Can courts poke holes in Senate verdict on Gachagua’s impeachment? Lawyer Steve Ogolla sheds light

Published

8 months ago

October 15, 2024

While it has not yet reared its head on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment, the judicial system might wield its power when the time comes
There is, however, an argument on this, as some quarters hold that the impeachment ends at the Senate and that the process is immune to any judicial review
But High Court advocate Steve Ogolla strongly avers that the role of the courts cannot be to ruled out of the impeachment; he says the courts have the role of auditing the process to check its alignment with the constitution

Nairobi—Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment could bring the Legislature and Judiciary to a point of clash.

Gachagua’s case is being prosecuted by the two houses of parliament.

The impeachment process intensified on October 8, when 282 MPs voted in favour of the charges against him.

Meanwhile, the deputy president has been filing petition after another to challenge the process.

Legal minds are undecided about whether the courts can alter the outcome of the ouster process upon its conclusion by the upper legislative house.

While some hold that the legislature’s verdict on Gachagua’s impeachment is final, others argue that the court can still wield its power and rule otherwise.

Litigation counsel Steve Ogolla authoritatively avers that the High Court can show up to give directions when there is that need.

While Ogolla appreciates that Gachagua’s impeachment is a preserve of the legislature, he says that upon invitation, the courts can chip in to offer interpretation, which might side with the houses of parliament or not.

He says that the court’s involvement in such matters is limited to auditing the process and reviewing the merits of the impeachment grounds to confirm that both aspects meet the Constitution’s requirements.

“They (courts) ought not to interfere with the outcome of the political process because the power of impeachment is bestowed upon the National Assembly and the Senate; but if the High Court is invited to audit the legality, propriety and constitutionality of the impeachment charges against Gachagua provided they relate to gross violation of the constitution, then the court has jurisdiction to entertain those questions and determine them. So, it is not true that the High Court has no role in the impeachment,” Ogolla told this writer.

Farmer caught attempting to exhume labourer’s corpse in Kwara

Published

1 hour ago

June 18, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A man identified as Haruna Umar has been arrested in Taberu, located in the Okuta District of Baruten Local Government Area, Kwara State, for allegedly attempting to exhume the body of a farm labourer.

It was gathered gathered that the deceased, known only as Gunu, had been working for a farmer named Halidu Yakubu before his sudden disappearance.

Yakubu, concerned by the labourer’s vanishing, reportedly launched efforts to locate him, but all attempts proved futile.

However, the mystery took a dramatic turn when Yakubu, while passing by a nearby farmland, allegedly spotted Umar digging in a suspicious manner.

A resident who spoke on the matter revealed, “Yakubu confronted him and after some exchange, Umar confessed he was trying to exhume the corpse of the deceased, who had been killed and buried at the spot.”

The spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday, describing it as a case of culpable homicide.

She stated that items recovered from the scene included a hoe and a stick, believed to have been used by the suspect in digging the grave.

“Two suspects, Haruna Umar and Aminu Gona, have been arrested in connection with the incident and have admitted to the crime.

A third suspect, identified by the alias ‘Focuse,’ is currently at large,” she said.

Efforts are underway to arrest the fleeing suspect, while the two in custody will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation, Ejire-Adeyemi added.

LIST OF THOSE KILLED IN YELEWATA ATTACK IN BENUE STATE

Published

18 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

ADAM FAMILY
Torsaar Adam
Doose Adam
Nguyilan Adam

AJAH FAMILY
Lydia Ajah
Terdoo Ajah
Iwuese Ajah

AKPEN FAMILY
Terzungwe Akpen
Aondohemba Akpen
Ushana Akpen
Shater Akpen
Mercy Akpen
Isaac Akpen

AMAKI FAMILY
Festus Amaki
Shater Amaki

ANYA FAMILY
Orbuter Anya

AONDOANA FAMILY
Dooshima Aondoana
Agbogo Aondoana
Erdoo Aondoana

AONDOVIHI FAMILY
Mbakeren Aondovihi
Monday Aondovihi
Erdoo Aondovihi
Joe Aondovihi
Mwarga Aondovihi

