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The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal filed by the Labour Party(LP), challenging the election victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

The apex court chaired by Justice Inyang Okoro held that a Nigerian by birth can contest for election and such person cannot be stopped for holding dual citizenship.

Olajide Adediran, alias Jandor of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), also challenged the governor’s election.

The electoral issues raised against the governor pertain to the certificates Sanwo-Olu tendered to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the governorship election.

The appeals were entered by the Labour Party and its candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and Adediran of the PDP.

The duo had asked the apex court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which affirmed the victory of Governor Sanwo-Olu.

A three-man appellate court panel, led by Justice Yargata Nimpar, unanimously dismissed the two separate appeals filed by Jandor and Rhodes-Vivour for lacking in merit and for failure to prove the facts of their case.

The panel, while dismissing the appeals, held that Jandor was constitutionally disqualified from challenging the APC primaries that produced Sanwo-Olu, having not been a member of the APC.

“The appellant was a meddlesome interloper in challenging the emergence of Messrs Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat at the primary exercise of their party, All Progressives Congress; the appellant was neither an aspirant nor a member of the APC,” the appeal court held while affirming the decision of the Lagos State Governorship Petition Tribunal.

Disagreeing with the appeal court, the LP candidate and Jandor appealed to the Supreme Court and arguments were taken from lawyers.

The legal team representing LP and PDP asked them to sack the governor on the grounds of non-compliance to the Electoral Act and for not winning a majority of lawful votes cast.

They contended in open court that the governor did not submit his WAEC certificate in his Form EC9 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The LP candidate also urged the apex court to hold that the dual citizenship of the governor’s deputy, Femi Hamzat, disqualified him from running for elections.

On his part, the counsel to the governor, Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged the court to dismiss the appeals and agree with the findings of the lower courts.

Olanipekun said the appellants, right from the tribunal, only challenged alleged variations in names in his client’s certificate.

The senior lawyer added that previous apex court decisions do not equate name variations on certificates with forgery.

Reading the lead judgment on Friday, Justice Mohammed Garba said as can be easily discerned from constitutional provisions and judicial precedent, the 1999 (179 and 182) constitution clearly states that a Nigerian by birth can aspire for any election in Nigeria.

Garba added that Section 28 of the 1999 Constitution on dual citizenship
states that a person shall forfeit forthwith his Nigerian citizenship if, not being a citizen of Nigeria by birth, he acquires or retains the citizenship or nationality of a country, other than Nigeria, of which he is not a citizen by birth.

The judge held that a person who is a citizen of Nigeria by birth and has not renounced his citizenship, can aspire for election in Nigeria even if acquires the dual citizenship of another country.

The judge further held that the LP and its candidate did not provide evidence to show that the deputy governor renounced his citizenship of Nigeria while obtaining that of the United States.

“I find that the Appeal Court was quite right in affirming the decisions of the Tribunal. This appeal is lacking in merit and is hereby dismissed,” the judge said in a unanimous decision.

INEC had declared Sanwo-Olu the winner of the election with 762,134 votes.

Rhodes-Vivour got 312,329 votes while Jandor had 62,499 votes.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi have arrived at the Supreme Court today as the apex court prepares to deliver rulings in separate election disputes seeking their removal from office.

In Kano, Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is challenging the electoral victory of Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria’s Peoples Party (NNPP). Recall that both the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal previously removed Yusuf from office, but today’s judgment will be the final say on who rightfully claims the governor’s seat.

In Bauchi state, Governor Mohammed’s victory is also facing scrutiny. Sadique Abubakar, the APC’s governorship candidate, has challenged the judgment of the petition tribunal and Appeal Court, which upheld Mohammed’s victory. Abubakar alleges widespread electoral malpractices and is hoping the Supreme Court will declare him the rightful governor.

Former Hon Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, CON. SAN has appealed to politicians and agitators in Ondo State to allow Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to settle down and perform his constitutional duties.

Prince kayode in a recent statement
noted that it is Ondo state, its people, its children that will suffer most if this current spate of unwarranted and unpatriotic attacks on the current Governor continues. The state and its people stand to gain nothing, but pain, poverty and penury, if this incendiary politics of selfishness, hate, aggravation and deception continues.

While also calling for peace in Ondo States in the build up to the November 2024 election, the former Hon Minister enjoins the incumbent Governor to remain focused, strong, steadfast and audacious, concentrating on the best way to move the state forward. “Do not yield to the deliberate distraction.”

He advised the Governor Aiyedatiwa, “pick a leave from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who, in spite of onslaughts from left and right, continues to push his development agenda”

His words:

“Please concentrate on immediate issues like settlement pending arrears of salaries and pension and I note with gladness that something is being done on these.

