The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed a suit challenging the validity of the July 20, 2020 primary election which produced Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, as the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, in the October 2020 election.
Delivering judgment in the suit instituted by an Ondo State APC governorship aspirant, Dr. Nath Adojutelegan, Justice Okon Abang held that the case was statute-barred as it was not filed within the stipulated 14 days as required by law.
In upholding the notices of preliminary objection filed by Akeredolu and the APC, Abang said, from the facts presented by the plaintiff, the crux of his grouse was about the use of indirect mode of primary election, which he objected to.
He ruled that the plaintiff ought to have filed his suit within 14 days from the day the APC electoral committee adopted the indirect mode for the primary election held on July 17, 2020.
The judge added that the suit filed on August 3, 2020 was clearly outside the 14 days period provided for in section 285(9) of the Constitution for the filing of pre-election matters.
He also ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the plaintiff’s challenge against the list of delegates compiled in 2018 which was used for the primary election in July 2020.
According to him, such an issue was a pre-primary election matter and not a pre-election matter that could be accommodated under section 87(9) of the Electoral Act.
The judge dismissed the suit and awarded a total cost of N120,000 against the plaintiff and in favour of the defendants.
The plaintiff was ordered to pay N50,000 to Akeredolu, N50,000 to the APC and N20,000 to the Independent National Electoral Commission. The plaintiff vowed to approach the Court of Appeal.
Reacting, the Ondo State chapter of the APC welcomed the court judgement, describing it as a validation of APC’s adherence to the principle of internal democracy.
The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Alex Kalejaiye, in a statement in Akure on Wednesday, said, “The court ruling today on the pre-primary election matter of the All Progressives Congress, in Ondo State has lent credence to the fact that the party was fair, and mindful of its guidelines when preparing for its governorship primary in August.
“We also rejoice with the party’s flag bearer, Rotimi Akeredolu, for scaling yet another legal hurdle in his selfless quest to serve the state.”
The 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, on Wednesday, cautioned against perceiving agitation for restructuring as a call for secession, civil war, and division that would further disunite the country.
Sanusi said though restructuring is essential, some of Nigeria’s problems are beyond restructuring.
He spoke at Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti during the 24th Convocation Lecture of the institution on Wednesday, Punch reports.
Sanusi, who is EKSU chancellor, in his remark, said, “There is a difference between restructuring and secession. There is a difference between restructuring and division. There is a difference between restructuring and civil war. Some are using ethnic profiling to divide us. Ethnicity and religion are mere identities; they don’t represent our values and who we indeed are.
“Nigeria has problems that are far more beyond restructuring, though restructuring is important, let us follow the rules and build a strong system through our strong moral values and approaches to issues.”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who delivered the convocation lecture entitled, ‘Restructuring and the liberation of Nigeria,’ said, “The way forward is that the struggle for restructuring and liberation of the poor people of Nigeria from the bondage of poverty and inequality requires the adoption of vertical and horizontal measures to build a peaceful and united Nigeria rooted in social justice, equity, and genuine freedom.”
The human rights lawyer charged governors genuinely interested in restructuring to “democratise the powers that have devolved to state governments from the centre through litigation”.
EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Edward Olanipekun, said, “The Nigerian nation, perhaps because of the colonial mode of evolution remains contentious leading to continuous agitation for restructuring even in the extreme the dissolution of the union 60 years after independence.”
Furious Tom Cruise gave two Mission: Impossible crew members an X-rated dressing down after he caught them breaking UK Covid rules on set, according to reports.
The Hollywood superstar is said to have scolded workers who flouted social distancing rules while filming at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, Herts.
Invoking the no-nonsense attitude of his spy character, Ethan Hunt, the actor, 58, told them ‘If I see you doing it again, you’re f***ing gone,’ according to the Sun.
The paper says the dressing down was recorded on an audio tape, in which he is heard to add: ‘And if anyone in this crew does it, that’s it — and you too and you too.
‘And you, don’t you ever f***ing do it again. We are not shutting this f***ing movie down.’
The American actor was reportedly angered after seeing stood less than a metre away from each other at a computer screen.
Filming is well-underway for the latest movie in the blockbuster franchise – Mission Impossible 7.
The actor has already been seen filming in Rome for the latest movie – in which he will reprise the role of fictional American secret agent, Hunt.
Last month, Tom was seen getting behind the wheel of a vintage yellow Fiat 500 in the Italian capital as he prepared for dramatic stand-off scenes with a squad of police cars.
The star was seen attempting to drive his small vehicle down a wide city boulevard, before apparently coming unstuck when met with the army of cop cars and bikes.
In previous weeks, he has been spotted shooting a number of scenes in the Italian capital with his Mission: Impossible 7 co-star Hayley Atwell, 38.
Filming has also taken place in Venice, as well as Britain and Norway.
But the film has already faced delays. The crew were forced to pause production due to Covid.
Many of the vital scenes were due to be filmed in Italy – which was at one point the centre of the world’s pandemic.
In October, the Top Gun star held crisis talks with director Christopher McQuarrie after 12 people on set reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
Health chiefs were said to be tracing the contacts of those who tested positive after filming was suspended, dashing hopes it was an isolated case.
