News
Delta Gov Re-Run Polls: Uduaghan, Ogboru Know Fate ’Morrow
The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, has fixed Thursday, September 22, 2011 for judgment on the Delta state January 6, 2011 governorship re-run election appeal filed by Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru against the decision of the lower tribunal which upheld the declaration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The lead counsel to Chief Ogboru and the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP), Mogbeyi Sagay, SAN, said the appeal is contending that the first issue the court will have to determine was the burden of proof.
He said at the lower tribunal, the petitioner asserted the negative, while INEC, the third respondent in the appeal asserted the positive, saying that the tribunal in its judgment shifted the burden of proof to the petitioners.
On question of accreditation, he argued that INEC could not prove that accreditation took place in all the places the petitioner was challenging the conduct of the election, adding that the ballot papers were not referable to form EC 8, contending that section 150 of the Electoral Act could not apply in this case when there was no substantial compliance with the Act.
While urging the court to rely on the decision of the Court of Appeal in Ogboru versus Uduaghan, Mogbeyi also urged the court to allow the appeal, dismiss any other appeal pending on the matter, and declare Chief Great Ogboru governor of Delta State.
Replying, lead counsel to Dr. Uduaghan, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit either in law or in fact.
He argued that the assertion of negative by appellant does not change the position of the law in section 135, 136 and 137 sub-sections 1 of the Evidence Act, saying that the burden was always on the petitioner to prove.
He further argued that section 150 (1) indicates that result declared by INEC is presumed to be correct and regular, saying that the case of Ogboru versus Udugahan cited by the petitioner’s counsel was not a talisman, as he did not meet the standard of proof.
Chief Olanipekun said the lower tribunal was right and still right in holding that the petitioner did not prove any case of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, or how that non-compliance affected the result of the election, and therefore urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
In his submission, lead counsel to the second respondent, PDP, A. Adenipekun SAN, adopted the submissions of Chief Olanipekun and added that contrary to the submission of Ogboru’s counsel, the burden of proof was not static but changes, depending on the circumstances of the case.
He said the petitioners have failed to prove their case and urged the court to dismiss the appeal as lacking in merit.
Earlier, while arguing a cross appeal filed by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Chief Olanipekun had urged the court to allow the appeal adding that before the lower tribunal, there was no life issue to contend with by the petitioner to arouse the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
Citing Section 180 (2), 2A of the constitution and the judgment by Justice Buba of the Federal High court sitting in Asaba, Chief Olanipekun said “the seat for which there was a re-run had expired, a new election had taken place, a new tenure has commenced and a court cannot make an order which cannot be enforced either practically or legally”.
Replying, counsel for Ogboru and DPP, Prof. Joseph Mbadugha argued that the judgment of Justice Buba J. referred to by Olanipekun was not in anywhere referred to.
He contended that to determine whether there is a life issue in Ogboru’s appeal, the court should look at issues arising from the lower tribunal.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”
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