Oct 24th, 2007
Mimiko Forges Ahead at Tribunal
Definitive Hearing Enters Day 2
Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State has failed in his bid to stop the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, from tendering some documents at the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure.
Mimiko’s counsel, Dr. Olumide Ayeni, had sought for the permission of the tribunal to tender the Independent National Electoral Commission Election Manual 2007 as one of his evidence when the substantive hearing in the petition began on Tuesday.
But Agagu’s defence team, led by Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), raised an objection to it.
He asked the tribunal to reject the document because it had not been deposited at the tribunal’s registry before its presentation.
Fagbemi also prayed the tribunal to reject the document because it was not attached to Mimiko’s petition.
He argued that this was in contrast to the provisions of Paragraph 4 sub-section 8 of the Practice Direction.
Fagbemi said that although he was aware that the law governing the tendering of evidence was amended in July, but he argued that the law which was in use as at the time the petition was filed in April should be applicable.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s lawyer, Mr. I. A. Adedipe (SAN), agreed with Agagu’s objection to the admissibility of the document.
In the same vein, the INEC’s counsel, Mr. Obi Okwuzor, and the police lawyer, Mr. J.C.A. Idachaba, also adopted Fagbemi’s arguments.
But Ayeni said that once a public document was signed, it could be tendered from the bar. He added that Section 114 of the Evidence Act permitted the tribunal to admit the document.
Ayeni asked the tribunal to discountenance the respondents’ arguments.
He said that the new law should be applicable since the Practice Direction had been amended.
He added that the law in operation as at the time of tendering the document should be applicable.
The tribunal, headed by Justice G. M. Nabaruma, ruled in favour of Mimiko and admitted the document. There was jubilation outside the courtroom immediately the ruling was read.
Following this, Mimiko’s lawyer also sought for the permission of the tribunal to tender INEC Form EC8D, which is the summary of the results from the local government areas of the state.
He also sought to tender Form EC8E, which is the declaration of results into the office of the governor.
After hearing the arguments of both parties, the tribunal ruled in favour of Mimiko and admitted both forms in evidence.
The tribunal adjourned ruling on it till latter in the day.
Source: Punch
148 Responses to “Mimiko Forges Ahead at Tribunal”
it is not a bad idea to sentisize the public about the proceedings of the tribunal but for goodness sake we should try and ensure that these information are nothing but truth and honest because misleading the people in the name of politics is unfair. may God continue to guide us.
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@Olusegun, I believe the information posted was from the Nigerian dailies and it was not only the Punch that published the same information so I will tend to believe that it is the truth and no misleading of the people so far. It was victory for Mimiko and LP yesterday as the courts did rule in favour of Mimiko and accepted documents tendered to the glee of hundreds of people.
The truth is that the people of Ondo State wants Mimiko and they had already voted him in by a landslide victory in April 2007. Now that there is hope for their wishes to be granted and the mandate restored, the people of Ondo State are jubilating while Agagu, OBJ, and some members of Agagu family have taken leave of absence and “fled” abroad – just in case. Or did they come with the remaining hidden loot to share? Remember Ehindero left his stolen money too late and tried to sneak it out after he was sent packing. Agagu must have learnt from this.
God will vindicate the just and righteous and by jove, Mimiko’s mandate is restored in Jesus name.
I heard Agagu is in france. Do u really think if he felt the tribunal might rule against him he would have left the country? C,mon…..it,s about time u woke up to reality.
wakey wakey… sleepy heads are sure to wake up to reality for sure. Wonder who is sleeping? lol
OUR GOD REIGNS AND THE TRUTH SHALL SURELY PREVAIL. I ALSO HEARD THE LP/MIMIKO ARGUMENT WAS AWESOME. WE SHALL JUBILATE, CELEBRATE AND PRAISE GOD TOGETHER IN JESUS NAME.
I am appealing to His Excellency Dr Rahman Mimiko to begin to form his cabinet,Ondo Indigene in the UK are strongly in support of him,he is our brother,friend,uncle,Qualified Medical Practitioner and above all he is God fearing.
…………Kokumo …….Agatu…….. should be please leave the place now,we are tired of his Ibroic attitude
Well, due to security reports from what could happen from PDP(Violence), I was authoritatively informed that the Judgenment as pertaining to the deputy speaker has been deferred till after the Holidays, January 10, 2008 with further hearing between Agagu and Mimiko from January 11th, 2008.
No matter the number of adjournment, the TRUTH will be out one day that is close indeed.
All remain blessed.
Bi Iro ba tile lo logun odun, Otito ijo kan a le ba ni Oruko Jesu. This is a case of postponing the obvious but increasing the burdens of the masses while dishonest and evil people who should never have been in power in Ondo State are still patiently waiting for the verdict of liberation and annihilation of the cohorts of evil doers in Ondo State. Agagu knows he is on his last leg (pardon the pun for I understand Igbobi and UCH are patching him up).
I pray God in his infinite mercy and wisdom continue to direct Dr Olusegun Mimiko so that no corrupt, evil, lying thieving, opportunistic and God forsaken nonentities are allowed anywhere near the seat of governance in Ondo State.
Let us collective start our next set of prayers that God after giving back Dr Mimiko’s mandate, God will visit with a horrible tempest, brimestone and fire any “Ole (thief) who believes that they could disturb Mimiko to enable them line their pockets. There is serious business at hand and this is to enable Mimiko actualise his vision of hope, progress, verifiable developments and liberation of the masses in Ondo State. This is what Ondo State needs and not cohort of people who will praise sing to get handouts while the people suffer. The world will be watching and as they place absolute trust and confidence in Dr Mimiko, may nobody born or delivered of man and woman have any evil influence over the life of Dr Olusegun Mimiko in Jesus name.
We are going to all have a good Xmas knowing that the following year will mark a goooooooood beginning in Ondo State. “Even though it tarries, we wait for it, for surely it shall come to pass” Amen.
MIMIKO/LP XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ,THE NEW SCORE ++ == START IN JAN/08 . WE IN UK WAITIED THE OUT COME OF THE TRIBUNAL. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIMES
Guess who is most likely to be in the Group of politicians trying to bribe Tribunal Judges?.
Abdullahi Raises Alarm over Attempt to Corrupt Judges
From Funsho Maraina and Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 12.18.2007
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President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, has raised an alarm over attempts by politicians to bribe judges sitting on the various petitions arising from the last general elections.
He, however, stated that so far, the attempts had been unsuccessful.
Speaking at the maiden parley with judiciary reporters in Abuja yesterday, Abdullahi said, “They (politicians) are actually moving to compromise the judges, but they have not succeeded. They have been going around, trying to get to the judges; using people like friends and classmates, but all attempts have been rebuffed. The judges have realised that the job is important.
“The judges know the grave implication of being involved in such acts. They know they will lose their jobs if caught. So they have resisted attempts by the politicians to bribe them. So far, no corruption case has been made against any judge.
“It is when the politicians failed in their attempts that they resort to petition writing, saying that someone has been given one billion naira. How do you even move such money? I have never seen one billion naira all my life.”
Justice Abdullahi also disclosed that panels that would hear appeals arising from the Governorship Election Petition Tribunals in the states would be inaugurated in January 2008.
He said the identities of the members of the appeal panels would not be disclosed before their inauguration, so that politicians would not start putting gratification pressure on them to pervert the course of justice.
He assured Nigerians that the 30 mandatory days given by the Constitution to deal with appeals from the governorship elections’ petitions would not lapse before the appeals would be resolved.
He gave the middle of February 2008 for the resolution of the appeals.
Tribunal hearing petitions at the state level, according to him, might also wind up by the end of January.
The tribunals had nullified the governorship elections in Adamawa, Kebbi and Kogi states.
He also revealed his withdrawal from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, attending to the petitions filed by the presidential candidate of the All NIgeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the election, General Muhammadu Buhari, and former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of the Action Congress (AC), challenging the election of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Abdullahi said: “Yes, I was on the 2003 panel, but I’m not on this one (2007). In 2003, since it was the first time at such level during this republic, I felt I had a duty to give leadership. There was a problem then, because Buhari is my friend and a classmate, and I wanted to withdraw from the panel, but the counsel representing all parties in the petition were unanimous in my continued participation in the hearing of the Buhari’s appeal then.
“This time around, it was a double-headed problem, because Buhari is still there and the late elder brother of President Umaru Yar’Ardua, Shehu, was also my bosom friend and my classmate. You know what that means. So even before the issue was raised, I decided to withdraw from the panel. I also felt that other justices from other divisions should be given a chance to go through the nitty-gritty of the process”.
He noted that the perceived delay at the state level of the election tribunal was due to the sharp increase in the number of petitions filed on the last general elections.
Abdullahi pointed out that while 560 petitions were filed on the outcome of the 2003 general elections, 1,250 petitions were filed, challenging the outcome of the2007 elections.
He added that he deliberately waited for some time before setting up second panel in states like Anambra, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Osun among others, because he did not want politicians to take advantage of two panels at same time.
“I did not inaugurate two panels at the same time in the states because I did not want politicians to cause confusion by choosing which panel to appear,” he stated.
There is no reason why Dr Mimiko will not ascend the throne in the coming month, infact if i were Segun Agatuuuuuu,Oh! sorry they say he is Agagu,i will just be beging to serve as a commissioner under Mimiko administration,hey! sorry someone just told me now that a bad egg like Agatu should not be part of our Government.
To the good people of Ondo state,please remain calm and calculated,don’t allow any idiot to buy over your conscience,i also want to let you know that from the day Mimiko resume office as Governor of Ondo State,i am sure you will not have any reason to regret voting for him.
I over heard from one of the close allies of Agatu here in the UK,he said Agatu has sponsored so many people abroad for university education(both undergraduate and Postgraduate),well i say Yes to that,but Agatu is spending the state resources for that and he is making noise that he has given scholarship to students,well i want to let you guys know that some of us are opportuned to study here with the assistance of Personal resources of Dr Mimiko,but you will never hear him make noise all over the whole town on this,this guy called IROKO is just too much.
We are waiting earnestly for his swearing-in soonest.
There is so much the world would be shown in due course about the truth in Ondo State. What beats me is the debased state of the mind of some people, who resort to impersonation, double dealing, trying to cause confusion in a tight and close knit Mimiko group, using twisted names and when all has failed, they resort to blackmail, threats, name calling and real low life type of behaviour, all to try and stop Mimiko supporters for voicing out then truth. I am glad to say that in all these people have failed woefully and will keep on failing for God will never give audience to their voices and like I have repeated over and over, their counsel will be like that of Ahitophel. I echo Otunba WWW above, dont let any idiot either buy your conscience or threaten you into silence for in God and only God we trust. Ojo oro mbo.
For all lovers of truth and justice in Ondo State, for all true and upright Mimiko supporters, for His Excellency Dr Mimiko, LP and for Mahogany Force Officers, have a very Happy, Merry, Loving, and Wonderful Xmas and we shall all have a VICTORIOUS New Year when the truth shall be revealed. Agagu has failed in all attempts to pervert the cause of justice, hmmm, Cars, Buses, Ondo State Money squandered will never buy him success in evil endeavours. There is time to repent or time to escape for the arms of the law are waiting. We know where his name is likely to be found in the list of Most Wanted Corrupt Lying Theiving Nigerians. We wait and see.
A Christmas Question for us – WHY IS DR MIMIKO SO LOVED AND SO SUPPORTED AND WHY HAS THE ENEMY FAILED TO TARNISH HIS GOOD NAME?
BECAUSE HE IS A HONEST MAN OF INTEGRITY AND LOVED BY GOD
I do not know which world Iwu is living in , certainly not this one. Please read this interesting piece.
Why govs, others are losing at tribunals – Iwu
Dotun Oladipo, Washington – 20.12.2007
CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, has said the lack of internal democracy in political parties caused the upturning of the results of some of the April 2007 elections.
Iwu, speaking on Tuesday during the presentation of a report of the commission on the April elections to Nigerians resident in the United States of America at the Press Club in Washington D.C, said that none of the elections upturned so far had been as a result of rigging or any deficiency in the conduct of the election on the part of INEC.
He said as such, no one could say the upturning of some of the elections was an indictment of INEC.
“No, far from it. It is actually a work in progress in the sense that those governors whose elections are being questioned arose mainly from internal party democracy.
“That’s part of the lessons we learnt. It is not an indictment on the commission.
“If the elections were annulled based on rigging, then we’ll take that seriously.
“But as of now, out of 36 governors, none has been fully upturned because they are still undergoing appeals. “So we can’t even say that any has been really upturned.”
He also faulted the reported call by the security agency in the United States of America, the Homeland Security, for the reconstitution of INEC, adding, “I have not heard of the message.
“But I will be surprised because I don’t know what INEC’s reconstitution has to do with Homeland Security in America.
“If they said that, that must be something happening based on the lobby people are making here, which is a one sided lobby.
“How can someone be talking about something happening in Nigeria that they know little about?
“INEC is reconstituted periodically based on our constitution and I think our constitution will be obeyed when the time comes.”
Iwu said he was also not bothered by the call for his resignation, adding, “I am not an angry man at all.
“What I am is somebody who is so passionate about our country. “I am passionate about Nigeria in the sense that we have made such tremendous stride.
“We should not allow people to allow their bickering to affect the fortunes of 140 million people.
“I am passionate in the sense that we want the bigger interest of our people to prevail.”
However, two prominent Nigerians residing in the United States, Professor Mobolaji Aluko, and Mr. Lanre Banjo, disagreed with Iwu that INEC did a good job.
Aluko said that INEC was biased in its handling of the election. Speaking during the briefing, Aluko said INEC went beyond its brief by taking sides in some cases.
He said that INEC could have performed better. Banjo, who met Iwu outside the venue of the briefing, said INEC gave undue advantage and support to some candidates.
Banjo said that the officials of INEC were not accessible to candidates not favoured by the powers that be.
Though Banjo admitted he did not even know the name of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in his state, Ogun State, when challenged by Iwu to substantiate his claim, he said it was obvious the REC was acting on orders from above.
He said even when the REC was subpoenaed by the election petition tribunal, he refused to heed the call.
He also faulted Iwu on his briefing in London, the United Kingdom, that it was impossible for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and General Muhammadu Buhari to have won the presidential election because they did not campaign enough and had party disputes to contend with.
He said that both men were popular enough to stand for election even at short notice.
Incompetent indeed and in truth. Please read on.
You’re incompetent, EU slams Iwu
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The European Union has thrown away diplomatic niceties by pointedly accusing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, of incompetence and using the organization as an excuse to cover up his inability to conduct free and fair polls.
Prof. Maurice Iwu,
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The EU is angry over allegations by Iwu that his agency turned down several million Euros from the organization leading up to the controversial election which has resulted in the international community calling for his resignation and the voiding of the election.
Iwu was in Washington in continuation of efforts to present the official report of the election. “INEC rejected an offer of 10 million euros from the European Union (UN) based on principles. The offer was increased to 20 and later 40 million euros, but it was rejected. The animosity with EU began when INEC rejected their request to sit in the Commission’s meetings and to have a copy of voters tabulated electronically,” Iwu said.
But an EU official denied the claim and accused the INEC chairman of deliberately frustrating the mission of the observers to achieve a desired end.
“We were invited by the Commission in line with internationally accepted standards, but when we asked for proof to determine its preparedness for a free and fair polls, the INEC refused to grant our request,” a top official stated. The official said the grant to INEC was in line with a commitment to ensure it has enough resources to get the job done.
“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo requested for our assistance and the grant was not intended to influence the agency as is being speculated by Iwu,” the official stated. The agency said it was suspending further funding of all elections in Nigeria until the country provides a detailed breakdown of earlier funds to train and educate poll workers and officials.
“The INEC chairman should be worried that the election under his watch has been rated the worst in the nation’s history by both local and international observers and not hold the EU responsible for his poor performance,” the official said. He also announced that the EU is reviewing further assistance to Nigeria for as long as Iwu remains the INEC boss.
But for the EU and others pushing for the resignation of Prof. Iwu, they may have to forget it as the INEC boss has ruled out that option.
“Some people have called for my resignation. These are partisan people who wanted to be in power at all cost. Some people are partisan; they have media; they shout and they shout loudest. I just made a presentation and you can see the support of Nigerians who have now had the facts,” he said.
Iwu gave his agency a pass mark on the conduct of the election. “One thing is a fact. The fact is that the election was a triumphant movement on the part of Nigerians from one civilian elected government to another. That is something that nobody can remove from Nigeria,” he said.
Explaining the rationale behind INEC’s presentations abroad, he said it would afford Nigerians in the Diaspora the opportunity to hear the facts in order to make judgments themselves. “In terms of public opinion, we are trying to capture our people, as many as possible, in terms of their knowing what happened at the elections and then be able to form their own opinion,” he remarked.
A happy Xmas to all faithful, just, honest and loving Ondo State Citizens, The Labour Party and of course to our dear Governor Elected, Dr Olusegun Mimiko. As we all celebrate this season of goodwill, love and hope, let us continue to remember our dear state Ondo State in our prayers. Let us continue to pray for the innocent and poor masses who are waiting and praying for liberation from a farce government of deceit and “empty drums” making so much fake sound. Let us pray for the members of the electoral tribunal who so far have stayed clear of corruption and deciet ( I hope we can believe the press reports).
I pray as we enter the new year 2008, that our Lord Jehovah in his infinite mercies will BLESS, PROTECT AND PROSPER US ALL IN JESUS NAME. 2008 will go down in Ondo history as a very interesting year. It is my fervent prayer that the history made will be one of truth and return of our Stolen Mandate to the real owner Dr Olusegun Mimiko. For all those who so far have revelled in evil, lies, sycophancy, deceit, name calling, threats, conspiracy, impersonation and above all CORRUPTION AND VOODOO, may the Lord almighty deal with you all accordingly and may you reap the seeds of your evil deeds, for this is not a time to preach repentance any longer. Rev 22:11-12 does sum up my feelings:
” 11He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
Your Excellency Dr Olusegun Mimiko, may the good Lord prosper your ways and give you reasons to praise His Holy name. Your mandate will surely and definitely and undoubtedly be returned to you. May you deliver to the masses in Ondo State and make Ondo State a place of pride. May your name go down in history as the opposite of Agagu for you will show Nigeria that not all politicians are thieves. As much as it is not right to put ALL confidence in man, I am not afraid to say, you are a trustworthy, kind, motivating and Godly man and you will mentor many in Ondo State in Jesus name.
To Mahogany Force, God bless you all and well done for all your hard work on this site.
HAPPY XMAS TO ALL AND A VERY FULFILLED NEW YEAR AND THE DAWN OF THE TRUTH AND RETURN OF OUR STOLEN MANDATE.
BE BLESSED
MAY GOD PROTECT US ALL FROM EVILDOERS. WE THANK GOD THAT NO LIVES WERE LOST AND MAY GOD EXPOSE WHOEVER ENGINEERS FAKE ROBBERIES AND INTIMIDATION. PLEASE READ ON:
Another LP chief attacked in Ondo
By Femi Makinde, Ondo
Published: Monday, 24 Dec 2007
Another chieftain of the Labour Party in Ondo State, Chief Omoniyi Omodara, was on Sunday morning attacked in his residence by suspected armed robbers.
The hoodlums subjected his entire household to over two hours of torture.
After the raid, the robbers made away with foreign and local currencies, vital documents, trinkets, handsets and other household appliances.
They had tied up all their victims during the operation.
The hoodlums, numbering about 12, entered the Oba-Ile Housing Estate residence of the Omodaras at 2.00am on Sunday by scaling the fence of the twin bungalow.
They thereafter ransacked the entire building asking for money and documents.
Omodara stated that the raid which lasted for about two hours, was intriguing as the actions of the people showed that they had inside information about his household.
He added that the development might be more than an armed robbery attack.
Omodara, a former Chairman of the Akure North Local Government under the Adefarati Administration, was, until he joined the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko-led Labour Party in Ondo State in January this year, a Commissioner on the Board of Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.
He, however gave thanks to God who spared his life and those of his family.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party in Ondo State has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party in the state is planning to set ablaze its evidence in the possession of the Election Petitions Tribunal.
The Director of Press of the LP, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, made the allegation in a statement made available to our correspondent in Akure on Sunday.
But the Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Doland Ojogo, in his response to the allegations, said that the LP was known for such spurious allegations.
someone PLEASEEEEE answer me, WHO WAS THE ARCHITECT OF THIS SO CALLED MASS SURGERY???????
1, 500 people benefit from Ondo govt mass surgery programme
Written by Dayo Johnson
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
OVER 1000 people have so far benefited from the mass surgical programme of the Ondo State government in the last four years. Tagged festival of surgery, patients with hernia are operated free as part of the health programme of government. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kehinde Adedeji, said this at the closing of the festival of surgery held in Akure South local government area.
According to him, at least five hundred people had also benefited from the quarterly free eye operations of government, while 2000 people had also been given free eyeglasses to aid their sight.
He said the first of the series of the mass surgery took place in Igbara-Oke in Ifedore local government area in May 2004 with eighty-eight people benefiting from the programme.
