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Group mocks judiciary over miscarriage of justice ..calls on CJN to set review panel

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3 weeks ago

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Group mocks judiciary over miscarriage of justice ..calls on CJN to set review panel By Ifeoma Ikem Civil Society Group, Imo Liberation Movement (ILM), has described as a travesty of justice the nullification of election of Honourable Jonas Okeke of the Ehime-Mbano/Ihitte-Uboma/Obowo federal constituency (Okigwe South) of Imo State, in favor of Honourable Chike Okafor of the All Progressive Congress (APC). The justices of the Appeal Court in their judgment, asserted that the appellant in the suit Honourable Okeke was not qualified to contest the said election based on the primary election of the party held outside the constituency which was clearly a pre-election matter. The nullification of the people's mandate to Okeke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) according to ILM was a misnomer committed by Justices Abraham Georgewill, B. Aliyu and F. Ojo of the Appeal Court sitting in Lagos State. The Imo based crusaders, the constituents and Nigerians home and abroad have condemned the judiciary for failure to ensure that justice and fairness prevailed in the Nigerian political space. A statement issued by Chuks Obiodu, the Okigwe Zonal Coordinator of the group on the panel's judgment, said the learned justices by the said judgement have thwarted the mandate of the people having departing from existing precedents established by superior court of record (the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal) that had clearly started that sponsorship and nomination of a candidate by a political party is a pre-election matter, domestic affair of the party which cannot be adjudicated at the Tribunal as it lacks jurisdiction to entertain such. Regretted that Chike Okafor and other contestants to the seat however admitted that PDP sponsored Hon. Jonas Okeke, as such the issue of his sponsorship can no longer be challenged by interlopers, neither could it be determined by the appeal Tribunal. This perversion of justice the group said had totally contradicted the common law principle of "stare decisis”, which states that when a particular point of law is decided by superior courts, all future cases containing the same facts and circumstances must be bound by that decision. The release read, "It's disheartening that Okeke will be singled out for victimisation when the same court, same prayers, issues and facts, upheld the election of Hon Emeka Chinedu of Ahiazu/ Ezinihitte Mbaise federal constituency and Hon Imo Ikenga Ugochinyere of Ideato North/South." These candidates the group argued were also of same PDP, and participated in the same PDP primaries that the APC candidates challenged. So, what really necessitated this miscarriage of justice, they asked. It continued, "There was no other known ground in the matter upon which the judges relied on to murder justice and democracy as there has never been any civil or criminal charge against Hon. Okeke in any known court in the land or overseas. "He won the said election squarely regardless of efforts by the APC government in Imo state to deny him victory. "Worst still, the judges till this day have refused to release Certified True Copy (CTC) of the mockery of judgment delivered on the 4th November, 2023 which Okeke applied for on the 6th of the same month. "Whereas the same court and judges have since 8th November, 2023 signed orders of the judgment which Chike Okafor has used to approach the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obtain Certificate of Return (CoR). It's laughable that the judgement from which it emanates from is not yet ready, the expressed. "By this particular development, one wonders whether the learned Justices think about the effect of their actions on the image of the country. "We make bold to say that the decision by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to transfer all election petition cases pending before the various divisions of the court to Abuja and Lagos to enable her have a closer and painstaking monitoring of the judges has been defeated. "Fully aware that the Tribunal serves as the final court in this matter, we therefore, call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to direct the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dongban-Mensem to immediately set up a review panel to look into the judgment and circumstances that birthed this grave injustice by those entrusted with the power to deliver justice without fear or favour."

