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Ex-Gov, Kalu fails to stop EFCC from appealing judgment freeing him in alleged 7.1b fraud

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A former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzo Kalu failed on Friday in his bid to stop the Federal Government from appealing the September 29, 2021 judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja that stopped his prosecution on a N7.1bn money laundering charge.

In two rulings on Friday, a three-member panel of the appellate court rejected the objection by Kalu and his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited to the application for leave to appeal out of time filed by the federal government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Kalu and Slok had argued, among others that the Court of Appeal, having delivered a judgment on March 6, 2024, striking out an earlier appeal by the federal government, the court had become functus officio and could not longer take any further steps on the case.

Justice Ishaq Sanni, who read the rulings on Friday, noted that the March 6, 2024 judgment did not determine the substance of the appeal and thus, was not a judgment given on the merit.

Justice Sanni held that the Court of Appeal, in the March 6, 2024 judgment only struck out the appeal on the grounds that the record of appeal was not properly certified, because the official of the Federal High Court, who certified the record did not include his or her designation.

He held that since the March 6, 2024 judgment was delivered after the three months allowed an aggrieved party to appeal, the federal government was in order to have filed its application for extension of time to appeal.

Justice Sanni proceeded to issue an order extending the time within which the federal government should file a notice of appeal against the September 29 judgment of the Federal High Court.

He also ordered the federal government to file its notice of within 14 days.

The rulings were on the appeals marked: CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/430MI/2024 (FRN v. Orji Uzo Kalu and two others) and CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/431MI/2024 )FRN v. Slok Nigeria Limited and two others.

Details shortly.

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Yelwata massacre: PDP blames security agencies for alleged selective arrests

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused Nigeria’s security agencies of engaging in selective arrests in connection with the recent massacre in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Benue State chapter of the party expressed outrage over what it described as a biased approach to justice, alleging that only individuals suspected to be PDP supporters have been targeted in the ongoing investigation.

The party noted that the killings, which claimed several lives and displaced many others, have continued to heighten fear and insecurity within the community. It further alleged that the response from law enforcement has been skewed and politically motivated.

“We condemn in strong terms the selective arrests being carried out by security agencies over the Yelwata massacre.

“The victims and their families deserve justice, not political witch-hunts,” the statement read.

PDP also called on security operatives to act professionally and impartially, warning that selective enforcement of the law could inflame political tensions and further erode public confidence in state institutions.

“Security agencies should focus on apprehending the real perpetrators, regardless of their political affiliations. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done,” the party added.

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2027: ADC has no preferred presidential aspirant – David Mark

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The Interim National Chairman of the newly formed opposition coalition party, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, David Mark, has clarified that the party has no preferred presidential aspirant for the 2027 general elections.

Mark made this statement on Tuesday while addressing stakeholders of the Kogi chapter of the ADC at a meeting in Abuja.

The former Senate President assured Nigerians that, under his leadership, the party would operate with complete transparency.

“The ADC has no preferred or favourite presidential aspirant, but has set out to first put out a platform that would be attractive and acceptable to the majority of Nigerians.

“We are doing this because we do not want this great ship called Nigeria to sink, because if we do not rise up now and it sank all of us will be affected,” he said.

According to him, all members of the party are equal stakeholders, equal joiners, and equal owners.

The former military governor of Niger State urged members to put aside their differences and work as a team.

He called on some politicians to stop attacking others and instead focus on addressing the key challenges facing the nation, such as insecurity, which the ADC leadership has pledged to tackle if it assumes power.

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APC chieftain backs ADC coalition, slams Tinubu for disappointing Nigerians

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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jackson Lekan Ojo, has stated that the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC) is justified in its attempt to displace the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Ojo argued that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has wrecked Nigeria beyond repair and that the country requires urgent rescue.

He claimed that if it is true that previous governments failed, then “the government of Tinubu” is a “super failure.”

The politician and political affairs analyst made these remarks while speaking as a guest on a radio programme monitored by our correspondent in Osogbo on Tuesday.

He said, “The nation’s economy is in shambles, security is in coma; people are dying daily, many cannot afford to eat. Before, when you had N1,000, you could even invite your friends to take pepper soup and some bottles, but now, N1,000 cannot buy a bottle of stout. The present administration has failed Nigerians.

“Nigeria is not moving again. People are dying of hunger. Nothing is working in Nigeria. There is no principle of checks and balances. It has been buried because the people at the National Assembly are rubber-stamped. We cannot continue like this,” he said.

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