ASOM FAMILY
Atuur Asom
Uvershigh Asom

ASOO FAMILY
Doose Asoo
Aondosoo Asoo
Aboi Asoo

AYOM FAMILY
Doose Ayom

AZA FAMILY
Jude Aza

CHII FAMILY
Fanen Chii
Doom Chii
Terzungwe Chii

DENDE FAMILY
Amaki Dende
Angbiandoo Dende
Mercy Dende
Lubem Dende

DOOGA FAMILY
Adohi Dooga
Mbanyiar Dooga
Ikyoche Dooga
Awanboi Dooga
Regina Dooga
Adoo Dooga
Aondofa Dooga
Ute Dooga

FIDE FAMILY
Gabriel Fide
Aondoana Fide
Ukese Fide
Averter Fide
Mwaraorga Fide

FIDELIS FAMILY
Terlumun Fidelis

GBEM FAMILY
Lumunga Gbem

GWABO FAMILY
Felicia Gwabo
Mary Gwabo
Terhemba Gwabo
Jirgema Gwabo

IKPAKYAA FAMILY
Orsoja Ikpakyaa
Injinia Ikpakyaa

IOREMBER FAMILY
Sewuese Iorember

IORHEMEN FAMILY
Uwundu Iorhemen

IORMBA FAMILY
Mathew Iormba
Apam Iormba
Philomena Iormba
Akama Iormba
Ngodoo Iormba
Kumawues Iormba
Nensha Iormba

KONGO FAMILY
Amina Kongo
Terkula Kongo

KOORNAM FAMILY
Shaadye Koornam

KORNA FAMILY
Aboi Korna

KYULE FAMILY
Iorgyer Kyule

LAMAAONDO FAMILY
Orlogbo Lamaaondo
Laadi Lamaaondo
Aondoawase Lamaaondo
Mermber Lamaaondo

MFANYI FAMILY
Mama Mfanyi

NONGOTSE FAMILY
Terngu Nongotse
Msugh Nongotse
Dooshima Nongotse

ORDUE FAMILY
Kwaghhar Ordue
Doosuur Ordue
Doose Ordue

ORSHIO FAMILY
Chia Orshio
Uyina Orshio
Katie Orshio
Myuega Orshio
Usha Orshio
Philomena Orshio
Alia Orshio

SHAGWA FAMILY
Yakov Shagwa
Margaret Shagwa
Erdoo Shagwa
Dooauur Shagwa
Sewuese Shagwa

SHIÔR FAMILY
Awan Shiôr

SIMON FAMILY
Manta Simon

SOLOMON FAMILY
Terkimbir Solomon

TSEGBA FAMILY
Victoria Tsegba
Ngodoo Tsegba
Mimidoo Tsegba
Dorathy Tsegba
Msendoo Tsegba

TYOKUWA FAMILY
Eunice Tyokuwa

UBI FAMILY
Mbaufe Ubi

UCHA FAMILY
Aondohemba Ucha
Terver Ucha
Agon Ucha

UGBAH FAMILY
Doowuese Ugbah
Ngodoo Ugbah

UKE FAMILY
Edeember Uke
Aondodoo Uke
Samson Uke

UKÔ FAMILY
Logo Ukô

ULAM FAMILY
Nongo Ulam
Aondoaver Ulam

UTIM FAMILY
Ormbagba Utim

UTO FAMILY
Matthew Uto
Doopinen Uto
Kumater Uto
Terhile Uto

UZER FAMILY
Bonashe Uzer

ZERKOHOL FAMILY
Versuwe Zerkohol

Credit: Frank Utoo

If I Cut Short My UK Trip To Return To Benue, My Worry Is, What If Gov Alia Refuses Me Entry Again?- Peter Obi

Published

18 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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‎Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state and a presidential contender for the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, has defended his decision not to leave the UK to visit Benue state. One of Peter Obi’s advisers, Dr. Moses Paul, made this claim in a Monday post on his official X account. This follows a spate of terrorist attacks in Benue State, where multiple lives were lost in invasions.
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‎Dr. Moses said he had a phone chat with the former governor of Anambra state, asking why he has not visited Benue state with regards to the recent attack on them by alleged herdsmen. According to Dr Moses, this was Peter Obi response
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‎”Mo, if I cut short my UK trip to return to Benue, my greatest worry is, just as it happened when I tried to visit grieving people in Plateau, Niger, and other places, what if the Governor refuses me entry again?”.
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‎Peter Obi made it clear in the conversation that the governor should know that his compassion, not politics, is driving his travel to the state. But he is skeptical about coming because of what happened the last time.
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