Group mocks judiciary over miscarriage of justice
..calls on CJN to set review panel

By Ifeoma Ikem

 

Civil Society Group, Imo Liberation Movement (ILM), has described as a travesty of justice the nullification of election of Honourable Jonas Okeke of the Ehime-Mbano/Ihitte-Uboma/Obowo federal constituency (Okigwe South) of Imo State, in favor of Honourable Chike Okafor of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

 

 

 

Group mocks judiciary over miscarriage of justice ..calls on CJN to set review panel By Ifeoma Ikem Civil Society Group, Imo Liberation Movement (ILM), has described as a travesty of justice the nullification of election of Honourable Jonas Okeke of the Ehime-Mbano/Ihitte-Uboma/Obowo federal constituency (Okigwe South) of Imo State, in favor of Honourable Chike Okafor of the All Progressive Congress (APC). The justices of the Appeal Court in their judgment, asserted that the appellant in the suit Honourable Okeke was not qualified to contest the said election based on the primary election of the party held outside the constituency which was clearly a pre-election matter. The nullification of the people's mandate to Okeke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) according to ILM was a misnomer committed by Justices Abraham Georgewill, B. Aliyu and F. Ojo of the Appeal Court sitting in Lagos State. The Imo based crusaders, the constituents and Nigerians home and abroad have condemned the judiciary for failure to ensure that justice and fairness prevailed in the Nigerian political space. A statement issued by Chuks Obiodu, the Okigwe Zonal Coordinator of the group on the panel's judgment, said the learned justices by the said judgement have thwarted the mandate of the people having departing from existing precedents established by superior court of record (the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal) that had clearly started that sponsorship and nomination of a candidate by a political party is a pre-election matter, domestic affair of the party which cannot be adjudicated at the Tribunal as it lacks jurisdiction to entertain such. Regretted that Chike Okafor and other contestants to the seat however admitted that PDP sponsored Hon. Jonas Okeke, as such the issue of his sponsorship can no longer be challenged by interlopers, neither could it be determined by the appeal Tribunal. This perversion of justice the group said had totally contradicted the common law principle of "stare decisis”, which states that when a particular point of law is decided by superior courts, all future cases containing the same facts and circumstances must be bound by that decision. The release read, "It's disheartening that Okeke will be singled out for victimisation when the same court, same prayers, issues and facts, upheld the election of Hon Emeka Chinedu of Ahiazu/ Ezinihitte Mbaise federal constituency and Hon Imo Ikenga Ugochinyere of Ideato North/South." These candidates the group argued were also of same PDP, and participated in the same PDP primaries that the APC candidates challenged. So, what really necessitated this miscarriage of justice, they asked. It continued, "There was no other known ground in the matter upon which the judges relied on to murder justice and democracy as there has never been any civil or criminal charge against Hon. Okeke in any known court in the land or overseas. "He won the said election squarely regardless of efforts by the APC government in Imo state to deny him victory. "Worst still, the judges till this day have refused to release Certified True Copy (CTC) of the mockery of judgment delivered on the 4th November, 2023 which Okeke applied for on the 6th of the same month. "Whereas the same court and judges have since 8th November, 2023 signed orders of the judgment which Chike Okafor has used to approach the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obtain Certificate of Return (CoR). It's laughable that the judgement from which it emanates from is not yet ready, the expressed. "By this particular development, one wonders whether the learned Justices think about the effect of their actions on the image of the country. "We make bold to say that the decision by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to transfer all election petition cases pending before the various divisions of the court to Abuja and Lagos to enable her have a closer and painstaking monitoring of the judges has been defeated. "Fully aware that the Tribunal serves as the final court in this matter, we therefore, call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to direct the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dongban-Mensem to immediately set up a review panel to look into the judgment and circumstances that birthed this grave injustice by those entrusted with the power to deliver justice without fear or favour."

 

 

 

The justices of the Appeal Court in their judgment, asserted that the appellant in the suit Honourable Okeke was not qualified to contest the said election based on the primary election of the party held outside the constituency which was clearly a pre-election matter.

The nullification of the people’s mandate to Okeke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) according to ILM was a misnomer committed by Justices Abraham Georgewill, B. Aliyu and F. Ojo of the Appeal Court sitting in Lagos State.

The Imo based crusaders, the constituents and Nigerians home and abroad have condemned the judiciary for failure to ensure that justice and fairness prevailed in the Nigerian political space.

