Kogi State APC passes vote of confidence on Dino Melaye
letter partly reads, ‘the contribution of Senator Dino Melaye to the
formation of our great party, her campaigns and the eventual success of
President Muhhamadu Buhari is not only noticeable but extremely
valuable’.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin city in Edo state, have upheld the
election of Godwin Obaseki, as the duly elected governor of the state.
The PDP candidate in the September 2016 state governorship election, Ize
Iyamu, had filed an appeal at the court, challenging Obaseki’s victory
at the polls after the state election tribunal had initially validated
Obaseki’s election.
Delivering judgement this morning, the president of the panel, Monica
Dongba-Mensen, said Iyamu’s appeal lacked merit because the election
could not be invalidated on the allegation that the judges at the
tribunal compromised their duties.
The president of the panel also dismissed the allegation that the PDP
and its candidates were not given ample time to carry out their vote
recount, which exceeded the 14 days allowed by law.
There were 106 lawyers in the defense team of Senate President Bukola
Saraki yesterday, as the false asset declaration case against Mr. Saraki
came up for hearing at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Premium Times reports.
The tribunal postponed its ruling on a no-case submission application made by Mr. Saraki.
The tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, said he would communicate the date
for the ruling on the application after considering the submissions of
council in their written addresses.
106 Lawyers Defend Saraki At CCT As Trial Continues
Earlier counsel to Mr. Saraki, Kanu Agabi said the prosecution had failed in establishing a case against his client.
Mr. Agabi, a former Attorney General of the Federation, said the charges
against his client were based on petitions written by faceless
petitioners.
He added that the reports of the petitions were never made available to the tribunal for verification.
Mr. Agabi said the petitions alluded to by the investigators did not
have anything to do with the defendant, adding that the petitioners were
never called to testify in court.
Mr. Agabi further argued that the alleged failure to include some assets
in the defendant’s declaration form should not be construed as false
declaration of assets.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, however argued that investigation
conducted were based on intelligence information. He said the
investigation team did not need the petitioners to be present at the
trial.
Mr. Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the defendant had made
another declaration after the case began which included the list of
assets that were allegedly omitted.
The police in Lagos, on Thursday said they have arrested a pastor for allegedly beheading a seven-year old boy and burying his head at the church’s altar.
The command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant
Superintendent of Police (ASP) confirmed the arrest to newsmen,
stressing that the suspect was arrested with an accomplice at Ikorodu.
Famous-Cole said the policemen arrested one Eric, whose confession led
to the arrest of the pastor and the recovery of the boy’s body.
“On investigation, one of the suspects, Eric confessed to the crime. He
led a team of policemen to Odokekere/ Odogunyan in Ikorodu area to
apprehend Oyekan, who later led the team to where the seven-year-old boy
was beheaded and his head buried.
“They hid the body inside canal. The two suspects involved have been
arrested and the body and the head of the boy were brought to the
station.
“Investigation has commenced and the case would be transferred to the
State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti,
Yaba, Lagos,” Famous-Cole said.
The pastor, identified as Adedoyin Oyekan and one Eric were arrested at Odokereke, Odogunyan of Ikorodu on Thursday.
It was gathered that the suspects were rescued from being lynched by
some angry residents of the area after committing the offence at 16,
Apata Abo Street, Odokekere, Odogunyan.
Eric, who was said to be a friend to the victim’s father, allegedly
stole the boy around 11.am on Wednesday, after his father left him in
his care.
It was gathered the suspect was said to have taken the boy to the
pastor’s church where they beheaded and buried him between 2.am and 4.am
early today.
When the victim’s father came back to take his son, Eric claimed he had sent him home.
Eric opened up during interrogation and led detectives to the pastor’s place where the child’s mutilated body was buried.
“The Ayangburin of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi said he would make
sure the accused are brought to justice,” a source disclosed.
Soldier sentenced to death for killing Boko Haram Suspect in Borno
The Army General Court Martial in Borno State today sentenced a soldier,
Lance Corporal Hillary Joel, to death for killing a suspected Boko
Haram terrorist.
The condemned soldier was found guilty of killing the suspected
terrorist during a
cordon and search operation by the army in Damboa Local Government Area
of Borno State. Lance Joel allegedly set the suspect ablaze, leading to
his death.
Other soldiers who were tried along with him
were handed different sanctions including jail terms and demotions.