Last month, The Sun reported 150 extras for the film were informed they were not to come in to shoot scenes that were on the filming schedule for the evening.
While no official reason was given for the sudden decision, it was claimed a coronavirus test had come back positive from the production so filming needed to be suspended temporarily.
Crew also urged members of the public to remain socially distanced from one another as they waited to see the stars, while Tom and director Christopher are also said to have made the request.
The star has been wearing a mask on set and has also reportedly been keeping an eye out for Covid rule-breakers.
According to the Sun, he has paid £500,000 of his own money to pay for a cruise ship for the cast and crew to isolate on.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Tom Cruise and Mission: Impossible for comment.
The University of Ibadan has shut down Jaja Clinic, its health facility, after one patient tested positive for the coronavirus.
The institution announced the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, noting that the clinic will be closed for one week, beginning at 4pm on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the patient, whose name wasn’t given, had first visited the clinic on December 11, but was admitted overnight between Sunday and Monday.
The institution added that the Oyo state emergency operations centre (EOC) was notified, and the premises had been decontaminated.
“The University community is hereby informed that a client who was 1st seen on 10 December and later admitted in the University Health Centre overnight of 13/14 December tested positive to COVID-19,” the statement reads.
“The Oyo State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was notified, inspected the premises, and recommended among other things the following: Immediate Disinfection/Decontamination of premises which has been done; follow-up of all those who had contact with the client by the EOC; closure of clinic from 4pm, 15 December 2020 for a 7-day period.
“Opening will be subject to review by the Oyo State EOC. Beyond closure, the EOC is working with the UHS to ensure that all processes for safe work are put in place.
“NHIS enrollees may access care at Eleyele Police clinic during the closure. Meanwhile, the COVID19 positive person is being attended to and there should be no panic.”
The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has suspended the Ekiti West Diocesan Bishop, Victor Adepoju, over alleged sex scandal with the wife of a priest in the same diocese.
According to his suspension letter, seen by SaharaReporters, the church alleged that Adepoju, in a meeting held by its stakeholders, admitted to sleeping with the wife of the priest, who was under his employment and care.
The letter signed by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev Henry Ndukuba, reads, “We write with a deep sense of pain and concern to suspend you from office as the Diocesan Bishop of the Ekiti West Diocese. This is the sequel to your abhorrent sexual behaviour with the wife of a priest under your care.
“These facts were admitted by you in a meeting in our office held on Thursday, December 10, 2020. By this suspension, you are not to partake in any activity of the diocese as the bishop for one year.
“Please report and hand over to your Archbishop and for further spiritual guidance. It is our prayer that you will use the period to seek the face of God as we join in upholding you in prayers. The supervision of the Diocese of Ekiti has now devolved upon us the Primate of All Nigeria. The LORD be with you.”
Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases shoot up drastically on Tuesday, with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, setting a new national record.
The nation posted a staggering 758 new infections in the last 24 hours, with Abuja ramping up 305 new cases, the highest to have been posted by any state in Nigeria.
The 758 new cases represented sharp contrast from the 201 cases recorded on Monday.
The second wave of the virus has clearly begun in Nigeria with huge figures being churned out daily.
Three deaths were also recorded on Tuesday to take the national death rate to 1,200.
Infections were recorded in 18 states and the FCT, with Abuja, Lagos and Kaduna recording above 100 cases.
While Lagos raked in 152 fresh cases, Kaduna posted 103 cases, while Bauchi recorded 44 cases and Gombe, 35 cases.
With today’s infections, total COVID-19 cases in Nigeria is now 74,132 cases, with 66,494 recoveries recorded.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says telecommunications companies have 14 days to block SIM cards not registered with the National Identity Numbers (NIN).
The fresh directive is based on the outcome of a meeting of key stakeholders in the communications industry as convened by Isa Ali Pantami, the minister of communications and digital economy, on December 14, 2020.
The key stakeholders concluded that operators should “require ALL their subscribers to provide valid National Identification Number (NIN) to update SIM registration records”.
“The submission of NIN by subscribers to take place within two weeks (from today December 16, 2020, and end by 30 December 2020).”
“After the deadline, ALL SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks,” the statement read.
“A Ministerial Task Force comprising the Minister and all the CEOs (among others) as members is to monitor compliance by all networks. Violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.”
Citing the statement by the NCC, Bashir Ahmad, special assistant to the president on new media, shared the directive on Twitter on Tuesday evening.
“The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given telecommunications operators (MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9Mobile and others) in the country two weeks to block all SIM cards that are not registered with the National Identity Numbers (NIN), the Commission has said in a statement,” the presidential aide tweet.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given telecommunications operators (MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9Mobile and others) in the country two weeks to block all SIM cards that are not registered with the National Identity Numbers (NIN), the Commission has said in a statement.
The World Bank Group has approved a 1.5 billion dollars package to help build a resilient recovery post-COVID-19 in Nigeria.
This is according to a statement issued by the group on Tuesday in Washington D.C.
It added that the group also discussed a new five-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) from 2021 to 2024.