“Critical arterial roads in virtually every Senatorial zone of the state require very urgent attention. We urge the governor to look at these urgently. But how can he be able to do this, if hidden and unclean hands continue to distract him? So let us all give peace a chance, so that the state can continue to thrive.

“We are lucky in the state that Governor Lucky is very much loved in Abuja. And he knows what to do. He must leverage his goodwill and the goodwill enjoyed by late and beloved Governor Akeredolu to bring more Federal opportunities for the progress and edification of the state.

“We urge the Governor not to be distracted by lame, worthless and beleaguered allegations and insinuations. These are of no moment or effect, at this time.

“Let us give peace a chance. Breathe and allow the Governor to breathe.” He added.

The Nigerian military has used the trending slogan ‘No gree for anybody’ to motivate soldiers on the frontlines.

The slogan became popular during the festive season, with many adopting as their New Year resolution.

Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, tweaked the trending slang a bit during ha press briefing, urging soldiers ”no gree for terrorists.”

Maj-Gen Buba also reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts as the new year unfolds.

He said: “Our aim is to find and destroy the terrorists wherever they may be hiding, ensuring their enduring defeat and denying them the ability to terrorize or harm citizens across the country”.

He charged the Nigerian troops, saying “No gree for terrorists,’ until the victory in the counter-terrorism war is secured.

Highlighting recent achievements, he disclosed, “In the past week, our troops focused on striking terrorist enclaves through air attacks and exerted significant military power on areas where the terrorists were hibernating.”

The operations, according to the General, yielded substantial results, with 86 terrorists neutralized, and 101 arrested.

He added that 30 perpetrators involved in oil theft were apprehended, and 21 kidnapped hostages were successfully rescued.

“In the south-south region, troops thwarted oil theft attempts, preventing the loss of an estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Thirty-Six Million One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Naira (N736,115,470.00),” Major General Buba disclosed.

He said the armed forces also seized a significant cache of weapons, including 65 AK47 rifles, one HK G3 dun, one G3 rifle, 8 locally fabricated guns, 15 dane guns, 2 fabricated rifles, one locally made pistol, one English pistol, one pump-action gun, 2 auto pump-action guns, and 2 single barrel guns.

“Furthermore, 111 assorted weapons and 1,124 assorted ammunition were recovered, comprising various rounds and live cartridges, along with 5 vehicles, 29 motorcycles, 6 bicycles, mobile phones, and one GTA radio, among other items,” he stated.

“Our operations clearly indicate that we are targeting terrorist commanders and their senior leadership. From their topmost leadership to the lowest commanders, they are dead men walking, and we will stop at nothing until they are either eliminated or surrender,” he concluded.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that its troops, engaged in a fighting patrol, have successfully neutralized several terrorists and apprehended others in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Director of Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba revealed this development during a press briefing on Thursday, January 11.

Additionally, Maj.-Gen. Buba disclosed that the troops, during the same operation, eliminated terrorists and violent extremists in Tafa local government area of Niger State.

Recall that residents of Aram, Kuduru, and surrounding communities in the Bwari local government area have been relocating due to persistent attacks by bandits and incidents of kidnapping.

It will be recalled that on December 24, bandits invaded the Garam community, which is a five-minute drive from Bwari in the FCT, killing a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God and kidnapped 13 other persons.

On December 28, bandits again invaded Kuduru in FCT, kidnapping 18 persons.

Similarly, on Friday, December 29, bandits invaded Azu in Niger State, killing three people and kidnapping eight others.

Also, on Sunday, January 7, bandits invaded Sagwari Layout Estate in Dutse, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory FCT in Bwari Area Council.

The gunmen took eight residents and then proceeded to abduct two staff members of a nearby hotel at about 7:30 p.m.

The victims were said to have been shepherded to the nearby hills behind the estate.

A recent report by a national newspaper indicates that bandits killed 36 people and kidnapped over 300 persons in Abuja alone in 2023.

A female marketing employee of a bank in Ikorodu, Lagos State, has committed suicide.

The deceased, 32-year-old Amarachi Ugochukwu, was said to have drunk an insecticide.

LeadingReporters learnt that the incident happened on Monday within the premises of the bank.

Ugochukwu had around 1pm made her way into the restroom, where she drank the insecticide, unknown to her colleagues.

Other members of staff had started looking for her when the phone she left on her table kept ringing and she was not around to pick the calls.

A police source confirmed to our correspondent that Ugochukwu was later found dead inside the toilet with the bottle of insecticide and her suicide note.

In the suicide note made available to our correspondent, the lady blamed hard economy for her decision to end her life, saying nothing was working well for her.

