Appeal Court reserves judgment in Bayelsa governorship petition
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The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Tuesday, reserved judgment in the governorship appeals brought by the All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, against the judgment of the Bayelsa State governorship election tribunal.
Recall that the Tribunal, in its judgment delivered May 17, 2024, in Abuja, upheld the election victory and return of Governor Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Oborwahariewo.
The tribunal’s three-man panel led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, dismissed Sylva and APC’s petition for lacking in merit.
The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove any credible evidence to back up any of the allegations they raised against the re-election victory of Diri.
The tribunal declared that the prayers of the petitioners were contradictory.
Unanimously, the Justices held that Sylva and APC did not tender any electoral material to show any irregularity that occurred during the election as claimed.
Sylva dissatisfied with the judgment of the tribunal, approached the tribunal to set aside the judgment.
UPDATED: Netherlands beat Romania 3-0 to reach Euro 2024 last eight
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The Netherlands swept into their first European Championship quarter-final since 2008 as Donyell Malen scored twice in a 3-0 win over Romania in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch an early lead but they were unable to convert pressure into a crucial second goal until the Liverpool forward set up Malen with seven minutes remaining in Munich.
Romania were gritty but out-classed, lacking the quality to punish their opponents’ profligacy before Malen added his second on the counter in stoppage-time.
The victory put the Oranje on course for a quarter-final clash with Turkey or Austria, who beat the Netherlands in 3-2 in the group stage
“We played a good game. I’m very pleased. Especially after the last game we needed a reaction and today was a good step in the right direction,” Gakpo said.
“We talked a lot about the aggression, the intensity and defending like a team. It was a good step.
“Sacrifice something for each other and work really hard to be at your best. Good game overall.”
Corruption: I wonder how Nigeria is still surviving, says EFCC chairman
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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has decried the magnitude of stealing by corrupt elements in the country.
He said anytime he checks case files and sees the amount stolen, he wonders how the country still exists, adding that if Nigerians saw some case files they would weep.
According to a statement on Tuesday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the chairman stated this while receiving the management team of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission led by its Chairman, Mohammed Shehu.
“When I look at some case files and see the humongous amount of money stolen, I wonder how we are still surviving. If you see some case files, you will weep. The way they move unspent budget allocation to private accounts in commercial banks before midnight at the end of a budget circle, you will wonder what kind of spirit drives us as Nigerians,” Olukoyede was quoted as saying.
He also said public corruption ranks as the biggest cause of corruption in Nigeria.
He pointed out that if public corruption was taken out of the polity, the country would fare better than many countries of the world.
He said, “A situation where somebody would hold a public office or position of trust for years and you call him to account and he says No, he would not account, is not acceptable.”
He stressed that transparency and accountability should be embedded in both the public and private sectors for optimal development of the country.
While noting that corruption poses a huge challenge to the country, Olukoyede expressed optimism that the prevention mechanisms of his leadership would ensure that the commission stays ahead of the devices of the corrupt to ensure that Nigerians have good governance experiences.
“He insisted that the preventive framework of tackling corruption offers more prospects of results and impact. To this end, the EFCC now has a Department of Fraud Risk and Assessment and Control
“Let’s look at our system of revenue generation. It is a system that allows leakages in mobilisation and appropriation of funds. If we don’t look at the system, we will continue to chase shadows. In this direction, we are not just going to investigate and recover; what we have decided to do in the EFCC is Policy Review. If we can block some of these leakages and have 50 per cent of capital project execution in Nigeria, the country would be fine,” the statement added.
UNIMAID lecturer dies in driveway accident
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The Borno State Police Command, on Tuesday, confirmed the death of the former head of Business Management at the University of Maiduguri, Professor Ruth Wazis.
Confirming the death in a press statement obtained by our correspondent Public Relations Officer Nahum Kenneth, disclosed that the former university lecturer was killed by her vehicle following her attempt to open the gate on getting to her house.
Kenneth noted that the investigation conducted shows that the area is not a flat surface, adding that the car rammed into the deceased.
According to him, the incident occurred on June 30, 2024, blaming the slope and mechanical fault for the casualty.
Kenneth said, “Incidence and accidents are bound to happen both technical and human failure may contribute.
“The sad, tragic garage incident happened on 30th June 2024 in the late evening at Judari Polo Area Maiduguri where late Professor Mrs Ruth Wazis (former Head of the Department of Business Management, University of Maiduguri) alighted from her vehicle and attempted to open her residential gate to park her car in her garage.”
Explaining further what led to her demise, he added, “But, unfortunately, a high slope and sudden mechanical malfunction caused the vehicle to accelerate unexpectedly, knocking her to the gate and on the ground, stepping on her chest, and she, unfortunately, succumbed with severe injuries before taken to the hospital at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital where she was confirmed dead by a doctor.”
Edo Government Gives Ex-Deputy Gov, Philip Shaibu Seven Days To Return 22 Official Vehicles
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The Edo State government has issued a public notice demanding the return of 22 official government vehicles currently in the possession of former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
The directive in a statement signed by Chris Osa Nehikhare, Hon. Commissioner of Communication and Orientation, sets a strict deadline for compliance.
"The former Deputy Governor is given a seven-day ultimatum from today to return the vehicles," stated Commissioner Nehikhare. He emphasised that failing to do so would prompt action from relevant security agencies tasked with retrieval.
The list of vehicles to be returned includes various models such as the 2021 model Toyota Landcruiser, Toyota Prado Jeep, Toyota Hilux Van, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Sienna, Jin Bei Hiase, Mitsubishi Pajero, and an armored Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep.
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