It said that Nigeria was at a critical juncture and with the sharp fall in oil prices as a result of COVID-19, the economy was projected to contract by over 4 per cent in 2020.
This, it said, would plunge the country into its deepest recession since the 1980s.
“Government revenues could fall by more than 15 billion dollars this year and the crisis will push an additional five million Nigerians into poverty in 2020.
“The 1.5 billion dollars was approved for the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus – Programme for Results (Nigeria CARES) and the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Programme for Results (SFTAS) Additional Financing projects.
“The Nigeria CARES programme will help increase access to social transfers and basic services and provide grants to poor and vulnerable households.
“It will also strengthen food supply chains for poor households while facilitating recovery and enhancing capabilities of MSMEs,” it stated.
Meanwhile, for the SFTAS additional financing programme, it said that building on the progress made across 36 states, the original SFTAS programme would be expanded and scaled up in response to COVID-19.
“The additional financing will help meet the financing gap in the Programme Expenditure Framework, due to the sharp reduction in government revenues associated with the crisis.
“It will help increase the efficiency in spending, strengthen revenue mobilisation and enhance accountability and transparency in public resource management to further strengthen state-level COVID-19 response.
“Both projects are financed through an International Development Association (IDA) credit of 750 million dollars each,” the bank said.
The Bank said it was taking broad, fast action to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response.
“It is doing this by supporting public health interventions, working to ensure the flow of critical supplies and equipment and helping the private sector continue to operate and sustain jobs.
“It is making available up to 160 billion dollars over a 15-month period ending June 2021, to help more than 100 countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses and bolster economic recovery.
“This includes 50 billion dollars of new IDA resources through grants and highly concessional loans and 12 billion dollars for developing countries to finance the purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines,” it stated.
Speaking about CPF, Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, said that it would guide the bank’s engagement for the next five years in supporting Federal Government’s strategic priorities by taking a phased and adaptive approach.
“To realise its long-term potential, the country has to make tangible progress on key challenges and pursue some bold reforms.
“Our engagement will focus on supporting Nigeria’s efforts to reduce poverty and promote sustained private sector-led growth,” he said.
According to the bank, the CPF will focus on four areas of engagement.
It would focus on investment in human capital by increasing access to basic education, quality water and sanitation services; improving primary healthcare and increasing the coverage and effectiveness of social assistance programs.
Additional investments in promoting women’s empowerment and youth employment and skills, especially for young women, would also help reduce maternal and child mortality.
Secondly, it would promote jobs and economic transformation and diversification by supporting measures to unlock private investment and job creation and increasing access to reliable and sustainable power for households and firms.
“The CPF will also focus on boosting digital infrastructure, and developing economic corridors and smart cities, to provide Nigerians with improved livelihoods.
“Enhancing resilience by strengthening service delivery and livelihood opportunities in the Northeast and other regions grappling with insecurity, as well as modernising agriculture and building climate resilience.”
The framework would also strengthen the foundations of the public sector by improving public financial management and strengthen the social contract between citizens and government through improved fiscal and debt management.
Kevin Njiraini, Director, International Finance Corporation (IFC) for Southern Africa and Nigeria, said that a strong private sector was critical to support Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
He added that the CPF leverages the Bank to enable business growth that was inclusive and sustainable.
“IFC will continue to support a broader private sector-led growth strategy to help Nigeria realise its immense potential by attracting more investment and creating millions of quality jobs for its growing population. ”
Merli Baroudi, Director, Economics and Sustainability, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), said that to achieve sustainable post-COVID economic recovery, the country needed to strengthen reforms that supported private sector solutions and crowd in private sector finance.
He assured that in close coordination with the World Bank and IFC, MIGA would continue to expand its support for cross-border private investment into Nigeria.
Prepared jointly with the IFC and MIGA, the CPF proposed a collaborative approach of how resources across the entire bank group could best support the government’s effort to achieve its goal to lift 100 million citizens out of poverty.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the safety of Nigerians.
He said the National Assembly would continue to engage the Executive arm of government until appropriate action is taken to address the growing insecurity in parts of the country.
Lawan stated this in his concluding remark on a motion considered during plenary on Tuesday into the recent kidnapping of students at the Government Science School, Kankara, Katsina State.
This was contained in a press statement by Special Assistant (Press) to President of the Senate, Ezrel Tabiowo, titled ‘Insecurity: N’Assembly will continue to engage Executive until… – Senate President’ on Tuesday.
The statement quoted the Senate President as saying, “There’s nothing more important for the government to do than securing the lives of citizens of this country and at all times.
“As a parliament, we should never get tired of talking about issues that affect our people. We have our own limitations because of the structure of how governance must be carried out, but we must never get tired of reporting what is happening to our people.
“I believe that we should think outside the box. What are those new things that we need to say to bring everybody to the table for the kind of action we believe in the Senate and, indeed the National Assembly, that should be taken.
“We are part of the government, but we have a specialized function, and all these things that we appear to be worried about that nothing has been done is because of the function that we have been appropriated to by the Constitution. But it doesn’t mean we are wasting our time.
“We should continue to engage with the Executive arm of government until the appropriate actions are taken, because that is what we are expected to do as a Parliament.”