A statement issued by Chuks Obiodu, the Okigwe Zonal Coordinator of the group on the panel’s judgment, said the learned justices by the said judgement have thwarted the mandate of the people having departing from existing precedents established by superior court of record (the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal) that had clearly started that sponsorship and nomination of a candidate by a political party is a pre-election matter, domestic affair of the party which cannot be adjudicated at the Tribunal as it lacks jurisdiction to entertain such.

Regretted that Chike Okafor and other contestants to the seat however admitted that PDP sponsored Hon. Jonas Okeke, as such the issue of his sponsorship can no longer be challenged by interlopers, neither could it be determined by the appeal Tribunal.

This perversion of justice the group said had totally contradicted the common law principle of “stare decisis”, which states that when a particular point of law is decided by superior courts, all future cases containing the same facts and circumstances must be bound by that decision.

The release read, “It’s disheartening that Okeke will be singled out for victimisation when the same court, same prayers, issues and facts, upheld the election of Hon Emeka Chinedu of Ahiazu/ Ezinihitte Mbaise federal constituency and Hon Imo Ikenga Ugochinyere of Ideato North/South.”

These candidates the group argued were also of same PDP, and participated in the same PDP primaries that the APC candidates challenged. So, what really necessitated this miscarriage of justice, they asked.

It continued, “There was no other known ground in the matter upon which the judges relied on to murder justice and democracy as there has never been any civil or criminal charge against Hon. Okeke in any known court in the land or overseas.

“He won the said election squarely regardless of efforts by the APC government in Imo state to deny him victory.

“Worst still, the judges till this day have refused to release Certified True Copy (CTC) of the mockery of judgment delivered on the 4th November, 2023 which Okeke applied for on the 6th of the same month.

“Whereas the same court and judges have since 8th November, 2023 signed orders of the judgment which Chike Okafor has used to approach the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obtain Certificate of Return (CoR). It’s laughable that the judgement from which it emanates from is not yet ready, the expressed.

“By this particular development, one wonders whether the learned Justices think about the effect of their actions on the image of the country.

“We make bold to say that the decision by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to transfer all election petition cases pending before the various divisions of the court to Abuja and Lagos to enable her have a closer and painstaking monitoring of the judges has been defeated.

“Fully aware that the Tribunal serves as the final court in this matter, we therefore, call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to direct the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dongban-Mensem to immediately set up a review panel to look into the judgment and circumstances that birthed this grave injustice by those entrusted with the power to deliver justice without fear or favour.”

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Matawalle Pays a visit to the unfortunate victims of the horrific bombing in Kaduna

Published

11 hours ago

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December 6, 2023

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Matawalle Pays a visit to the unfortunate victims of the horrific bombing in Kaduna

 

 

 

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had instructed the honourable minister of state for defence, His Excellency Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to investigate the mistaken bombing of Muslim worshippers in Kaduna. Matawalle visited the scene of the explosion, assessed the unfortunate damage, and expressed condolences to the families of the victims as well as the government of Kaduna State.

 

 

 

The senior military officers and ministry directors were in attendance with the Honourable Minister.

The Honourable Minister wept and prayed for the souls of those who perished in the explosion. He also assured the families of the victims that the Ministry would pay for all of the survivors’ medical expenses, saying, “The Ministry is ready to fly out those that are having life-threatening injuries abroad for further medical attention.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was shocked and traumatized by the news, and in order to prevent the feature accuracy, he has instructed the Ministry to assemble a team of experts to come up with immediate effect the cause of the incident’s source and location, according to the Honourable Minister Bello Mohammed Matawalle. Finally, he prayed for the souls of the deceased and condole with the families as the he ensured them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing everything within his capacity to ensure the families of the deceased are well taken care of and task the security agencies to gathered intelligence before reacting to any Nation threat.

 

Matawalle Pays a visit to the unfortunate victims of the horrific bombing in Kaduna

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Don’t Politicize Kaduna Inadvertently Bombing; Coalition warns mischief makers

Published

15 hours ago

on

December 6, 2023

By

Don't Politicize Kaduna Inadvertently Bombing; Coalition warns mischief makers.