“Nothing is working in my life. My figures are low. My brain is clogged up. The economy is getting harder. My decisions are wrong. My mind is messed up. The future doesn’t seem bright at all. I see extreme hardship. I can’t bear the pain anymore,” she wrote in the suicide note.

Ugochukwu apologised to her parents and other members of her family in the suicide note.

“I’m sorry mum, I’m sorry dad, I’m sorry Nene, Okwe, Toto, Nazor, Chuchu, Ifunanya,” she added.

She concluded by writing, “Dear Lord, have mercy on me!”

LeadingReporters gathered that the manager of the bank had reported the incident to the police.

The bank manager had reportedly told the police that Ugochukwu locked herself up in the toilet to commit suicide, and she was found dead when the door was forced open.

Our correspondent gathered that a medical doctor examined Ugochukwu and confirmed her dead.

“The corpse was removed by the police and deposited at Ikorodu General Hospital for autopsy. The police in Lagos are investigating the incident,” the source added.

Contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, did not pick several calls made to his phone, neither did he reply a text sent to him.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has invited Civil Society Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations interested in observing the February rerun and by-election to apply via an online portal on or before January 17.

INEC said this in a notice issued by its acting Director, Electoral Party Monitoring, Hauwa Habib, in Abuja on Thursday.

Habib advided the organisations to visit (http://observergroups.inecnigeria.org) and complete the application form.

This, according to her, was without prejudice to any previous correspondence with the commission, adding that completion of the prescribed application form (EC14A(l)) remained the only accepted means of application.

“Observer groups should particularly note that all other information including legal status (registration with CAC), evidence of registration with the Civil Society Desk at INEC-Headquarters, evidence of registration previous election observation with INEC (if any), acknowledgment of submission of reports of observation (if any) should accompany the application.

“Any falsification of documents in the submissions will lead to automatic disqualification and possible prosecution.

“The deadline for submission of application is Jan. 17, 2024.

“The list of successful observer groups approved for accreditation will subsequently be published on the commission’s website and EPM observer’s WhatsApp platform,” Habib said.

She added that the vacancies for the by-election/re-run-election occurred across two senatorial districts, four federal constituencies, and three state constituencies spanning nine states.

She added that INEC is conducting the by-election and re-run election stemming from the 2023 general elections as directed by various election petition appeal tribunals.

“Currently, 35 constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections, while three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few polling units.

“Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday February 3,” Habib added.

LeadingReporters gathered that INEC will conduct reruns and bye-elections across the country in February 2024 to fill existing vacancies in the state and federal legislatures.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has raised the alarm that the viral social media slogan for the New Year 2024, “No Gree For Anybody”, was meant to trigger chaos in the country.

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who stated this in Abuja, said that based on intelligence, the Police were informed that the slogan was aimed at triggering a revolution in the country.

The Police spokesman, however, warned that no freedom is absolute and people should be careful of following illegal trend as freedom ceases when crime is committed, hence “no gree for anybody” slogan will not work at that instance.

He said the slogan will not work when anyone is being arrested for a crime by law enforcement agents.

“Let me say it again that the new slogan for 2024, ‘No gree for anybody’, we have been informed by intelligence that this slogan is coming from a revolutionary sector that may likely cause problems across the country,” ACP Adejobi stated.

He noted that, “‘No gree for anybody’ is being seen as a normal talk, but in the security community, we have seen it as a very dangerous slogan that can trigger crisis.”

LeadingReporters understands that ‘No gree for anybody’ is a slogan in pidgin parlance loosely meaning determination or perseverance for success, popularised by youths on social media as ‘theme’ or ‘watchword’ for the New Year 2024, as annually done by some religious organisations or establishments.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new board and management team for the National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM), pending confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

According to a statement by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, the President, in his resolve to ensure hitch-free and seamless 2024 Hajj operations, appointed the following persons to the Board of NAHCOM:

Jalal Arabi — Chairman (In Office)

1. Aliu Abdulrazaq — Commissioner, Policy, Personnel, & Finance
2. Prince Anofi Elegushi — Commissioner, Operations
3. Professor Abubakar A. Yagawal — Commissioner, Planning & Research

ZONAL REPRESENTATION

1. Dr. Muhammad Umaru Ndagi — North Central
2. Abba Jato Kala — North East
3. Sheikh Muhammad Bin Othman — North West
4. Tajudeen Oladejo Abefe — South West
5. Aishat Obi Ahmed — South East
6. Zainab Musa — South South
7. Professor Musa Inuwa Fodio — Jama’atul Nasril Islam
8. Professor Adedimeji Mahfouz Adebola — Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs

“The President mandates the appointees to dedicate themselves to the task of ensuring that operations of the National Hajj Commission are more efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of Nigerians,” the statement added.