Nelson Ugwuagbo

President Bola Tinubu has rolled out the drum to celebrate a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, who turns 50 today (Monday).

In a statement Sunday night, President Tinubu congratulated the author and influencer and commended him “for his dutifulness in providing constructive opinions on national issues, regardless of his political disposition”.

“Mr. Omokri, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was the Special Assistant on Digital Media to former President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2015,” the statement by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, said.

“President Tinubu wishes Mr. Omokri many more years in good health as he continues to contribute his quota to national development.”

Mr Omokri, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was one of the staunchest critics of President Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2023 elections.

But in the past months, the political posturing of the former special assistant on digital media to President Goodluck Jonathan has been intriguing.

While remaining a member of the PDP and supporter of Atiku Abubakar, one of Nigeria’s leading opposition figures, Mr Omokri appears to have warmed up to President Tinubu and his government and has become one of their most vociferous and effective defenders.

For instance, in response to the criticism of the Tinubu government over the growing insecurity in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, where there have been horrendous cases of abductions and killings, Mr Reno posted on X (formally Twitter):

“This idea that Tinubu has failed because kidnappers have killed 87 Nigerians in the FCT, Abuja since May 29, 2023, is silly. Please fact check me. 617 people were murdered in Chicago city alone in 2023. In New York City, 386 people were killed. In the first three weeks of 2024, there have been 70 murders in St. Louis, Missouri.

“Yet, you are saying Tinubu is a failure over 86 deaths in 7 months in the FCT, which is larger in land mass and population than Chicago, New York City, and St Louis combined? Put things into proper perspective.

In a pivotal legal development, the Supreme Court has officially upheld the election victory of Ogun State’s governor, Dapo Abiodun.

The appellants, Ladi Adebutu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sought the court’s intervention to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in 99 polling units where elections were allegedly cancelled.

Following a split decision by the Appeal Court, Lagos Division, on November 24, 2023, affirming Abiodun’s re-election, the Supreme Court delivered a decisive majority judgment. Justice Joseph Ikyegh dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP and its governorship candidate, as pronounced in the lead judgment by Justice Tijani Abubakar.

This judicial seal not only solidifies Abiodun’s continued leadership but also marks a resounding rejection of the PDP’s plea, emphasizing the stability and legitimacy of the electoral process in Ogun State.

In an unprecedented turn of events this Friday morning, the Supreme Court delivered a historic verdict that not only upheld Sheriff Obovevwori’s electoral success but also shattered the challenge posed by the All Progressives Congress (APC). The dynamic decision solidified Obovevwori’s position as the rightful governor of Delta State, marking a resounding triumph for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The apex court, in its groundbreaking ruling, dismissed with authority the petition filed by Ovie Omo-Agege, the APC candidate in the fiercely contested March 18, 2023, governorship election. The court declared the opposition’s claims as lacking in merit, cementing Oborevwori’s leadership and affirming the PDP’s dominance in Delta.

This Supreme Elevation not only celebrates the legal victory but also underscores the resilience and strength of Delta’s political landscape. Oborevwori emerges as the undisputed leader, and the resounding rejection of the APC challenge adds another chapter to the triumph of democracy in the state.

Kidnappers invaded the Nigeria Post Army estate in Abuja on Thursday night and kidnapped two people.

The incident, which happened at about 10:00 p.m. in the Phase 2 area of the estate, had kidnappers who came into the estates and took away the wife and one of the in-laws of one Barrister Cyril Adikwu.

According to Austine John, who is a neighbour to the victim, the kidnappers came in and started shooting while they invaded the barrister’s house and took away his wife and in-law while the barrister escaped.

“It all started at about 10:00 We suddenly started hearing gunshots, and immediately we knew something was wrong. I quickly went out to make sure my gate was well locked.

“Then we heard the gunshot in the barrister’s house, and then we alerted the estate’s management, who immediately swung into action. In a short time, army people came around and started shooting too, but before they came, the kidnappers had taken the wife and one of the in-laws of the barrister.

“This is really traumatising because we could not sleep throughout the night due to fear of the kidnappers coming back. President Tinubu should please help Nigerians put an end to this barbaric act by the kidnappers.

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, varied the bail condition granted to the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele.

The court had in November granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Hamza Muazu had ordered that each of the sureties must possess landed property worth N300 million within the court’s jurisdiction, with Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), which must be deposited with the court registrar, who will have to verify the property.

Emefiele was ordered to deposit his travel documents with the court and remain in Abuja during the period of the trial.

However, at Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to Emefiele, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, informed the Court that the defendant filed a motion dated January 10 seeking variation of the bail condition to enable him travel within the country.

He urged the court to vary the condition for his client.

Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, did not object to the application but rather urged the court to ensure that the defendant remains within the country while his trial lasts.

He further asked that the defence team write an undertaking that their client will remain in the country.

In a ruling on the application, Justice Muazu granted the request and ordered that Emefiele should remain within Nigeria for the period of his trial.

