Politics

Court to rule on Ganduje vs Kano state May 16

Published

1 year ago

April 30, 2024

A High Court in Kano state on Monday fixed May 16, 2024 for ruling on whether the court will allow service through substituted means to respondents in the case between the Kano state government and former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and eight others.

Ganduje, his wife Hafsat and son Umar and five others, who are defendants in the suit, were expected to be arraigned on eight count charges bordering on a $413,000 bribery allegation, diversion and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N1.38bn and abuse of office among other allegations.

But the presiding judge, Justice Usman Na’abba, after listening to arguments and counter arguments on whether the respondents could be served using alternative means, fixed May 16 for his ruling on the applications.

During hearing on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Adeola Adedigbe, SAN, said a criminal charge can be effected by substituted means.

“Section 378 sub section 5 of the Kano State ACJL provides that the application for leave may be brought before the Court on the effect of substituted service.

“Service on the defendant may be through his legal practitioner, surety and adult in his house,” he submitted.

Legal counsel standing in for respondent number six, Lamash Properties Limited, Nuraini Jimoh, SAN, argued that respondents in a criminal case cannot be served through substitute means.

However, the counsel for the state government, Adeola Adedigbe, made reference to a Kano state law 378/5 that allows service in criminal cases to be made using substitute means.

Jimoh described the Kano state law as ‘Ultra Vires’ and inferior to the Nigerian Constitution that restricts such action. He explained that the Nigeria law says that service of criminal charge is on the exclusive legislative list.

“Hence, the Kano state Assembly law that allows service of criminal summons by substitute means is Ultra Vires” he stated.

He further argued that there is no charge before the court against the respondents as the application before it reads “Application to prepare a charge”.

He described the legal process as having to include the police who will make an arrest, get a statement, the First Information Report, keep the suspect in detention or release him on bail, depending on whether the criminal case involves manslaughter, rape or murder and then arraign arraign him before a court of law.

He added that the attempt to make the court allow service by substitute means, when no effort has been made to reach the respondents, makes the service taken transfer its responsibility to the court. He added that it is a violation of the Sec 36 of the constitution.

The prosecution counsel argued that the defense counsel’s submission was premature and preemptive.

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Politics

Natasha: Akpabio’s aide petitions IGP over alleged hacking of account, defamation

Published

7 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Former Delta State Commissioner and Special Adviser on Communications/Strategy to the President of the Senate, Mr. Kenny Okolugbo, has formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police, calling for an urgent investigation into what he described as a coordinated cyberattack and defamation campaign targeted at destroying his credibility and misleading the public.

In the petition, Okolugbo alleged that his verified social media account on X was hacked and used to publish damaging statements falsely attributed to him.

The fabricated content, he claims, was then amplified by three popular social media influencers, Tunde Ednut (@mazitundeednut), Rufai Oseni (@ruffydfire), and Adeola Fayehun (@adeolafayehun), who, according to him, embellished the post with additional falsehoods, including allegations of phone cloning, voice manipulation, and fictitious meetings in London.

“These allegations are not only untrue but impossible based on verified evidence,” he wrote.

“Most disturbing is that the fabricated post was simultaneously circulated and embellished by these influencers using identical language and coordinated timing, pointing to a syndicated disinformation campaign,” he added.

Okolugbo alleged that the campaign was orchestrated to lend undue credibility to allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan.

He emphasized that the false narratives promoted online were not contained in the original hacked post, showing that it was indeed orchestrated, suggesting deliberate malice and manipulation aimed at tarnishing his public image.

As part of his plea to the Nigeria Police Force, Okolugbo requested the following actions:

“A full-scale investigation into the hacking and impersonation of his verified social media account, citing violations under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015;

“Identification and prosecution of individuals responsible for the forgery, defamation, and spread of malicious content;

“Preservation of all relevant digital evidence from social media platforms and third-party service providers for forensic analysis.”

He noted that the matter was of significant public interest and personal concern, urging the Police Force to act “swiftly and decisively.”

Okolugbo also disclosed that he had enclosed his travel documents showing he has not visited London or anywhere outside Nigeria as alleged this year 2025 and the last time he was in London was 5th November 2024 and had no meetings in London, printouts of the alleged defamatory and manipulated posts to support his claims and provide context for investigators.

The Nigeria Police Force is yet to issue a formal response to the petition as of the time of this report.

Politics

Tinubu Signs Kalu’s Bills Establishing 3 Tertiary Institutions in Abia, Imo into Law

Published

11 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law three bills sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, establishing Federal College of Education, Bende, Abia State; Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item Bende, Abia State, and Federal University Okigwe, Imo State.

The institutions aim to provide quality education, research opportunities, and cater to the educational needs of the South East region

Kalu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for signing the bills into law, he urged the people of the South East people to continue supporting the Tinubu-led government, promising more democracy dividends.

Politics

Expose June 12 conspirators or face legal action – SERAP to Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

June 16, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Bola Tinubu to back up his Democracy Day rhetoric with defensive action by addressing the lingering injustices in Nigeria’s democratic history, especially, the landmark June 12, 1993 presidential election.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday, signed by the group’s Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP urged President Tinubu to set up a presidential panel of inquiry to investigate the annulment of the election on June 12 and uncover those who are behind what is described as the “deliberate violations of Nigerians democratic freedoms.”

The organization stated that not minding the political position of individuals found responsible, they should be brought to justice through Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

SERAP also urged the president to instruct Fagbemi to urgently draft and present an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022, specifically to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory and grant all voters access to election documents.

The group argued that this would enhance electoral transparency, prevent manipulation, and help restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The organisation called on the president to immediately halt all prosecutions and drop charges against Nigerians currently detained or facing trial simply for exercising their rights to peaceful protest and free expression.

“Your Democracy Day speech conveyed a commitment to freedom, transparent and accountable governance, and social justice,” the letter stated.

“However, such commitments will ring hollow unless your government takes concrete action to end impunity for past violations, enforce electoral reforms, and guarantee democratic freedoms.”

SERAP emphasised that there is no statute of limitations on violations of democratic rights, and that achieving the ideals of June 12 is impossible without accountability and systemic reforms.

It warned that the failure to prosecute those responsible for the June 12 annulment has entrenched a culture of impunity, encouraging continued subversion of elections and political rights in Nigeria.

“Amending the Electoral Act to mandate electronic transmission of results and ensuring open access to electoral documents are essential to delivering credible elections,” the group stated. “It will also allow voters to verify the integrity of electoral outcomes.”

The organisation also demanded a review of laws undermining freedom of expression.

It asked the president to push for the repeal or amendment of repressive statutes, including the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation and falsehood laws in the Criminal and Penal Codes, which have been used to silence journalists, critics, and dissenters.

SERAP raised concern over the growing trend of strategic lawsuits against public participation, noting that the legal tactics, often backed by politicians and security agencies are being used to harass and intimidate Nigerians peacefully expressing their views.

“Your administration’s obligation under the Constitution, your oath of office, and Nigeria’s international human rights commitments requires you to dismantle structures of repression and safeguard democratic freedoms,” SERAP wrote.

The group gave the president a seven-day deadline to begin implementing its recommendations, failing which it vowed to initiate legal action to compel compliance in the public interest.

While acknowledging the president’s recent pledges to deepen democracy and expand civic space, SERAP insisted that only concrete reforms, not lofty speeches, can truly honour the legacy of June 12 and move Nigeria towards a just and free society.