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Supreme Court Upholds Mimiko’s Election …As NGF Hails Action

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The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the election of Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP) as governor of Ondo State.
A panel of seven Justices, presided by Justice Sylvester Nguta held that the appeal filed against Mimiko’s re-election was unsustainable.
Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) challenged the July 2 decision of the Appeal Court which upheld the October 20, 2012 re-election of Mimiko of the Labour party (LP).
Nguta held that the decision of the Akure Division of the Appeal Court on the matter was apt, adding that the apex court would not upturn an appellate decision which was given according to evidence brought before it.
According to Nguta, the appellant did not sufficiently prove his plethora of allegations against the conduct of the election.
“The appellant failed to prove the allegations of substantial non-compliance of the 2012 election with Electoral Act 2010 as amended beyond reasonable doubt.
“The appellant also failed to provide cogent evidence of the voter register he claimed was manipulated just as he was unable to prove allegations of fraud, irregularities and violent disruption of the election.
“In the circumstance, the appeal fails and it is therefore dismissed; the decision of the Akure Division of the Appeal court on the matter is thereby upheld,’’ he said.
Akeredolu claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conspired with Mimiko to illegally inject about 90,000 fake voters in the voter register used for the election.
He further alleged that INEC failed to display the voter register before the election as mandated by the Electoral Act.
According to him, the election ought not to have been held as the processes leading to casting of votes were fraudulent.
The INEC returning officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Adebiyi Daramola announced Mimiko to have won the election with 260,199 votes from the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
However, Daramola announced that ACN’s candidate, Akeredolu polled a total of 143,512 votes.
Nguta further held that it was not proved how the allegation of injection of over 90,000 voters in the voter register affected the final outcome of the election.
In a similar judgment, Justice Mary Peter-Odili delivering judgment in a similar appeal filed by Olusola Oke of PDP held that the appeal lacked merit.
She said the allegation against the conduct of election required to be proved beyond reasonable doubt, adding that “neither Oke nor his party did the needful to warrant the granting of any of the prayers.
Dissatisfied with the decision of the appellate court, Oke had approached the Supreme Court for what he called “further and better interpretation of the issues raised’’.
He had sought the apex court to declare whether the decision of the lower court to overlook the allegation of the manipulation of the voter register was right.
Oke in his appeal prayed the court to upturn the decision of the Court of Appeal and declare him winner of the election.
In the alternative, the PDP candidate sought a fresh conduct of the election.
Our correspondent reports that the INEC returning officer said Oke scored a total of 155,961 votes thereby placing him in third position of the log.
Speaking with newsmen after the judgment, Mimiko expressed delight on the outcome of the challenge, saying, “the stage is now set for us to serve the people’’.
“I owe the victory to God, all my supporters, the party, and of course all my well wishers; the distraction is over so I can now settle down to work,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has congratulated Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on the Supreme Court judgment that upheld his election.
Director-General of the forum, Mr Asishana Okauru,  in a statement yesterday in Abuja, described the judgment as “land mark and a plus to the Nigerian judiciary”.
“The judgment in this case shows that the Nigerian judiciary has indeed come of age,’’ he said.
He praised Mimiko for standing firm and for remaining undaunted while the case lasted.
The director-general also thanked the people of the state for their understanding and support during the case.
Okauru, however, advised the governor to remain committed to the cause of ensuring the delivery of true democratic dividends to the people of the state.
He described governors as critical pillars and vital channels for the delivery of dividends of democracy to the electorate and urged them to remain so at all times.
The NGF called on the Supreme Court  “to remain steadfast in anticipation of several other pre-election and post-election cases as we move towards 2015’’.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Mimiko is the Vice Chairman of the Governor Jonah Jang faction of NGF.
The seven-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Walter Onoghene, yesterday ruled in favour of Governor Mimiko and declared him the elected governor of the state.
The panel had ruled on the election petitions filed by Mr Rotimi Akeredolu of the former Action Congress of Nigeria and Olushola Oke of the People’s Democratic Party.
Akerodolu and Oke were both candidates of their parties in the 2012 Ondo State governorship election that brought Mimiko to office.
The two appellants had asked the court to nullify Mimiko‘s election and order a fresh election.
They alleged that the election that brought Mimiko to office was marred by irregularities and corruption in the compilation of the voters’ register.
They also accused the Labour Party (LP) of conniving with INEC to inflate the voters’ register used for the election.

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Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf

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Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.

The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP  Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.

CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.

The students, led by  Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.

According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.

The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.

Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.

He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.

Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.

The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.

He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.

CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.

He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.

Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.

The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.

The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.

According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.

The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.

Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.

He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.

CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.

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College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates  For 2027 Polls

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The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.

International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.

Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.

He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.

Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.

He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.

“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.

Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.

Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.

He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.

According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.

Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.

The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.

Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.

By: John Bibor

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Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

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The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.

Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.

The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.

He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.

Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.

On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.

The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.

Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.

On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.

He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.

The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.

Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.

By; King Onunwor

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