Don’t Politicize Kaduna Inadvertently Bombing; Coalition warns mischief makers.

 

 

 

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria, has called for caution and halt to the perceived politicization of the unfortunate incident at Tudun Biri Community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State during the Army’s aerial bombardment of perceived terrorists which inadvertently led to the bombing of some innocent civilians.

 

Don't Politicize Kaduna Inadvertently Bombing; Coalition warns mischief makers.

 

 

The group in a statement on Wednesday, November 6th, 2023 signed by its Convener, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi and the Secretary General, Barrister John Atani attested to the fact that the Nigerian Army under the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is a professional entity, apolitical and skillful and couldn’t have bombed innocent civilians intentionally. The group advised individuals and political groups who intend to use this tragedy to score cheap political points to desist from such as it’s tantamount to unwarranted wickedness that would cause chaos and tension in the society .

 

Accordingly, the group advised Nigerians to await the conclusion of the investigation by security agencies. It would be recalled that the Director, Army Public Relations in a statement said the Chief of Army Staff, has paid a condolence visit to the Tudun Biri Community, where he regretted the unfortunate mishap, describing it as a very disheartening occurrence. It was also noted that the area and most adjoining communities were infested with armed bandits, who terrorised the communities, until the troop of the Nigerian Army started conducting operations to sanitize the area to make it habitable

While he pointed it out, that the troops were carrying out aerial patrols, when they observed a group of people and wrongly analysed and misinterpreted their pattern of activities to be similar to that of the bandits, before the drone strike.

 

While, commiserating with the government and the people of Kaduna State, especially the people of Tudun Biri on this unfortunate incident. The coalition appreciated the Chief of Army Staff, General Lagbaja for personally leading a team of the leadership of the Nigerian Army to identify with the people of the community at this trying moment, and more importantly the COAS also disclosed that he has order a thorough inquiry into the incident to ascertain and identify areas of deficiency that led to the inadvertent disaster, adding that the findings and overarching outcome of the investigation will guide the Nigerian Army in meticulously and professionally seeking and applying lasting solutions to identified lapses and deficiencies in both the human and artificial intelligence variables that will forestall future recurrence.

The Coalition further call on the leadership of the Nigerian Army not to leave any stone unturned to unravel what really happened with a view to forestalling a repeat of such an unfortunate incident.

The Coalition also sent their heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Kaduna State, especially the families of these who lost loved ones in Tudun Biri community.

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Kwara herbalist, accomplice Remanded over rape, arson

Published

17 hours ago

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December 6, 2023

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Kwara herbalist, accomplice Remanded over rape, arson

Kwara herbalist, accomplice Remanded over rape, arson

 

 

 

 

A Kwara State Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin has ordered the remand of an Ibadan-based herbalist, Sultan Ojuwoni, also known as Atakoro, and one Olaitan Ibrahim Olalekan at the Federal Correctional Service Centre, Oke-Kura, Ilorin till January 17, 2024.

 

 

 

 

The state Police Command arraigned Atakoro and Olalekan before the court for the alleged rape and arson of a 21-year-old girl identified as Firdaus Jimoh.

 

 

 

 

 

According to the Police First Information Report, Atakoro allegedly serially raped and set ablaze the 21-year-old Jimoh in his shrine, in Ibadan, Oyo State, conniving with Olalekan and one Omowumi and her children who are currently at large.

 

 

 

 

 

The suspects were arraigned on offences of criminal conspiracy, unlawful trial by ordeal, rape, causing grievous bodily hurt by dangerous means and attempt to commit culpable homicide, contrary to Sections 97, 214, 283 and 229 of the Penal Code Law.”

 

 

 

Magistrate Kolawole Aluko who also did not take the plea of the suspects when the FIR was read to them, said the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the offences for which they were charged.

He, however, listened to the submissions of the prosecution and counsel for the second defendant after which he ordered the remand of the suspects and adjourned the case till January 17, 2024, for mention.

The magistrate said the offenses for which the suspects were charged were not ordinarily bailable.

 

 

 

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