Adedeji however, said the programme was a manifestation of the resolve of the present administration to have a health sector that would provide quality service to the people.
The commissioner said with qualitative health care delivery, the people of the state would be able to lead economically productive lives and thereby contribute to the meaningful development of the state.
I HAVE A VERY SIMPLE AND VERY HONEST AND VERY CORRECT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION MR FRED – DR RAHMAN OLUSEGUN MIMIKO IS THE ARCHITECT AND INNOVATIVE FOUNDER OF THIS HEALTH CARE PROGRAM DURING HIS DAYS AS COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. THIS PROGRAM FORMS PART OF THE MANIFESTO AND CAMPAIGN THAT GOT DR MIMIKO THE LANDSLIDE VICTORY WHEN HE WAS VOTED IN AS GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE IN APRIL 2007. THIS PROGRAM SHOWS THE SENSITIVITY, LOVE AND CARING NATURE OF DR MIMIKO WHO DID NOT LAY THE FOUNDATION OF THE PROGRAM JUST TO WIN PEOPLE OVER. AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO CONTINUE IN ONDO STATE UNDER THE GOVERNANCE OF THE TRULY AND DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE, DR OLUSEGUN MIMIKO. IROKO YI JO GBA SIBEEEE. THEY WILL ALWAYS COPY YOU, THEY WILL ALWAYS LOOK UP TO YOU, THEY WILL NEVER WIN OVER YOU FOR YOU HAVE THE LIVING GOD ON YOUR SIDE. WHEN YOU LAUNCHED AND ACTUALISED THIS PROGRAM, THE STATISTICS OF THOSE THAT BENEFITED WERE CONFIRMED AND NOTHING WAS MADE UP. HOPE FOR THE SAKE OF ONDO STATE, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ABOVE IS TRUE AND VERIFIED AND NOT ONE OF THE USUAL CHEAP PUBLICITY GYMICKS BY AGAGU AND HIS COHORTS. WISHING ALL MIMIKO SUPPORTERS, LABOUR PARTY AND BLESSED PEOPLE OF ONDO STATE A TRULY HAPPY AND REWARDING NEW YEAR IN JESUS NAME.
BY TH GRACE OF GOD ALL MOVES TO SABOTAGE JUSTICE WILL FAIL AND THE TRUTH WILL BE DECLARED IN ONDO STATE. PLEASE READ ON, CURTESY OF http://WWW.NIGERIAWORLD.COM:
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Police, SSS secure Ondo tribunal’s office
From Julius Alabi, Akure
SECURITY has been beefed up at the Akure High Court in Ondo State following allegations by an opposition political party that there were moves to burn down a section of the court housing the Election Petitions
Tribunal sitting in order to destroy vital documents in the court.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Adeniran Aremu (ASP), made this known in Akure yesterday in a chat with The Guardian. He said more men of the anti-riot police, Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) and State Investigation Intelligence Bureau (SIIB) have been sent to the area to keep vigil till January when the tribunal would begin sitting.
The Guardian also learnt that the State Security Services (SSS) dispatched its personnel to the place.
Aremu said that for every rumour there was an element of truth, adding that, “we don’t want to take any chances, as such action could derail the course of justice.
“Let me assure you that we have enough security on ground to prevent such ugly situation. The security personnel have been increased by the police command ever before we heard of the rumour.
“Since we discovered that the tribunal would be going on recess, we found it very imperative to guard the place so that the documents there would not be tampered with because we don’t want police to be dragged to any issue of trying to truncate or sabotage the efforts of the aggrieved parties”, he said.
The state chapter of the Labour Party (LP) had alerted men of the state police command and other security agencies of a plan by the state government to use thugs to set fire on documents and evidences in the possession of the Election Petition Tribunal located inside the Court II of the State High Court, Akure during this Christmas and New Year holidays.
Ondo councils share N1.4b December allocation:
I am veering off the main theme of this forum, which is to ensure that the right candidate whom the electorates voted for en-masse regains his mandate. But I felt somehow compelled to share my frustration on this forum at the December allocation to the local government council in Ondo state: We hear of this allocation to these councils on a frequent basis, but we cannot see the evidence on the ground of what has actually been done with these huge resources – the local governments are full of filth and garbage, impassable roads and so many other ills that prevent the citizens to live and work comfortably. My appeal on this forum is for people in our state to start challenging these charlatans and philistines local government chairmen to justify how these monies are spent. If we cannot see the evidence on the ground, they must be ending up where they shouldn’t be. enough is enough
All these can soon come to an end when the right candidate as TA mentioned above is given back his mandate. As much as many Nigerians at home and abroad want to see a reduction (if not total elimination of corruption), Nigerian leaders dont seem to be working in line with this wish ( I refer to EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu being sent on FORCED study leave as reported in some papers). In Ondo State more than 80% of the people; and majority of whom voted Mimiko in as governor of Ondo State in April 2007, plus majority of whom although were unable to vote at all for one reason or the other; Corruption is being decried heavily. One thing though that people dont understand is that there is greater joy, peace of mind, integrity, and freedom in working hard to earn one’s keep. Ohun ti a ba sise fun lo npe lowo eni. So why cant these people have a change of heart, what have they gained so far, except disgrace, curses, and loss of their eternity?
Back to the subject of discourse on this website, God will take pity on the people of Ondo State and totally wipe out all agents of mass destruction in Jesus name. Mimiko shall be given a chance to prove to Ondo State, Nigeria and the world what true, proper and Godly governance is. Soon and very soon, the truth will be out and justice will be done. Nigeria is suffering too much, and Ondo State is not left out in this problem. Dear Lord in the year 2008, please give us a chance for peace, hapiness, progress and development in Ondo State. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL TRUE AND JUST ONDO STATE PEOPLE, AND TO LP AND OF COURSE TO OUR ONDO STATE ELECTED GOVERNOR, DR OLUSEGUN MIMIKO.
My people, I have been publicly challenged, called names, abused and intimidated for supporting Mimiko by fools who believe everyone would be like them and support someone for personal gains. This does not matter. No one said the fight for justice and true democracy will ever come easy. But God is not asleep and will continue to strengthen our resolve in Jesus name.
A VERY HAPPY 2008 TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF ONDO STATE, AND NIGERIA. A VERY GOD FILLED, JUST AND SUCCESSFUL 2008 TO HIS EXCELLENCY DR OLUSEGUN MIMIKO AND THE LABOUR PARTY. A VERY PROTECTED, PROGRESSIVE AND PRODUCTIVE 2008 TO ALL THE TRUE AND FAITHFUL SUPPORTERS OF MIMIKO AND THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE IN ONDO STATE. A VERY SOUND AND BLESSED 2008 TO ALL INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL IN ONDO STATE. I PRAY THAT YOUR DELIBERATIONS AND VERDICT WOULD BE THE TRUE ONE AND BRING SOME COMFORT TO THE HEARTS OF OVER 80% OF PEOPLE IN ONDO STATE (FOR I KNOW IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PLEASE EVERYONE).
AS THIS IS A SEASON OF GOODWILL , AS GOD DIRECTED THAT WE SHOULD PRACTICE FORGIVENESS AND PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES (SO THAT IN TRYING TO DO US EVIL THE HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON THEIR VERY OWN HEADS); I WISH ALL OTHERS ALSO A HAPPY NEW YEAR PRAYING THAT GOD ENTERS INTO YOUR LIVES AND GIVES YOU A CHANGE OF HEART, ATTITUDE AND MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT JOY MEANS:
JESUS FIRST
OTHERS IN BETWEEN
YOURSELF LAST
ONDO STATE DESERVES A BREAK FROM TRICKERY, LIES AND ENSLAVERY IN 2008. LET US RALLY ROUND THE COMMON MAN AND BE OUR BROTHERS KEEPERS. LET US ALL SHUN EVIL, CORRUPTION, LOOTING, GREED AND LIES IN ONDO STATE IN 2008. GOD WILL BLESS US WITH MORE THAN OUR HEARTS DESIRES IN DOING THIS. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WE ALSO ARE WORKING FOR OUR ETERNITY AND MUST ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT LOSE THIS.
FOR ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE BY SPEAKING THE TRUTH BOLDLY AND LOUD, THAT I AM THEIR SWORN ENEMY, FORGIVE AND REPENT. FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER SET OUT TO HURT ME, ESPECIALLY BY DIRTY POLITICS, THREATS AND NAME CALLING, I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU LONG TIME AND THIS IS WHY GOD IS BLESSING ME AND SPARING ME FROM EVIL, SO NO HARD FEELINGS, FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY STRENGTH.
HAPPY 2008 MAHOGANY FORCE. HAPPY 2008 MIMIKO4GOVERNOR READERS AND WRITERS. HAPPY AND A BLESSED, REWARDING, FULFILLING, AND PEACEFUL 2008 TO ALL OF US. GOD BLESS NIGERIA, GOD BLESS ONDO STATE, GOD BLESS LP, GOD BLESS MIMIKO AND OF COURSE GOD BLESS OMOTAYLOR
It is worth mentionning the current wave that is blowing our ex-stupendiously rich ex-govs.it is a warnning sign to those who has something hidden to start practicing the act of been a common man, cos when the wind eventually blows we shall see what is make up of the hen.Iam yet to understand the mathematics of how a student that scores 14% in an overall examination of 18% is still declared a failure by the teacher, while the other student that scored below the candidate with 14% is declared a winner. the abracada bra mathematics is beyond my understanding, may be we need to consult prof.chike obi to do justice to the knotty results if and only if the pharmacy prof. of inec can not tell us the difference between a failure and a succes.Iroko pls hold it let the mathematics prof help us.
DO NOT BE DECEIVED OR MIS INTERPRETE THIS DAILY PUNCH REPORT SO PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:
April poll: Court dismisses suit against Agagu
By Tobi Soniyi, Abuja
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday held that the eligibility of the Ondo State Governor, Chief Olusegun Agagu, to contest the April 14, 2007 governorship election could not be queried by any court of law.
It also upturned the decision of a Federal High Court in Abuja which had earlier dismissed the governor’s preliminary objection to a suit challenging his eligibility to stand for the poll.
Four indigenes of the state had on March 23, 2007 approached the lower court to declare Agagu ineligible for the poll, which he eventually won. They had alleged that the indictment of the governor by a judicial commission of enquiry had constitutionally disqualified him as a candidate.
Agagu quickly filed a preliminary objection to the suit.
In the objection, he challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.
The trial judge, Justice Abimbola Ogie, however, dismissed the objection following which the governor filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Delivering judgment on the appeal on Tuesday, a three-man panel of the appellate court held that the conduct of the election had rendered the suit academic.
The panel added that the existence of the Election Petitions Tribunal in the state had ousted the jurisdiction of any court on the matter.
We are not surpised that Agagu rushes to Abuja as always to find favour. It wouldnt matter in the result of the Electoral Petition FOR THE TRUTH SHALL BE REVEALED. AGAGU DID NOT WIN THE APRIL POLLS, HE STOLE IT WITH THE AID OF OBASANJO. THE DAY OF RECKONING SHALL YET COME.
i believe that no matter how the case may be Agagu will leave ****in jesus name amen.,my advise 4 him now is to leave and go in peace *****
Comment edited by Admin. Pls. let’s keep issue be discussed in focus. Thanks.
RE: April poll: Court dismisses suit against Agagu
This law suit has become redundant given the ongoing case at the election tribunal. The judgment is absolutely in line and expected. It does not have bearings whatsoever with the current case at the tribunal that resumes on Jan. 13. Hopefully, a verdict will emerge by the end of Feb.
Piece of information.
Further hearing starts from January 15th 2008 to allow swearing-in of appeal court Judges among whom is the promoted deputy chairman of election Tribunal in Ondo State. All Tribunals must deliver Judgement on or before Febuary 14th 2008 since Appeal court must start sitting from 2/15/08.
I understand the Ondo State `OLORI-OKO` is in France, for what?, your guess is as good as mine.
Remain patient and all remain Blessed.
The Punch report paragraph that I question is this:
“Four indigenes of the state had on March 23, 2007 approached the lower court to declare Agagu ineligible for the poll, which he eventually won.” DID HE? NO HE DIDNT
It is alleged that ~Agagu won for we know he did not win the polls, and this matter is yet to be decided by the appeal court, so it is good to be able to read between the lines in face of incomplete reportage.
Time will tell and the truth although has tarried for so long will definitely emerge and will be worth waiting for. Ondo State deserves better than what its had for running to five years now under Agagu.
Remain blessed
How I waited patiently and prayerfully fot this day 11th January, but now am told we have to wait till the 15th for deliberations to resume and continue. It doesnt matter for we have been patient for so long and there is nothing that has a beginning that will not have an end, not even human mortality, so we wait on. We pray on. We are rest assured that our heavenly father will never allow evil to triumph over good, no matter what the devil tries to do. IN GOD WE TRUST. May He breathe sanity, truth and justice into the Tribunal proceedings (amen). IROKO MA MI KAN, YOUR MANDATE SHALL BE DELIVERED AND HANDED BACK TO YOU.
All hands on deck for prayer as we approach the 15th of this month(tomorrow) for the resumption of hearing.
Quick correction, I was told the swearing-in of the appeal court Judges is not going to be until the 28th of Feb. as supposed to the information I gave out last week, sorry about that. Whatever the case may be, the judgement day must come before the end of Febuary 2008.
All remain blessed.
God is in control, and in HIM
GOD IS IN CONTROL, AND IN HIM ONLY WE TRUST. GOD WILL NEVER SEE THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN AND IT WILL BE GOOD NEWS FOR MIMIKO, WHATEVER TIME THEY DECIDE TO END THIS LONG LONG APPEAL.
Argued on the INEC documents submitted today, i.e the documents re-inspected by Agagu team, ruling on this hopefully comes tomorrow.
Eti a gbo ire loruko Jesu. Olorun wa ki se Oba Ika. Ko ni gbe ebi falare, ko si ni gbe are fun elebi ni oruko Jesu.
IN GOD WE TRUST THAT TRUTH AND JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. MIMIKO IS GOVERNOR, STOLEN MANDATE BY THE NAME OF THE MOST HIGH, RETURN TO YOUR RIGHTFUL OWNER.
IROKO GBA SIBEEEEEE.
I was reliably informed that all documents argued upon yesterday were admitted into evidence today and Team Mimiko will rest case next week wednesday or Thursday and the other team, Agagu, will pick up from there for couple of days.
End is very near indeed.
All remain blessed.
All is well that ends well, and end well this will in Jesus name.
Tribunal overrules Agagu on admittance of Mimiko’s documents
Written by Dayo Johnson
Friday, 18 January 2008
THE Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital yesterday, overruled the objection of Governor Olusegun Agagu not to admit some documents presented by the Labour Party governorship candidate in the state Dr Olusegun Mimiko challenging his victory at the polls.
Also, the tribunal ruled that both parties in the suit should present before it all documents in respect of their cases and they would be admitted as read in order to fast tract the matter.
It fixed next week Wednesday and Thursday for Dr Mimiko to present his witnesses as further hearing in the petition continues
Dr Agagu’s counsel Chief Kayode Olatoke said at the resume of the petition filed by Labour Party challenging his victory at the April 14 polls that the documents emanated from INEC were only certified but not signed.
Dr. Olatoke argued that the tribunal should not admit the document, as they were defective adding that some of the document sought to tender failed to meet the required condition as contained in the Evidence Act. The documents in question only had the stamp of INEC that certified them but did not have any author or signature.
Olatoke said the “documents were merely ordinary sheet of paper which anybody could put INEC stamps to them and as such is not tenable at the tribunal.
“I hereby rejected the documents which were not tendered by INEC but were listed by the Labour Party to be tender to the Tribunal”.
But at the resume of the matter, the Chairman of the Tribunal Justice Garba Nabaruma expressed worries over the delay tactics of counsel for about two months cited paragraph 4, 5, and 6 sub section 5, paragraph 5 sub section 10 of the practice direction rule 29 of the Federal High Court to buttress his order that the documents be brought by both parties to fast tract the petition.
Enugu Governor Sacked
Posted by admin on 2008/1/18 16:30:01 (621 reads)
By Jude Orji/Enugu
The Enugu State Election Petitions Tribunal, this morning declared the election of Governor Sullivan Chime null and void, saying voting did not take place in most parts of the state. Chime’s election was nullified following petitions filed by three political parties—DPP, AC, Accord Party and the Labour Party, asking the tribunal to nullify the 14 April, 2007 governorship election in the state.
In his ruling, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Samuel Ottah, said the conduct of the governorship election in the state was flawed, adding that election did not take place in most parts of the state.
Speaking after the tribunal’s judgment, counsel to Governor Chime, Chief (Mrs.) Anayo Justina Offia (SAN), said the governor will appeal the judgment.
She explained that the incumbent would remain in office until the appeal is determined.
The DPP governorship candidate in the state, Chief Oscar Egwuonwu, described the judgment as a verdict of hope for the people of Enugu State.
As at the time of filing this report, supporters of former governor, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, were seen jubilating outside the court’s premises.
There was a plethora of petitions by governroship candidates of various political parties in the state against the sacked Governor Chime. Candidates who filed petitions were Roosevelt Anigbo of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Ugochukwu Agballah of Accord Party (AP), Dubem Onyia of Action Congress, (AC) Okechukwu Ezea of Labour Party (LP) and Oscar Egwuonwu of Democratic Peoples Party DPP) Enugu.
Tension had gripped residents of Enugu in the last few days as everybody was apprehensive of what the verdict of the election petition tribunal would be.
Civil servants abandoned their duty posts and were always discussing the matter in groups.
Since Tuesday when the sacked governor collapsed at the Michael Opara Square in Enugu while laying a wreath during the Armed Forces Remebrance Day, his Deputy, Sunday Onyebuch had held forte for him.
all lovers of labour party should read this culled from the nation :Ondo LP shows video of alleged electoral fraud in Court. 19/1/2008
It a packed courtroom session, video clips of how the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo Sate allegegdly perpetrated electoral fraud during the April 14 election, were yesterday shown at the Election Petitions Tribunal.
The tribunal which ordered the clips to be shown following a request. Governor Olusegun Agagu’s lawyer was not on seat to watch the video.
But the lawyers including staunch supporters of the two political parties-PDP and the Labour Party (LP), were on hand to watch the ‘august film’ live.
Six clips were shown of which four revealed how a non-existent result was recorded for one of the 18 contentious local governments where voting never took place.
For instance in the clip, voters who spoke x-rayed the April 14, 2007 governorship election in Ese-Odo, painted pictures on how election materials were allegedly hijacked by the PDP agents in collaboration with security operatives who unleashed terror in the area.
The clip entitled “Evidence of no voting in Ese-Odo”, showed residents including a police officer who said “Nobody voted here, Independent National Electoral Comission (INEC) officials and materials are not available in the whole of Arogbo, “PDP people hijacked everything, using soldiers to intimidate us.We will be suprised tomorrow (April 15, 2007) if results are recorded for the whole Arogbo as voting did not take place at all.”
At another, the clip showed how Governor Agagu was addressing the party faithful, saying before noon election would have been concluded.
Besides, Agagu, who spoke in Yoruba, said “two days after the election, there shall be no any trace of the opposition in the state. ‘Won a jeyan won nisu’ (they will have their pounded yam eaten without morter) and by tomorrow we shall see them no more”.
Also, in another clip the State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Josiah Chukwuma Uwazuruonye querried the declaration of the governorship election result in Abuja describing it as illegal.
He flayed the Abuja declaration while addressing a press conference saying he alone was competent to declare the result and not Abuja.
“I heard there was announcement declaring the Ondo State Governorship election in Abuja.I wish to say that I am yet to clear the result. I am the only one empowered by law to declare it and nobody else”.
The clips were on Thursday tendered in evidence by LP candidate, Dr. Rahman Olusegun Mimiko who contested the April 14 election against Dr. Olusegun Agagu.But Agagu’s lawyers insisted knowing their contents. This compelled the tribunal to order it shown to avoid legal controversy. Unpertubed, Mimiko’s lawyers consented.
To Mimiko, who is challenging Agagu’s return to the Alagbaka Government House, the video clips which had formed part of the documentary evidence were weighty enough to invaldate the declaration of Governor Agagu as the State Chief Executive.
He would on January 23, 2008 present oral evidence as no fewer than 38 witnesses had been penciled down to give evidence in the matter.
The witnesses according to Mimiko’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), would adopt their witness’s statement, detailing series of rigging, thumbprinting ballot papers, snatching of ballot boxes,violence and other forms of electoral malpractices that marred the April 14 election
there days are numbered.
Read another angle of the `jaguda` tapes below;
Policeman Backs Mimiko
01.19.2008
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Pin drop silence pervaded the Ondo State High Court premises of the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure yesterday when a policeman and four other persons interviewed in one of the video clips tendered by Labour Party candidate in the April 14 governorship election, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, said the election did not take place in Ese-Odo Local Government.
Coincidentally, the microphone of the reporter who interviewed the five persons bore the logo of the state owned Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC).