Meanwhile, Oyedepo informed the court that the prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on Wednesday filed an amended charge against Emefiele and urged that the defendant be allowed to take his plea for the new charge.

Burkaa, however, told the court that the defence was served the new charge on Wednesday and needed time to study it.

Based on the development, the court adjourned sitting till January 19 for the new charge to be taken.

Emefiele was arraigned before the court on November 17, 2023, on a six-count charge bordering on conferring advantage on a female staff member of CBN, contrary to the provision of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In the charge marked CR/577/2023, Emefiele was accused of using his position as CBN governor to award six different contracts to one Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero, a CBN staff member, between 2018 and 2020 to the tune of N1,210,600,000.

The procurement contracts were awarded to a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero is a director.

Emefiele, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Traditional ruler of Orodo and former head of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Samuel Ohiri, has been freed from the clutches of kidnappers.

The traditional ruler, who was kidnapped by gunmen from his home in Orodo community, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State, some weeks ago, was reportedly rescued unharmed by members of the Imo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping unit following a heated battle with the kidnappers in the forest.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, made the disclosure on Thursday in Owerri, via a WhatsApp message on the force platform.

He said the Command had been putting up a lot of effort, cooperating with other security services to make sure the traditional ruler was freed.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have asked the Supreme Court to ignore the appeal brought before it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its governorship candidate, Mohammed Ashiru Isa.

INEC and APC in separate preliminary objections against hearing of the appeal insisted that the petition by the PDP and Isa is incompetent and worthless to be considered for adjudication.

At Thursday’s proceedings, the two respondents drew the attention of the apex court to the findings by the Kaduna State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal to the effect that the petition was not filed in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Among others, the electoral body and the APC maintained that records established that the petitioners acted in breach of Paragraph 18(1) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022, when they prematurely applied to the tribunal for the issuance of a pre-hearing notice.

They explained that the law provided that such an application must be filed seven days after the close of pleadings by the parties.

According to them, the law is that a case must be initiated by due process of the law.

They subsequently asked the Supreme Court to turn down any request to attach probative value to the appeal and to either strike out the appeal or dismiss it in its entirety.

INEC and APC were represented by Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, and Mohammed Sani Katu, SAN, respectively.

In the main appeal, governor Uba Sani represented by Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, asked the apex court to dismiss the appeal for want of merit and substance.

Ojo, a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice canvassed that the totality of the case of the PDP and its governorship candidate did not establish any of their allegations.

The senior lawyer argued that most of the appellants’ witness statements were invalid because they were not filed alongside the petition.

Besides, the former AGF informed the apex court that the witnesses brought by the appellants gave hearsay evidence against the March 18, 2023 election of governor Uba Sani.

He thereafter asked that the appeal be dismissed and that the concurrent findings of the Court of Appeal and the Tribunal which had earlier upheld the election of his client be upheld.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who led a panel of five Justices, after taking arguments from lawyers, announced that judgment has been reserved till a date that would be communicated to parties.

The court of appeal in Abuja had on November 24 last year in a unanimous judgment affirmed the election of Uba Sani as Kaduna State governor.

The PDP and Ashiru challenged the outcome of the governorship election held in the state on March 18.

They alleged that Uba was not duly elected by a majority of valid votes cast in the election, adding that the election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

They further alleged that some polling unit results were wrongfully cancelled, insisting that there were inconsistencies in accreditation records from the INEC.

However, in a judgment delivered on September 28, two of the three Tribunal judges dismissed the petition on technical grounds.

Victor Oviawie, who led the panel, said that the petition was deemed abandoned because the PDP and its candidate did not file their pre-hearing application within the time prescribed by law.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should devise methods of reorienting arrested, educated online fraudsters, better known as Yahoo Boys, to become information technology specialists.

This is according to a cyber-security specialist, Mr. Chidiebere Ihediwa, who believes this strategy is better than allowing them to languish in detention or undergo destructive dissolution.

Ihedinwa, also a renowned software developer, made the call on Wednesday during an award ceremony in his honour at the Police Officers Mess, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.

Ihediwa was honoured with a Star Award in Cyber-Security Development and Data Analysis in Nigeria by an online publication, Cornerstone.ng.

According to Ihediwa, knowledge can be categorised into two: positive and negative.

He explained that even though there were many educated young men among the cyber fraudsters, their inherent knowledge was at variance with the ideal positive knowledge needed for societal development.

The cybersecurity specialist pointed out that redirecting the knowledge of the “yahoo boys” to meaningful ventures would be of great advantage to the nation.

He thanked the management of Cornerstone.ng for bringing him into the limelight through the award.

In his welcome address, the representative of Cornerstone.ng, Mr. Chris Oji, said Ihediwa, who was among the nominees for the award late last year, was unavoidably absent at the occasion. Therefore, management chose to bestow the honour on him in the new year.

Oji said Ihediwa deserved the award rightfully, in view of his outstanding contributions to software development and information technology in Nigeria.