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Supreme Court Upholds Mimiko’s Election …As NGF Hails Action
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the election of Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP) as governor of Ondo State.
A panel of seven Justices, presided by Justice Sylvester Nguta held that the appeal filed against Mimiko’s re-election was unsustainable.
Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) challenged the July 2 decision of the Appeal Court which upheld the October 20, 2012 re-election of Mimiko of the Labour party (LP).
Nguta held that the decision of the Akure Division of the Appeal Court on the matter was apt, adding that the apex court would not upturn an appellate decision which was given according to evidence brought before it.
According to Nguta, the appellant did not sufficiently prove his plethora of allegations against the conduct of the election.
“The appellant failed to prove the allegations of substantial non-compliance of the 2012 election with Electoral Act 2010 as amended beyond reasonable doubt.
“The appellant also failed to provide cogent evidence of the voter register he claimed was manipulated just as he was unable to prove allegations of fraud, irregularities and violent disruption of the election.
“In the circumstance, the appeal fails and it is therefore dismissed; the decision of the Akure Division of the Appeal court on the matter is thereby upheld,’’ he said.
Akeredolu claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conspired with Mimiko to illegally inject about 90,000 fake voters in the voter register used for the election.
He further alleged that INEC failed to display the voter register before the election as mandated by the Electoral Act.
According to him, the election ought not to have been held as the processes leading to casting of votes were fraudulent.
The INEC returning officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Adebiyi Daramola announced Mimiko to have won the election with 260,199 votes from the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
However, Daramola announced that ACN’s candidate, Akeredolu polled a total of 143,512 votes.
Nguta further held that it was not proved how the allegation of injection of over 90,000 voters in the voter register affected the final outcome of the election.
In a similar judgment, Justice Mary Peter-Odili delivering judgment in a similar appeal filed by Olusola Oke of PDP held that the appeal lacked merit.
She said the allegation against the conduct of election required to be proved beyond reasonable doubt, adding that “neither Oke nor his party did the needful to warrant the granting of any of the prayers.
Dissatisfied with the decision of the appellate court, Oke had approached the Supreme Court for what he called “further and better interpretation of the issues raised’’.
He had sought the apex court to declare whether the decision of the lower court to overlook the allegation of the manipulation of the voter register was right.
Oke in his appeal prayed the court to upturn the decision of the Court of Appeal and declare him winner of the election.
In the alternative, the PDP candidate sought a fresh conduct of the election.
Our correspondent reports that the INEC returning officer said Oke scored a total of 155,961 votes thereby placing him in third position of the log.
Speaking with newsmen after the judgment, Mimiko expressed delight on the outcome of the challenge, saying, “the stage is now set for us to serve the people’’.
“I owe the victory to God, all my supporters, the party, and of course all my well wishers; the distraction is over so I can now settle down to work,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has congratulated Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on the Supreme Court judgment that upheld his election.
Director-General of the forum, Mr Asishana Okauru, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, described the judgment as “land mark and a plus to the Nigerian judiciary”.
“The judgment in this case shows that the Nigerian judiciary has indeed come of age,’’ he said.
He praised Mimiko for standing firm and for remaining undaunted while the case lasted.
The director-general also thanked the people of the state for their understanding and support during the case.
Okauru, however, advised the governor to remain committed to the cause of ensuring the delivery of true democratic dividends to the people of the state.
He described governors as critical pillars and vital channels for the delivery of dividends of democracy to the electorate and urged them to remain so at all times.
The NGF called on the Supreme Court “to remain steadfast in anticipation of several other pre-election and post-election cases as we move towards 2015’’.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Mimiko is the Vice Chairman of the Governor Jonah Jang faction of NGF.
The seven-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Walter Onoghene, yesterday ruled in favour of Governor Mimiko and declared him the elected governor of the state.
The panel had ruled on the election petitions filed by Mr Rotimi Akeredolu of the former Action Congress of Nigeria and Olushola Oke of the People’s Democratic Party.
Akerodolu and Oke were both candidates of their parties in the 2012 Ondo State governorship election that brought Mimiko to office.
The two appellants had asked the court to nullify Mimiko‘s election and order a fresh election.
They alleged that the election that brought Mimiko to office was marred by irregularities and corruption in the compilation of the voters’ register.
They also accused the Labour Party (LP) of conniving with INEC to inflate the voters’ register used for the election.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.