The viewing of the video clip was sequel to the insistence by the Labour Party candidate that election did not take place in Ese-Odo Council in his petition challenging the victory of Governor Olusegun Agagu at the polls.
Lead counsel to Mimiko, Chief Wole Olanipekun, had tendered 11 video compacts discs and one VHS alongside nine security reports during the proceedings at the tribunal on Thursday.
However, the Justice Garba Nabaruma-led tribunal on Thursday ordered the content of the videos to be shown on Friday because Agagu’s counsel, Mr. A. O. Falodun, had objected to Olanipekun’s application that the documents be taken as read.
One of the persons said, “Elections did not hold in Arogbo Ward 1 and Ward 2. PDP people hijacked the election materials and took them to the houses of their members where they stuffed the ballot boxes. They also intimidated us with soldiers.”
The former Resident Electoral Commisioner (REC) of the state, Mr. Josiah Nwazuruonye, was also shown on one of the clips. He said that some people “made it difficult for INEC officials to collate results in Ilaje and Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo.”
Nwazuruonye also rejected the Ondo State governorship election results announced in Abuja.
He said that as the REC, he was the only one vested with the authority to announce the governorship result of the state.
Thanks so much for fielding those articles. This is a mega step forward for Team Mimiko. Thanks!!! Greetings from the Admin and Mahogany Force.
Many thanks Mr Fred for such an insight into the tribunal proceedings. I am surprised none of the press reveal this aspect of the proceedings. Mr Fred, kindly continue to provide us with your own reports.
Mr. Fred thanks a lot!
Now `they` wish he comes back to PDP.
Mimiko plans to return to PDP through back door – Ondo govt; I have no such plan, says Mimiko
Yinka Oladoyinbo, Akure – 21.01.2008
The Ondo State government on Sunday alleged that the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last general election in the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, was planning to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through the back door.
A statement signed by the Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Donald Ojogo, however, warned against such a move by Dr. Mimiko.
The government said though it was not against the return of the former Minister of Works and Housing to the PDP, “such moves need to be done with integrity.”
However, Mimiko has described the allegation as baseless and unwarranted, saying that he had no such plan as he was ready to pursue his case at the election petition tribunal.
Mimiko, in a statement by the Director of Press of the LP, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, said rather than looking for people to blame for its misfortune, the PDP should face the reality of the day and succumb to the wish of the majority in the state.
The release by the government also condemned a call for the removal of the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, by a youth group from the Central senatorial district of the state.
It stressed that the nomination of the minister was the collective decision of the party leadership in the state.
A youth group, under the umbrella of Ondo Central Senatorial Youth Association, had in an advertorial, urged President Umaru Yar’Adua to remove Kayode and replace him with someone from the central district.
The group’s memo to President Yar’Adua and signed by Akinmusere Alonge and Akindele Akindoyin Akinlolu, president and secretary respectively, alleged that the minister, being a cousin of the wife of the governor, was not representing the interest of the state but that of the governor and his (minister) village
I have been away on Evangelical duties for 3 days and of course prayers galore have been and are still on for our worthy cause and for Dr Olusegun Mimiko. Am so glad to read most of the updates which confirms the verdict of God that justice will be done and truth will prevail. But isnt it disgusting to read about the definitely untrue and bordering on CHILDISH allegations that Mimiko who is winning and forging ahead wants to return to PDP! Return to what? How can anyone even allege such. Mimiko is winning the petition, his mandate will be returned, he has stuck it out with his people and LP through rain and cloud for over 9 months. He rejected the so called Olive Branch and told Agagu where to stick it, he has been a gallant gentleman with focus and vision all through, and now this nonsense. To be believed by who? Ah, some people will stoop lower than a ragged lunatic and stop at nothing to cause confusion, but it failed in the past, now it will backfire. For even though I am not a prophet, mark this, many Ondo State PDP will come with their tails wagging behind them and beg for crumbs from Mimiko and Labour Party in the soon and very soon future. Mimiko shall then say, sorry, but you see the children of the land have begged bread too long, they will now rejoice in the glory of their father and be elevated, while the usurping thieves in Ondo State shall be brought low and pursued by EFCC. PDP members will be the ones seeking the back door way into LP but will be rejected. Dont forget some of them tried to do the same on this website by casting aspersions and impersonations but they failed and were kicked out of many websites. God is God and darkness will never overtake light in Jesus name. They have failed and no antics of theirs will cast a singe blemish on our man MIMIKO. Obasanjo tried it and failed, now see what is happening in the OBJ household. Agagu, your time will come soon for our God is a consuming fire. These sort of childish antics shows that Agagu and his people are really desperate and jittery. Just hand back what you stole and ~God may still find time to forgive you Agagu.
Go positive and forget about the `wishful thinkers`.Please raed the article below.
All remain blessed.
LP expresses optimism about Mimiko’s petition
By Femi Makinde, Akure
Published: Wednesday, 23 Jan 2008
The Labour Party has said that it is confident that the outcome of the petition filed by its governorship candidate in Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, will be favourable.
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Mimiko
The Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Joseph Akinlaja, said this in Akure an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday.
Akinlaja said that he had confidence in the judiciary.
The former deputy president of the Nigeria Labour Congress said that the party was confident that justice would be done in Mimiko‘s petition.
He said, “I am encouraged by the time-frame set by the Appeal Court and this means that justice will be done very soon.”
He said that the Peoples Democratic Party had devised means of slowing down the proceedings at the tribunal by filing spurious motions but he said that the tribunal was now aware of the antics.
The Ondo State Chairman of the LP, Dr. Olaiya Oni, told our correspondent that the party had no cause to fear that the tribunal would do justice to Mimiko‘s case.
Oni, a former minister, said, “We expect that justice will be done in this case and if justice is done that means victory is certain.”
Meanwhile, the LP‘s Director of Press, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, has said that the party was confident of victory at the tribunal despite the unfavourable ruling in a petition filed by its House of Assembly candidate, Mr. Victor Akinwe.
Olabisi said that the LP had more than enough evidence to prove its case in Mimiko’s petition.
He said that the claim in the PDP‘s camp that Mimiko‘s petition would be dismissed like Akinwe‘s was nothing but “a wishful thinking.”
According to him, “The PDP will be shocked at the end of the day. Their leaders know that their time is up, and that is why it took them over two months to object to just a single sheet that we tendered.”
All the threats, antics, false press and hidden agenda of the unjust and ungodly will fail, for God is only going to allow the truth to prevail in Ondo State Petition, hence we all remain firm in our resolve and Mimiko we support for he is a worthy man. Worthy to govern Ondo State PROPERLY without fear or favour. He has a track record that breathes success and breeds excellence. MIMIKO WILL RECLAIM HIS MANDATE BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
Today`s hearing ended couple of minutes ago and all went according to plan. Next sitting from Tuesday, January 29th, 2008 and I was authoritatively informed that, from that day, sitting will be daily, morning to evening.
Let us continue to be prayer-full.
All remain blessed.
IN GOD ALONE WE TRUST AND JUSTICE WOULD BE DONE. AMEN. BE BLESSED.
When will the final judgement come up? for its taking too long on this matter of; hearing, tendering of evidence,calling of witness,inspection,etc.
The positive thinker and well meaning ondo state indigens aware that the Victory is for Dr Mimiko through the wishes of the people in the State with the help of God.
We should stop draging issues and let the judgement be delivered so that the state can come out of its present hood and move forward.
We are tired of Government of empty promises.
stay blessed.
bye.
Even though it tarries we wait for it for VICTORY FOR MIMIKO is assured by God who will only allow the truth to prevail in this matter. Over 80% in Ondo State who voted Mimiko in as governor before the mandate was stolen, cant wait for an end to this saga. He who laughs last laughs the hardest. The good news is that the tribunal are on to the Agagu game of delay tactics and have said it’s not welcome. So with the sittings promised next week (without recesses i hope), the end is near. Bitter for some but sweet for LP, Mimiko and honest ordinary people of Ondo State. We are blessed. Iroko yi jo gba sibeeeee. Eti ti gbo ire.
THIS IS INDEED GOOD NEWS, BUT WISH THIS IMMUNITY COULD BE REMOVED IN A MATTER OF WEEKS AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN ONDO STATE. PLEASE READ CURTESY OF ODILI.NET:
Yar’Adua backs removal of immunity for President, Govs
Written by Ben Agande
Friday, January 25, 2008
PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua, yesterday, threw his weight behind the agitation for the removal of immunity from prosecution conferred on the President, vice president, state governors and deputy governors by the 1999 Constitution. This, he believes, will help in strengthening the fight against corruption. President Yar’Adua at a dinner hosted by the Partnership Against Corruption Initiative, in Davos, Switzerland said he was confident that public officials would soon be stripped of their current immunity from prosecution.
“I have confidence that the next constitutional amendment will strip these public officials of this immunity and I am personally in support of that,” he said.
The removal of the immunity clause from the constitution, he stressed, would greatly enhance the work of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies, which, he said, have been granted “total and complete independence of action” by his administration.
“One thing I have done is to give them total and complete independence of action. The institutions are directly under me in the Presidency, so when I assumed office, I called their chairmen and told them that they have total independence to go and act within the law: That is the only condition I gave, that everything they do must be within the law establishing them and within the laws of the Federation,” President Yar’Adua said.
As part of the efforts to further tighten the noose against corrupt Nigerians, President Yar’Adua said government would soon introduce new legislation that will make all violations and disrespect for due process punishable by law.
“We had a situation in which people awarded contracts without caring whether they had enough money to complete the project and because of this, there are lots of abandoned projects all over the country. In fact, some going into billions of dollars. This is the kind of disrespect for established regulations and procedures that feeds corruption.
“Our decision to fight corruption properly and have respect for law, order and due process will now make such acts of omission or commission punishable by law, and that will clean the system and make sure that whatever business dealings government enters into, we have the ability to abide by the covenant we signed.
“In fact, that is the path of honour, not only for any government but also for companies that are operating in Nigeria,” President Yar’Adua said.
The President said his administration would also implement other measures “to ensure that opportunities to commit corruption are reduced to the barest minimum so that anybody, any public official who commits an act of corruption will know he has done it as a deliberate attempt, not because he has an opportunity to commit corruption.
“One of the responsibilities of leadership is to protect the followers from harming themselves.
Therefore, leaders must shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that they have systems that do not encourage corrupt practices, systems based clearly on the rule of law, regulations and procedures,” he said.
President Yar’Adua commended the Partnership Against Corruption Initiative which was formally launched in 2004 by Chief Executive Officers of global engineering, construction, energy, metals and mining industries to develop multi-industry principles and practices that will result in a competitive level playing field, based on integrity, fairness and ethical conduct.
“The truth is that some companies have benefited materially from corruption, while we, the governments and the nations, are usually at the receiving end, because very few people benefit from corrupt actions, in nations where corruption thrives, the vast majority are shortchanged, so the measures and the steps you are taking really require courage.
“I will like to see this initiative being vigorously pursued and publicised so that in the near future, when we are doing business in Nigeria and we see a list of companies which come for competition, we can ask: which are those companies that have acceded to Partnership Against Corruption Initiative? These are the companies we will do business with.
I think when you push forward and pursue this initiative vigorously, we will reach that point,” President Yar’Adua told the chief executives of the world’s leading multinational companies at the dinner,” he said.
UPDATE CURTESY OF http://WWW.ODILI.NET:
Monarch aided rigging in his palace’
By Femi Makinde, Akure
One of the principal witnesses of the Labour Party in Ondo State on Thursday told the Election Petitions Tribunal in Akure that the Olukare of Ikare-Akoko, Oba Akadiri Saliu Momoh, supervised the rigging of the April 14 governorship election in his palace.
The witness, Alhaji Tiamiyu Oluboyo, said that the Olukare aided security agents, hoodlums hired by the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s officials to disenfranchise many voters.
Oluboyo, who claimed to be a prince of Ikare, testified on oath that he saw the monarch during the voting period supervising multiple thumb-printing of ballot papers by the PDP thugs. The witness, who was cross examined by the Governor Olusegun Agagu’ counsel, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), said he was allowed into the palace premises “because as a prince, the palace is my fathers’s house.”
He said that the monarch sat in the midst of the hoodlums while they were thumb-printing and stuffing ballot boxes with already thumb-printed ballot papers.
He said the ballot papers and the boxes were the ones snatched by the hoodlums from polling stations.
Oluboyo added that the thugs were assisted by security agents while they were hijacking the electoral materials.
AND ANOTHER ON FROM THIS DAY PAPER:
Ondo: ‘Monarch witnessed rigging during election’
From James Sowole in Akure, 01.25.2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Ondo
Awitness at the hearing of the Election Petition filed by the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, Dr Olusegun Mimiko against the return of Governor Olusegun Agagu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has told the Justice Garba Nabaruma-led panel that the traditional ruler of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh,was present when thugs were thumb -printing ballot papers in favour of the PDP.
Giving his oral evidence as the Labour Party supervisor for Ikado Ward 111 of Akoko North East Local Government, Alhaji Tiamiyu Aminu Oluboyo alleged that the traditional ruler is a member of the PDP.
According to the witness, the carting away of the election materials particularly to the Olukare palace, denied many eligible voters their right to vote. Oluboyo said some of those that were disenfranchised later submitted their voter’s card which had been tendered as exhibit before the tribunal.
On violence that greeted the exercise in the area, the witness said a rubber band with inscription “Agagu 2007” used by suspected thug was left behind when they were running helter skelter. The rubber band was accepted as evidence.
Two other witnesses who came to give their oral evidence were cross examined by counsels to Agagu, the INEC, the police and the Peoples Democratic Party.
The witnesses in adopting their written statements said there were no voting in their supervised areas as suspected thugs loyal to the PDP scared many electorate away from polling centers.
Studying the trend in the way Tribunal verdicts have gone so far in other States , I fervently pray that the Ondo State will not follow the same pattern, that is, not to Anull the election but to categorically affirm that the winner should be sworn in with immediate effect, we all( I guess except for the `alatenujes`) know who won the election, MIMIKO.
All remain blessed.
Right from the start, the Ondo State story was different for in Ondo State there was a clear winner who won with a landslide victory. The Ondo ~State INEC chairman then, was only waiting for a verification from some areas and preparing to announce the Winner – DR OLUSEGUN MIMIKO when he was bullied from Abuja, curtesy of Obasanjo and with guns and battons and uniform, they enforced the wrong person on all innocent citizens of Ondo State. This I am sure would be considered by the tribunal. It should as Mr Fred rightly said not be a case of annulment but declaration of the true winner and handing back the stolen mandate to MIMIKO. This is the truth and God will declare it, the enemy likes it or not. IN GOD WE TRUST AND NOT IN MAN WHO SOON DISINTEGRATES INTO IGNOMIMY e.g. OBJ.
heaHow lawmaker led thugs to disrupt polls, witness tells Ondo tribunal 30/1/2008
From Babatope Okeowo, Akure
The Ondo State Election Petitions Tribu- nal yesterday heard how a lawmaker, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, led some suspected political thugs to disrupt the April 14 governorship election.
A Labour Party (LP) witness, Hamzat Yusuf, said Elegbeleye, who represents Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, hijacked ballot papers and election materials meant for Ikare-Akoko.
But Elegbeleye denied the allegation. He said the witness fabricated it to tarnish his reputation.
According to him, he went straight home after voting and never participated in any malpractices.
Elegbeleye alleged that Yusuf came to demand for money from him after voting but he turned him down. Since then, he said, Yusuf has been blackmailing him.
But the tribunal headed by Justice Garba Nabaruma admitted as exhibits some customised arm bands with the inscription “O.K AGAGU 2007″ allegedly worn by the suspected political thugs while they were snatching ballot boxes and engaging in multiple voting.
The arm bands, according to the legal team of Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the LP governorship candidate, were picked up when they fell off the suspected political thugs while they were carrying out the act.
Mimiko is challenging the victory of Dr. Olusegun Agagu of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at the tribunal.
Yusuf, in his sworn affidavit and under cross-examination, said he is a retired teacher, and alleged that Elegbeleye led the thugs to the Ikare-Akoko home of Adejoro Jamiu to rig the polls.
According to the witness, he saw mass voting that took place in Jamiu’s home.
He said he could not report the matter to the police because security agents were providing cover for the election riggers.
Led in evidence by Dr. Olumide Ayeni, who led Mimiko’s legal team, Yusuf said the election did not hold in 12 units of Edo Ward on April 14 because Elegbeleye led a horde of PDP thugs who went round to hijack electoral materials.
According to him, this action led to disenfranchisement of many registered voters.
He also identified exhibit 1111 which is a wrist band with the same inscription as the type used by the thugs, who he said, hijacked electoral materials.
Yusuf, 47, said he was given some unused voters cards by registered voters who were disenfranchised as a result of the violence and electoral malpractices.
The cards admitted as exhibits at yesterday’s sitting brought to about 5,000 the number of unused cards that agents of the LP, who were paraded as witnesses by the party’s legal team, presented to the tribunal in the last three sittings.
The LP says it has thousands of voters’ cards of those that were not allowed to cast their votes. They were intimidated by PDP agents, it added.
The Mimiko legal team had argued that many of the returns made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were merely fabricated and that the collection of unused cards was meant to expose the lies of the electoral body.
It said INEC announced fantastic figures despite the alleged disenfranchisement of thousands of voters.
Agagu’s counsel, Mr. Ife Adedipe (SAN), who crossed-examined Yusuf, asked him if he arrested any of the thugs but the witness said: “No, it is not my duty to arrest thugs”.
Yusuf also said policemen and INEC officials connived with the thugs to disenfranchise voters.
Another witness, Mr. Johnson Ileola-Gold, also said the PDP thugs who wore ‘OK Agagu’ wrist bands, hijacked electoral materials and disenfranchised voters in Ikare.
r this:
Tribunal update; 16 solid winesses so far and keep counting. Forensic evidence expert witness for next week to seal the deal.
Keep praying.
All remain blessed
In God we trust. God will continue and shame all these shameful people and their dastardly acts. The truth will prevail and Mimiko’s mandate will be handed back to him. We have waited ever so long but the end will come and it will herald in good news for Mimiko, LP and all well meaning people of Ondo State.
OK NOW THIS IS A BALANCED ARGUMENT FOR BOTH SIDES BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR, THE MANDATE STOLEN WILL BE RETURNED FOR THIS IS A FACT AND NOT FALLACY. POST CURTESY OF http://WWW.GAMJI.COM:
Tribunal: What Fate for Agagu?
As the election petitions tribunals sitting across the six geo-political zones of the country continue to upturn the election of various state governors, there is no gainsaying that fears have continued gripped many other sitting governors. Some of the governors now go about their day-to-day businesses panicking, being haunted by “fear of the known.”
In Edo, tension has continued to build up on a daily basis, over increasing fears in the fold of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the seeming rising fame of the Action Congress (AC) gubernatorial candidate at the last election, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole is challenging the election of the state governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor at the election petitions tribunals.
The contentious gubernatorial seat in Edo got to a head recently when Oshiomhole petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), alleging threats to his life by the Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen.
In Ondo, the matter at the tribunal appears to have climaxed. The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has been resolute in his aspiration to become the governor of Ondo State. Both the camp of the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu and that of Mimiko have continued to throw punches at each other.
Although, the violence which accompanied the declaration of Agagu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the April 14 governorship election has drastically reduced, a number of people who are both stakeholders and non-stakeholders have been itching to see the aftermath of the seeming dreaded battle between the two gladiators.
In the face of the recurrent annulments of governors’ elections across the country, many have been eager to hear the final judgment on the matter at the tribunal sitting in Akure, the state capital and what the fate of the governor will be. Agagu has till date deployed every power within his reach to justify his re-election before the tribunal, just as Mimiko has on his own path, sustained his allegation that he won the April 2007 governorship election.
Mimiko has also in recent times, assembled hundreds of evidences, documents and witnesses to assert his petition seeking the tribunal’s judgment in his favour. True to his pursuit, he had been granted leave for forensic examination on the ballot papers. The development has also provoked the governor’s application for such leave.
But as fierce as the battle at the tribunal seems to be, what is shocking to many is that the government of Agagu has continued to score itself high, saying it has performed creditably since its advent in 2003 and would not relent in its bid to keep the trend alive. When the opposition would rather call it bluff of the governor, with a number of allegations that the situation in Ondo State could be better, the state government has continued to roll out its drums, listing its achievements and what it intends to do.
Sources told THISDAY that whereas, no fewer than 34 cases have so far been heard by the tribunal, the judgment would not be automatic as many have thought. In fact, there were pieces of information revealing that only a case is so far left before judgment would be delivered by the tribunal. But instead of the ruling party to be cowed by this development, it has only boosted its ego, thus raising its banner high.
“At the close of the first term administration of Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, opinions agreed within and outside the state that the governor performed creditably well with indices of development here and there, especially in the rural and riverine areas, which erstwhile administrations had neglected. To a section of the critics and watchers, if given another chance, there is no way the governor will not beat his enviable first term record,” so boasted the press secretary to the governor, Mr. Abiodun Nejo.
