CODIFIER

Six witnesses provided by the Social Democratic Party at the Election Petition Tribunal on the Kogi State Governorship election, on Saturday, entertained the court with different amusing submissions as they struggled to answer questions during cross-examination.  At the resumed hearing, all the six witnesses gave testimonies contrary to their depositions on oath and confirmed that they were not polling agents as stipulated by law, but voters. An interesting part of the testimonies was when one of the witnesses, Yakubu Dahiru (PW 10), confronted with the contradictions between his claims and depositions, said he had not been able to see for the past one year, owing to an eye problem, yet he claimed to have written his witness deposition.  A witness, one Isah AbdulGaniu from Okene Local Government area, who said he was a fashion designer, also noted that he was neither a member of the SDP nor polling agent and denied knowledge of Form DCE-41, which was part of his deposition....

*Says it's illogical to attack witnesses doing enough to make paymasters lose woefully in court  *Accuses SDP of stage-managing attack because its petition is suffering irreversible setback  *Affirms commitment to peace, security  The Kogi State Government has debunked what it described as a headless allegation by the Social Democratic Party that it masterminded attacks on witnesses at the ongoing Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, saying the allegation was not only reckless, but stands logic on its head. The state government said, contrary to the propaganda of the SDP, discerning members of the public were following the Tribunal case and would know that there was no way anyone would plot an attack against witnesses that were already testifying against those who paid them to testify and doing enough to make SDP lose woefully. The Commissioner for Information and Communications in the state, Kingsley Fanwo, said it was, however, important to enlighten the SDP that th...

The testimony of a witness of the Social Democratic Party at the Election Petitions Tribunal on the Kogi State governorship election went awry, on Thursday as the witness' statement before the Tribunal contradicted the documents submitted. The petitioners had delved away from BVAS, after their star witness claimed he was not in Kogi State during the said election, and alleged that the All Progressives Congress candidate, now the Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, forged his age declaration affidavit.  The witness, one Dan Musa Williams from the FCT High Court, in Abuja, who had said the document did not emanate from the Court, upon cross examination, could not substantiate his claims. When asked whether he checked the record of the registry to ascertain that it was a forged document, he said he just looked at the date, being a Saturday and concluded that it could not have been from them. It was, however, found that the "declaration of age" affidavit was sworn in Okene, Kog...

. Damages, discredits evidence under cross examination  . Says I didn't operate BVAS machines during election  The star witness of the Social Democratic Party and its candidate in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, in a dramatic twist, on Monday, told the Election Petition Tribunal that he was not in Kogi State on the day of the election.  The star witness, who is a data analyst with the Independent National Electoral Commission,  said this as he completed his Evidence-In-Chief and was cross-examined after 11 long days of his testimony before the Tribunal. The witness, Abdulmalik Njidda, had earlier testified to events that took place during the election in Kogi State, with regard to entries on the BVAS machines used for the election in Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okene, Okehi, Ogori Magongo and Lokoja Local Government Areas of the State. However, drama ensued when, during cross examination by Counsel to the Governor of Kogi State, the APC and INEC, he turned ...

The Kogi State Government has once again told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to come clean on the reason behind its unrelenting persecution and media trial of the immediate past Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, saying that the world would be eager to know why the Commission is trying so hard to find what is not missing.  The state government, for the umpteenth time, insisted that its funds were not missing, and called on the EFCC to desist from mentioning the name of Kogi State in its ongoing persecution, allegedly orchestrated by some political actors around the Presidency bent on destroying the image of the former Governor.  "We believe that this ignoble agenda is unknown to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who trusted those people with power with the hope that they will use it judiciously for the greatness of our nation. Unfortunately, they have decided to use the privileges given to them as tools for political vendetta," the statement, signed by t...

. Ali Bello, Suleman refute EFCC's allegations in amended charges There was confusion on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, following amended charges filed against Alli Bello and Daudu Suleiman, including the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, in which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claimed they allegedly diverted about N100 billion belonging to the state government in September 2015, months before former Governor Bello assumed office as Governor.  Governor Bello was not a defendant in the original suit, and was not in court. However, Ali Bello, currently Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor and  Dauda Suleman have denied the fraud allegations in the amended charges brought against them at the fresh aaraignment on Thursday in Abuja. Their plea was taken by Justice James Kolawole Omotoso. Both Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman vehemently denied the allegations contained in the 17 counts amended charges. Earlier, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, A.M. Ali...

Eminent sons and daughters of Egbaland, on Thursday, gathered at Mokola, in Abeokuta, to celebrate the 37th Lisabi Festival and honour the late Otun of Egbaland, Chief Tairu Braimoh Olaleye, as the Hero of the Year. The Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, while speaking about the rich heritage of the Egba people emphasised the significance of Lisabi Festival in uniting the people and promoting selflessness and leadership qualities.  The monarch, while celebrating the Hero of the Year, who is the grandfather of Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, said the late Chief Tairu was honoured at the 2024 edition of the festival, having served Egbaland diligently as the Otun of Egbaland. He said the contributions of the Hero of the Year to the development of Egbaland could not also be erased. The Alake added that the event served as a platform to celebrate achievements, honour exemplary individuals and foster unity among Egba sons and daughters. "We use...

The Kogi Collective Interest Group, (KOCIG) has described the protest at Economical Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the former Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, as politically motivated.  The Chairman of the group, Abdulganiyu Yusuf, stated this in a statement issued on Friday.  The statement read, “It has come to the attention of the Kogi Collective Interest Group, KOCIG, the renewed onslaughts of some disgruntled political elements in Kogi State to resurrect their agenda of blackmail via unproven corruption allegations against the immediate former Governor of Kogi State,  His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello.  “KOCIG has over one million active members across the three senatorial districts of Kogi State, all the 21 local governments. Members believe in the unity and progress of our dear state and hold leaders accountable at all levels.  “We saw the ragtag crowd of hungry non-Kogites that they assembled to go to the national headq...

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the inspection Order granted the Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by the Governorship election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja. The Governorship election petition Tribunal had, on November 25, 2023, granted an Exparte Order, allowing the Social Democratic Party and its candidate in the 11th November, 2023 Governorship election to carry out forensic examination of all the Bimordal Voters Accreditation system (BVAS) used in the Governorship election, among other sundry reliefs.  In a well reasoned ruling on Friday, delivered by a three-man panel of justices of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice J.O.K. Oyewole, with Justices A. I. Banjoko and A.B. Mohammed concurring, the Court of Appeal set aside the inspection order, having gone outside the province of the Electoral Act. The Court of Appeal ordered that, while inspection is allowed under the Electoral Act, it must be jointly carried out with the respondent and the ...