also be the stand of the party. Olabisi disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday.

  • Oni begins legal battle to challenge Ekiti governorship election

    Oni begins legal battle to challenge Ekiti governorship election

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP)  governorship candidate in the  June 18 gubernatorial election held  in Ekiti State, Engr. Segun Oni has begun legal battle to challenge the victory of Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

    Recall that Oyebanji was declared winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) he polled 187,057 votes against  against  second placed Segun Oni who polled  82,209 votes.

    Immediately results started trickling in, Oni accused the APC of vote buying before and during the  June Governorship election in the state.

    Meanwhile international observers had adjudged the Ekiti governorship election as peaceful, credible, free and fair.

    However, Oni, while fielding reporters’ questions shortly after filing the suit on Thursday evening at the High Court premises in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital said: “I’m here to submit my petition in accordance with law and we are doing this to defend the sanctity of the system. I challenging the election result because I believe that I won.“

    Adewale said his client also believed that the person so declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) did not win the election.

  • Tribunal stops Multi-Choice Ltd from increasing tariffs

    Tribunal stops Multi-Choice Ltd from increasing tariffs

    A Competition and Consumer Protection (CCP) Tribunal sitting in Abuja has restrained Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited from increasing its tariffs and cost of products and services scheduled to begin on April 1.
    The three-member tribunal, presided over by Thomas Okosun, gave the order following an ex-parte motion moved by Festus Onifade, a legal practitioner, on behalf of himself and the Coalition of Nigeria Consumers.
    Other members of the tribunal include Sola Salako Ajulo and Ibrahim EL-Yakubu.
    Newsmen reports that in the suit marked: CCPT/OP/1/2022, Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) are 1st and 2nd respondents respectively.
    The motion ex-parte filed by the applicants on March 29 was brought pursuant to Section 39 (1) & (2) of FCCPC Act 2018; Order 26, Rule 5 (2), (3) & 26 Rule 6 (1) & (2) Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and Section 47(a), (b), (c),(d), of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.
    The applicants had prayed for “an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendants/respondents, either by itself, agents, representatives, officers or privies, howsoever described, from carrying out the impending increase in tariffs and cost of its products and services intended to take effect from 1st April, 2022, until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed before this tribunal.
    “An order of the Honourable Tribunal mandating the 1st defendant/respondents to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
    “And for such further order or other orders as this Honourable Tribunal may deem fit to make in the circumstance.”
    In the ruling, the tribunal ordered Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited to stop the planned hike in tariffs and cost of its products and services pending the hearing and determination of the motion.
    “The 1st defendant/respondent is hereby restrained, either by itself, agents, representatives, officers or privies, howsoever described, from carrying out the impending increase in tariffs and cost of its products and services intended to take effect from 1st April, 2022 until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed before this Honourable Tribunal.
    “The 1st defendant/respondent is hereby mandated to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the tribunal ruled.
    The matter was adjourned until April 11 for the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
    “All parties in this suit are to appear before this Honourable Tribunal on the 11th day of April 2022,” it ruled.
  • Anambra governorship election petitions tribunal relocates to Ilorin

    Anambra governorship election petitions tribunal relocates to Ilorin

    The Anambra governorship election petitions tribunal has relocated its sittings from Awka to Ilorin in Kwara.

    Mr Surajo Gusau, Secretary of the tribunal, disclosed this in Awka on Tuesday.

    Gusau said that the movement took place on Dec. 17 saying that the tribunal had already settled down in Ilorin.

    He, however, did not disclose the reasons for the relocation, saying it was based an administrative directive.

    Gusau said that the tribunal was handling 12 cases apart from the one filed by Accord Party which was withdrawn on Dec. 9.

    The tribunal was set up to handle petitions arising from the Anambra governorship poll, won by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).