This, according to him, “implies that the celebration of the governor’s performance as attested to locally and internationally cum the clean bill of health given to him by the anti-graft agencies in the first term, would not get into his head and prevent him from coming out with more novel policies and programmes in the second term,” he added.
Speaking further, Nejo said: “But another section saw it the other way, saying another term would enable the governor consolidate on what he had done and as well break new grounds in service and delivery of democracy dividends to the people through continuation of implementation and execution of more people–oriented projects, programmes and policies.
“There is no doubt that Ondo State under Agagu in the last four and half years witnessed unprecedented developments in all spheres. But at the close of last year, the governor said the remaining three and half years would be yet another great time for bumper harvest of dividends of democracy. This, he said, is going by what his think-tank proposed and as accepted by the state executive council.
“Even doubting Thomases can see that what Governor Agagu’s administration has in store as plans for 2008, as indicated in the year’s budget, speaks volumes of the good things that the people of the state should be expecting yearly in the next three and half years.
“Economic and political analysts and observers have dubbed the 2008 budget as ‘people and development friendly action plan.’ The governor, who restated his administration’s commitment to completion of all projects embarked upon, said that among others, ‘the focus of the government this year are completion and commissioning of on-going projects; enhancement of the overall food security in the state cum improvement in human capital development that will expand wealth creation and reduce unemployment; consolidation of our aggressive road construction and rehabilitation for urban and rural areas; and sustenance and improvement of our healthcare delivery system.”
But the opposition has tightly held its notion that the boast of Agagu and his men would not atone for him in the end. It has continued to express threats that the days of the governor are numbered in the Alagbaka Government House. Not even the disclosure that Agagu has chances at the tribunal has dissuaded the opposition from its belief that it would take over the governance of Ondo State sooner than later. But Agagu’s men see this hope as laughable and expressions of mere wishes. It is against this background that hands have been on deck to see, against whom the table will be turned at the tribunal in the end.
While all hands are on deck awaiting the tribunal judgment, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Mobilisation in the state, Chief Eddy Olafeso, only intensified the campaign for the “betterment of Ondo State by Agagu’s administration.”
He boasted that activities to re-orientate the state populace towards right values would be stepped up this year adding that the government’s New Year gift to all parts of the state is an all round development.
He insisted that the micro credit scheme of the government is targeting no fewer than 4,000 beneficiaries this year, while about N985 million has been earmarked for boosting food production, just as he argued that development of school infrastructure, to make schools more conducive for learning, in the year will gulp N3.234 billion.
He also said as regards the oil producing areas, apart from other projects outlined in the budget for their development, a sum of N18.416 billion has been earmarked for the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission for the development of projects in the area in a bid to develop it “and make the erstwhile neglected coastal areas the cynosure of all eyes.”
Nejo also said “it is apparent that the governor is targeting the industrial growth of the state through ensuring that necessary conducive environment and atmosphere are in place. Already, there is pervasive peace in the state, about 900 kilometres of roads have been
constructed, primary and secondary school buildings are now conducive for learning through rehabilitation of old and dilapidated structures and construction of over 250 model school buildings, all schools now have science and computer equipment with improved incentives to teachers while the two existing state-owned tertiary institutions, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic and Adekunle Ajasin University are now places of pride. “Apart from the attractive physical outlook of the schools, all their courses have been accredited while the quality of instruction there remains second to none.”
Nevertheless, as bright as the claims of the governor’s aides seem to be, a number of indigenes of the state do not seem enthusiastic. Rather, they expressed reservation about frequent tall promises, which they reason, are the hallmarks of Nigerian politicians. It is now left for Agagu to convince the seeming pessimistic populace whether he is up to the task or not.
As the Election Tribunal continues, our prayers continue also. As witnesses give evidence, as hard evidences are scrutinised, our trust in God and delivery of the true verdict and return of our Mandate to the right owner, Dr Olusegun Mimiko remains solid. Soon and very soon, that elusive end shall come to pass and Ondo State, LP, Mimiko and the people of Ondo State will rejoice.
We thank the Lord almighty for sparing our lives and making us see another new week in a brand new month. I pray for all LP members, Mimiko supporters and His Excellency and family, and all lovers of truth in Ondo State that as we open the new month, we shall see the presumed mighty fallen, while because we are God’s own in truth and justicem, we shall only look with our eyes and behold the reward of the wicked and even though a thousand fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, no evil shall come near us. God is taking us gradually to the end of this Tribunal and to the declaration of the truth and return of Mimiko’s stolen mandate. The righteous is never forsaken by God and though it has tarried so long, we patiently wait for it.
IROKO YI JO, GBA SIBEEEEE. NO SHAKING FOR YOU ARE A TRUE BORN LEADER, AND THE GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE.
Kudos to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF NIGERIA!!!!!!
Yar’Adua shuns govs – Over election tribunals – He won’t intervene, says PDP
Idowu Samuel, Abuja – 11.02.2008
MEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who have been mounting pressure on President Umaru Yar’Adua to intervene in the spate of unfavourable rulings by election tribunals have been meeting a brickwall, Nigerian Tribune can report.
Nigerian Tribune gathered in Abuja that President Yar’Adua has politely been shunning the PDP members’ requests. Fresh findings revealed that state governors and senators constitute the greatest number of PDP members who have been urging the President to assist them in mitigating the tension arising from judgments by the election petition tribunals across the country, none of which has been favourable to the party.
For instance, some members of the PDP from two states in the North-West were said to have approached President Yar’Adua recently and entreated him to intervene in the cases pending against their governors at the tribunals in the interest of the party.
The president was said to have promised the governors that he would look into their requests and said nothing more about it. Earlier, some federal legislators, according to the Nigerian Tribune sources, had approached former President Olusegun Obasanjo during a programme he attended in Abuja in January to speak to the President on the fallout from the tribunals at the state level, but Obasanjo reportedly told them to go to Yar’Adua and make their intentions known to him.
A top member of the PDP had told the Nigerian Tribune that some of those in the entourage of the President during his last visit to the United States had suggested to him that he should take action over the tribunals’ verdicts, but the president reportedly only said to them that he would look into their suggestions.
Since he assumed office in May 2007, the president has been harping on the principle of rule of law, transparency and constitutionalism and has kept to this. In his reaction, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bernard Ezeh, said President Yar’Adua would never do anything to muzzle the judiciary on the cases before the tribunals
He said both the President and the PDP had long shown to Nigerians that the Federal Government had nothing to hide on the 2007 general election and hence, would not do anything to obstruct the course of justice.
Eze said anyone making attempts to pressurise the President was wasting his time, even as he said none of them understood the mindset of the President on his repeated advocacy of the rule of law.
Yar’Adua, said Ezeh, had demonstrated his commitment to the rule of law by ordering that the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly should immediately be sworn in as the acting governor following the judgment of the Appeal Court which upheld that the tribunal which nullified the election of the governor, Alhaji Abubakar Idris.
The PDP scribe said the President has similarly demonstrated commitment to the rule of law when he asked the Chief Judge of Rivers State to swear-in Rotimi Amaechi after the Supreme Court gave judgment in his favour.
He said no PDP member should lose sleep over the tribunal judgments since, according to him, the party had all it took to win even if fresh elections were ordered by the tribunals in the cases involving the PDP.
He said, “the case of Kogi State was clear and simple. The tribunal did not say we rigged the election. All the tribunal said was that a candidate was excluded in the governorship election and then ordered a re-election believing that if exclusion had not taken place, the candidate of the party could have won.
“We are not afraid of running the election in Kogi as we are fully prepared. We are the only visible party in the state and we are happy that the tribunal did not say the we committed fraud in Kogi and other states where the elections were nullified.”
There is indeed one state we know where PDP committed fraud and shameful election malpractices. Where a stolen mandate, after being hijacked in the most gruesome way imaginable, was imposed with covert force on the people by OBJ, via Abuja, without an atom of respect for the people that cast their votes for the candidate of their choice. The Celebrated Monster imposed on the people has since then been ruling deeply immersed in deceit, lies and foolery, all of which continues until present. This Celebrated Monster has his hands and names enmeshed in many stories of corruption, theft and deceit, including very recently, his summon to answer questions in a N16billion naira squandamania. How on earth this Celebrated Monster can continue to show his face in open, I do not know, but then conscience and repentance is only for the Godfearing individual. That said, I dare say it out, the state in question is ONDO STATE OF NIGERIA.
NEW UNIQUE MOBILE PHONE TEXT (SMS) SERVICE…
“PretendAFriend” is a brand new Text (SMS) service that allows you to get text messages sent to yourself, when you want them, from who you want and say what you want. Think excuses, alibis, pranks and popularity….
Another interesting piece, please read.
Be blessed.
Ondo LP alleges plan by PDP to win at all cost | Print | E-mail
Written by Dayo Johnson
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
AS the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital resumes sitting today, the State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has alleged plan by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the state to win at the Election Petition Tribunal at all cost. The Party’s Director of Press, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi based his allegation on a statement credited to Governor Olusegun Agagu at his 60th birthday where he said he would win the petition challenging his victory at the tribunal at all cost.
In a swift reaction, Governor Agagu described the allegation as unfounded and unnecessary, saying that the LP’s accusation was typical of a party facing an imminent defeat.
Dr Agagu’s Press Secretary, Donald Ojogo said there was no time the governor made such a statement because he respects the independence of the country’s judiciary.
Ojogo pointed out that the LP was only trying to hang its misfortune at the tribunal on the PDP top shots in the state.
“But the LP Director of Press insisted that the governors outburst “should be taken with all seriousness by all Nigerians given events in the last 9 months and the desperation of Agagu to hang unto power at all cost even when he got to office through massive riggings facilitated by Abuja last April”.
The Labour Party said: “Agagu has in the last nine months made series of failed attempt to dissuade Dr Mimiko to forget his mandate and when this failed, attempts had been made on the lives of Dr Mimiko, his siblings and leaders of the LP all in a bid to cow them into surrendering their mandate under sundry guises and subterfuges including supposedly armed robberies attacks.
“Again, when this did not work, he had resorted into blackmail and cheap propaganda and sponsored media hypes all aimed at confusing and misleading the harried people of the State who are waiting anxiously for the out come of the petition at the tribunal which they know will be favourable to Mimiko whom they genuinely voted for on Aril 14 last year.
Hopefully gubernitorial hearing will start from tomorrow.
Remain Blessed
Mimiko storms tribunal with 80 bags of evidence
By Our correspondent
Published: Wednesday, 20 Feb 2008
Chief Yinka Adeyosoye, Counsel to Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the Ondo State Labour Party governorship candidate, on Tuesday presented 80 bags of documents at the State Election Tribunal.
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Mimiko
Adeyosoye, who led another lawyer along with Dr. Abass Mimiko, the younger brother of the petitioner, conveyed the documents in three vehicles.
Mimiko is challenging the election of Governor Olusegun Agagu in the last April governorship election.
The documents were received by the secretary to the tribunal, Mrs. Rashedat Rasheed, and deposited at the Registry.
The 80 bags contained the printout of ballot papers and other documentary evidence of the alleged electoral malpractice perpetrated during the election.
The documents included those showing that many of the ballot papers used were allegedly not signed by the presiding officers, contrary to the 2006 Electoral Act
Thanks Fred. The trial has dragged on too long, by His Grace, the verdict will be favorable.
Please Fred,
What’s up with Ondo Tribunal ?
I learnt other states and the presidential tribunal has fixed date for the final judgement. when will the Tribunal in Ondo state give their own judgement? Rememeber a justice delayed is possibly justice denied. Please watch out.
Thanks and God Bless all Labour Party Loyalists
Cheers.
Eben.
Ballot papers `cooked up` with old stamp presented by Mimiko two days ago. I was reliably informed that INEC was forced to present the stamp used for last election, of course different from the one on the ballot papers presented. Agagu team inspecting the documents starting from today Feb. 22, 2008 through the 23rd or 24th ( As if they`re expecting a miraculous change from old to new stamp on the ballot papers). Hearing resumes on the 25th of Feb. and hopefully team Mimiko will submit next week and Agagu pick`s up from there (I expect the hearing to end soon since Agagu team has nothing in my opinion, i.e no documents or whatever to proof the result of the election as declared.
All remain blessed and remain prayer-full.
Thank you!
I think there appears to be an omen or what may portend in this piece from Saturday 23 Nigerian Vanguard. The electiobn tribunal in Makurdi ”ordered INEC to conduct fresh and credible elections in AGAGU and Okpokwu local government…”
Tribunal nullifies President of the Senate David Mark’s election
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Election petition tribunal sitting in Makurdi has nullified the election of Senate President David Mark. Delivering a three-hour judgment, Justice C.I. Oriri declared that the results for Agagu and Okpokwu local government areas of Benue State, which were earlier cancelled by the returning officer, had disenfranchised 139, 466 voters from electing their representative.
The tribunal said the results from seven other local government areas were not enough to produce a representative. It, therefore, ordered INEC to conduct fresh and credible elections in Agagu and Okpokwu local government areas within 60 days of the judgment.
The tribunal, also upheld the results of the seven other local governments with Usman Abubakar of the ANPP scoring 172,636 against the 98,029 votes scored by David Mark of the PDP.
The results from the two local government areas where elections would be conducted should be added to the results of the seven to determine the winner, the tribunal ordered.
The tribunal also held that the Returning Officer had a constitutional right to cancel the elections in the two affected local government areas as he did, but could not recall the said cancelled votes in Makurdi.
The petitioner, Abubakar, was present at the tribunal to hear the verdict. The tribunal had earlier nullified the elections of two other senators of Benue State, former Governor George Akume and Joseph Akhagerger.
I got a bit carried away there. That piece from The Vanguard is signposting what may portend in the election tribunal in our state.
T.A
That seem the only way the tribunal will not offend the two parties to the case on ground.
That means, all the controversial five L.G AREAs or more i.e Ilaje,Odigbo, Irele etc claimed to be won by PDP should follow the same suit of Benue (senate president verdict) judgement,Nothing less.
Just remind Bro Agagu to be in stand-by to leave for possibly benue state (agagu L.G) this time around and never let it cross his mind that he will celebrate one year in office in Alagbaka any more.
thanks and God Bless u.
Tribunal nullifies Abia guber election, declares Onyema Ugochukwu governor . We expect same in Ondo State.
All remain blessed.
Orji, Abia governor, sacked at tribunal
By Our correspondent
Published: Monday, 25 Feb 2008
The Abia State Election Petition Tribunal has annulled the victory of Governor Theodore Orji, in the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election in the state. In its ruling on Monday, the tribunal declared Chief Onyeama Ugochukwu, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate as the duly elected governor of the state.
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Embattled Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji
The five-member panel headed by Justice Abdullahi Yusuf declared Ugochukwu winner on the ground that Orji and his deputy, Chief Chris Akoma, were not qualified to contest in the election.
It upheld the plea of Ugochukwu’s counsel, Chief Emma Okala (SAN), that Orji and his deputy did not resign from their former positions in the Abia State government during Chief Orji Kalu’s past administration, contrary to the constitutional requirement that candidates must resign their previous positions not later than 30 days to the election.
The tribunal also agreed with the petitioner that Orji and his deputy belong to secret cult.
According to the tribunal “ Theodore Orji and Chris Akoma were not qualified and should indeed be disqualified from contesting in the said election, for belonging to an Okija Cult called Ogwugwu Akpu, contrary to the stipulations of the Constitution.”
There is a lot happening and at a really quick pace too. Tomorrow (Feb 26) may go down in history as the day the a presidential election was annulled in Nigeria. Same will happen in Ondo State.
Judgement from the presidential tribunal, the Duo shall remain in office. This is a great news for the Country. I do not belief there is anyone right now in Nigeria who can perform as well as Yar`Adua irrespective of the way he came into power. Now , I belief the dynamic should be in favour of Mimiko. I was becoming concerned about the faith of our Tribunal in Ondo State if presidential election had been anulled.
All remain blessed.
This looks like a sign of good things to come to Ondo State. But seriously,why is ondo’s own delayed?
Ms Omotaylor we feel disturbed when we do not read from you, I hope all is well with you.
Good observation! I hope all is well.
Argued today on the presented forensic evidence by Mimiko with Agagu team claiming that the evidence did not come in through proper chanel(what ever that meant), ruling on this ( whether to accept or not) scheduled for tomorrow and hopefully, Mimiko team will close case by weekend.
All remain blessed.
Thanks!
Thanks Fred, T.A and others for your updates.
I can assure you and others that Ms OmoTaylor is fine and should be back on board soon. In the interim, lets keep hoping the best at the tribunal. The defendants will employ all measures to frustrate and delay the course of what is appearing inevitable for them. We have to be of good faith and keep hopes alive. Cheers
I am afraid, this man called IWU does not know what shame is.
Please read the following piece.
Tribunal’s verdict vindicates us – INEC
By Musikilu Mojeed, Abuja
Published: Thursday, 28 Feb 2008
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday said the judgment of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has vindicated the body on its stand that the 2007 general election was free and fair.
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INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu
The commission also fixed April 12, 2008 as date for the fresh governorship election ordered by the court in Adamawa State.
The re-run of the annulled senatorial election in the Federal Capital Territory will hold on April 5, 2007.
The tribunal had on Tuesday upheld the election of President Umaru Yar’Adua and dismissed the objections raised by the Action Congress and the All Nigeria’s Peoples Party.
Reacting to the judgment at a press conference in Abuja, the commission, through its National Commissioner in charge of Information and Publicity, Mr. Phillip Umeadi (Jnr.), said the tribunal had justified its claim that the 2007 general election was hitch-free.
Saying the litigation had enriched the country’s democratic process and accorded legitimacy to the presidential election, Umeadi urged Yar’Adua’s opponents in the election to accept the verdict and join hands with the government to move Nigeria forward.
The INEC commissioner said, “By the ruling of the Court of Appeal in the presidential election petition, more so the unanimous verdict of the eminent judges, the Independent National Electoral Commission has been vindicated in the outcome of the 2007 presidential election.
“INEC has consistently held that the outcome of the 2007 presidential election reflected the intent of the Nigerian voters. The firm and consistent assertion by the commission on the outcome of the election derived from an advantaged insight as well as an impartial and unsentimental analysis of the election.
“It is unfortunate that some partisan interest groups went out of the way to misconstrue the commission’s consistent standing with the truth.
“Now the Court of Appeal has spoken. It is good and heartening that the judgment came from the same body of legal arbiters of electoral disputes that have been widely acclaimed and praised by all parties in the land in matters concerning the 2007 elections.
“By remaining resolute and even-handed in handling the petition, even in the face of sentiments which spilled over in the media, the Court of Appeal has once more reaffirmed its historic place as the bastion of justice in the society.”
Good news, forensic evidence now finally accepted.
Great news !
Though the piece below may not be related but can not be dissociated from Our Pursuit of justice in Ondo State, therefore, I belief people may be interested for information prupose only.
Text of the presidential election tribunal ruling held in Abuja on Tuesday, 26 February, 2008
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL HOLDEN AT ABUJA JUDICIAL DIVISION ON TUESDAY, 26TH OF FEBRUARY 2008 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS:
JAMES OGENYI OGBE JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEAL
JOHN AFOLAB1 FABIYI JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEAL
ABUBAKAR jega abdulkadir JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEAL
UWANI. M’USA ABBA AJI JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEAL
RAPHEAL CHIKWE AGBO JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEAL
CA/A/EP/2/07
BETWEEN GENERAL MUHAJMMADU BUHARI – PETITIONER
AND
1. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)
2. CHIEF NATIONAL ELECTORAL
COMMISSIONER (PROFESSOR MAURICE IWU)
3. ……………………………………………………….
4. THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE
5. UMAR MUSA YAR’ADUA
6. DR. JONATHAN GOODLUCK
BETWEEN:
1. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, (GCON )
2. Senator Ben Obi ) PETITIONERS
3. Action Congress (AC) )
AND
1. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua
2. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan
3. Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDF)
4. Independent National Electoral Commission
5. Professor Maurice Maduakolam Iwu (Chairman., INEC)
6. Chief Electoral Commissioner and 805 other Electoral Officials.
7. Inspector Genera of Police (IGP)
8. Chief of Defence Staff,
CONSOLIDATED PETITIONS JUDGMENT
(Delivered by John Afolabi Fabiyi, JCA)
At the Presidential Election held in the country on the 21sl April, 2007, the Petitioner herein,, General Muhammadu Buhari was the candidate of All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (hereinafter referred to as ANPP). He contested the election along with the other candidates including the 1st Petitioner in EPT/3, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who was the flag bearer of the Action Congress (simply referred to as AC), and the 5th Respondent in the petition, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who was the flag bearer of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (to be referred simply as PDP.
At the end of the election, the 5th Respondent, Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua of the PDP was returned elected by the 2nd Respondent who was the Chief Electoral Officer and Returning Officer of the said election, having scored a total number of twenty-four million, seven hundred and eighty four thousand and two hundred and twenty-seven (24,784,227) votes, as against six million, six hundred and seven thousand, four hundred (6,607,400) votes scored by the Petitioner.
The 6th Respondent, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck was the running mate of the 5th Respondent. Chief Edwin Ume-Ezoke was the running male of the Petitioner, but later in the proceedings applied to withdraw from the petition on the ground of lack of interest and the Court obliged him his request, and his name was accordingly struck out from the petition.
The Petitioner is not satisfied with the return and declaration of the 5th Respondent as the winner of the said election, and thus presented a 27 paragraph petition, dated and filed on the 22nd day of May, 2007. The Petitioner prayed the Court to nullify the election on the following grounds as contained in paragraph 8 of the petition:-
(a) The 5th Respondent Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was at the time of the election not qualified to contest the decision.
(b) The election was invalid by reason of Non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2006.
(c) The election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices.”
The prayers of the Petitioner in paragraph 25 of the petition are that it be determined as follows:-
“a) The 5th Respondent was at the time of the election not qualified to contest election for the post of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that his election was void.
b) The election of the 5th Respondent is on account of (a) above also void.
c) The Presidential elections of 21st April, 2007 is invalid for non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2906.
d) The Presidential election of 21s1 April, 2007 is invalid by reason of corrupt practices that negate the spirit and principles of the Electoral Act, 2006.
e) The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents committed acts and omissions which were corruptive of the electoral system and process in the conduct of the election.”
The Petitioner further prayed the Court to grant the reliefs pleaded in paragraph 27 of the petition as follows:-
i) That the 5th Respondent was not qualified to contest the Presidential election of 21st April, 2007, consequent upon which his election together with the 6th Respondent as President and Vice-President respectively is void, if) That the election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria conducted on the 21st April, 2007 is invalid and therefore cancelled.
iii) That the 3rd Respondent is guilty of gross misconduct for, without any just or probable cause, involving the military in a purely civil matter, the conduct of election, contrary to the powers conferred on his office by Section 217 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
iv) That the lst Respondent conducts another election for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between the remaining 22 (twenty-two) candidates within three (3) months.
v) That the 2nd Respondent in the person of Professor Maurice Iwu be disqualified from participation in the conduct of any future elections in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In compliance with the paragraph l(i)(a) of the Election Tribunal and Court Practice Directions 2007 (henceforth referred to as the Practice Directions, 2007), issued by the President of the Court of Appeal, the Hon. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON, in the exercise of his powers conferred by Section 285(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ] 999, paragraph 50 of the 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act 2006, for the expeditious hearing of election petitions, the Petitioner filed his petition with the list of his witnesses. Witnesses depositions on oath and the list of exhibits to be tendered in the trial.
The 1st and 2nd Respondents also in compliance with paragraph 2 of the Practice Directions 2007, filed their reply to the petition dated 23 August, 2007 alone; with the list of their witnesses, and depositions of witnesses on oath and list of exhibits; so also the 4th Respondent. The 5th and 6th Respondents filed a joint reply dated 14th August, 2007 and front loaded their witnesses statement on oath.
A pre-trial conference was conducted as required by the Practice Directions 2007. During the pre-trial conference, the 2nd Petitioner, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezoke, applied to have his name struck out from the petition as he was no more interested to pursue his petition.
He was obliged his request: The 3rd Respondent in the petition, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had his name struck out from the petition upon objection by his counsel for misjoinder in the petition.
Trial in the petition commenced on the 23rd October 2007 with the testimony of PW 1, Mr. Emmanuel Iwuamadi, who was the only witness who physically appeared before the Court, adopted his written deposition and was cross-examined by counsel to the Respondents. Thereafter, it was agreed, by counsel that written depositions of all witnesses be taken as adopted without the need for cross-examination or physical appearance of the witnesses before the Court.
In line with the agreement of counsel, all documents pleaded in the petition , and the respective replies of the Respondents were tendered from the Bar, admitted in evidence, and taken as read without prejudice to objections on admissibility respective opposing counsel could raise in their final addresses. This agreement was reduced into writing by the Court and. the recorded version, accepted by all the parties.
The gravamen of the Petitioners’ complaint are as adumbrated in paragraphs 9B, 9B(i)\(a), 9B(i)(b), 9B(i)(c), 9B(ii)(a), 9B(ii)(b), 9B(iii)(a), 9A(iii)(b),9B(iii)(c), 9B(iii)(d), 9B(iii)(e), 9B(iii)(i), 9B(iv),(a)(b)(c)(d) and (e), 9B(v) and 9B(vi), all touching on non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2006, more particularly Sections 20, 21, 45(2), 48, 49(i), 63:.64 and 75 of the Electoral Act, 2006.
In paragraphs 9C(i), 9C(ii), 9C(iii), 9C(iv), 9C(v)5 9C(vi), 9C(vii)5 9C(viii). and 9C(ix) of the petition, the Petitioner complains of acts of corrupt practices and abuse of executive power on the part of the 3rd and 4th Respondents. In paragraph 9C(x)(a)(b)(c)(d) and (e), the Petitioner complains
Of manifest bias on the part of the 1st and 2nd Respondents in favour of the and 6th Respondent.
With respect to acts of non-compliance and corrupt practices in flagrant breach of the provisions of the principles of the Electoral Act which he said applied to all States of the Federation, the Petitioner mentioned particularly the following States; (1) /Java Ibom, (2) Cross River, (3) Gombe, (4) Abia, (5) Jigawa, (6) Ebonyi, (7) Imo, (8) Anambra, (9) Osun, (10) Katsina and (II) Benue.
To establish the petition, the Petitioner adopted and relied on the written depositions of his 19 witnesses. He also tendered before the Court thousands of INEC documents In evidence. The documents tendered were carefully marked in the record of this Court.
The lst and 2nd Respondents in their reply to the petition vehemently opposed the petition and relied on the written depositions of their 156 witnesses and. a few exhibits tendered by them in evidence. The 4th Respondent also denied the allegations contained in. the petition in its reply to the petition. In their joint reply, the 5th & 6th Respondents seriously opposed the petition and relied on the depositions of their 65 witnesses and a few exhibits, which were carefully marked in the record of the Court.
In his address before the Court, the learned senior counsel for the Petitioner, Chief M. I. Ahamba, SAN formulated the following issues for determination of the petition:-
“1) the 5th Respondent was at the time of the election qualified to contest the election.
2) Whether there were acts of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2006 in the conduct of the election which rendered or were capable of rendering the-elections invalid.
3) Whether there were corrupt practices manifest in the conduct of election which rendered or were capable of rendering the election invalid.
4) Whether the Petitioner is entitled to the reliefs sought in the petition.
The 1st and 2nd Respondents in their joint address prepared by their lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN the following issues for determination were formulated:-
“1) Whether the depositions of the petitioner’s witnesses made before a Notary Public who is also counsel representing the Petitioner In the proceedings are admissible to prove the petition and if not whether the remaining depositions are sufficient to sustain the petition.
2) Whether the 5th Respondent was at the time of the election disqualified from contesting the Presidential election of 21st April, 2007.
3) Whether the 2nd Respondent, Chief National Electoral Commissioner (Professor Maurice Iwu) is a proper and necessary party within the contemplation of Section 144(2) of the Electoral Act, 2006, and if not, whether the Tribunal has jurisdiction to grant the orders sought against him. Whether paragraphs 9B, 9B(i)(b), 9B(ii), 9B(iii)(a),
9B(iii)(h), 9B(iv)(a)(b)(c)(d) and (e), 9B(v), 9B(vi), 12(B)e, 16(b)(i), 16(b)(iv), 16(b)(v), 16(b)(vi) and 16(c), which offends the rules of pleadings by pleading — inferences of Law without pleading the facts from which such inferences are to be drawn ought not to be struck out?
5) Whether the alleged corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2006 have been proven and if so whether they are substantial enough to affect the outcome of the election.
6) Whether the Presidential Election was conducted substantial in accordance with the principles and provisions of the Electoral Act 2006, and whether the alleged breaches affected the outcome of the election. The 4th Respondent, through his counsel, A. O. Mbamali (Mrs) formulated a lone issue that touches on the 4th Respondent, the Inspector General of Police, for determination, namely :-
“Whether from the totality of evidence before this Honourable Court, the 4th Defendant can be said to have conducted himself in any manner contrary to his constitutional powers and duties in the course of his participation in the 21st April, 2007 Presidential Election.”
The 5th and 6th Respondents through their lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, formulated the following issues for determination: I) Whether or not this Honourable Tribunal can countenance the Petitioners’ witnesses statements deposed to before Val I. Ikeonu, Esq., a Notary Public who is one of the Petitioner’s counsel, and which said witness statements were purportedly deposed to on 17th May, 2007, while the petition itself was filed on the 22nd May, 2007. ii) Considering the fact that Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke the 2nd petitioner who was the running mate of the petitioner at the election has withdrawn from this petition, and expressed his disinterestedness in it on oath, coupled with the fact that the ANPP that-sponsored the Petitioner withdrew its own petition, stating on oath that it is no longer interested in challenging the return of the 5th Respondent, whether or not the entire petition has not become academic, cognizance being taken of the reliefs sought by the Petitioner.
iii) Whether the 5th Respondent was qualified to contest the election at the time of the election.
iv) Whether the Petitioner has proved the various acts of non-compliance, malpractices and corruption pleaded in his petition.
v) Even if the answer to (iv) supra is in the affirmative, can the election of the Respondents be invalidated for such reasons bearing in mind (he clear provisions of Section 146 of the Electoral Act, 2006.
vi) Are the Petitioners reliefs in paragraph 27 of the petition grantable within (he context and provisions of the Electoral Act, 2006.”
At the hearing of the petition on the 5lh February, 2008, learned Counsel for the respective parties adopted and relied on their written addresses already filed before the Court. Learned counsel for the 1st and 2nd Respondents, Kanu Agabi, SAN, adopted and relied on written address filed by them dated 27/12/2007, and filed on the same day, their reply address dated and filed on the 28/1/2008 on behalf of the 1st and 2nd Respondents. Substantiating further, he submitted that the petition is unsupported by evidence. It is also his view that of the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory, the petitioners only filed depositions in respect of five States, namely, Katsina, Abia, Imo, Plateau and Rivers States. He submitted that 12 of these depositions are in respect of Imo State, one each for Katsina, Plateau and Rivers States. There is no evidence in respect of Abia State and the other 31 States and the FCT. He urged the Court to dismiss the petition on that basis.
Learned counsel further submitted that the depositions in respect of the States that are challenged do not raise any issue of substance and not only that, the depositions are inadmissible because they are sworn before a counsel to the petitioner. Learned counsel also submitted that, if the Court upheld the submission of learned counsel for the petitioner that the Practice Directions is unconstitutional, that means the Petition must be dismissed because it violated due process. He submitted also that the Petitioner cannot rely on Section 85 of the Evidence Act, as there is no such application before the Court to accept the defective depositions or to re-swear the incompetent depositions.
Learned counsel further submitted that the Petitioner challenged election of 11 States in the petition, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Gombe, Abia, Jigawa; Ebonyi. Imo, Anambra, Osun, Katsina and Benue States. It is submitted that the other States are not condemned and even if the 11 States are condemned, the Court will still uphold the election. He submitted that the general averment made in paragraph 22 of the Petition condemning other States in general is a vague averment and the 1st and 2nd Respondents denied same. On the issue of irregularities, learned counsel submitted that apart from the fact that same have not been proved, same have not been attributed to the 5th and 6th Respondents, and it had not been shown how it affected the outcome of the election referring to Section 146 of the Electoral Act where the law provides for substantial compliance and not a perfect compliance.
Learned counsel also submitted that the Petitioner tendered more than 30,000 documents that show that the election was comprehensively documented and he urged the Court to disregard the almost 600-page address as it is an attempt to use counsel’s address as evidence and to also discountenance all-the fresh facts in the address as they are not pleaded.
It is also the view of learned counsel that if the ballot papers are valid in State A or E, then it is also valid for State C and D. He urged the Court to dismiss the petition.
The 5th and 6th Respondents through their lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, adopted and relied on their written address dated 24/12/2007 and filed on the 27/12/2007, and the reply address dated 25/01/2008, and tiled on the same day. Learned counsel submitted that the Petitioner challenged only the elections in 4 States by witness depositions, as almost all the witnesses are from Imo State challenging elections in other States of the Federation, and that there is no single agent of the Petitioners that witnessed all the corrupt practices and irregularities complained in the petition. He referred to the case of HASHIDU vs.
GOJE (2003) 15 NWLR (Pt. 843) 532, and submitted that an election of this nature cannot be voided on hearsay evidence.
Learned counsel further submitted that all the allegations in the Petition border on commission of crime which the learned counsel for the Petitioner agreed, and submitted that the doctrine of severance of pleadings cannot apply since all the allegations hinge on commission of crime which requires proof beyond reasonable doubt and the learned counsel had not severed them.
Learned counsel referred to the issue of disqualification of the 5th Respondent and referred to the case of ACTION CONGRESS vs. INEC (2007) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1048) 222 where the Supreme Court considered the issue, and the case of AMAECHI vs. INEC, and submitted that the issue of indictment is not a matter of course.
He also submitted that Exhibit EP2/34 which is supposed to be a public document, is not certified as required under Section 111 of the Evidence Act.
Learned, counsel urged the Court to take judicial notice under Section 74 of the Evidence Act that the 5th and 6th Respondents were Governors of their respective States in Katsina and Bayelsa.
It is submitted that the Petitioner has totally abandoned his pleadings and went on a voyage, and the Court was urged to dismiss the petition.
P. Ohabor Esq. for the 4th Respondent adopted and relied, on the 4th Respondent’s address dated 11/01/2008, and filed on the same day. Learned counsel referred to the duties of the Police as contained under Section 4 of the Police Act and submitted that the Police are only doing their duty on the election day. That the allegations against the Police have not been proven in any way, and the 4th Respondent cannot be held vicariously liable for the act of the Police Officers.
The learned counsel for the Petitioner, M. I. Ahamba, SAN adopted and relied on the Petitioner’s written address dated 17/01/2008, and filed on 18/01/2008. Learned counsel submitted that they did not attack the elections in only 11 States. He referred to paragraph 7 of the petition at page 3, paragraph 3 9B(iv) at page 10 and paragraph 22 at page 41, and submitted that the States mentioned are just examples.
On the Practice Directions, learned counsel submitted that they did not the Practice Directions, but only urged the Court to observe its limitations.
Learned counsel also submitted that the main issue in the Petition is whether the results declared on 23/04/2007 were arbitrarily assigned to the parties or candidates or arose from election conducted in accordance with the. principles of the Electoral Act.
He urged the Court to look at all the certified INEC documents tendered in evidence and apply the doctrine of severance of pleadings, and to discountenance all criminal allegations in the petition, that is, the issue of violence, malpractices, ballot box snatching and. stuffing of same, as abandoned, save the claim dealing with non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act including arbitrary allocation of votes at all levels. Learned counsel relied on the case of CHUKWUMA vs. ANYAKORO (2006)
ALL FWLR (Ft. 302) 121 at 141.
On the depositions of witnesses, learned counsel referred to Section 84 of the Evidence Act, and urged the Court to use the defective affidavit. That the issue of witnesses’ depositions did not arise at the hearing and that the Respondents are now stopped from raising any objection to the depositions of witnesses.
Learned counsel further submitted that it is non-compliance where final results manifest inconsistency with 28 States of the Federation and inconsistencies with Forms ECSAs with each State having two result sheets and where some voters’ registers are inconsistent with the Electoral Act, and where results were dated 31/04/2007 which does not exist in the calendar.
On the Abia State Government White Paper, learned counsel submitted that this Court has no jurisdiction to enquire into it. He also submitted that under section 113(a) of the Evidence Act, a Government White Paper does not mean certification.
Learned counsel urged the Court to nullify the election. Before going into the issues for determination, let us comment on the preliminary issue that reared its head from the address of the Petitioner’s counsel. Chief M. I. Ahamba, SAN, at the onset of his submission questioned the source of authority of the President of the Court of Appeal to issue Practice Directions 2007. That in view of the Respondents’ heavy reliance on the Practice Directions, the determination of the validity of the Practice Directions becomes relevant. It is the view of the learned senior counsel that the Practice Directions 2007, as it relates to election petitions proceedings in the Tribunals and the Court of Appeal in its first instance jurisdiction in election petition proceedings is invalid, the same being ultra vires, the powers of the President of the Court of Appeal to make Practice Directions.
It is also his view that the authority of the President of the Court of Appeal to make rules regulating the Practice and Procedure of the Court of Appeal is as contained in Section 248 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 limits the powers of the President of the Court of Appeal to make the Practice Directions. He referred to ORDER 7, RULE 7, of the COURT OF APPEAL RULES 2002. It is further submitted by the learned senior counsel that apart from Section 248 of the Constitution and Order 7, Rule 7 of the Court of Appeal Rules, there is no other provision under the Constitution or the Electoral Act and its Schedules empowering the President of. the Court of Appeal to make Practice Directions or Rules relating to procedure under the First Schedule to the Act which are Rules for the prosecution and defence of an election petition, and the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules pursuant to paragraph 50 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act.
Counsel further submitted that there is no provision under Section 285(3) of the Constitution empowering the President: of the Court of Appeal to issue Practice Directions or any Rules for the trial of election petitions at first support of this submission, learned counsel referred to the following cases; HARUNA vs. MOD1BBO (2004) 14 NWLR (Pt 900) 487 AT UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS vs.
AIGORO (1984) NSCC VOL. 15, 745 at FALOBI vs: FALOBI (1976) 9-10 SC at 13. Learned counsel urged not to give any legal efficacy to the provisions of the Practice, ions 2007, save the Practice Directions Amendment which contains actions on appeal from the Tribunal to the Court of Appeal. The above not-withstanding, learned counsel has submitted that this Court lacks the competence to set aside the Practice Directions under Section 239 of the Constitution.
In their response to this submission, the 1st and 2nd Respondents through their counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, submitted that the contention of the Petitioner is akin to making a mountain out of a molehill, or at best, beating about the bush. It is his view that the powers of the President of the Court of Appeal to make Practice Directions are statutorily embedded in the Court of Appeal Rules and are constitutionally implied and permissible. It is also the view of the learned senior counsel that the effect of the Practice Directions when subjected to community reading with other Statutes and the Rules of the Court does not go to the validity of the Practice Directions as same cannot by virtue of the existence of other statutory provisions or enactments be said to be invalid, null and void.
It is also his view that the Courts have readily achieved a balance by applying the provisions of the Practice Directions not by invalidating the Practice Directions, but by construing same as part of the Rules of Court, citing for support also the cases of HARUNA vs. MOD1BBO (supra); UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS vs. AIGORO (supra) and FALOBI vs. FALOBI (supra); all cited by the learned senior counsel for the Petitioner. K, Agabi. SAN, urged the Court to disregard the contention of the Petitioner that the Practice Directions is invalid, null and void and to proceed to apply same as an integral part of the Rules of this Court.
The 4th Respondent, the Inspector General of Police, did not respond challenge on the constitutionality or validity of the Court’s Practice directions. The 5th and 6th Respondents, now 4th and 5th Respondents in response through their counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN are of the view that Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution read together with Section 248 empowers the President of the Court .of Appeal to make Rules and Regulations for the Practice and Procedure to be followed in Election Petition cases.
On the sanctity and force of the Rules of Court, learned counsel referred to the following cases; CHUKWUOGOR vs. CHUKWUOGOR (2007) ALL FWLR (Pt. 349) 1154 at 1167; HARUNA vs. MODIBBO (2004) 16 NWLR (PT.900) 487 at 591; and AWURU vs. AWUSE (2004) ALL FWLR. (Pt. 211) 1429 at 1439-40. Learned senior counsel urged the Court to disregard the submission of the learned counsel for the Petitioner and hold that the Court’s Practice Directions 2007 is extant and accordingly applied by the Court.
It is indeed strange that it is at the address stage that the Petitioner’s counsel is questioning the validity or constitutionality of the Practice Direction issued by the President of the Court of Appeal in the exercise of his powers conferred by Section 285(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. The Petitioner has since the inception of his petition relied on, applied and made substantial use of the provisions of the Practice Directions without raising any objection. The same duty and obligations that ensures to the Petitioner under the Practice Directions is the same that ensures to the Respondents. One therefore wonders that it is at this stage that the Petitioner, after taking full advantage of all the provisions of the Practice Directions, that is now crying foul that the Practice Directions has no constitutional backing. If this submission by the petitioner is sustained, then it goes without saying that the petition foundation or platform on which it can be based. UAC. vs. MACFOY (1952) AC 61.
The combined reading .of Sections 248 and 285(3) of the Constitution tiers the President of the Court of Appeal to make Rules and Regulations the Practice and Procedure to be followed by the Court of Appeal, not only in its Appellate jurisdiction, while hearing appeals, but also in the exercise of its original jurisdiction under Section 239 of the Constitution.
The Practice Directions stand as a guide to the proceedings before the Court just as the Rules of the Court. This Court, in the case of HARUNA vs. MODIBBO (2004) 16 NWLR (PT. 900) 487 at 591 settled the point relating to the powers of the President of the Court of Appeal to issue the Practice Directions wherein the Court held that:-”the power or the authority of the President of the Court of Appeal to issue Practice Directions is derived from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The Practice Directions has a constitutional flavour. It is not ultra vires the powers of the President of the Court of Appeal. The Practice Directions constitute a rule for the guidance and regulation of election petition proceedings as established by the Constitution, and it must be obeyed strictly as they constitute condition precedent to the presentation and maintenance of an election petition. The panel hearing this petition was constituted pursuant to the powers conferred on the President of the Court of Appeal under Section 285 of the 1,999 Constitution. The power of the President of the Court of Appeal to set up the various Election Petitions Tribunals is derived from the 1999 Constitution, and in as much the same way he does make Rules for the conduct of cases or proceedings before the Election Tribunals. See Sections 248 and 285 of the Constitution.
About yesterday`s ruling in Ondo State Guber Tribunal.
Tribunal grants Mimiko’s request for forensic experts
The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has granted the Labour Party governorship candidate, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s, prayer to call forensic expert witnesses to give evidence in support of his petition.
Mimiko is challenging the victory of the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, at the April 14 governorship election.
The tribunal, headed by Justice Garba Nabaruma, granted Mimiko the leave to call expert witnesses in its ruling on Thursday.
Agagu, who is the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, had through his lawyers, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), raised an objection to Mimiko’s prayer to call the experts.
One of the experts listed by Mimiko is a renowned fingerprint expert, Mr. Adrian Forty, a Briton.
The ruling excited members of the LP because the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Osogbo did not grant the Action Congress governorship candidate in Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola’s prayer to call Forty to prove his petition against Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
The tribunal also dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the respondents’ lawyers to stop the petitioner from tendering scanned electoral materials from the custody of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The respondents’ lawyers had on Wednesday objected to the petitioner’s prayer to call experts from outside the shores of the country.
But Nabaruma in the ruling held that the petitioner had the right to call experts to the tribunal to testify on the matter.
Two witnesses called by the LP in the hearing on Thursday also insisted that election did not take place in Ilaje Local Government Area.
Two of the witnesses, Mr. Fola Ajimakin who is an engineer and Mr. Niyi Adeomo, a lawyer told the tribunal that the PDP used thugs and security agents to disenfranchise registered voters on April 14.
Adeomo, who claimed that he practised law at the chambers of Chief Olusola Oke and Associates in Okitipupa, told the tribunal that form EC8A which is the summary of election results from various units was signed by one Prince Gbenga Edema.
Edema, according to Adeomo, is a chieftain of the PDP and a member of one of the Ondo State Sports Council. He is also from a royal family.
Adeomo also told the tribunal that he was present at a meeting where the state governor directed thugs to hijack election materials.
Ajimakin also testified that voting materials were brought to just one unit out of 17 units in Ugbo Ward 6 while only one unit got materials out of 16 units in Ugbo Ward 5.
Mimiko has, however, hailed the ruling by the tribunal for granting his prayer to call finger print expert to prove his petition challenging the victory of Agagu.
Mimiko, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, described the ruling as a landmark.
He added that it would curb electoral malpractices in subsequent elections.
My dearest and best justice fighters in Ondo State, I feel highly honoured and bless the Lord for all your concerns and prayers. I am well and fine and only just retured from my three week sojourn in Lagos and Ondo State. Nevertheless I have followed with keen interest all news concerning our fight for the speedy return of our stolen mandate in Ondo State. I know one thing for sure, no matter how long it takes, this mandate will surely be returned for this is the only true thing to do in O ndo State, moreso, the people of Ondo State are relentless in their quest for the truth and support of HE Dr Olusegun Mimiko.
Agagu is actually a non entity in Ondo State, and has been shunned by eminent personnels in the state. Just a few weeks ago, my town IleOluji witnessed a great ceremony of the chieftancy of Are Bola Tinubu and wife during the 70th Birthday of Oba Stephen Adedugbe, the Jegun of Ile-Oluji Kingdom. All who is who in Nigeria including governors and obas were there. Fashola graced the occassion and like Tinubu was a crowd puller. Alao Akala came but was a desert tree, while Agagu dared not show his face! The press he pulled and especially his celebration of his 60th Birthday having just lost a brother were all negative indeed. The papers were filled with reports of all these.
Personally, majority of those I spoke to at Ondo, Akure and Luji had nothing but curses for Agagu while praying for the end of the tribunal and Ondo State tribulations. MIMIKO IS INDEED A MAN OF THE PEOPLE, HAS THE MANDATE OF THE PEOPLE AND WELL LOVED BY THE PEOPLE. Some PDP members (I could name names, but for now will be silent on the names) approached me with unholy invatations to join them in their quest to suck dry the coffers of Ondo State. Some tried to tarnish Mimiko’s name without any real evidence and I was quick to remind them of how God has and is still dealing with OBJ who dared point false fingers at Mimiko. Strange thing is they seem to all agree that Mimiko won the April 07 polls but believe that politics is a game of dirt, falsehood and wolf cunning, and sad to say they will rather sell their souls to the devil in order to get a slice of the Ondo State cake. May disgrace and God’s punishment be their portion in life. I was so disgusted, and got so involved in trying to appeal to their conscience but alas they had none.
One thing I know for sure is this, OUR GOD IS NOT SLEEPING AND WILL DEAL WITH ALL OF US ACCORDING TO OUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS AS IT AFFECTS THE PEOPLE OF ONDO STATE IN JESUS NAME.
I tried to surf the net but gave up after all I got on four occassions in Ondo State was mosquito bites, frustration and waste of Naira at Internet Cafes that take up to one hour to log on to Google, and also when I got to this site, the last update was on August 07! Na wa for Naija o. I had to then make do with the national dailies and continue my prayers for the emancipation of our dear Ondo State under Mimiko in the not too distant future.
OUR GOD WILL SEE US THROUGH. the whole of Nigeria is already commenting on how long it is taking for the truth to be decided in Ondo State, nevertheless we wait with Godly patience.
IROKO YI JO GBA SIBE O JARE
w`come back Ms Omotaylor. Hope all went well while in Nigeria. We miss you.
Again, welcome back and thank you for the on-the-ground news
Welcome back Madam Omotaylor!
Uncle Fred, thank you so much. I miss you all and missed the site. We are more than winners in Jesus name. IT IS WELL.
Thanks Admin, love you guys loads and missed this site gidigan. Tried but Naija Cybernet na wa o.
MIMIKO IS A WINNER AND WILL GET HIS MANDATE BACK.
Welcome o my sister! We surely missed you. The fanfare at Ile-Ile-Oluji was wonderful and AGAGU was conspicuously absent. I thought he said he won at Ile-Oluji. Where were his so called supporters? Anyway we have begun our count down and by God’s grace justice shall be ours.
Tribunal update.
Remember Wole Olanipekun?, the genius that got Yar`Adua off the hook? the same Lawyer has been taking care of business at the tribunal in Akure since last week.
No sitting today at the tribunal, resumes on Tuesday next week and I belief that will be the last day for Mimiko and Agagu pick`s up from there.
So far, all the forensic witnesses have been fantastic.
One important FACT to note: The challenged local governments are not part of the 13 Loc Gov. won by Mimiko and the rule is , to be declared, you have to win 25% of 2/3 of the 18 local Governments ( simply 25% in 12 out of 18) hence the Math is on Mimiko side.
From very reliable source, 80% of the scanned ballot papers in the contested/challenged Local governments have multiple thumb printing.
All remain blessed.
Thank you my dear brother Tunde Filaoye, I really missed you all when I was in Naija and it shouldnt have been so if not that Internet Connections in Naija are so poor and slow and frutrating. Oh yes the end is near soon and while it spells good news for LP, Mimiko and Ondo State, it shall be the end for Agagu and his cohorts of evil worshippers. AGAGU at Ile Oluji, for where, he knows where he is not wanted and this is in most parts of Ondo State. He was shamed by the press and even in Asaju Tinubu’s speech. Agagu is a gonner and God has ratified this.
Brother Fred, yes the end is near soon for there is nothing that has a beginning that does not have an end, even human suffering. Cant see how the Tribunal will shun the truth and cover up all the falsities and deceit uncovered during the sittings in this matter. MIMIKO is the truly elected governor of Ondo State.
UPDATE ON TRIBUNAL HEARING 1
How Agagu’s men rigged polls –Witness
From TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure
Thursday, March 6, 2008
More startling revelations continued to be unfolded at the Ondo State election tribunal in the petition filed by Dr Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP), praying that he be returned as the duly elected Governor of the State in the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election as an expert witness, Mr. Ogundeji Iroju told the tribunal how the political office holders who served under Dr Olusegun Agagu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in flagrance abuse of the Electoral Acts 2006 signed election results in favour of their boss.
According to him, commissioners, local government chairmen, aides of Dr Agagu and those of his commissioners, the PDP chairman in the South Senatorial district of the state and indeed serving police officers, signed election results sheet in favour of the embattled governor.
Section 46(1) of the Electoral Act 2006 states that: “Provided that no person currently serving as chairman or member of a local government or area council, commissioner of a state, deputy governor, or governor of a state, minister or any other person holding political office under any tier of government and who has not resigned his appointment at least three months before the election shall serve as agent of any political party, either at the polling station or at any centre designated for collation of result of an election.”
Also, the witness disclosed that thousands of ballot papers with their counterfoils still intact were thumb-printed for Agagu and dumped into ballot boxes; a development which, he noted, was an abuse of the electoral laws. Specifically, Iroju and Cyril Egunlayi, an ICT expert, revealed that contrary to Section 75 of the Electoral Act, thousands of ballot papers with neither polling officers’ stamps nor signatures were counted in favour of Dr Agagu in all the disputed areas while in the same vein there were massive over voting for Dr Agagu in hundreds of polling units in the areas being disputed by Dr Mimiko.
Aside, the tribunal was told how tens of thousand of ballot papers stamped with the stamps of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) and the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) were used to stamp ballot papers thump printed and dumped into the ballot boxes all in favour of Agagu. The tribunal also heard how hundred of units had multiple presiding officers’ signing the election results as against one presiding officer per units recognised by law.
It was also revealed to the court how in Okitipupa Local Government, where Agagu hails from, ballot papers were lumped together on a ward by ward basis as against the unit by unit basis sanctioned by the Electoral law. This, according to the experts, was said to have been done to create confusion and cover up the PDP track in their bid to rig.
UPDATE ON TRIBUNAL HEARING 2
Witness finds shortfall of 40,000 ballot papers in Ondo councils
From Niyi Bello and Julius Alabi, Akure
FOR the second day running, startling revelations on the conduct of the controversial April 14 gubernatorial elections in Ondo State were made at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure to resolve the legal issues thrown up by the exercise.
The tribunal, which was earlier shown evidences of fictitious registration and voting through the use of photographs of prominent personalities on the voters’ registers in 10 of the 18 local councils where the petitioner, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP) is contesting the election outcome, was yesterday afternoon told how chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), signed result sheets on behalf of electoral officers.
The tribunal was also told how 50,475 ballot papers certified as not used during the polls in the three southern local councils of Ese-Odo, Irele and Ilaje could not be found in the custody of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), eight months after the conduct of the exercise.
A witness paraded by the LP yesterday, Mr. Ogundeji Iroju, who said he was commissioned by the petitioner to add the declared figures in order to determine the extent of fraud in the collation of results, said in Ilaje local council alone, 40,813 ballot papers are still unaccounted for.
Stressing that he was assisted by a team of experts in conjunction with INEC officials and representatives of the PDP in attendance, Iroju said there were a lot of discrepancies in the figures announced by the electoral body.
Led in evidence by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Iroju, one of the eight witnesses listed by the petitioner to prove his case, disclosed that INEC records show that of the 114,500 ballot papers issued to Ilaje local council, only 57,233 were said to have been used while only 16,454 were returned to INEC stores, leaving a shortfall of 40,813.
He added that the figure of unaccounted ballot papers will be much higher if the whole of the disputed councils were considered as Ese-Odo and Irele have 6,893 and 2,769 unaccounted ballot papers respectively.
He said under oath that contrary to Section 46 (1) of the electoral Act, several members of the PDP, who at the time of the polls were government officials at both the state and council levels, served as agents of the party and signed INEC result sheets, a situation the LP legal team described as a clear breach of the electoral law.
The witness also provided evidence in form of specimen signatures in his sworn deposition, that serving policemen signed as agents of the PDP at some collation centres on election day, an act the petitioner said had shown the partiality of the policemen on polls day.
Some of the names listed by the witness as serving state officials who signed for the PDP include Ayo Ifayefunmi, the then Commissioner for Agriculture; Yemi Alao, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Tola Akintemi, PDP Chairman (Ondo South); Francis Igbasan, Chairman of the State Scholarship Board; Benson Enikuomehin, Special Assistant to Agagu; Niyi Alonge, Chairman of Ose Local Government; and Agboola Ajayi, former chairman of Ese-Odo council who now represents the area at the Lower House.
The witness also showed evidence, which were marked and taken as exhibits by the tribunal, of a serving police officer who signed on behalf of the PDP and the party’s agent in Mahin Ward 4 of Ilaje local council. Besides, he said, one allegedly signed several result sheets in Irele council during an election in which he was contesting as a member of the State House of Assembly.
Other names listed by Iroju include Tayo Sipasi, Special Adviser to Chairman of Ese Odo council; Prince Oluwole Ogunlade Toyin, Special Assistant to the Finance Commissioner who allegedly signed results of four wards in Akure North, namely Ayede/Ogbese, Ayetoro, Eleyowo/Iluabo, and Moferere; as well as R.A Akintemi, Supervisor for Health in the Odigbo council, who also signed results in three wards namely: Ago Alaye, Araromi Obu, and Ayesan.
UPDATE ON TRIBUNAL HEARING 3
There was multiple voting in Ondo polls, says forensic expert
From Niyi Bello and Julius Alabi, (Akure)
FOR about four hours yesterday, foremost independent fingerprint and handwriting consultant, Adrian Forty, was in the witness box defending his findings of multiple voting that allegedly characterised the conduct of the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial elections in Ondo State.
It was at the resumed hearing of the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure to resolve the legal controversies thrown up by the conduct of the controversial polls, which was instigated at the instance of the Labour Party candidate in the said election, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
Mimiko in his petition where he alleged that the declared winner of the election, Dr. Olusegun Agagu was announced as a result of criminal conspiracy to deny the majority of the electorate from exercising their voting rights, is praying the tribunal to declare him as the governor of the state “having scored majority of the lawful votes cast”
The petitioner averred further that in case the tribunal cannot declare him the winner, fresh elections should be ordered in the six local councils of the Southern Senatorial District and some selected constituencies in four other councils where he alleged that massive irregularities were recorded.
The parade of Forty, a retired British policeman who is said to be the best expert in forensic investigations, and who consults for various countries of the world, especially in Europe and America in his field of interest, was meant to assist the Mimiko legal team in their task to prove beyond ‘reasonable doubt”, that only a few hands thumb-printed most of the ballot papers counted in favour of Agagu.
The Briton, who disclosed that he was commissioned by Mimiko to help his (Mimiko’s) team establish, through the use of reliable electronic method, that multiple voting characterised balloting in the disputed councils, said he was introduced to the petitioner’s linkman, Tunde Yadeka, by Professor Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos State Attorney-General.
Led in evidence by Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Forty, whose appearance in the Court Two of the Akure High Court premises venue of the tribunal, caused a stir among the spectators, said on oath that he stood by the contents of his sworn February 4th deposition, which had already been deposited and admitted by the tribunal.
The demand of the Mimiko team that Forty, who is the star in the list of eight expert witnesses listed by the petitioner, be allowed to display how he arrived at his findings through a demonstration in the courtroom, was however rejected by the tribunal.
The defendant’s team had opposed Akeredolu’s application that Forty should demonstrate to the court his methodology on the ground that the paragraph 4 (3) of the Practice Direction that guides the tribunal process does not allow any demonstration.
In the deposition where the expert highlighted his findings, he confirmed that indeed the poll was characterised by multiple voting as shown in the discovery that many of the thumb impressions were replicated in many places.
There were also confirmations of allegations that many of the impressions represent non-human impressions and that many others were made by juvenile, who, under the Nigerian Electoral Law, are below voting age.
Forty, who said he was assisted in his task by 48 fingerprints experts who are serving policemen of the Forensic Department of Scotland Yard headquarters of British Police, and whose bio-data were attached to the deposition for authenticity, however said that only 43.3 per cent of the 183,219 images put at his disposal for analysis, were readable.
Under cross examination by the defendants’ legal teams, led by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Forty disclosed that 37,053 of the specimens given to him for analysis contained no scan images while those without enough reliable impressions were 61,352 while 84,814 were correctly analysed.
Forty also confirmed that he was not present at the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Akure office when the scanning and collation of the materials sent to him were being done.
The expert, however maintained that no matter how the materials were handled, it cannot affect the outcome of the judgement of scientific scrutiny.
Speaking to journalists later, Forty said that the only way to check election rigging through multiple voting and manipulation in Nigeria is for the on-going electoral reform to give more room for finger print impression developed as done in countries.
According to him, if the exercise is properly executed right from the beginning, it will help in putting democratic experiment in proper shape in the county.
The Briton who hailed the on-going electoral reform initiated by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration said that the election processes need a lot of control, which should include the input of the fingertips experts.
The fingertip expert who mounted the witness box at exactly 10.00 am also expressed optimism that with the introduction of technology to determine flaws in the electoral process, especially his invitation as fingertips expert would check election riggings in future.
Meanwhile, panic has gripped supporters of the People’s Democratic Party in the state over the appearance of Forty at the Election Petitions Tribunal.
The expert was brought by the Labour Party governorship candidate, Dr. Mimiko to prove his case that the victory of Governor Olusegun Agagu was full of malpractices.
Immediately Adrian Forty entered the witness box, it became apparent to the supporters of PDP that the insinuation that the man would not come to Nigeria, not even Ondo State to testify was not true, as they started to make phone calls to their constituencies, relating the true position of things at the tribunal.
I was informed this evening that a Television station called `Channel television` said in the news that 53.7% votes from the contested/challenged area were irregular from multiple thumb printing to children casting votes. I can not see any escape route for the present Ondo State Government. Thank God that the rule of law has a stronghold in the present day Nigeria.
All remain blessed and have a good week ahead.
We have heard and had enough of the so called “Nigerian Factor” of evil and corruption in all works of life in Nigeria. Enough of the degrading and shameful acts of wanton theft and “i can do as I please and get away with it” in Nigeria. We are witnessing, albeit covertly and slowly the dawn of a new Nigeria, and all corrupt lying and thieving politicians, police, soldiers and ex soldiers cum leaders will by the grace of God be brought to books and punished accordingly. Although it seems that some are getting away with it, they are not for even those sheilding them would have to watch their backs. We await the Ondo State judicial result with interest, knowing that the truth that the whole world have seen would have to be declared. Patience has its own virtue, and we have to give credit to HE Dr Mimiko for his gallant, virtuous and dilligent patience. Your crown/mandate will be handed back soon.
WE ARE NO LONGER SURPRISED AND ACTUALLY AWAIT MORE REVELATION OF PDP ATTROCITIES. PLEASE READ ON:
Rivers, C’River ballot papers used to elect Ondo Speaker
Monday, March 10, 2008
It was shock and disbelief at the Justice J.S. Ikyegh of Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure as ballot papers meant for the Rivers and Cross River State Houses of Assembly Election were used to vote for the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Bakiita Bello in the April 14, 2007 election.
To the utter surprise of all, over seven bundles of these strange ballot papers were found among the sacks brought to the tribunal by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all thumb-printed in favour of the Speaker.
This startling revelation came to the fore on Saturday during the joint recount of ballot papers used for the contentious election ordered by the tribunal in the petition filed by Adebisi.O.C of the Labour Party (LP) who is challenging the purported victory of Bakiita of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Akoko North West Constituency I of the state.
During the recounting exercise, it was discovered that several of these ballot papers meant for the two States Houses of Assembly most of which were still intact with their counterfoils were all thumb-printed for the PDP. The exercise also unearthed a lot of unwholesome practices perpetrated in the election of Bakiita.
In the result declared by INEC after the vexed election, Bakiita polled 8,550 to Adebisi’s 6,104 to emerge as winner, a development which Adebisi protested, insisting that the election was rigged in favour of Bakiita by INEC and state government officials during the election. He is now praying the tribunal to return him as duly elected.
In a similar vein, glaring cases of over-voting were discovered during the recount of ballot papers ordered by the same tribunal in Okitipupa Constituency I, Ese-Odo Constituency and Ilaje Constituency II of the Ondo State House of Assembly which had been recounted.
In Okitipupa1 for instance, where Jumoke Akindele of the LP is challenging the victory of Obagbemi Oladunjoye of the PDP, the total votes returned for all the political parties which contested in the constituency was 33,630 while only 26,639 used ballot papers were found and counted.
Again, in Ese-Odo Constituency, where Kalasuwe I.O. of the LP is kicking against the return by INEC of Igbekele Bolodeoku of the PDP, INEC returned a total vote of 34,464 votes for all the parties while only 21,529 used ballot papers were found and counted.
The same scenario played itself out in Ilaje II Constituency where INEC recorded a vote of 31,974 votes for all contestants as against 20, 490 used ballot papers it supplied to the area.
Kunle Odidi of the LP is contesting the purported victory of Atikase Otito of the PDP.
I think this farce has gone on too long and it’s about time the Judge came to a decision. The way things are going it looks as though the tribunal will still be sitting way beyond the anniversary of the original pillage.
Judge Nabaruma needs to get a grip.
Tribunal Update;
Three more witnesses took the stand for Mimiko team today and guess what, the man `IROKO` himself was the last winess for the day, grilled by INEC, PDP, POLICE AND AGAGU`S Lawyers, of course wasted time asking no sense questions about documents that will nail them all. I was told so much time was wasted that the conclusion for Team Mimiko scheduled for today has now spilled over to tomorrow morning and after this Agagu team pick`s up what ever evidence(s) they have to present. I do not foresee any further delay in this process at this stage since Mimiko Team will realy have nothing much to ask the `jaguda oja`, as the accepted presented documents by team Mimiko are already overwhelming.
All remain blessed.
Piece on yesterday`s hearing.
Ondo govt functionaries signed election result sheets—MIMIKO Wednesday, 12 March 2008
LABOUR Party governorship candidate in Ondo State Dr Olusegun Mimiko yesterday testified at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital and said that top government functionaries signed the last governorship election results sheets in desperation to win the election in favour of Dr Olusegun Agagu.
Led by in evidence by his Counsel Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Mimiko said who is who in government including Commissioners, Local Government Chairmen, Special Assistant, Personal Assistant to governor Agagu in their respective council areas signed the results sheet contrary to the Electoral Law 2006.
Mimiko told the tribunal that they were desperate to win their individual council areas hence they “committed electoral fraud” adding that they also signed results sheets collated from their local government areas.
He gave the names of commissioners of Dr Agagu that signed the results sheets to include Ayo Ifayefunmi signed results sheets in Irele, Yemi Alao in Akoko North West while the Special Assistant to the Finance Commissioner Chief Tayo Alasoadura, Mr Toyin Ogunlade signed in Akure North Council area.
Others include Ola Oguntimehin Senior Special Assistant to Governor Agagu, RA Akintemi a supervisor for Health signed for Odigbo, Fola Ewegbemi signed for Okitipupa, Yemi Tadema now a member in the House of Assembly signed the result sheets in Irele, Francis Igbasan, the Chairman of the state Scholarship Board also signed form EC8B in Irele ward 4.
Continuing Mimiko said that Agbola Ajayi, a member of the House of Representative signed results sheets of Apoi 2 ward 2 while Dennis Alonge Niyi, the Former Council Chairman of Ose Council area signed results sheets of Afo ward while Benson Enikuomehin did same for Ilaje council areas.
Cross examined by Dr Agagu counsel Dr Kayode Olatoke, if he was present in all the units of the state to witness the irregularities he alleged, Mimiko said “It is not humanly possible for me to be present in all the units but l have agents on the field who gave me minutes by minutes briefing on the election across the state.
“The circumstances on the day of the elections in the disputed areas were not normal.
He told the tribunal that there were no irregularities in areas that he won the election because elections there were free and fair.
Mimiko pointed out that he is contesting the results of the elections in sixty nine out of the 203 wards across the state and 1075 units because they were marred with irregularities.
Earlier yesterday the state chairman of the LP, Dr. Olaiya Oni, had told the tribunal that sporadic shooting disrupted the governorship election in Akoko North East local government area.
Olaiya Oni a former Minister said election did no take place in 10 of the 13 wards of the local government due to violence.
The tribunal also admitted in evidence some letters written by him to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of the election in many parts of the state.
But Dr Agagu counsel Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN had earlier objected to the admissibility of some of the letters but was overruled by the tribunal.
According to Oni the election was able to take place in the three wards in Akoko North East because they were in the remote parts of the council area and could not be reached by the suspected thugs.
Thanks for the timely updates, Fred!
The Mimiko Team will most probably close their case this week.
TRIBUNAL UPDATE.
Well, Lead Lawyer Wole Olanipekun requested (and tribunal granted this) for physical re-count of the votes tomorrow and next from the contested regions, Ilaje, Okitipupa, Eseodo, Irele, part of Ikare, part of Ondo and I belief ?part of Akure with the INVALID votes removed and submit the result on Saturday. This last joker card , I was told, came as a `shocker` to the Agagu team who thought realy that Mimiko team would rest today.
Let us keep praying that the right thing will be done in Ondo State.
All remain blessed.
Thanks Fred!
We shall celebrate at the end of the whole “drama.” my desire is that it should not take longer time from now. Agagu and his people have realy proved to be stuborn. they ought to have honourably resigned since last year so as to minimize the shame that would soon befall them after the tribunal might have declared the duely elected man MIMKO as the winner of the April 2007 election. I wish Agagu and his men best of luck after an unfruitful defence at the tribunal. They should go back home and bear their shame. They have disgraced our state.
Below is a piece from yesterday`s sitting and judgement, enjoy it and remain blessed.
Ondo: Tribunal Orders Vote Recount
From James Sowole in Akure, 03.13.2008
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The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure, Ondo State has ordered that ballot papers used for the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election in the state in respect of some local governments be recounted.
The order was given yesterday as hearing continued in the petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate in the election, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who is challenging the election of Governor Olusegun Agagu of the state.
Agagu who is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was first elected governor of the state in 2003 and re-elected in the last April 14, 2007 poll.
Mimiko, in his petition, alleged that the April 14 governorship election in the state was fraught with irregularities in favour of Agagu.
The tribunal Chairman, Justice Garba Nabaruma, gave the order for a recount of the ballots following an oral application moved by Mimiko’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), requesting that the votes in the disputed areas be recounted.
The areas are the entire four local governments of Ilaje, Okitipupa, Irele and Ese-Odo as well as parts of six other councils.
Mimiko had contested the results in these areas, saying they were arbitrarily awarded to favour Agagu.
Counsel to the respondents namely Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) for Agagu, Adebayo Adelodun for PDP, Obi Okusogu for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and J.C. Idachaba for the Nigeria Police Force, however, all vehemently objected to Mimiko’s request.
They held that the recounting of votes at this time would amount to a waste of time and that the ballots may have been tampered with by Mimiko’s agents in the course of inspection, scanning, forensic analysis and when bringing them to the court in bags as they were not in the original ballot boxes.
Overruling the objections and arguments of the respondents’ counsel, Justice Nabaruma, who cited relevant sections of the Electoral Act 2006, said the panel granted the application as moved because its assignment had to do with ballot papers and votes.
He therefore ordered that the votes should be recounted in the presence of two representatives each of the respondents.
The tribunal chairman ordered that the parties should report back on Friday, March 15, 2007 at 10 am.
Earlier, Mimiko had during cross-examination claimed that he would emerged governor but for the irregularities that characterised the election in those disputed areas with the alleged connivance of INEC.
Yesterday’s proceeding was almost marred as the counsel to the various parties, Olanipekun for Mimiko and Olatoke for PDP, engaged each other in a verbal war when the latter was cross-examining the petitioner.
IN GOD WE TRUST AND THE TRUTH WILL SOON BE REVEALED IN JESUS NAME.
I was authoritatively informed today of another twist in this process, the Agagu team refuses to allow re-count of ballot with the excuse that the INVALID can not be seperated from the VALID votes!!!!!!!. The Tribunal will have to clarify this again but not until 10am on Saturday the 15th of March.
They can only run but can not hide, this sort of delay tactic will end soon indeed.
All remain blessed
A piece from the HORSES mouth on the last day as a witness; enjoy it and be blessed.
I won the April 14 election in Ondo,Mimiko tells tribunal | Print | E-mail
Written by Dayo Johnson
Friday, 14 March 2008
THE Labour Party governorship candidate in Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has told the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure that he won the April 14 election in the state by scoring majority of lawful votes cast with 25 percent in thirteen of the 18 council areas of the state.
Mimiko told the Justice Garba Nabaruma led tribunal that he defeated Dr Agagu with 84,635 votes during the April 14 election in the state.
Giving evidence as the last witness in his petition challenging the victory of Dr. Olusegun Agagu in the April 14 governorship election in the state, he accused INEC of colluding with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, security operatives to rig the election.
Dr Agagu is expected to open his defense next week by calling on his witnesses.
The candidate who was cross examined by Counsel to Dr Agagu, Dr Kayode Olatoke at the continuation of his evidence pointed out that fictitious figures were recorded by INEC and political appointees of Dr Agagu as results of the sixty nine wards and 1075 units been contested by him at the tribunal.
He said that “no lawful elections took place in the four disputed local government areas of Ilaje, Okitipupa, Ese Odo, Irele and in Akure North, 5 wards; Akoko North-East,10 wards; Akoko North-West, 1ward; Ose, 1 ward; Odigbo, 5 wards; and 4 wards in Ileoluji/Okeigbo but fraudulent results were recorded for Dr Agagu by INEC.
According to him, “If INEC had been diligent and was an impartial umpire, l should have been declared the winner of the election but they took side with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the security operatives to thwart the wishes of the people who voted massively for the Labour Party.
Mimiko said that the scores by Dr Agagu was only 108,999 out of 368,532 which was the total numbers of votes lawfully cast at the said election for all the candidates.
He told the court that he scored 193,634 lawful votes cast at the said election, which was 84,635 votes more than what Agagu scored.
The candidate told the tribunal that there were 18 local government areas in the State and for a candidate to be returned as validly elected as governor, he must have scored not less than 25% of the awful votes cast in each of at least 12 LGAs as stipulated by Section 179(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, in addition to scoring a majority of the lawful votes cast.
According to him scored all his 108,999 lawful votes in his favour at 25% or more in 11 of the 18 LGAs .““I scored all my 193,634 lawful votes at 25% or more in 13 out of the 18 LGAs. I am therefore the candidate lawfully elected as Governor of Ondo State at the election of April 14, 2007 and ought to have been lawfully declared and returned as such by the ResidentElectoral Commissioner of INEC in Ondo State” .
The candidate however denied that he conjure the figures he is relying on that he won the election in 13 council areas of the state.
Counsel to INEC Oby Okusogu had denied the figure Mimiko was relying on saying that it was not INEC figures.
Okusogu disowned the figures and the declaration by Mimiko that he won the April 14 election noting that the figures the candidate was relying on were not known to INEC.
Controversy stalls ballot recount in Ondo
By Agency reporter
Published: Friday, 14 Mar 2008
The recount of the ballot papers used in conducting the April 14 governorship poll in Ondo State could not begin on Thursday, following a disagreement between the supporters of the political parties involved.
The Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who is challenging the victory of Governor Olusegun Agagu, had urged the Election Petitions Tribunal to order the recount of the ballot papers.
The tribunal headed by Justice Garba Nabaruma consequently granted Mimiko’s prayer.
But controversy ensued on Thursday over the execution of the tribunal’s order.
Nabaruma had ordered that used and unused ballot papers in areas under contention should be recounted.
But there was a heated argument between the supporters of the LP and the Peoples Democratic Party over modalities to use in recounting the ballot papers.
The LP representatives were said to have insisted that the ballot papers must be sorted but the PDP representatives disagreed on the grounds that sorting was not part of the ruling of the tribunal.
Well i MUST advise His excellency Dr Rahman Olusegun Mimiko to ensure that he start warming up for his office,he should by now have the list of His commissioners,head of Government Parastals and agencies,because very soon he will be declared the winner of this election and because of the time frame,i would prefer us to swing into action immediately after swearing in.
Then the Acceptance speech should have been prepared and put in the cooler for usage immediately after swearing in………….Your excellency carry gooooooooooo
And because Olusegun Mimiko had worked sincerely and Intelligently with Olusegun Agagu,please lets organise a fare-well party for him…………….very funny right.
Today the Tribunal says the votes must be sorted out for re-count, Valid from INVALID, which is what Mimiko team asked for. However, the Tribunal gave two(2) weeks for this process, in other words, Agagu team will not be able to start their defence until this is done. My Brothers and Sisters, this may seem another delay but hopefully, the end is near and therefore remain prayer-full.
All remain blessed.
I suspected the ruling to recount the votes will cause some confusion – which it did. However, the only logical way is to sort the votes as now demanded by the tribunal. Although this is a delay, the outcome may be just what will break the back of the PDP claim. It is well worth the wait. Thanks for the update.
We shall wait, because it is worth waiting for. I do not see it as a delay but rather a preparation for the second term in office of Dr. MIMIKO, after this expected galant vicotry. Tell everyone that IT’S WORTH WAITING FOR
I agree. Its well worth it. Their game plan is to create despair by delaying it for as long as possible. We have waited this long and if this is all they’ve got,too bad. Very soon we shall start the count down to their political demise and extinction.
BE STRONG GUYS!
Adams Oshiomhole declared winner. Our dear Ondo state Verdict must mirror this.
OH yea!
Our Lord God works in mysterious ways. His ways are not our ways but one thing is sure, God will never forsake the righteous and the wicked will not go unpunished, hence the end will justify the means in this process. Our man Mimiko has been gallant, steadfast and sincere all through and hence the Lord will shame the wicked and all those spreading falsities. Having just returned from Naija, all I can say iss that Dr Mimiko is the people’s champion in Ondo state and his name is a househhold name. Even though it taries we still continue to wait for it for the end is near. Agagu will go and face the music for EFCC is just waiting to nail him. Mimko o jarrrreeeee, gba si beeeeee.
MY DEAR PEOPLE, JUST WHEN I WAS ALMOST GETTING SWAYED BY GOVERNOR FASHOLA’S EXPLANATIONS ON WHY THE IMMUNITY CLAUSE SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION, I CAME ACROSS THIS VERY INTERESTING PIECE BY DR GODWIN DIBE ON GAMJI, AND I AGREE WITH IT 100%. PLEASE READ:
Many Governors Don’t Have People’s Mandate – PDP Chieftain
Ebere Uzoukwa, Owerri
January 10th, 2009
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State , Dr. Godwin Dibe, has taken a swipe at the general elections that brought into power, present occupants of elective political offices by stating that a good number of state governors don’t have the mandate of the people which they have continued to claim.
“A good number of them would have been voted out assuming there was a credible and transparent election”, he acknowledged.
According to him, the implication of that scenario is that most of them (governors) have consistently hidden under the immunity clause to loot the treasury of their various states, since they cannot be prosecuted while in office.
Dike, however, called on Nigerians to support President Yar’Adua’s stand to ensure that immunity clause was removed from Nigerian constitution as that would make political office-holders to be more responsible and responsive to the yearnings of the people and further reduce corruption in our system.
He pointed out that the war against corruption would continue to be a child play so far as the immunity clause is still contained in the constitution.
He described President Yar’Adua as an incorruptible leader whose love for Nigerians is immeasurable.
MY QUESTION FOR THE DAY IS: WHICH GOVERNOR READILY AND FOREMOST COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU READ THE POST?
MY ANSWER IS – OLUSEGUN AGAGU.
PEACE
Today is the 11th of January and in exactly one week from today the appeal court will resume sitting and hopefully after 2 days into the case at hand we shall all get a date for the FINAL VERDICT. Well we know the truth and the whole truth and nothing but the truth will be the verdict. – MIMIKO WON WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT THE POLLS AS GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE IN APRIL 2007.
Agagu will not be allowed to try any other delaying gymmick (even if he yet again gets a new counsel). Agagu must have packed his bags and ready to take a flight from Alagbaka into oblivion. Agagu is a gonner.
I urge all supporters of truth and lovers of Democracy to spare a thought for the appeal process and offer daily prayers that the appeal judges are not compromised and sell their integrity. The whole world awaits the Ondo State verdict with interest. Let us pray for the end of evil and looting induced Agagu governance in Ondo State. Let us pray for the start of proper and accountable governance of our dear state by His Excellency, Dr Olusegun Mimiko. Let us pray for peace and a change for the better in Nigeria. Let us all remember to pray for the world at large and especiall the Israel/Hammas war where so many innocent lives have been sadly cut off. And lastly let us all pray for Dr Mimiko and family.
It is the Lord that brought you this far and He will see us through.
Peace
Day by day we wait and pray for TRUTH is what matters in the case of Olusegun Mimiko v Segun Agagu the mandate stealer. Every day brings us nearer to this truth and the people will not be dissapointed for God is in control.
Peace my people.
MY PEOPLE, BELOW IS A POST VIA NIGERIAWORLD THAT SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES AND ALSO STRESSES THE NEED FOR US TO PRAY THAT IN THE APPEAL HEARING COMING UP NEXT WEEK, THAT GOD WILL MINISTER TO THE JUDGES AND THEY WILL NOT TOUCH BRIBE AND DELIVER A JUDGEMENT OF TRUTH. THE TRUTH WILL BE THE UPHOLDING OF THE TRIBUNAL JUDGEMENT THAT MIMIKO WON THE APRIL 2007 POLLS AND THAT AGAGU HAS NO RIGHT SITTING IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE AND CONTINUING TO SQUANDER CUM LOOT ONDO STATE TREASURY. PLEASE READ ON:
I was offered bribe to pervert justice -Tribunal chair
From Adibe Emenyonu in Benin,
Monday, January 12, 2009
Chairman of the Edo State Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal, Justice Roland Amaize, said yesterday that numerous approaches were made to members of the tribunal which he headed to pervert the course of justice during the sitting of the Local Government Appeal Tribunal in Benin last year.
Justice Amaize stated this at a thanksgiving service held at the New Covenant Church, Benin, adding, “Before we deliver our judgment, there were a lot of approaches to us. I am not going to mention names. Too numerous but we decided that we will look at each case according to the facts and the law.”
Amaize stated further: “Like Rev. Omobude has just said, if you deliver a judgment that favours a person, he will say a Daniel has come to judgment. But if the case is in his disfavour, he will say oh! The judge has taken bribe.”
“For me, I have to say in this forum because there is no other forum better than this one because I am standing on the Alter of God. And I am here with members of the church that I attend, principal members of my family are here, my friends are here and my colleagues are here. I make bold to say that I did not take anything from anybody.”
According to him, “It is not in my nature by the grace of God, I am a man with some measures of pride for those of you who know me. I have pride in me and that pride will not allow me to do things that are mean because if you are a bribe taker, that means you are mean and you will never command respect among people even among your immediate family.”
Justice Amaize who said he had forgiven those who falsely accused him of what he did not do said that he had had cause to turn back a number of people who came to his house to offer him bribe, saying “I did not do what they are accusing me of and I will not do it until I retire”.
While thanking God for his mercies on the mysterious fire that gutted his official residence on October 6, 2008, he insisted that contrary to the findings of the police, the cause of the fire incident was not natural as he, his wife and the little girl that was with them witness it happened.
He affirmed that it was the handiwork of certain people who may have had an axe to grind with him over his judgment; saying ‘the issue is the conscience of a man, of a person which is the best judge. I have been in the bench now for 33 years starting from my days at the lower bench. I have never done a case to go home and lose my sleep.”
His words: “When they set my house on fire I was sleeping a lot because my conscience has told me that I did the right thing. It is true that my judgment may not go down with you but you have a right not to like my judgment. But I also have the right to decide a case according to the fact and the law. But what they did not concede to me is that I also have the right to look at the facts and the law as they are. I think we should try to be tolerant to concede to judges the right to do the work the way they know best”.
Earlier in his homily, the General Overseer, New Covenant Church , Reverend Felix Omobude said that Nigeria as a nation is blessed and loved by God, but its leaders have abused their conscience and called on them to allow the inner voice of God within them to guide them in whatever they do.
Even when quiet, we are very focussed on the battle at hand. A battle that must be won. A battle for survival of our dear Ondo State, a battle for Democracy and Democratic rule; a battle for the just implementation of the truth. A battle to ensure that Agagu is removed from a position he usurped with assistance from Mr Obasanjo; a battle to swear in Mimiko as governor of Ondo State, just as the people wanted when they voted Mimiko in as governor of Ondo State.
Although Agagu and his emissaries have tried to turn this battle into a game of words and wits; into a joker; into a lifeline to enable them stash away as much as they could, money from the state’s treasury; all these would soon come to an end.
The court of appeal by the grace of God will not be compromised by any person, they wont sell their integrity for a morsel of food, they wont be blinded by falsities.
Nabaruma and Co did the right thing. They in the tribunal gave a verdict of conscience and truth and the people applauded this truth. The truth has been decreed by God, and no one can go against God.
We pray on, just a few more days to go as we await the truthful final verdict which will soon see Agagu out of Alagbaka, out of Akure, out of Ondo State, and possibly out of Nigeria. This is because when immunity is removed, Agagu will find himself in hot soup. He would be a most wanted man by EFCC and others. He will now start giving account of how he spent all the stolen loot by him and followers..
Mimiko is so magnanimous. Our Governor Elect Olusegun Mimiko says he will not probe Agagu. What a pity for we would have loved to have Agagu probed in Ondo State, and made to regurgitate all the stolen money. But well, that is the nature of our man Mimiko, a man of the people, a true gentle Iroko, a man of great intelligence. Nevertheless, “won ni teni be igi loju igi a ruwe” – He who axes a tree has more work, for the tree will first shed leaves.
Peace my people. Your patience is noted by God and will be greatly rewarded very soon. Dont forget to keep praying for prayer is the key. Everything in life needs prayers, both good and bad.
THANK GOD FOR A BIT OF GOOD NEWS. AGAGU SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO SPEND THE STATE MONEY PENDING APPEAL RESULT. ANYWAY THANK GOD HE WILL BE GONE SOON. ONDO STATE HAS REALLY SUFFERED UNDER MR AGAGU THE THIEF. PLEASE READ ON COURTERSY OF THE PUNCH:
EFCC tackles Ondo over N8bn contracts
By Olufemi Adeosun, Abuja
Published: Thursday, 15 Jan 2009
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claimed on Wednesday that it frustrated attempts by the Ondo State Government to spend N8bn from the state’s treasury through the award of contracts.
It also said that it had arrested the General Manager of SCC Nigeria Limited, one of the companies allegedly involved in some contracts in the state.
The Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Femi Babafemi, disclosed these to journalists in his office in Abuja.
He explained that Governor Olusegun Agagu’s efforts to spend N8bn began shortly after the state Election Petitions Tribunal nullified his election.
He said, “Following petitions from the people of Ondo State that Agagu was planning to award contracts shortly after the Ondo State Election Tribunal annulled his election, our commission placed the state on surveillance.
“It was in a bid to carry out our investigation that the commission invited the General Manager of one of the companies handling the projects in contention.
“As I speak with you, Y. Levy is still in our office and may be granted administrative release later in the day.”
Babafemi explained that the first move the EFCC foiled involved N2bn unsecured loans that Ondo, granted to some political appointees in the state.
The government was also alleged to have awarded a contract to SCC Nigeria Limited for Owena Water Transmission Project for about N14.4bn.
According to the commission, out of the total amount, the Ondo State Ministry of Works paid N3.8bn as mobilisation fees to the contractor.
Babafemi said that tips from the people, helped the commission to stop the issuance of the cheque, which was supposed to be paid by Zenith Bank Plc.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has invited the contractor handling the completion of the Owena Multipurpose Dam project in Ondo State.
It was gathered that an Israeli, Mr. Y. Levi, who is the General Manager of the SCC Construction Company handling the N14.4bn contract was invited to the Abuja office of the EFCC on Wednesday.
The project, which was initiated in 1971 by the Western Region, is a joint project between the Federal Government and the Ondo State government.
The project was inaugurated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in April 2007 but the state government said that it was spending N14.4bn on the project in order to complete it and make water available to the people of the state.
Morning All
want to belive we are all fine and doing well in all our various endeavours. Was out of the forum for a while because I had an armed robber attacked. Thank God my life was spared with those with me despite I lost some things. The joy is that all is well. Madam your zeal and desire for greatness is greatly appreciated by many – some of my friends now find it intresting to read about Ondo state from this forum and the world at large from Africaloft. I want to comment your stdfastness.
Be strong and we celebrate our victory to the THROWN OF GRACE in Ondo state. I believe that God never fail.
Joy to the wise
Joy to me
Dont be a fool
Annan Calls for Generational Change
By Our Correspondents, 01.15.2009
Former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, yesterday decried the penchant by old generation leaders in Africa to cling to power, calling for devolution of power to the younger generation.
Annan made the plea at the THISDAY Awards 2009 Festival of Ideas held at THISDAY Dome in Abuja. He spoke on the theme “New Ideas for Fighting Poverty”.
The former UN scribe said: “I hope Africa is going to drain and ensure that our own people come back to help us. But if that is going to happen, it will entail a change of mindset, a change of mindset that is prepared to accept generational change, a change that is prepared to allow young men and women to assume responsibility and to be treated as professionals because we have a tendency to dismiss them as young boys.”
Earlier yesterday at the first session of the awards, participants canvassed improved public private sector participation in the development of basic infrastructure in Nigeria just as former governor of the State of Florida in the United States, Jeb Bush, urged Nigerians to question government policies and actions.
Annan cited US President-elect Barack Obama as an example, saying in some parts of Africa, he would be considered as not old and mature enough to steer the affairs of state.
“We need to get away from the idea of 80-year olds trying to hang on to power,” he said, a point which elicited a long-drawn applause.
“So I make a plea for the young – the brilliant ones among them – who are great leaders as they can play an effective role both in the economic and political areas and they should deepen the state and the confidence to do so.”
The former UN scribe said although the environment did not look so promising, Africa has nonetheless made progress in the fight against poverty.
“We have to be clear that in a world where there is gross inequality of wealth and opportunity, it is not an environment or a country where one can expect to be wealthy, enjoy stability and peace in the longer term,” he said.
“Yet when we look at the statistics, we are making progress. We have reduced poverty but the story is a bit more complex. In the last four decades about half a billion people managed to escape poverty but most of them are in Asia i.e. India and China. We in African countries have made progress but we have quite a lot to do to fight poverty,” he said.
Annan spoke of the need for the education of women in creating employment and reducing poverty.
He called on the private sector, the civil society and the media to continue to play leading roles in the fight against despotic leaderships and economic and political emancipation even as he expressed the hope that Africa could, like the Asian Tigers, become the “African Cheetahs” as it could boost the world economy in the same significant measure.
Also speaking, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State urged the west to stop corrupting Africans as evidenced in the Siemens bribery case.
He also said if the developed world could provide a small percentage of their GDP to provide programmes to fight poverty, the problem would be drastically reduced.
Speaking at the first session of the awards entitled, “Ideas on Governance and Infrastru-cture,” chaired by the former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Jeb Bush who was the Guest Speaker, described politics as a venture, driven by ideas.
He said it would only be beneficial to humanity if the populace always query the policies and actions of governance.
According to Bush, “develop your ideas and the habit of why not, because why not make the government to perform and do better. Ask questions and things would be done better. Why not questions help to challenge the basic assumptions.”
He also challenged the elected officials to always make known their ideas during campaigns and ensure that these ideas are implemented when they are elected into office.
The former Florida Governor charged elected government officials to develop the habit of dogged determination in implementing election manifesto, especially as it regards to infrastructure development, as it is the most important thing in development.
He gave instance of what happened when he was governor of the State of Florida, explaining that he challenged the existing status quo over the hoisting of the state flag.
In his comments at the occasion, Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam accused past governments in Nigeria for failing in the provision of infrastructure to the people.
According to him, “What we lacked is a well developed infrastructure. Past leaders and governments only paid lip services to the provisions of infrastructure. For us to achieve the 2020 vision, we must provide the basic infrastructure. We have a dilapidated infrastructure. No meaningful development can go on with this epileptic power supply.”
The Benue governor also lamented the bad road and inland waterways network in the country, calling for urgent national attention in the transport sector.
On the way forward, he said, “The development of national infrastructure is arguably the single most important thing to achieve a sustainable economic growth and social development. Government alone can not and will not be able to achieve this alone.
“And so what are the alternatives? First, public /private participation should and must be the strategy for us to move forward in this area. There are a lot of innovations in this area; unfortunately, we have not been able to get it right because the fundamentals are not gotten correctly. Most of the efforts at privatizing and commercializing most of these our enterprises were done in a manner that could not achieve any result…”
In his contribution, Chairman, Intekea Corp, USA, Mr. Bill Mundell, spoke extensively on the global economic crisis and its fallouts.
He said, “The unprecedented global economic meltdown, we have witnessed over the last few months translates to a rush to paint the future bleak and even question the basic …
“Indeed, when considering the enormity of Nigeria’s infrastructure and the headway … in today’s global economy, it is not hard to face the pessimistic future about the prospects for Nigeria achieving it infrastructural goal. I must tell you that I am not pessimistic. I think in this economic environment in particular there are enormous opportunities. I worked in the largest economic forecasting firm for ten years and let me tell you something, it is an humbling environment and I just come to know what I don’t know, what I can tell you with certainty today is that no one can tell you which certainty of the outcome of an unprecedented event,” he said.
Lamenting that, “with today’s economic climate, with the great depression, today almost everything is weak,” he stated, “in every country in the new economic we live in is how to react to it and my advice to Nigeria and the broader African continent is almost exactly the opposite of my advice to the United States. My biggest fear is that we have already panic in response to the crisis.”
Speaking on the bailout measure the authorities in the US applied to rescue major companies in the economy, Mundell, pointed out that, “the 700 billion dollars bailout and trillion dollars … packages have compounded the problem rather than providing solution.
“My advice very simply to America is stay humble in the face of the unknown and don’t throw out the 14 trillion dollar baby with the bath water. My advice for Africa is to panic. They say financial crisis are the mother of all inventions and this is a very great opportunity to put your house in order,” he said.
Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke said, “When we talk of development, we are not developing for the present, we are developing for the future and this must always remain at the back of our mind. This is not celebrating what we have today but to lay the foundation for tomorrow.”
In this regard, he listed four cardinal points any society must do towards enhancing development.
According to him, “the four critical things any society must do wherever in the world, or your status of development include world skill then health and we understand why health information is important as well as Infrastructure and technology. If you look at the country that has developed in the 100 years, what you will appreciate is the skill base, it is strong. The newly developed nations, China, Korea and others have a strong skill base.”
Asking rhetorically, Duke said, “What made United States to become one of all the most developed nations in the world? Invariably, you will find out that as long as you develop your skill the health grows with it. The next thing we are talking about is the infrastructure. The strength of a developed nation can be seen in its infrastructural development, like roads, rail, port, telecoms.
Also contributing, Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki insisted that infrastructure and transparency in governance held the key to development.
Harping on transparency in governance, he said, “even if you look at the state level, and you look at the type of council chairmen we saw in 1999, 2003 and now 2007, definitely we are getting better and I think the same applies to the National Assembly even as governance. The point is that we are beginning to get better people involved in governance; the people have started asking questions, the people in office are getting more accountable. Gone are the days when it was left to a very few people as to who get elected. Now, people are asking questions and it is getting better. I believe as we continue to practice democracy, it will get better.
The Chairman of the occasion, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, represented by the former Senate President advised the Federal Government to make the Nigerian economy a productive one as extractive economy does not improve the standard of living of the people
Congratulation and Happy new year
few days to come we shall be celebrating our victory in Jesus name.
Because the the Divine has chosen Dr Olusegun Mimiko to lead Ondo State at this time…Mark it nothing can stop him.
Just like the Bible recorded that there was a great war between the house of Saul and that of David,but David waxed stronger…Dr Mimiko will by the help of God wear the crown just like David did.
Do you think its mere coincidence that Dr Mimiko said he won’t be probing Agagu..?David also had opportunity to kill Saul ,but he didn’t cos God once chose him(saul) before he was rejected.
Dr Mimiko,because the Lord has chosen you, may He baptise you with the wisdom to govern prudently and be a blessing to our generation.
@Ola, I am really sorry to hear of the armed robber attack (and shocked), but I give all glory to God for sparing your life and the life of others. No weapon fashioned against us the children of God shall ever prosper. Oluwa ti fi ofo ra emi (property lost for redemption of your life). A o ni gbo laburu mo in Jesus name. Rejoice, always again I will say rejoice for God will replenish. prosper, protect and provide for you always in Jesus name.
I thank you for your kind words. It is only THE TRUTH that can set us free and JESUS is our Truth. God will give you good breaktrhough in life.
As per the Kofi Annan post, to be honest I believe that in Nigeria, it is not good for all old hands to hands off and totally hand over to the youths. You see, “Owo omode o to pepe, ti agbalagba o wo keregbre” i.e. the young cannot reach too high, while the old cannot dip too tight, so my take on this is that the old should allow fresh brain, fresh blood and fresh strength to combine with old maturity and sagely wisdom, to move Nigeria forward in the first instance. By the old, I am talking of our fathers up to a maximum of age 72, and the youths from 25 to 40 years old. The Old hands must learn to let go and permit the freshness and energy of the youths in government. The combined synergy of both shall work wonders for Nigeria.
The Dinosaurs in power should retire, for their minds and heart will not flow with the youths but the dynamic old should remain, if they can eschew corruption and display sound integrity.
One thing I can say is this, ~God has really been preparing Ondo State over the past 21months for a proper Mimikon reign of success, hence the wait.
Thank you Akin Thomas for the biblical analogy which is very true. May I add that David also had to wait his time as appointed by God to rule. This was despite his annointment. Mimiko is not made to wait by accident. God has a lot to show and expose so that all would be well. Ola, Governor Elect Mimiko will also be seen as the Obama of Ondo State. He will govern with wisdom and integrity. The young, able, correct, fresh minds will not be excommunicated in Mimiko’s government for the little I know about our Iroko is that albeit very humble and slow to anger, he is no man’s fool, and he has a very clear and Godly vision for Ondo State.
Iroko Kekere where are you? This shocking news by Ola makes me ask for all my compatriots and brothers in the struggle for true democracy in Ondo State.
God will guard and guide and above all protect His own always.
Peace my people.
I love to hear from people who are full of wisdom. Thanks t her from you madam. I also agree with you that reasonable elders are to serve as guide to the young ones. That is why am glad to be a part of this forum.
All is well. I cant wait to hear a glorious judgement come monday.
Tata cheerio.
Maybe first the hearings will take place on Monday and Tuesday and after a day set for judgement. Whatever, the end is very near for Agagu. May not even take two more weeks (I am hoping and praying here).
Did you hear about the plane that was hit by birds and brought down on the Hudson #River in NewYork yesterday? Thank God for the symbolisms I am able to deduce from this event. First, this year 2009 is the year for the children of God, and God will fight off any calamity intended by Satan. ~All 159 lives were SAVED, Halleluia, God is good. Second, the experience and maturity of the Pilot saved the day. So we see that the old matter a lot in making decisions that will augur well for everybody. Third, the people COMPLIED with all instructions given by the experts.
I pray that in Ondo State, God will always be in control and save us all from sudden deaths and avert evil in our lives. I pray also that in Ondo State, Mimiko will use his God given experience, maturity and knowledge to take the Ondo Plane to safety with no havoc or crisis. I lastly pray that the people of Ondo State will join hands and make things work for good in Ondo State. All in all we ALL will be winners and no losers in Jesus name.
Our God is good. Peace my people.
Yeah i guess.monday will be Hearing and they might tell us the day of judgment on tuesday.but due to security purpose they wouldn.t announce the judgment day on that day.they will set for judgment day later. a week after,any time the judgment come in we are all assure victory at the end of the day.i can,t wait to see the judgment day.God will save us(AMEN).we are going to be joyous on that day when mimiko is declared as duly elected governor of ondo state by appellate court.they will confirm him as duly elected governor of ondo state.they are going to uphold tribunal judgment(AMIN OOOOOOOOOOO)
@Omotaylor. The role of elders can never be ruled out. I mean elders with wisdom, integrity, caring heart and understanding the plight of the people. I was in a Night Vigil where the GO of the RCCG ministered 16/01/09 at Port Harcourt in one of the campus. I was convinced that we still have elders that will rediret and guide our youths in the right direction.
I really appreciate what came out of the experience giving on the plan crash. It is a great significace to me also. God is in our plane because we will not crash in Jesus Name, as angle are position to be a blessing and guide to us.
VICTORY IS SURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goodevening all, just want to declare the Love and Consistency of our Lord and Master in our lives. Our God is good and forever will be in control of our destination and destiny in Jesus name. I feel very good for I know that Jesus never fails and Lord God Jehovah will deliver in the very near future, when our Governor ~Elect, Dr Mimiko takes over. Still on the issue of symbolism, cant you just see how God is moving in this Mandate matter. What is the significance of Tuesday 20th January 2009? I mean in America/the whole wide world. Yes thats right Obama’s innauguration as first black president of the USA will take place watched by the whole world. Very moving even before the date. Equally moving also will be Dr Mimiko’s swearing in, in Ondo State in February 2009 when Democracy will win the day to the sheer delight of all lovers of truth and justice, and especially in Ondo State.
We wait with joyous and Godly anticipation.
Love all, and Love God my people.
Peace
Agagu is a gonnnneeeerrrrr
Iroko yi jo gba sibe o jareeeeeee sir.
No controversy JESUS is LORD in Ondo State. When I mean JESUS – TRUTH, VICTORY ETC.
We are not dependant on man but on GOD that can do all things. The all begin to give HIM all the Glory because HIS name alone will be praise in ONDO State.
Agbagba mejilelogun wole
Pelu Ade wura won
Ata won eda alaye merin
Won fi iye fo fayo
Hosannah eyin orun
Alleluia eyin taiye
Orun osupa e wole
Kabiyesi foba wa.
God I am giving you thanks
I am thanking you for your blessed assurance
That Dr Rahman Olusegun Mimiko is vindicated
That the Vulpine Agagu is dessicated and disgraced
Up Up Jesus
Down down satan
Agagu you are gone
Dried out and vappourised
Yes out with the evil -Agagu
And in with the righteous – Mimiko.
Oh la la la, oh la la la
Agagu ti te oh la la la
O ngbo bi aja – gbo gbo gbo
O nke bi ewure – mee mee mee
O ndun bi ologbo – miiiaaaoouu.
IROKO YI JOO GBA SIBE
IROKO NI BABA IGI
IROKO NI BABA WA
IROKO NI OLORUN DE LADE OGO
IROKO TI ONDO DIBO FUN
KABO O OMO RERE
OLORUN NKAN SARE SI O
OLUWA TI SE EYIN ENIA MI.
God is on the throne and the truth HAS PREVAILED.
We trust God. Soon the end of this horror movie will come.
Then we start a new era of GLORIOUS GOVERNANCE IN ONDO STATE.
Rejoice my people. No shakkinng.
BELOW IS ONE OF THE MANY REPORTS TO COME ON DAY 1 OF THE APPEAL:
Agagu vs Mimiko: Appeal court reserves judgment
By Tony Amokeodo and Fidelis Soriwei
Published: Tuesday, 20 Jan 2009
The Court of Appeal in Benin, on Monday, concluded hearing of the protracted legal tussle between the Ondo State Governor, Chief Olusegun Agagu, and the candidate of the Labour Party in the April 2007 governorship poll in the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
The court also reserved its judgment on the case, saying that the date of the judgment would be communicated to the parties accordingly.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdulahi, gave 30 minutes to each of the lead lawyers to the parties in the dispute to present their briefs.
The parties — Agagu, Mimiko, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Police had argued their briefs in tense court proceedings that lasted three hours and 30 minutes.
After listening to the arguments, Abdullahi commended the lawyers for their industry.
But the appeal was heard by a panel that was slightly different from the one that heard the appeal which sacked former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor from office on November 11, 2008, as Abdullahi announced a reconstitution of the panel on the grounds that one of the justices would ‘soon be going’
The other members of the panel included Justices Amina Adamu-Augie, Ayo Salami, Kumai Akaahs, and Ndukwe Anyanwu.
Agagu was represented by Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who led Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), Mr. Damian Dodo (SAN) and I.A Adedipe (SAN), while a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Chief. Wole Olanikpeku (SAN), led Yussuf Ali (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana and others to represent Mimiko.
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), and J. C. A Idachaba led the legal teams of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigeria Police respectively in the epic legal battle.
Fagbemi, had urged the court to grant the appeal of Agagu against the judgment of the lower tribunal and faulted the way ballot papers purportedly used in the election were put to use by the Election Petitions Tribunal.
But Olanikpekun countered the submissions of Fagbemi, the PDP, the INEC and police and denied Fagbemi’s claims that the manner in which the ballot papers were sorted robbed his client much of his votes.
He argued further that the evidence in the case was even stronger than that of Oshiomhole, on the grounds that it was more compelling.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, has adjourned indefinitely its ruling in an application brought by the Osun State governorship candidate of the Action Congress, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
The AC candidate is seeking the composition of a fresh panel to hear his petition against the election of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
So it is EKITI result tomorrow (eti a gbo ire) for the people need to be governed by the best and most Godly governor who would not add to the mass and gross problems that Ekiti has been faced with. Oh the plight of those poor people. My heart goes out to the poor of the land. Then it will be NIGER on Thursday. I pray the same as Ekiti for them.
NOW ON TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER, HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE ONDO STATE ON FRIDAY OR AT WORSE ON MONDAY AND WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS.
MIMIKO IS GOVERNOR. NO SHAAAAAKIIING.
peace my people
Update on Ekiti: Oni is out, new elections ordered in 10 LGAs. I won’t call this a total victory for AC — we all know these re-elections have not worked, if Oni ends up winning the elections again, he just had his term extended!
We don’t need that in Ondo State!
As much as we hope that the ondo appeal should not go in the direction of rerun, I believe this is a positive development for the opposition party in Ekiti. The eyes of the people are now open and everybody is focused on INEC. The people should be ready to defend their votes. Even if they eventually lose the re-run, they will be adjudged as having fought a gallant fight and there will always be another time. We will continue to monitor events.
The long awaiting stolen mandate has been returned to ondo state, rule of law has come to stay in Nigeria. C-O-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N Dr Olusegun Mimiko